Islam’s views on non-Muslims are nuanced, distinguishing between those who are peaceful and those who are hostile, and between different faith groups. Core principles emphasize justice, kindness, and respect in general interactions, while theological views categorize different forms of non-belief and their ultimate fate in the afterlife. 

Social and Ethical Treatment

Islamic teachings mandate that Muslims treat all people, including non-Muslims, with fairness and good conduct. 

• Kindness and Justice: The Quran states, “Allah does not forbid you from being righteous and just toward those who have not fought you because of religion or expelled you from your homes. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly” (Quran 60:8). This verse forms a foundational principle for peaceful coexistence.
• Respect for Human Dignity: Islam teaches that all human beings, regardless of faith, race, or social status, have inherent God-given dignity that must be respected.
• Maintaining Relationships: Muslims are encouraged to maintain good relations and ties of kinship with non-Muslim relatives and neighbors. The Prophet Muhammad emphasized treating neighbors kindly, regardless of their religion.
• Freedom of Belief: A key tenet is “There is no compulsion in religion” (Quran 2:256), meaning non-Muslims cannot be forced to convert to Islam.
• Protection of Rights: Historically, non-Muslims living under Islamic rule (known as ahl adh-dhimmah or dhimmis) were considered citizens with the right to practice their faith and were exempt from military service, in exchange for a special tax (jizyah). The Prophet Muhammad warned against any abuse of this minority, promising to be an adversary on the Day of Judgment to anyone who oppressed them. 

Theological Views and Terminology

In theological terms, “non-believers” are generally categorized, with differing implications for their status in this world and the hereafter. 

• People of the Book (Ahl al-Kitab): This refers to followers of religions that received prior divine revelations, primarily Jews and Christians. They are generally regarded more leniently than other non-Muslims in traditional Islamic jurisprudence.
• Disbelievers/Polytheists (Kuffar/Mushrikin): These terms refer to those who actively reject the message of God or associate partners with God (shirk), which is considered the gravest sin in Islam. The Quran uses strong language for those who hostilely reject the truth despite clear signs.
• Fate in the Afterlife: The common Islamic position is that those who hear the message of Islam, fully understand it, and still reject it are destined for Hellfire. However, there is also an opinion among some scholars that those who never received the true, uncorrupted message of Islam will be judged differently or tested on the Day of Judgment, based on their deeds and intentions.
• Context of Conflict Verses: Verses in the Quran that seem to promote violence against non-believers are generally understood by many Muslim scholars to be specific to historical contexts of war and self-defense against active enemies and oppressors, not a general command for all times or against all non-Muslims.