Religious Tolerance And Protection Of Non-Muslim Minorities In Islam

There are many Quranic verses and Hadiths which clearly and undoubtedly advocate religious tolerance, equality and justice.
In following Hadith Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has given strict instructions to Muslims regarding religious tolerance, equality, justice and protection of rights of non-Muslim minorities,
    Sunnan Abu Dawud, Volume No. 3, Page No. 170, Hadith No. 3052
    “Beware! Whoever is cruel and hard on a non-Muslim minority, or curtails their rights, or burdens them with more than they can bear, or takes anything from them against their free will; I (Prophet Muhammad ﷺ ) will complain against the person on the Day of Judgment.”

Following Quranic verses are sufficient to refute those who spread hatred against Muslims and Islam claiming that Islam doesn't allow coexistence of other religions.

Quran 10:99
Had your Lord so willed, all those who are on the earth would have believed. Will you, then, force people into believing?

This refers to the freedom that Allah has granted to mankind to believe or not to believe in Him. Otherwise He could have very easily created all the people as born believers and obedient servants and there would have been no disbelief and disobedience at all on the earth. Or He could have very easily inspired them to turn toward

s belief and obedience. But these methods would have defeated the wisdom that underlies the creation of mankind.
Our Messenger Prophet Mohammad ﷺ has made the distinction between the guidance and deviation quite clear. It is up to people to accept or reject the message. Had Allah willed this, He could have made every human on the face of earth to  believe, then there would have been no need of sending any Prophet on earth.

Quran 60:8

As  for  those  who  have  not  fought  against you  for  your  religion,  nor  expelled  you  from your  homes,  Allah does  not  prohibit you from dealing  with  them  kindly  and  equitably. Allah  loves  the  equitable.

Quran 3:108

These are the revelations  of  Allah.  We recite  them  to you  in  truth.  Allah  desires  no  injustice for  mankind.

Quran 5:2

And let not the hatred of some people in (once) stopping you from Al-Masjid al-Haram (at Makkah) lead you to transgression (and hostility on your part)”

Quran 5:8

And let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety”

Quran 3:134

Those who give in prosperity  and  adversity, and  those who restrain anger, and those who forgive people. Allah loves the doers of good.

 The Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ sent letters to various kings surrounding Arabia declaring his intention for peace and cooperation. One such letter was written to the monks of St. Catherine’s Monastery of Mount Sinai in 628 A.D. and known today as the “Charter of Privileges.”

The letter reads:

“This is a message from Muhammad, son of Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them. Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them. No compulsion is to be on them. Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries. No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims’ houses. Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God’s covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate. No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight. The Muslims are to fight for them. If a female Christian it married to a Muslim, it is not to take place without her approval. She is not to be prevented from visiting her church to pray. Their churches are to be respected. They are neither to be prevented from repairing them nor the sacredness of their covenants. No one of the nation of (Muslims) is to disobey the covenant till the Last Day (end of the world).”

Following verses are commandments from Allah prohibiting forceful conversion to Islam,

Quran 10:99

If your Lord willed, all men and women on earth would have believed. Would you still compel people to believe?

Quran 2:256

There shall be no compulsion in religion; the right way has become distinct from the wrong way. Whoever renounces evil and believes in God has grasped the most trustworthy handle; which does not break. God is Hearing and Knowing.

There is an entire chapter of the Qur’an, Sura Al-Kafirun (109), which clearly explains how Muslims should conduct  with non-Muslims,

Quran 109:1-6
Say, O ye disbelievers, I worship not as you worship,
Nor do you worship as I worship
Nor do I worship those that you worship
Nor do you worship Him Whom I worship,
For you your religion and for me my religion.”