To what extent does Islam support religious pluralism?

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2025). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. 10 marks AO1 – Knowledge and understanding
2. 15 marks AO2 – Analysis and evaluation
3. Mark according to the levels of response marking grids for AO1 and AO2. Answers may refer to any religious theory or teaching. Candidates may propose, analyse and evaluate some of the following arguments. All relevant arguments must be credited.
4. Definition
5. Religious pluralism is when people from different faiths live harmoniously in a society where they have rights, freedoms, and safety to worship.
6. The teaching of Islam promotes and fosters a peaceful relationship and harmony among the existing. religions. There is no coercion in religion (Qur'an 2.256), showing that Islam supports pluralism in the context of relative tolerance.
7. Even at the time of the Prophet (pbuh) there were different faiths living in the same society, the small community of Muslims were living among the polytheists of Mecca, and they never caused harm to them, nor retaliated even when subjected to torture. The only reason they left Mecca was because the Quraish made their life intolerable, not because they did not want to live amidst the pagans.
8. The Charter of Medina drafted by the Prophet (pbuh) when he became leader in Medina is a great example of how Muslim rulers should deal with other faiths living in a society. The other faiths were given freedom to practise their religion and to live their life how they wished. There was a practice of mutual co-existence among Muslims and the people of the books, the Jews and Christians.
9. Islam teaches its followers to be tolerant and courteous to other religions, because for Muslims religious pluralism is God's desire. “O mankind! We created You from a single (pair) Of a male and a female, And made you into Nations and tribes, that Ye may know each other (Not that ye may despise Each other).” Qur'an 49:13 means that a sense of tolerance is a form of a minimum requisite for Muslims.
10. The Pact of Umar is a treaty between the Muslims and the non-Muslim inhabitants of either Levant (Syria and Lebanon), Mesopotamia (Iraq) or Jerusalem, contributed to laying down the foundations of peaceful coexistence between Muslims and non-Muslims.
11. Another historic feature of Islamic pluralism is the internal diversity of religious opinions within the Sunni tradition with the continued existence of four major schools of jurisprudence and their recognition of acceptable differences (ikhtilaf). Though this is more an example of intrareligious diversity rather than interreligious diversity.
12. There were times when religious tolerance was put on hold, like times of war. For instance, when the Prophet (pbuh) went to war he gave the opposing sides three options: surrender, convert or fight. There was no option for religious tolerance.
13. Even the four Rightly guided Caliphs went to war against the other powers of that time, namely the Persians and the Byzantines. However, war was not instigated for religious reasons but to safeguard the security of the Muslim nation.
14. Conclusion
15. Conclusions are likely to focus on what is considered religious pluralism and how far it is something promoted by Islam and Muslims in different time period.