THERE is this concept in Islam called tasamuh. It is literally translated as tolerance, but there is more to the term.

Tasamuh is derived from the root word samha (s-m-h) that means generosity.

It is said that tasamuh denotes tasahul, which is derived from the root word sahl (s-h-l), which means facile or smooth.

The English translation of tasamuh and tasahul is leniency, forbearance and indulgence (see Ruhaizah Abdul Ghani and Jaffary Awang: “Tasamuh Versus Tolerance as Practical Approach to Encounter the Conflicting Issue”).

Tasamuh clearly is more than just tolerance. It is about the “positive attitude of leniency, forbearance, generosity, facilitating and indulgence”.

In social interaction, it is about forming a good relationship between two parties that co-operatively agree to give and take (see Jaffary Awang and Kamarudin Salleh: “Toleransi beragama dan perpaduan kaum response intelek Malaysia satu observasi ringkas. In Agama dan Perpaduan Kaum di Malaysia”).

Therefore, Tasamuh is about mutual tolerance and mutual acceptance of religious and cultural diversities.

This is what Malaysia Madani should be about. – March 17, 2023.

* Hafiz Hassan reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.