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Jews and christians

Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

 

One of our brothers has asked us this question:

As-Salaam-Alaikum:

Thank you for your response brother. I would like to make a point of clarification.

 

The Quranic verses you used to make your point clearly states, "...The disbelievers FROM AMONG the people of the book and the Mushriks (idol

worshipers) they shall certainly enter hell...". My point is, Allah says that Among the people of the book, you will find disbelievers. Meaning that their are those who say they believe in G-d from among the Jews and Nasara but they do not truly believe. Their were Mushriks referred to in the same ayah. Muhammed the Prophet, peace be upon him, also had disbelievers among his following (mushriks). So, I think that it is incorrect to say that because a person doesn't believe in G-d the way we believe in G-d, they are going to hell. The Quran tells us that those who believe in G-d and the last day will receive their reward from their lord. That includes Christians, Jews and Sabiens.

 

Finally, I think you misinterpret the Quran when you say that those who do not believe in the Prophet are disbelievers. The Quran does not say what you interpret. Allah is telling us that those who disbelieve in G-d will see the error of their ways when the Prophet presents to them scripture that is sound and correct (98, 1-3). These ayah do not say that if you do not believe in Muhammed the Prophet, you are a disbeliever. Why would the Prophet tell us to protect the Holy Places of the People of the book if these people were gong to hell?

 

Your brother,

 

 

Answer:

 

Jews and christians

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 98 Surah Bayyinah verses 1-3: The disbelievers from among the People of the Book and the ‘mushriks’ would not desist until the clear evidence should come to them: A Messenger from Allah, who should recite to them Holy Scriptures containing sound and correct writings.

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 98 Surah Bayyinah verse 6: Those who have disbelieved from among the People of the Book and the mushriks, they shall certainly enter Hell; and remain in it forever. They are the worst of all creatures!

 

My beloved brother in Islam, we regret to say that you have misunderstood the above aayahs of the Holy Quran. In the time of the Prophet (saws) and indeed even today, there are two kinds of people that can be classified as dis-believers. The People of the Book (Jews and Christians) and the polytheists who do not accept Prophet Mohamed (saws) as the Last Messenger of Allah.

The ‘Those who have disbelieved from among the People of the Book and the Mushriks’ refers to those people who refused to believe in the Prophethood of the Last Messenger of Allah (saws); because there were people who were Jews, Christians, and polytheists at the time of the Prophet (saws) who were converting to Islam, and Allah has segregated these believers from the disbelievers. Thus the aayah is for only those people among the People of the Book and the mushriks, who refused to believe in the Mission of Prophet Mohamed (saws). It is these people whom Allah has termed the disbelievers.

 

There are various other aayahs in the Holy Quran, whereby Allah unequivocally declares that the only way of life acceptable to Him is Islam.

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Al Maidah verse 3: Today I (Allah) have perfected your deen for you and completed my Blessing on you and approved Islam as your way of life.

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale-Imran verse 19: Indeed, Islam in the ONLY right way of life in the sight of Allah.

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale-Imran verse 85: And whoever adopts any other than this way of Islam, that way shall not be accepted from him and in the Hereafter, he shall be among the losers.

 

Your Statement: I think you misinterpret the Quran when you say that those who do not believe in the Prophet are disbelievers. The Quran does not say what you interpret.

There is absolutely no doubt that Allah declares all those who do not believe in the Prophethood and Mission of Prophet Mohamed (saws) as disbelievers. There are several aayahs in the Holy Quran to this effect and we will quote some of them. Here is what the Quran says:

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale Imran verse 31-32:O Prophet, tell the people, “If you sincerely love Allah, follow me. Then Allah will love you and forgive you your sins, for He is All Forgiving, All Merciful.” Also say to them, “Obey Allah and His Messenger.” And if, in spite of this, they do not accept your invitation, warn them that Allah does not love the DISBELIEVERS.

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 7 Surah Aaraat verse 157: (So, now mercy has been assigned to those) who follow this Messenger, the Gentile Prophet, whose mention they shall find in the Torah and the Gospel with them. He enjoins them to do good and forbids them from evil; he makes pure things lawful for them and impure things unlawful; he relieves them of their burdens and frees them from the shackles (of rites and rituals) that bound them. For this reason, those ALONE who believe in him, support him, succour him, and follow the Light that has been sent down with him, shall attain true ‘success’.

 

Your Question: Why would the Prophet tell us to protect the Holy Places of the People of the book if these people were gong to hell?

The duty of the Prophet of Allah (saws) was only to present the guidance in clear terms to all who wanted to listen to good caution. It is upto the individual to accept or deny the guidance, and no one is allowed to force somebody to accept Islam.

 

The Prophet of Allah (saws) not only commanded the muslims to protect the Holy Places of the People of the Book, but he commanded the muslims that no holy places, like synagogues, churches, temples, etc. of any faith can be destroyed in an Islamic State. In an Islamic State, every person has a right to follow whatever way or religion he chooses, and their holy places will all be protected by the muslim rulers. That is the basic ‘freedom of religion’ rights given to all the non-muslim citizens of an Islamic State.

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

 

Your brother in Islam,

 

 

Burhan


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