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Non-Muslims Monotheists
What do Muslims believe happens in the hereafter to
Non-Muslims that believe in one God?
Praise be to Allaah.
Your interest in studying Islam is something great,
which we appreciate. Everyone should seek the truth wherever it may be,
and follow it even if it differs from the way of their forefathers or the
religion of the country or society in which they live, because salvation
from the Fire of Hell on the Day of Judgment is more important than
anything else.
One of the most important things that the would-be student of Islam should
do is to consult authentic Islamic references, in order to understand the
reality of this religion. For example, one should consult translations of
the meanings of the Qur’an and the ahaadeeth (sayings) of the Prophet of
Islam, Muhammad (peace be upon him), ensuring that the translations are
sound. But reading books written by non-Muslims, or by Muslims who do not
really understand or practice their religion, is not a scholarly approach
or a sound method of finding out the truth.
Returning to your question, what do Muslims believe will happen to
atheists? Or for that matter, what about monotheists who are not Muslim?
Will their fate be Hell in the Hereafter? The answer is that Allaah has
clearly created everything, sent His blessings on His creation, and sent
Messengers and Revealed Books to tell them that whoever believes in and
worships Him alone, not associating any partner with Him, will enter
Paradise, and whoever denies Him, or worships something else besides Him,
or takes other gods instead of Him, or says that He has a wife or son, or
that the angels are His daughters, or follows a law other than that which
He revealed to judge between people in truth, or turns away from His
religion, will be doomed in the Hereafter to the eternal punishment of
Hell. This is exact justice, and this will be the fate deserved by the one
who did not give his Creator His due.
Worshipping Allaah, obeying His commands and adhering to His prohibitions
are basic matters, but they form the essence of the relationship between
the Creator and His creation. Allah says:
"And I (Allaah) created not the jinns and men except they should worship
Me (alone)." [al-Dhaariyaat 51:56]
Messengers were sent with one message: to tell their people "Worship
Allaah, for you have no god besides Him." Hence we may understand just how
far short the person falls who believes that Allaah is one and does not
associate anything with Him, but does not worship or obey Him, but rebels
against Him and fails to follow His religion or Law, or the Revelation and
Messengers which He sent for him and people like him. Does such a person
deserve to enter Paradise or Hell?
This is the person who says: "I believe that there is One God Who created
the universe, but I am going to stop there; I will not pray to Him or fast
or perform Hajj or pay zakaat as He commanded. I am not going to carry out
any duties towards Him; I will follow my own desires and do whatever I
want, whether He permitted it or forbade it." Can such a person attain
salvation on the Day of Judgement?
Allaah sent Messengers to every nation, that they might worship Him and
shun false deities. The last nation is this ummah, and the last Messenger
is Muhammad (peace be upon him). Allaah sent him for the whole of mankind,
the entire world, and thus abrogated the previous laws and made this
religion the best and most perfect and complete. Hence it is obligatory
for everyone to enter this religion, for Allaah says (interpretation of
the meaning):
"And whoever seeks a religion other than Islaam, it will never be accepted
of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers." [Aal ‘Imraan
3:85]
On this basis, the fate of one who says "I believe in the idea of One God,
but I do not want to be a Muslim, or I do not want to follow the last
Revelation or the last Prophet," is clear.
Furthermore, the fate of an atheist, who rejects even the belief in God,
is even clearer and more evident.
Finally, I hope that the matter is now clearer to you. I ask Allaah to
guide us all to the truth and help us to follow it, for He is the best
Supporter and Helper.
From
Islam Q&A |