06-11-2006, 02:13 AM
Bismillah:
Quote:A theological question.
How were people saved pre-Quran?
The Islamic viewpoint is that to every nation was sent a Messenger to guide his people. The important matter was the concept of Tawheed i.e., in oneness of Allah. The secondary matter was the Law or Shariah which kept changing from tribe to tribe and nation to nation. Allah, the most high, alone knows what is good for His creation. As it is mentioned in the Qur'ân:
And for every Ummah (a community or a nation), there is a Messenger; when their Messenger comes, the matter will be judged between them with justice, and they will not be wronged. (Qur'ân 10:47)
And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): "Worship Allah (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Taghut (all false deities, etc. i.e., do not worship Taghut besides Allah)." Then of them were some whom Allah guided and of them were some upon whom the straying was justified. So travel through the land and see what was the end of those who denied (the truth). (Qur'ân 16:36)
Some of these Messengers are mentioned in the Qur'ân by Allah and some of them are not as the Qur'ân says:
And, indeed We have sent Messengers before you (O Muhammad(P)); of some of them We have related to you their story and of some We have not related to you their story, and it was not given to any Messenger that he should bring a sign except by the Leave of Allah. So, when comes the Commandment of Allah, the matter will be decided with truth, and the followers of falsehood will then be lost. (Qur'ân 40:78)
So those who follow the messengers who came before Muhammad PBUH are also saved. and Allah knows best.
Salam
Wael.