12-16-2006, 02:33 AM
Bismillah:
Quote:Peace!
Peace to you too FHC. :)
Quote:What category do Christians fall into?
Let me first clarify that it is not up to us to decide who is going paradise and who is going Hell, <b>it is going to be Allah’s decision only</b>… The Muslims' duty is to convey to all mankind the message of Islam, the message of mercy sent through Prophet Muhammad peace and blessings be upon him as a confirmation of all prophetic messages. We are not appointed as judges. Therefore, <b>we must be forewarned against the temptation of saying which person goes to heaven or hell.</b>
Allah says in The Qur’an
16:125 Invite (all) to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: <b>for thy Lord knoweth best, who have strayed from His Path, and who receive guidance</b>.
Concerning the arguments of various religious groups as to who is saved, Allah settles the dispute by saying in chapter 2 Verse 111-112
“And they say: "None shall enter Paradise unless he be a Jew or a Christian." Those are their (vain) desires. Say: "Produce your proof if ye are truthful.”, “Nay,-<b>whoever submits His whole self to Allah and is a doer of good, - He will get his reward with his Lord; on such shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve”</b>.
Furthermore, the Qur’an states that the Prophet Muhammad is the last and final messenger sent to the whole of mankind; he has come to affirm the perfect truth that all Prophets and Messengers had proclaimed before him. The Qur’an confirms, guards, and preserves this pure message free from all human tampering and alterations. <b>And so it is the duty of everyone to respond to his message:</b>
Qur’an 7.158
Say: (O Muhammad) "O men! <b>I am sent unto you all</b>, as the Messenger of Allah, to Whom belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth: there is no god but He: it is He That giveth both life and death. <b>So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the Unlettered Prophet, who believeth in Allah and His words: follow him that (so) ye may be guided.</b>"
<b>Therefore, if someone did not receive the message of Muhammad, he will definitely be judged by whatever message of truth he has received from Allah.</b>
And so, <b>I repeat that we should not judge as to who is going to paradise or hell</b>. In this regard we can do no better than repeat the words of Prophet Jesus peace be upon him who is quoted in the Qur’an as saying concerning those who worshipped him:
<b>If You punish them, they are Your slaves, and if You forgive them, You, only You, are the August, the Wise.
</b> Qur’an 5: 118
Hope this answer your question insha’Allah.
Quote:Does Islam teach that hell is eternal?
I leave it to somebody else to answer insha’Allah.
Quote:When is the day of judgement according to Islam?
<b>They ask thee about the (final) Hour - when will be its appointed time? Say: 'The knowledge thereof is with my Lord (alone)
</b>: None but He can reveal as to when it will occur. Heavy were its burden through the heavens and the earth. Only, all of a sudden will it come to you.' They ask thee as if thou Wert eager in search thereof: Say: 'The knowledge thereof is with God (alone), but most men know not.' (The Quran, 7:187)"
Verily the Hour is coming - <b>My design is to keep it hidden </b> - for every soul to receive its reward by the measure of its Endeavour.
(The Quran, 20:15)"
"They say: 'When will this promise come to pass, if ye are telling the truth?' If only the Unbelievers knew (the time) when they will not be able to ward off the fire from their faces, nor yet from their backs, and (when) no help can reach them! <b>Nay, it may come to them all of a sudden</b> and confound them: no power will they have then to avert it, nor will they (then) get respite.
(The Quran, 21:38-40)"
<b>"Verily the knowledge of the Hour is with God (alone). </b> It is He Who sends down rain, and He Who knows what is in the wombs. Nor does any one know what it is that he will earn on the morrow: Nor does any one know in what land he is to die. Verily with God is full knowledge and He is acquainted (with all things).
(The Quran, 31:34)"
"Men ask thee concerning the Hour: Say,<b> 'The knowledge thereof is with God (alone)'</b>: and what will make thee understand?- perchance the Hour is nigh!
(The Quran, 33:63)"
Quote:What happened to the billions of people who lived prior to Islam?
<b>Nor do We punish until We have sent a messenger. </b>
Qur’an 17: 15
The Islamic viewpoint is that <b>to every nation was sent a Messenger to guide his people</b>. The important matter was the concept of Tawheed i.e., in oneness of Allah. The secondary matter was the Law 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:
<b>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. </b>
(Qur'ân 10:47)
And verily, <b>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). </b>
(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:
<b>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. </b>
(Qur'ân 40:78)
So those who follow the messengers who came before Muhammad PBUH were also saved. Insha'Allah.
<b>and Allah knows best. </b>
Quote:Thanks in advance for your answers :)
You are most welcome :)
Salam
Wael.