I'm unclear on this issue... some say that good people, whether they are Christians, Buddhists or not religious at all, can go to heaven too?

I'm just worried about my family......

Originally Posted by shahrazad

I'm unclear on this issue... some say that good people, whether they are Christians, Buddhists or not religious at all, can go to heaven too?

I'm just worried about my family......

"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." [Surah Al ‘Imraan 3:85]

"By the One in Whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, there is no-one of this ummah, Jew or Christian, who hears of me then dies without believing in that with which I have been sent, but he will be one of the people of Hell." (Reported by Muslim, may Allaah have mercy on him, in al-Saheeh, 153).

sounds like a yes...

it seems so unfair though... some people, even if they've heard of Islam and know some of the basics, still don't know enough to embrace it simply because they were brought up believing something else. born Muslims, even if they're not good Muslims, have their ticket to heaven from birth. why?

Originally Posted by shahrazad

sounds like a yes...

it seems so unfair though... some people, even if they've heard of Islam and know some of the basics, still don't know enough to embrace it simply because they were brought up believing something else. born Muslims, even if they're not good Muslims, have their ticket to heaven from birth. why?

If they don't embrace it then it's the will of Allah not to guide them, because whomsoever Allah guides there is none to misguide and whosoever Allah misguides there is none to guide back.

Born muslims, even if they didn't practice will - Allah willing - have their ticket to jannah because they believe in the Oneness of Allah, His Messenger, His books etc and they believe in that which Allah has revealed to them and single Him out for worship which is the pre-requisite to enter paradise. And these muslims have rejected the false gods, such as the hindu gods, or elavating the states of Jesus son of Mary from a Prophet to being a god, and so on, because beliving in such so-called-gods is the worst thing that one can do, which renders ones deeds fruitless regardless of how many good deeds they may have done.

but then even those who embrace Islam and revert, like me, are doomed.... because heaven won't be heaven to me if I know my family members went/will go to hell. knowing that, will make heaven a hellish place for me.

i am depressed now...

Originally Posted by shahrazad

but then even those who embrace Islam and revert, like me, are doomed.... because heaven won't be heaven to me if I know my family members went/will go to hell. knowing that, will make heaven a hellish place for me.

i am depressed now...

Just because one is a non-muslim doesn't mean that they will remain in this state for the rest of their life, because whoever seeks guidence Allah will make the path to guidence easy for them.

There are recorded narrations from the Prophet that he used to make du'a to Allah to guide the people, just as he made du'a to Allah to guide either 'Umar bin Khattab to Islam when he was a non-muslim, or to guide Abu Jahal to Islam. And Allah answered his (saws) supplication by guiding 'Umar bin Khattab to Islam...and what an outstanding personality he turned out to be!

I assume your parents are non-muslim? You can supplocate to Allah in various times of the day, such as during prostration whenever you pray, the last 3rd of the night when Allah decends etc. And strive to call them towards Islam, because as long as they are living you will always have a chance.

Originally Posted by 'Abd-al Latif

Just because one is a non-muslim doesn't mean that they will remain in this state for the rest of their life, because whoever seeks guidence Allah will make the path to guidence easy for them.

There are recorded narrations from the Prophet that he used to make du'a to Allah to guide the people, as he made du'a to Allah to guide either 'Umar bin Khattab to Islam when he was a non-muslim, or to guide Abu Jahal to Islam. And Allah answered his (saws) supplication by guiding 'Umar bin Khattab to Islam...and what an outstanding personality he turned out to be!

I will pray to Allah to guide my family to Islam. but if they don't embrace it, not only are they going to hell, but i may as well go to hell too...I'd rather be with them in hell than be away from them in heaven

instead of wasting time by getting depressed over false/incomplete information, you could start setting an example to your kinfolk, show them how a Muslim behaves and lives instead of the impression they get from media, I am almost certain they will be affected by a cheerfull happy and respectful "you" more positivey than a morose deprressed person.

Originally Posted by shahrazad

I will pray to Allah to guide my family to Islam. but if they don't embrace it, not only are they going to hell, but i may as well go to hell too...I'd rather be with them in hell than be away from them in heaven

Keep faith in Allah, many reverts will tell you how their parents have accepted Islam through their da'wah. Keep you're trust in Allah and always ask Allah to make this matter easy for you. And remember Him much through prayer and supplication, so that he may also remember you in matters such as these.

Allah has put you in this position for a reason, and that reason is because He knows you can handle it. Talk to your parents about Islam and what inspired you to accept it. I'm sure you will do good insha'Allah, during these times we just have to exercise patience and keep on moving.

Originally Posted by NoName55

instead of wasting time by getting depressed over false/incomplete information, you could start setting an example to your kinfolk, show them how a Muslim behaves and lives instead of the impression they get from media, I am almost certain they will be affected by a cheerfull happy and respectful "you" more positivey than a morose deprressed person.

i am not a morose depressed person but i do worry about these things sometimes because i care about other people and am not only after my own reward in jannah.

I am sure my family will start to see a change in me, maybe they already have, but that doesn't mean they will convert to Islam.

anyway, I don't want to believe it's as straightforward as that. if Allah is so merciful, surely he will have mercy and will only send to hell those who have committed the worst sins. not simply non-Muslims on one side and Muslims on the other.

Originally Posted by 'Abd-al Latif

Keep faith in Allah, many reverts will tell you how their parents have accepted Islam through their da'wah. Keep you're trust in Allah and always ask Allah to make this matter easy for you. And remember Him much through prayer and supplication, so that he may also remember you in matters such as these.

Allah has put you in this position for a reason, and that reason is because He knows you can handle it. Talk to your parents about Islam and what inspired you to accept it. I'm sure you will do good insha'Allah, during these times we just have to exercise patience and keep on moving.

thanks brother. I will talk to them about it, but at this point, no one in my family knows about my conversion yet.

I suppose I got worried because my mother underwent an operation yesterday, and though it went well and everything seems fine, it got me thinking about how easily we could all leave this world any second.
similarly the day before I reverted officially, I found myself in a situation where I feared for my own life...and that was one of the things that pushed me to accept Islam as soon as I could rather than delaying it.

I used to console myself about my losses, people close to me who have died, by thinking I would see them again in heaven. I just realised I may not be able to see it like that anymore. and the thought of losing my family forever when they die or i die, is a terrible one.....

Originally Posted by shahrazad

thanks brother. I will talk to them about it, but at this point, no one in my family knows about my conversion yet.

I suppose I got worried because my mother underwent an operation yesterday, and though it went well and everything seems fine, it got me thinking about how easily we could all leave this world any second.
similarly the day before I reverted officially, I found myself in a situation where I feared for my own life...and that was one of the things that pushed me to accept Islam as soon as I could rather than delaying it.

I used to console myself about my losses, people close to me who have died, by thinking I would see them again in heaven. I just realised I may not be able to see it like that anymore. and the thought of losing my family forever when they die or i die, is a terrible one.....

May Allah make your affairs easy for you.

Allah through His infinite wisdom does things that we sometimes may not see. And in everything there is benefit and harm, so there may have been some benefit from those deaths that happened before your conversion, if you don't see the benefit or harm in this lifetime then you will see it in the hereafter. Perhaps these deaths were to protect you and keep you safe from some harm that was coming your way, or perhaps it made you think about the purpose of life which made you accept Islam.

And all Praise and thanks is to Allah for guiding you to the straight path.

Stay firm in this religion, and make du'a to Allah as much as you can and try your very best to call your parents towards Islam. Because in doing so is great reward, as Allah says:

Who is better in speech than one who calls (men) to Allah, works righteousness, and says, "I am of those who bow in Islam"? [Surah Fussilat (Explained in Detail) 41.33]

Originally Posted by shahrazad

thanks brother. I will talk to them about it, but at this point, no one in my family knows about my conversion yet.

I suppose I got worried because my mother underwent an operation yesterday, and though it went well and everything seems fine, it got me thinking about how easily we could all leave this world any second.
similarly the day before I reverted officially, I found myself in a situation where I feared for my own life...and that was one of the things that pushed me to accept Islam as soon as I could rather than delaying it.

I used to console myself about my losses, people close to me who have died, by thinking I would see them again in heaven. I just realised I may not be able to see it like that anymore. and the thought of losing my family forever when they die or i die, is a terrible one.....

Assalam Alaykum Sister Shahrazad.

This thread from its begining specially this Quote really shaked me... It reminds me of what the prophet -peace be upon him- himself faced in his Dawa journey..when Allah said to him

فَلَعَلَّكَ بَـٰخِعٌ۬ نَّفۡسَكَ عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَـٰرِهِمۡ إِن لَّمۡ يُؤۡمِنُواْ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلۡحَدِيثِ أَسَفًا

the translation of the meaning :

Perhaps, you, would kill yourself (O Muhammad SAW) in grief, over their footsteps (for their turning away from you), because they believe not in this narration (the Qur'ân). -surat Alkahf verse 6.

Allah said to him in another verse :

إِنَّكَ لَا تَہۡدِى مَنۡ أَحۡبَبۡتَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَہۡدِى مَن يَشَآءُ*ۚ وَهُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِٱلۡمُهۡتَدِينَ

the translation of the meaning :

Verily! You (O Muhammad SAW) guide not whom you like, but Allâh guides whom He wills. And He knows best those who are the guided.

Sister Sharazad! where is the Prophet's Father? where is the prophet's uncle whom he loved?
the prophet himself stated that they are in hell... I'm not saying leave them don't invite them no.. but I'm showing you that this is a known case even in the prophet Family ... not just our prophet but look at the prophet Ibrahim.. where is his father!? Look at the prophet Noah where is his wife? where is his beloved son ? look at the prophet Lout where is hie wife? ..they are All in hell...

Sister Shahrazad! don't think its unfair! Asstaghfirullah...never! ...don't think that even ALL born muslims will be better than those . NO!

see how many born muslims whom don't pray?

Stop thinking about results we are now still alive... we need to plan how we will invite them to islam.. we need prayers and tears , we need supplications .

Sister! what you feel towards your family must be towards every human being who lives on this earth.. we need to live that life of Dawah.. we need to care about others , we need to show them this mercy Allah has blessed us with . we need to spend our lives in Saving others and seeking their Salvation.

we all have alot to do to our families and all people around us..

what are you planing to do with your parents? this is the most important Issue now.

may Allah be with you

Whatever anyone tells you about an answer for this question - ignore them completely....including me.
Only God in His infinite wisdom will decide who goes to 'hell' and who doesn't. It is not up to any mortal (and may be indeed dangerous for the speculators) to waste time trying to establish destiny in the hereafter.
It may surprise some that even the most devout beings on earth have no safe passage to 'heaven' and we have no recourse if God decided to 'change the rules' as it were and decided to send all muslims to hell. It is His desire and His power do anything He wishes and we must recognise that by the minute

Greetings and peace be with you Makky;

where is the prophet's uncle whom he loved?
the prophet himself stated that they are in hell...

we need to show them this mercy Allah has blessed us with .

Search for justice from the above

In the spirit of praying to a merciful God

Eric