First a summary of what i'm gonna contend in following post:-POB(ppl of Book) who don’t follow Prophet Muhammad for lack of proper knowledge of their scriptures where he was foretold, BUT who follow their scriptures in right way, believing in oneness of God & praying to HIM only(like Unitarians, Sabians, Messianic Jews, Jews etc), Fasting, Giving charity & striving for other good deeds, will be considered as Muslims(following Islam) as defined by Hadeees;Bukhari:2:47. & will have reward for their good deeds Q:3:113.
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POB = ppl of Book, Q = Quran,
Like my previous post, I’m NOT issuing any fatwa, just presenting my POV in light of Quran & Hadees. I’d love others to prove me wrong but
with evidence.
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First understand difference b/w “
Faith-Islam” & “
Religion-Islam” by following Hadees:-
Bukhari:2:47:-
One day while the Prophet was sitting in the company of some people, (The angel) Gabriel came and asked, "
What is faith?" Allah's Apostle replied, 'Faith is to believe in Allah, His angels, (the) meeting with Him, His Apostles, and to believe in Resurrection." Then he further asked, "
What is Islam?" Allah's Apostle replied, "To
worship Allah Alone and none else, to offer
prayers perfectly to pay the compulsory
charity (Zakat) and to observe
fasts during the month of Ramadan." Then he further asked, "What is Ihsan (perfection)?" Allah's Apostle replied, "To worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you cannot achieve this state of devotion then you must consider that He is looking at you." Then he further asked, "When will the Hour be established?" Allah's Apostle replied, "The answerer has no better knowledge than the questioner. But I will inform you about its portents.
1. When a slave (lady) gives birth to her master.
2. When the shepherds of black camels start boasting and competing with others in the construction of higher buildings. And the Hour is one of five things which nobody knows except Allah.
The Prophet then recited: "Verily, with Allah (Alone) is the knowledge of the Hour..." (31. 34) Then that man (Gabriel) left and the Prophet asked his companions to call him back, but they could not see him. Then the Prophet said, "That was Gabriel who came to teach the people their religion." Abu 'Abdullah said: He (the Prophet) considered all that as a part of faith.
Now, as I understand it, Ibraheem was the first when terms “Muslim” “Islam” were used.Q:22:78.
Then ALL prophets after him were “Muslims”. But were sent to only a particular group of ppl, while Muhammad(saww) was sent for whole mankind
Mosa was a Muslim. Eesa & his disciples were Muslims Q:3:52. It was later that
Trinitarians made Jesus & Holy Spirit as equal to God Q:3:80 [/COLOR
]& fought with unitarians over this issue Q:2:253.
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Previous prophets also used to preach Charity & Fasting alongside of Prayers.:-
Fasting with prayers:-
Luke:18:12: I
fast twice in the week, I give tithes(Charity) of all that I possess.Luke:5:33: And they said unto him, Why do the
disciples of John fast often, and
make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?34 And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?35
But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and
then shall they fast in those days.
MT:4:2: And when he(Jesus) had
fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.(Also; 1sam:7:6, 31:13, 2sam:12:16, 1chron:10:12, ezra:8:23, neh:1:4, acts:13:3, 14:23, 1cor:7:5)
Compulsory Charity:-
Luke:18:12: I fast twice in the week,
I give tithes(Charity) of all that I possess.Luke:18:22: Now when
Jesus heard these things, he
said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing:
sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and
thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.24 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said,
How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!25
For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
(Also; 1cor:16:14, 2thess:1:3, 1tim:1:5, 2:15)
So
a TRUE Follower of
Mosa & Eesa will be the one who will believe in
oneness of God & will give
Charity & will
Fast alongside of establishing
Prayers & other good deeds. & as Hadees above said these things constitute Religion-Islam, so such POB will be a Muslim(following Islam).
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Now, I think, Quran refer to such
a TRUE follower of Previous Prophets who establish prayers/charity/fasting & worship & pray to God Almighty alone & none else
(praying to non-living is considered as worship), that such will have their reward:-
[Q:2:62]Those who believe (in the Quran), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians and the Sabians,- any who believe in God and the Last Day,
and work righteousness(prayers, charity, fasting, etc), shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.
In following too, Quran refer to such
TRUE Followers out of POB, since previous prophets were also muslims:-
[Q:3:85]If anyone desires
a religion other than Islam (submission to God), never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter He will be in the ranks of those who have lost (Compare these to ranks of righteous in following verse).
[Q:3:113]Not all of them are alike:
Of the People of the Book are a portion that stand for the right: They read verses of God all night long, and they prostrate themselves in adoration.[114]They believe in God and the Last Day; they
enjoin what is right, and forbid what is wrong; and they
hasten in good works:
They are in the ranks of the righteous.[115]
Of the good that they do, nothing will be rejected of them; for God knoweth well those that do right.[116]Indeed those(of POB) who reject - neither their possessions nor their (numerous) progeny will avail them aught against God: They will be companions of the Fire,- dwelling therein (for ever).
Word
“Kafir” means “Who Rejects, Refuses to follow”. So Q:3:116 refer those POB as “Kafir” who refuse original teaching of their prophets, like Fasting & Charity & believe in oneness of God etc.
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All above was about Righteous-POB who deny Muhammad(saww) coz of lack of enough knowledge or being mis-guided by their scholars. But if any POB deny Muhammad
knowingly, understanding that he’s the one prophecised in previous scriptures, such will be in trouble.
POB, thru their prophets, were under oath to follow upcoming Prophet Muhammad Q:3:81. Many POB deny such promise Q:3:77 & 86.
[Q:3:77]As for those who
sell the faith they owe to God and their own plighted word for a small price, they shall have no portion in the Hereafter: Nor will God (Deign to) speak to them or look at them on the Day of Judgment, nor will He cleans them (of sin): They shall have a grievous penalty.
[Q:3:81]Behold!
God took the covenant of the prophets, saying: "I give you a Book and Wisdom;
then comes to you an apostle, confirming what is with you; do ye believe in him and render him help." God said: "Do ye agree, and take this my Covenant as binding on you?" They said: "We agree." He said: "Then bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses."
[Q:3:86]How shall God Guide those who reject Faith after they accepted it
and bore witness that this Apostle is true and that Clear Signs had come unto them? but God guides not a people unjust.