The fate of Non-Muslims in the hereafter

[Lost&Found]

- A Non-Muslim who knows that Islam is the truth and rejects it will not enter paradise.

- A person who is not aware of Islam will be tested by Allah on the day of judgement and they will enter either paradise or Hell based on whether or not they pass the test.

What about a person who is aware of Islam but doesn't believe that it's the truth?

[Al-Indunisiy]

See, the thing is with religions is that the teachings seemingly can not comprehend that other people might not regard it as truth.
So it is the same as the former:

- A Non-Muslim who knows that Islam is the truth and rejects it will not enter paradise.

Think it's unfair? Well, life is'nt exactly fair though. Just accept it as a part of the reality of life.

(or maybe let someone else explain it better than me)

[Eliphaz]

See, the thing is with religions is that the teachings seemingly can not comprehend that other people might not regard it as truth.
So it is the same as the former:

Think it's unfair? Well, life is'nt exactly fair though. Just accept it as a part of the reality of life.

(or maybe let someone else explain it better than me)

Or maybe, dare I say, question it?

And ask yourself one question: 'Would a Most Merciful God do this to any human being if no human would do this to another human being?'

And maybe while you're at it 'Does this give born Muslims a greater chance of escaping Hellfire than born non-Muslims?'

[Al-Indunisiy]

Or maybe, dare I say, question it?

Maybe I'm being a little bit slow today, but what do you insinuate by this?

And ask yourself one question: 'Would a Most Merciful God do this to any human being if no human would do this to another human being?'

I had other attributes of God in mind when I wrote the post above.

[Al-Indunisiy]

Still, maybe we should let others more competent than me handle this. After all, this is in the 'Clarifications about Islam' section not the 'Personal Opinion of a Currently in a Fatalistic Mood' section.

[Eliphaz]

Maybe I'm being a little bit slow today, but what do you insinuate by this?

Well, when you said 'Think it's unfair? Well, life is'nt exactly fair though. Just accept it as a part of the reality of life.'


I'm sorry, but it sounded to me like you were brushing it under the carpet. When you say life isn't fair, you do realise that the afterlife is supposed to be fair, that's sort of the whole point? So I put to you the question that do you feel that the fate of the non-Muslims in the Hereafter is fair and something which any human would do to another fellow human being? For if God is the Most Merciful then shouldn't His mercy exceed that of any human?

I had other attributes of God in mind when I wrote the post above.

Clearly.

[Al-Indunisiy]

I'm sorry, but it sounded to me like you were brushing it under the carpet. When you say life isn't fair, you do realise that the afterlife is supposed to be fair, that's sort of the whole point?

I thought in the questioners perspective. That is, (I assume that he is a kafir/non-muslim) I assumed that he would perceive it as unfair, thus:

Think it's unfair? Well, life is'nt exactly fair though. Just accept it as a part of the reality of life.

[rpwelton]

It's actually very simple.

God gave you earth to walk on, air to breath, ears to hear with and eyes to see with. He gave you the ability to choose to live your life in the manner you see fit, and even provides those who don't believe in Him with sustenance.

Let's say you're a good person to others; you help old ladies crossing the street, feeding the homeless and donating to the poor; maybe you even sponsor a child in Africa. These are all noble things regardless of what religion you belong to.

The key, however, is the intention. You are living your life not trying to thank God in any way, Who gave you all of this (including the sustenance which allowed you to be so generous). Because you were a good person, God gave you rewards in this life. Maybe because of your charity God helped you get a job you had wanted, or blessed you with another child. These are all signs, if you were to pay attention, of His Mercy and His Grace upon you.

But He does that all for you, even though you do not thank Him or praise Him (or even believe in Him) at all.

So how can you honestly expect God to give you a reward in the next life, when all you were doing is working towards your reward in this life? If you don't even believe in a Hereafter it makes even less sense. You live your whole life in denial of the Hereafter and you do nothing except focus on this worldly life.

When you come to realize you were wrong after you die, then why should God suddenly grant you entrance into Paradise when you had lived your entire life in denial of God and His Bounties?

[Eliphaz]

It's actually very simple.

God gave you earth to walk on, air to breath, ears to hear with and eyes to see with. He gave you the ability to choose to live your life in the manner you see fit, and even provides those who don't believe in Him with sustenance.

Let's say you're a good person to others; you help old ladies crossing the street, feeding the homeless and donating to the poor; maybe you even sponsor a child in Africa. These are all noble things regardless of what religion you belong to.

The key, however, is the intention. You are living your life not trying to thank God in any way, Who gave you all of this (including the sustenance which allowed you to be so generous). Because you were a good person, God gave you rewards in this life. Maybe because of your charity God helped you get a job you had wanted, or blessed you with another child. These are all signs, if you were to pay attention, of His Mercy and His Grace upon you.

But He does that all for you, even though you do not thank Him or praise Him (or even believe in Him) at all.

So how can you honestly expect God to give you a reward in the next life, when all you were doing is working towards your reward in this life? If you don't even believe in a Hereafter it makes even less sense. You live your whole life in denial of the Hereafter and you do nothing except focus on this worldly life.

When you come to realize you were wrong after you die, then why should God suddenly grant you entrance into Paradise when you had lived your entire life in denial of God and His Bounties?

This thread has nothing to do with Paradise, so I don't know why you are mentioning Paradise. It is about Hellfire and the fact that even if you are a good person, if you reject the Islamic version of God yet believe in a God, you wil nonetheless be consigned to an eternity of having your skin burned off and then grown back again whilst drinking boiling water. Think about it. Think, would any human wish this on any other human. Then tell me whether or not God is more merciful than any human. Then get back to me.

[GuestFellow]

This thread has nothing to do with Paradise, so I don't know why you are mentioning Paradise. It is about Hellfire and the fact that even if you are a good person, if you reject the Islamic version of God yet believe in a God, you wil nonetheless be consigned to an eternity of having your skin burned off and then grown back again whilst drinking boiling water. Think about it. Think, would any human wish this on any other human. Then tell me whether or not God is more merciful than any human. Then get back to me.

Well can you define good for me?

The fate of Non-Muslims in the hereafter

To put it bluntly they go hell.

[aamirsaab]

This thread has nothing to do with Paradise, so I don't know why you are mentioning Paradise. It is about Hellfire and the fact that even if you are a good person, if you reject the Islamic version of God yet believe in a God, you wil nonetheless be consigned to an eternity of having your skin burned off and then grown back again whilst drinking boiling water. Think about it. Think, would any human wish this on any other human. Then tell me whether or not God is more merciful than any human. Then get back to me.

Is it a bird?
Is it a plane?
No, it's rhetoric!

If you don't believe in Allah, how can you fear His punishment? If you fear His punishment, you believe in Allah, therefore will not receive His punishment.

[Ali_008]

This thread has nothing to do with Paradise, so I don't know why you are mentioning Paradise. It is about Hellfire and the fact that even if you are a good person, if you reject the Islamic version of God yet believe in a God, you wil nonetheless be consigned to an eternity of having your skin burned off and then grown back again whilst drinking boiling water. Think about it. Think, would any human wish this on any other human. Then tell me whether or not God is more merciful than any human. Then get back to me.

You're comparing God with Humans, a very bad idea. Many non-Muslims ask this question and give the plea of Allah's attribute of Ar-Rahman. Firstly, Allah has many many attributes and names, 99 of them are mentioned in the Qur'an. So God isn't just Most-Merciful, He has no less than 98 other attributes which He has revealed to us. 98 other names which He has named Himself with. Allah is incomparable, He has said it Himself in the Surah Ikhlas, 112:4

And there is none like unto Him.

There is nothing like Him. He is unique with His own set of mixed qualities. He is Ar-Rahman, The Most Merciful but at the same time, He's also Al-Adl (The Just). He is also

Allah Is strict in punishment.
Surah Baqarah - 002:196

Allah is Exalted in Might, Lord of Retribution.
Surah Imran - 003:004

So the entire subject of Heaven and Hell is just. And no single soul will be dealt with injustice on the Day of Judgment.

[titus]

And maybe while you're at it 'Does this give born Muslims a greater chance of escaping Hellfire than born non-Muslims?'

\

I haven't seen anyone address this yet.

The key, however, is the intention. You are living your life not trying to thank God in any way, Who gave you all of this (including the sustenance which allowed you to be so generous). Because you were a good person, God gave you rewards in this life. Maybe because of your charity God helped you get a job you had wanted, or blessed you with another child. These are all signs, if you were to pay attention, of His Mercy and His Grace upon you.

You think non-Muslims are only good to other people because they think it will land them a job or make them money or make it so they will have children? That is nowhere even close to the truth.

And how, exactly, does doing good things in order to get into paradise make God happier than doing good things out of the kindness of your heart?

[aamirsaab]

...
And maybe while you're at it 'Does this give born Muslims a greater chance of escaping Hellfire than born non-Muslims?'

Oops forgot about this part.

I said in a previous thread, being born a muslim accounts for jack - this is partly beacause in Islam we believe that all human beings are born muslim. So on that basis, we're all on equal footing. If however, you die as a muslim, then (if God wills) you will enter paradise and escape Hell altogether.

It's quite a simple thing to grasp really.

[titus]

Let us clarify then.

Say you have a person born in Brazil to Christian parents, and a person born in Pakistan to Muslim parents. Both kids grow up to be good people and do good things. They never steal or hurt anyone or lie, they give to charities, etc.

One, though, dies a Christian, and the other dies a Muslim.

Now, we know that the number one factor in what religion someone chooses is the religion of their parents. The vast majority of people born in Brazil (or the US, or Australia, or Iceland or South Africa) are going to die non-Muslim. The vast majority of people in Pakistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, etc. are going to die Muslim.

So, according to this thread, the person who dies a Christian is going to face eternal punishment, while the Muslim is going to eternal paradise. So why would a just and merciful God have it set up so that where you were born was the biggest factor in whether or not you were going to go to Hell?

[GuestFellow]

And maybe while you're at it 'Does this give born Muslims a greater chance of escaping Hellfire than born non-Muslims?'

Not really. Most people born as Muslims from my experience do not adopt the full Islamic ethics into practice, some live lifestyles that are against Islamic principles. Some remain ignorant and do not bother learning about their religion.

Those who convert tend to adopt the full Islamic way of life.

[Eliphaz]

Well can you define good for me?

Someone who wishes for others what they wish for themselves, preferably without any desire to score points and achieve rewards.

You're comparing God with Humans, a very bad idea. Many non-Muslims ask this question and give the plea of Allah's attribute of Ar-Rahman. Firstly, Allah has many many attributes and names, 99 of them are mentioned in the Qur'an. So God isn't just Most-Merciful, He has no less than 98 other attributes which He has revealed to us. 98 other names which He has named Himself with.

Ah, so He has multiple personalities, and what you are basically saying is that the 'Most Merciful' part only applies to believers whilst the 'Lord of Retribution' part applies to disbelievers. Got it.

So the entire subject of Heaven and Hell is just. And no single soul will be dealt with injustice on the Day of Judgment.

For me, justice is a punishment which fits the crime. Eternal punishment for a finite action, particularly polytheism (shirk), compared to say - rape, paedophilia or murder is antithetical to justice.

I said in a previous thread, being born a muslim accounts for jack - this is partly beacause in Islam we believe that all human beings are born muslim. So on that basis, we're all on equal footing. If however, you die as a muslim, then (if God wills) you will enter paradise and escape Hell altogether.

It's quite a simple thing to grasp really.

And as I showed in the same thread, given the terms and conditions for those who reject Islam, someone who is born Muslim is many times less likely to go to Hell for eternity, whereas someone who is born a non-Muslim is far more likely, even if we assume that many non-Muslims do not know about Islam. When you say 'we are all on equal footing', I think you are ignoring facts.

Just because something is simple, it does not make it logical.

[GuestFellow]

Someone who wishes for others what they wish for themselves, preferably without any desire to score points and achieve rewards.

Thus it is purely subjective, society itself cannot define good. We keep changing it. Humans cannot define good, as an overview yes they can define good but in practice I highly doubt it.

Though that is my opinion.

[Eliphaz]

Thus it is purely subjective, society itself cannot define good. We keep changing it. Humans cannot define good, as an overview yes they can define good but in practice I highly doubt it.

Though that is my opinion.

Yes it is purely subjective. But I believe that it is also a transcendant and fundamental ideal shared by many which many religions (though bolting on the concept of reward/punishment) have adhered to throughout the ages.

[Ali_008]

If on the Day of Judgment, there are many non-Muslims who are raised without any knowledge of Islam than I think more than the non-Muslims, us Muslims will be in bigger trouble. The message not reaching them is not their fault. Its the duty of Muslims to spread the message of Islam far and wide in every direction. Because of this, the non-Muslims will be evaluated on a just basis and their scoring will start right from zero whereas we the Muslims, our failure in delivering the message will get us negative marking.