Allah's love (hadith)

format_quote Originally Posted by glo

What struck me about the story my friend told (as posted in the OP), was not that God may be all-loving and all-forgiving without being a just judge - but instead the idea that God's mercy and love might extend to non-Muslims. That's not something I had heard in that way from Muslims ... and indeed that view has been rejected quite firmly in this thread.

The judgement of Allah (swt) is not something that we can presume to know even for Muslims themselves as we really are incapable of judging our own heart much less the heart of someone else. We can go by what the Qur'an says regarding these issues and to make generalized statements. It would be dishonest of me to hold out to you a ray of hope for mercy from Allah (swt) when you persist in being a Christian despite extensive knowledge of Islam and what the Qur'an says that those about those who say Jesus is the Son of God are disbelievers.

I think we can agree that even Prophet Muhammad (saaws) was not a Muslim in the sense we think of today, but he was a Hanif (on the religion of Abraham) prior to the first revelation because he was not an idol worshipper and he was seeking after Allah as exemplified by his retreats to the cave. I believe those unaware of Islam will be judged according to their lives and I trust in Allah (swt) as being merciful and at the same time just.

I have no doubt that God will judge us on the Last Day according to our actions and our deeds.

... and most importantly according to our intentions.

Your story about Adam raises in me another question: Does God forgive completely, but still choose to punish us for the sin we have committed?

Regarding our sins against Allah (swt), He surely can forgive those without punishment. The greatest of all sins is the ascribing partners with Allah (swt) in His worship and deity, yet surely sincere repentance and turning away from shirk will be forgiven. At least I have the hope in that as I have repented of worshipping Jesus (as) as God. Regarding our sins against other creatures, my understanding is that those sinned against will themselves repay the guilty person unless we have been forgiven by him during this life. We Muslims may be punished if our scale is light on that Day with some time in Hellfire, but if we die with "la ilaha il'Allah" in our hearts we believe we will eventually be taken out of the Hellfire regardless of what sins we may have commited against others. And Allah (swt) knows best the answer to your question. I am only relaying my understanding and limited knowledge.