Are Non-Muslims Going to Hell?

Let me tell you the last sentence of this blog right off the bat: Are Muslims going to heaven for sure? You may wonder how we are going to go from the title to that last sentence. Then, read along.

First, I would like share with you the classical stance on this matter, next, we are going to do some critical thinking, and then, we are going to do some reading of the Quranic verses on the issue, and last, we are going to do some more critical thinking and fair judgment.

Classical view says that one must be Muslim in order to go to heaven. If a person has not heard of Islam at all, then that person may be forgiven, but today in the age of information and internet, there is no excuse for not knowing or hearing. So, everybody is responsible. Even if the non-Muslim person is a good one with all  kinds of angel-like deeds, he or she receives the return for those benevolent actions in this worldly life, so there is no good waiting for them in the hereafter but hell. The only exception to this situation is if those non-Muslims have a faith that is the same as Muslims, even if they don't live like a Muslim, then there is salvation for them.

As will become more clear later on, this kind of understanding has taken root during the periods when people of different religions interacted in large part through wars. In such times, there is a need for motivation. What can be a better motivation then religion, especially in matters of life and death? However, as we come towards the recent centuries, the dominance of the Muslims dwindled, and non-Muslims gained superiority. Then, a generalization spread over the minds, claiming that all non-Muslims are rich and very comfortable in this life, living without troubles. So, having received the returns for their good deeds, if any, the hereafter belonged solely to the Muslims. You can easily see that the believers' minds that couldn't make sense of "having the truth but being losers" were trying to find peace by formulating a guarantee for the afterlife.

So, all of this is understandable from psychological and sociological perspectives. But, is this view compatible with what God says in the Quran? The brief answer to these questions is yo! That is, yes, there are some verses that are proposed as support for this view, but no, they cannot be interpreted as a general prescription for hell to all non-Muslims. With that, let's start reading some of the Quranic verses on the issue:

And indeed, among the People of the Scripture are those who believe in Allah and what was revealed to you and what was revealed to them, [being] humbly submissive to Allah. They do not exchange the verses of Allah for a small price. Those will have their reward with their Lord. Indeed, Allah is swift in account. (3/199)

A faction of the people of the Scripture wish they could mislead you. But they do not mislead except themselves, and they perceive [it] not. (3/69)

They are not [all] the same; among the People of the Scripture is a community standing [in obedience], reciting the verses of Allah during periods of the night and prostrating [in prayer].They believe in Allah and the Last Day, and they enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and hasten to good deeds. And those are among the righteous.And whatever good they do - never will it be removed from them. And Allah is Knowing of the righteous.(3/113-115)

 

"And [mention, O Muhammad], when Allah took a covenant from those who were given the Scripture, [saying], "You must make it clear to the people and not conceal it." But they threw it away behind their backs and exchanged it for a small price. And wretched is that which they purchased." (3/187)

Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam... (3/19)

"And among the People of the Scripture is he who, if you entrust him with a great amount [of wealth], he will return it to you. And among them is he who, if you entrust him with a [single] silver coin, he will not return it to you unless you are constantly standing over him [demanding it]. That is because they say, "There is no blame upon us concerning the unlearned." And they speak untruth about Allah while they know [it]. But yes, whoever fulfills his commitment and fears Allah - then indeed, Allah loves those who fear Him. Indeed, those who exchange the covenant of Allah and their [own] oaths for a small price will have no share in the Hereafter, and Allah will not speak to them or look at them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them; and they will have a painful punishment. And indeed, there is among them a party who alter the Scripture with their tongues so you may think it is from the Scripture, but it is not from the Scripture. And they say, "This is from Allah," but it is not from Allah . And they speak untruth about Allah while they know.(3/75-78)

But those firm in knowledge among them and the believers believe in what has been revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what was revealed before you. And the establishers of prayer [especially] and the givers of zakah (almsgiving) and the believers in Allah and the Last Day - those We will give a great reward. (4/162)

And when it is recited to them, they say, "We have believed in it; indeed, it is the truth from our Lord. Indeed we were, [even] before it, Muslims [submitting to Allah ]." (28/53)

"... Had Allah willed, He would have made you one nation [united in religion], but [He intended] to test you in what He has given you; so race to [all that is] good. To Allah is your return all together, and He will [then] inform you concerning that over which you used to differ." (5/48) 

And do not argue with the People of the Scripture except in a way that is best, except for those who commit injustice among them, and say, "We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you. And our God and your God is one; and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him." (29/46)

Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes - from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly. (60/8)

There are a lot more verses regarding the "people of the book", i.e. the members of the previously revealed religions. Although they form only a part of the non-Muslim population, the Quranic verses state a clear perspective on the issue: "people are judged according to their actions and intentions, not according to their identities or what comes out of their tongues." What's more, the same criteria is valid for the Muslims, too. That is, Allah tells in the Quran that being Muslim as an identity is not enough without proper actions:

"Do the people think that they will be left to say, "We believe" and they will not be tried? But We have certainly tried those before them, and Allah will surely make evident those who are truthful, and He will surely make evident the liars." (29/2-3)

"And those who believe and do righteous deeds - We will surely remove from them their misdeeds and will surely reward them according to the best of what they used to do." (29/7)

"And of the people are some who say, "We believe in Allah," but when one [of them] is harmed for [the cause of] Allah, they consider the trial of the people as [if it were] the punishment of Allah . But if victory comes from your Lord, they say, "Indeed, We were with you." Is not Allah most knowing of what is within the breasts of all creatures? And Allah will surely make evident those who believe, and He will surely make evident the hypocrites." (29/10-11)

"And of the people are some who say, "We believe in Allah and the Last Day," but they are not believers.They [think to] deceive Allah and those who believe, but they deceive not except themselves and perceive [it] not." (2/8-9)

"And of the people is he whose speech pleases you in worldly life, and he calls Allah to witness as to what is in his heart, yet he is the fiercest of opponents. And when he goes away, he strives throughout the land to cause corruption therein and destroy crops and animals. And Allah does not like corruption." (2/204-205)

"But the hypocrites say, "We have believed in Allah and in the Messenger, and we obey"; then a party of them turns away after that. And those are not believers." (24/47)

"The believers are only the ones who have believed in Allah and His Messenger and then doubt not but strive with their properties and their lives in the cause of Allah. It is those who are the truthful." (49/15)

"And it is not your wealth or your children that bring you nearer to Us in position, but it is [by being] one who has believed and done righteousness. For them there will be the double reward for what they did, and they will be in the upper chambers [of Paradise], safe [and secure]. And the ones who strive against Our verses to cause [them] failure - those will be brought into the punishment [to remain]." (34/37-38)

"... And he will have failed who carries injustice.But he who does of righteous deeds while he is a believer - he will neither fear injustice nor deprivation." (20/111-112) 

 On top of all these, let's note that the believers who are going to enter paradise are those who have the sensitivity for fulfilling what is pleasing to God and for avoiding what He is displeased of. These believers carry the fear of failing while still on the way and not accomplishing what is expected of them. In other words, instead of a certainty of destination, the true believers embrace an uncertainty of their own end. And those who are sure of their ultimate end are either complete losers or they are risking dire losses in the future:

"Then did they feel secure from the plan of Allah ? But no one feels secure from the plan of Allah except the losing people." (7/99)

"Indeed, those who fear their Lord unseen will have forgiveness and great reward." (67/12)

"But those who feared their Lord will be driven to Paradise in groups until, when they reach it while its gates have been opened and its keepers say, "Peace be upon you; you have become pure; so enter it to abide eternally therein," [they will enter]." (39/73)

So, if both Muslims and Non-Muslims are judged according to their deeds and intentions, and if the proper attitude is to beware self-corruption and avoiding certainty of destination, who can dare to announce who is going where? That's why, instead of bothering about the end of non-Muslims, Muslims must ask themselves "Are Muslims going to heaven for sure?".