Who will go to hell according to Quran?

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Apostates, murderers, blasphemers, homosexuals… the usual. General unrepentant sinners.

This reminded me of a question I’ve been meaning to have answered- and who else to ask but @Niblo

Niblo, what is Islam’s teaching on Christians and Jews in regards to their salvation through their respective faiths?
I recently learned that you consider us “People of the Book” or people who have recieved revelation from Allah.

Apologies to the OP for asking this question on his thread, but it falls under who Islam teaches would be going to Hell.
 
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Much like Christianity, it depends on which sect you ask. There are some that teach that anyone who doesn’t adhere to their particular brand of Islam are automatically damned from no other reason than that.

There are also some more liberal sects that teach that non-Muslims can be saved. I’ve never heard of any that adopt the universalist position, so I’m not sure about that.

I’m curious why you care though. We believe that Mohammad was a false prophet (if not a full-blown anti-Christ), and that they are in grave error as to the nature of God and the means of salvation.
 
Salibi said:
Niblo, what is Islam’s teaching on Christians and Jews in regards to their salvation through their respective faiths?
I recently learned that you consider us “People of the Book” or people who have recieved revelation from Allah.
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Thank you for your kind words. Let’s hope your confidence in this old man is not misplaced!

‘We have assigned a law and a path to each of you. If God had so willed, He would have made you one community, but He wanted to test you through that which He has given you, so race to do good: you will all return to God and He will make clear to you the matters you differed about.’ (Al-Ma’ida: 48).

The message is clear: Whatever path we happen to be on (Jew, Christian or Muslim) – whatever law we happen to follow – we are each of us called to do good.

The Exalted says this: ‘For the (Muslim) believers, the Jews, the Sabians, and the Christians – those who believe in God and the Last Day and do good deeds – there is no fear: they will not grieve.’ (Al-Ma’ida 69).

Puritans claim that this verse has been abrogated by the following:

‘If anyone seeks a religion other than complete devotion to God, it will not be accepted from him: he will be one of the losers in the Hereafter.’ (Al‘Imran: 85).

The words ‘complete devotion’ are a rendition of ‘islam’; a word that is never capitalised in Arabic. This word can also be rendered ‘submission’.

Puritans take the word ‘religion’, and then capitalise ‘islam’; giving the impression that the verse refers to that particular Faith alone. They argue that Islam is the only religion acceptable to God (may He be exalted). At the same time, they claim (correctly) that Islam is not merely a ‘religion’, but a way of life. But so are Christianity and Judaism (and all other religions, too, of course). And the best ‘way of life’ is one spent in complete devotion to God.

Al‘Imran: 85 can safely be rendered: ‘If anyone seeks a way of life other than complete devotion to God, it will not be accepted from him: he will be one of the losers in the Hereafter.’

Consider again:

‘….those who believe in God and the Last Day and do good deeds – there is no fear: they will not grieve.’ This is the Exalted’s solemn promise. It has not been abrogated, since He does not renege on His promises.
 
Salibi said:
This reminded me of a question I’ve been meaning to have answered- and who else to ask but @Niblo
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Khaled M. Abou El Fadl writes:

‘The highest stage of submission is to love God more than any other, even more than oneself, and for those who achieve this lofty position of loving God absolutely and completely, they become God’s beloved, endowed with true perception, wisdom, and compassion. For human beings to love God necessarily means that they must love all that God has created and represents. It would make little sense to love God but hate God’s creatures and creation. To truly love God, one must love all human beings, whether Muslim or not, and love all living beings as well as all of God’s nature. To truly love God means that one must also detest the destruction of what God has created. For those who reach the lofty stature of being God’s beloved, their hearts will be full with love for justice, and full of compassion and love for all. As the classical scholars used to put it, if you find a man full of anger, resentment, hate, and cruelty toward human beings, animals, or nature, then know that the love of God has not entered his heart. In short, it is impossible to love God or be beloved by God and not to exhibit the characteristics of Godliness.’ (‘The Great Theft: Wrestling Islam from the Extremists’).

It has been my privilege to know – and to love – many Christians (laity, priests and Religious) from whom the light, and love, of God shone bright. I have no doubt at all that each and every one of these folk have their place in Heaven.

I hope this answers your question.
 
Thank you, Niblo, for your response, indeed I was not disappointed, as always, your responses are erudite and straight to the point. One can always count on you to provide a satisfactory answer.

I was wondered what you meant by “abrogated”. How do Muslims believe that one Qu’ranic verse abrogates another?
 
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Hi Salibi.

Thank you for your kind words. In a nutshell, abrogation is the notion that an early verse can be annulled by a later. The matter is complicated, and disputed.

My wife and I are going abroad in the wee hours of tomo (God willing)…and I’m under strict instructions to sort and pack my stuff before she gets home (from her ladies barbershop chorus rehearsals, no less!). God willing, I’ll revisit abrogation on my return (Monday). The thing to keep in mind is that God’s promise of Heaven for those who do good is not…and cannot be…abrogated. As you know, He is true to His promises.

May God bless you, and your family.
 
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Niblo said:
‘We have assigned a law and a path to each of you. If God had so willed, He would have made you one community, but He wanted to test you through that which He has given you, so race to do good: you will all return to God and He will make clear to you the matters you differed about.’ (Al-Ma’ida: 48).
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Interesting. But, why would he have to test us? He doesn’t know us?
 
@Niblo Asalam Alaikum dear brother!

I too, was going to cite Khaled Abou El Fadl. May God reward Him, he is a gem.

Another interesting read would be the 14th century (CE) scholar Ibn Qayyim al Jawziyya’s case for why hell is not actually eternal.
 
SalamKhan said:
@Niblo Asalam Alaikum dear brother!

I too, was going to cite Khaled Abou El Fadl. May God reward Him, he is a gem.

Another interesting read would be the 14th century (CE) scholar Ibn Qayyim al Jawziyya’s case for why hell is not actually eternal.
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Waʿalaykumu s-salām, brother,

Agreed!

Apart from the one I refer to in my posts, I also have his ‘Speaking in God’s Name: Islamic Law, Authority and Women’; ‘Reasoning With God: Reclaiming Shari’ah in the Modern Age’; and ‘The Search for Beauty in Islam: A Conference of the Books.’ One of my favourite Islamic scholars.

In šāʾ Allāh, I will look out for Ibn Qayyim al Jawziyya.

Thank you, brother. May Allāh (subḥānahu ūta’āla) reward you for your kindness.
 
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