What of people whom the message of Islam did not reach?

[Reza_]

Assalamualaikum brothers & sisters,

I was just wondering to myself, what of the people whom the message of Islam did not reach. Im not talking about people living in modern civilisations as they would be exposed one way or another to Islam and have the ability to think/question and therefore would be accountable. Im talking about people who live in isolation, the jungle for example, who have little or no connection to the outside world.. As Allah SWT is Al-`Adl, He would judge each and everyone accordingly.

Can anyone shed any light on this topic?

[Umm_Umara]

Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim

As Salama Alaikum wr wbr,



The fate of kuffaar who did not hear the message of Islam:

Someone has asked me this question (she is about to
become a muslimah). Her statement: 'A lot of others will never meet a Muslim in person. Will they be held responsible for their ignorance? What exactly does this mean: "After the revelation of the Quran who ever receives this message & does not abide by it is a non-believer"?
i. Who is considered to have received the message?
ii. Isn't it possible for people to have not received the message even though the Quran is in existence?'


Praise be to Allaah.

It is part of the justice of Allaah that He does not punish any people until He has first sent a warning to them and unless there is evidence against them. Allaah does not treat anybody unfairly. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “… And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger (to give warning).” [al-Israa’ 17:15].

In his tafseer (commentary) on this aayah, Ibn Katheer (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “These words, ‘…And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger (to give warning)’ tell us of the justice of Allaah, may He be exalted, and that He does not punish anyone until after He has established evidence against him by sending a Messenger to him. This is like the aayat (interpretation of the meaning): ‘… Every time a group is cast therein [into Hell], its keeper will ask, “Did no warner come to you?” They will say, “Yes indeed; a warner did come to us, but we belied him and said: ‘Allaah never sent down anything (of revelation), you are only in great error.’”’ [al-Mulk 67:8] and: ‘And those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in groups, till, when they reach it, the gates thereof will be opened (suddenly like a prison at the arrival of its prisoners). And its keepers will say, “Did not the Messengers come to you from yourselves, - reciting to you the Verses of your Lord, and warning you of the Meeting of this Day of yours?” They will say: “Yes, but the Word of torment has been justified against the disbelievers!”’ [al-Zumar 39:71]…”

A person who has never heard of Islam or the Prophet SAWS (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and who has never heard the message in its correct and true form, will not be punished by Allaah if he dies in a state of kufr (disbelief). If it were asked what his fate will be, the answer will be that Allaah will test him on the Day of Resurrection: if he obeys, he will enter Paradise and if he disobeys he will enter Hell. The evidence (daleel) for this is the hadeeth of al-Aswad ibn Saree’, who reported that the Prophet of Allaah SAWS (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There are four (who will protest) to Allaah on the Day of Resurrection: the deaf man who never heard anything, the insane man, the very old man, and the man who died during the fatrah (the interval between the time of ‘Eesaa (Jesus, upon whom be peace) and the time of Muhammad SAWS (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)). The deaf man will say, ‘O Lord, Islam came but I never heard anything.’ The insane man will say, ‘O Lord, Islam came but the children ran after me and threw stones at me.’ The very old man will say, ‘O Lord, Islam came but I did not understand anything.’ The man who died during the fatrah will say, ‘O Lord, no Messenger from You came to me.’ He will accept their promises of obedience, then word will be sent to them to enter the Fire. By the One in Whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, if they enter it, it will be cool and safe for them.”

According to another report, he said: “Whoever enters it, it will be cool and safe for him, and whoever does not enter it will be dragged to it.” (The hadeeth was reported by Imaam Ahmad and Ibn Hibbaan, and deemed saheeh by al-Albaani, Saheeh al-Jaami’, 881).

Everyone who hears the message of Islam in a sound and correct form (and rejects it), will have evidence aginst him. Whoever dies without having heard the message, or having heard it in a distorted form, then his case is in the hands of Allaah. Allaah knows best about His creation, and He will never treat anyone unfairly. And Allaah is All-Seer of His slaves.


Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

[Ahmad_shakeel]

good question

[Abu Dhirrar]

Jazak Allah Khair

Masha Allah, I had been asking the same question to myself for a while, it is a great answer. Indeed Allah Tala is the most Just.

AsSalam O Alaikum

[safinatun_naja]

Assalamualaikum brothers & sisters,

I was just wondering to myself, what of the people whom the message of Islam did not reach. Im not talking about people living in modern civilisations as they would be exposed one way or another to Islam and have the ability to think/question and therefore would be accountable. Im talking about people who live in isolation, the jungle for example, who have little or no connection to the outside world.. As Allah SWT is Al-`Adl, He would judge each and everyone accordingly.

Can anyone shed any light on this topic?

As Salamu alaikum,

The answer to this can be found in most works dealing with 'Aqidah under the discussion of who is considered morally/legally responsible. According to the Ash'ari school of Aqidah, to which most Shafi'is and Malikis adhere, such individuals will not be accountable.

[London786]

Brother Safinatun naja what is the ashari postion on those who receive a distorted image of islam and what exactly is a distorted image....and what kind of information do they need to possess before they are held accountable. Could you elaborate on this please. For example a kafir knows that muslims pray, wear niqab, grow beards is this considered sufficient or would some detailed lecture by someone like shaykh hamza Yusuf on the merits of Islam be sufficient?

[safinatun_naja]

Brother Safinatun naja what is the ashari postion on those who receive a distorted image of islam and what exactly is a distorted image....and what kind of information do they need to possess before they are held accountable. Could you elaborate on this please. For example a kafir knows that muslims pray, wear niqab, grow beards is this considered sufficient or would some detailed lecture by someone like shaykh hamza Yusuf on the merits of Islam be sufficient?

As Salamu alaikum,

I wonder about this myself, I hope someone knowledgeable in the field of 'Aqidah will be able to answer this one.

The only thing I can recall reading was a small part of Sheikh Nuh's "Tariqa Notes" where he quotes Ghazali (if I am not mistaken) as having said that it must be an undistorted message of Islam. I will try to find the passage Insha Allah.

[umar_italy]

http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/show...l=1#post348193

[Rifai]

As Salamu alaikum,

I wonder about this myself, I hope someone knowledgeable in the field of 'Aqidah will be able to answer this one.

The only thing I can recall reading was a small part of Sheikh Nuh's "Tariqa Notes" where he quotes Ghazali (if I am not mistaken) as having said that it must be an undistorted message of Islam. I will try to find the passage Insha Allah.

Salamun 'alaykum,

As far as I remember, Imam Ghazalis (rahimahu'Allah) opinion is not relied upon as it is extremely lenient. As you know his opinion would mean that most people today would also be excused - if it has to be undistorted. Then again, Allah's mercy is beyond our understanding.

wa'Allahu a'lam.

[safinatun_naja]

As Salamu alaikum,

So what is the relied upon position then and was Ghazali alone in his view ? Is his view considered irregular (Shadh) ? or weak (Dhaif) or is it strong but just not the relied upon position ?

If the relied upon position is contrary to what Ghazali says then it would entail someone being accountable if they heard about Islam from Fox news for example...?