To Uday;

Submitted by Nuray (Portugal), Nov 16, 2005 at 17:59

Hi Uday,

Those questions are very straight forward..I didn't see any challenge. All answers are available in Quran. We Muslims are so lucky. Everything is explained very clearly in Quran. This is so because Islam is the last religion and Quran is delivered by the last messenger.

Let me explain this before going over your questionnaire :-)

Let's read what Allah says in Quran
51 - Surah Adh-Dhariyat
And I (Allâh) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone) (56)

Therefore, his creatures are supposed to worship Allah. Being a good person is not fist priority.
The definition of a good person changes culture to culture. An action of an good person on one society could be an evil action in another society.

Here is the answers according to Quran

Q. 1. If I am a pious Muslim but I refuse to take part in Jihad and also prevent other Muslims to participate in Jihad – will I go to paradise after my death? (Answer:It depends how jihad is defined)

Jihad has many meanings in Islam. Non Muslims think that it is a only holy fighting against unbelievers. Let's learn what it actually is;

(1) to control yourself
Our messenger after Tebuk military expedition that "We came from small jihad to big jihad".
I like this very much.

"Is he who is on a clear proof from his Lord, like those for whom their evil deeds that they do
are beautified for them, while they follow their own lusts (evil desires)? (47:12)

(2) to preach of Islam using Quran
Jihad is translated to English as "strive against".
Let's read what Allah says in Quran
25 - Surah Al-Furqan
52. So obey not the disbelievers, but strive against them (by preaching) with the utmost
endeavour, with it (the Qur'ân).
As you see preaching of Islam using Quran is a jihad.
(3) to pay money for the sake of Islam
(4) to fighting against unbelievers
Jihad is religious duty as written in Quran
2 - Surah Al-Baqarah
Jihâd (holy fighting in Allâh's Cause) is ordained for you (Muslims) though you dislike it,
and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which
is bad for you. Allâh knows but you do not know. (216)

but there should be a war with a decent reason between two countries as described in the
verse below

2 - Surah Al-Baqarah
190. And fight in the Way of Allâh those who fight you, but transgress not the limits. Truly,
Allâh likes not the transgressors.

If your country is under invasion you are supposed to fight against enemy. People usually
has tendency to protect their countries. If you don't fight and but claim being a good person I think you have little chance to go to heaven. However I think this is not a black-white issue anyone go to heaven if Allah will.

Q. 2. If I am a Muslim who believes in Allah but not in Prophet Muhammad, am I then still a Muslim? (Answer:No)

Let's read what Allah says in Quran

2 - Surah Al-Baqarah
These are the Verses of Allâh, We recite them to you (O Muhammad ) in truth, and surely, you are one of the Messengers (of Allâh).

4 - Surah An-Nisa'
13. These are the limits (set by) Allâh (or ordainments as regards laws of inheritance), and whosoever obeys Allâh and His Messenger (Muhammad ) will be admitted to Gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise), to abide therein, and that will be the great success.

These verses show that Muslims must accept him as a messenger otherwise who delivered the
verses of Allah?

Q. 3. If I am a Jew or a Christian and spent my life doing good things. Will I go to heaven after my death? (Answer:No)

Let's read what Allah says in Quran
5 - Surah Al-Ma'idah'
68. Say (O Muhammad ) "O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! You have nothing (as regards guidance) till you act according to the Taurât (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel), and what has (now) been sent down to you from your Lord (the Qur'ân)." Verily, that which has been sent down to you (Muhammad ) from your Lord increases in many of them their obstinate rebellion and disbelief. So be not sorrowful over the people who disbelieve.

69. Surely, those who believe (in the Oneness of Allâh, in His Messenger Muhammad and all that was revealed to him from Allâh), those who are the Jews and the Sabians and the Christians, - whosoever believed in Allâh and the Last Day, and worked righteousness, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.

According to these verses Jews and Christians have to obey Quran or at least believed in Allâh and the Last Day if they want to keep their original religions. First of all Christians should leave the concept of trinity.

Q. 4. If I am a Hindu who believes in idol worshipping and I have done good things in life. Am I entitled to go to heaven after death? (Answer:No)

Let's read what Allah says in Quran

29 - Surah Al-Ankabut
17. "You worship besides Allâh only idols, and you only invent falsehood. Verily, those whom you worship besides Allâh have no power to give you provision, so seek your provision from Allâh (Alone), and worship Him (Alone), and be grateful to Him. To Him (Alone) you will be brought back.

As you see Islam refuses idol worshipping.

You have learned many things about Islam, Judaism and Christianity during the our discussion. Are you happy with that? I also asked many questions about your religion to my Hindu friend. He said that there are many gods in Hinduism. Do you have heaven/hell concept in Hinduism?

By the way, "72 Houries" is not mentioned in Quran. If you search it in any electronic version of Quran you will not see it. We don't know their numbers. Does it matter?

Nuray

---

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".