Scholars' Viewpoint: Why can't all good people go to Heaven?

If you ask me which is one question that is asked by most of the non-Muslims around the world, I would say: Why can't all good people go to heaven?

Yes, after reading accounts of non-Muslims' perception about Islam, they are generally seem found clueless about the fate of pious and good doers non-Muslims, for God is the Ultimate Mercy and Oft Forgiving. So, If Allah is epitome of Mercy, how is it that He would allow only pious Muslims to enter Jannah / Paradise and filter out pious non-Muslims out of it.

As far my scant knowledge about Islam is concerned, I know that on the Day of Judgment, each and every individual be presented personally in front of Allah and his/her dossier read out to him and it will be none other than Allah alone who would decide the fate of that person, whether Muslim or Non-Muslim. So, the final judgment rests with Allah and no one else, unless He on that day allows someone to intercede and plead for him.

Thus, it is not for us to pass any fatwa or proclamation as to who would enter Jannah and would not. Even the Prophet of Allah would spend almost the entire nights seeking forgiveness for himself and his ummat for even he, the most blessed and revered of all prophets ever, did not know of his forgiveness.

We cannot unanimously declare that all non-Muslims or followers of other faiths will necessarily go to Hell, as some Muslim scholars do claim so. Professor Javed Ahmad Ghamidi, a Pakistani Muslim theologian, Quran scholar, Islamic modernist, exegete and educationist is of the opinion that "We only say that Islam is the last and the true religion of God. It is incumbent upon the people to ponder over its teachings and decide to accept or reject it on the basis of arguments. Still, however, there could be people who are not convinced of its veracity for many reasons. God will accept their excuse if found valid. Nothing is hidden from God. Nobody can deceive him."

However, Professor Ghamidi adds, we should be mindful of one important aspect related to our beliefs about existence of One True God. The basis thing is the belief in one God. Other beliefs come under it and are secondary in nature. God has clearly stated that those who followed other religions including Judaism, Christianity and others truly and did good deeds will be rewarded. He has also made it clear that He would not forgive polytheism. Any other sin He may forgive.

إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَلِكَ لِمَن يَشَاء وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِاللّهِ فَقَدِ افْتَرَى إِثْمًا عَظِيمًا

Allah is not going to forgive that partners should be set up with Him; but He forgives anything else, to whom He pleases; to set up partners with Allah is to devise a sin most heinous indeed. (4:48)

The above said verse, which is one of the many such like verses in the Qur'an, clearly states that Allah may forgive anyone no matter how heavy the load of one's sins may be, but He would not forgive the one who had denied His existence or held other (s) as His associates or revered a human at par with One True God.

In order to know what scholars' view point is on the subject, I came across a very rationale and convincing reply by Nouman Ali Khan, who, born to a Pakistani family, is an American Muslim speaker and Arabic instructor who founded the Bayyinah Institute for Arabic and Qur’anic Studies, after serving as an instructor of Arabic at Nassau Community College. He has been named one of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre of Jordan.

Watch Nouman Ali Khan's viewpoint on the issue:

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is our duty to convey only to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and help us to act upon the commandments of Allah contained therein. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the video above are those of the scholar concerned. We have shared this view as added information in better understanding of Islam. The reader may or may not agree with the view owing to their own perception. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

Photo | References: | 1 | 

For more Scholarly views and videos, please read our reference page: Scholars' Viewpoint on Important Issues Related to Islam.

You may also refer to our following sites for knowing more about Islam and Quran:

• Islam and Other Faiths
• 114 Chapters (Sūrahs) of the Holy Qur'an" for translation, meaning and summary / exegesis of all Sūrahs / chapters of the Quran
• Selected Verses from the Qur'an
• 99 Attributes of Allah" for complete list of 99 attributes of Allah Almighty with meaning and explanation.
• Understanding Islam - Frequently Asked Q&A for knowing more about Islam.
• Words of Wisdom: Attributed to Luqman Al Hakeem (as mentioned in the Qur'an).
• Women in Islam
• Scholars' Viewpoint on Important Issues Related to Islam
• Revert Experiences
• Islam and Life of Muslims in Non Muslim Countries

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The Holy Qur'an (Summary): Chapter 85 Sūrat al-Burūj (The Great Constellations)

Sūrat al-Burūj, the 85th chapter of 30th Part of the Holy Qur'an was revealed in Makkah and like many of the succeeding chapters, its theme is to warn the pagans of Makkah of painful denouncement for prosecuting and torturing the newly converted Makkans to Islam. The divine message that follows comes as a great solace to the Muslims subjected to extreme form of tyranny at the hands of the nonbelievers and gives them tiding of eternal rewards if they stood firm on their faith, reassuring them that Allah is the best avenger of prosecutors (by giving the fate of people of Ditch).

Burj in Arabic means a pillar or a tower supporting some structure or room. Buruj is plural of Burj, meaning by many pillars or towers. That is how Allah takes a vow in the very first verse of the Heavens or the Skies which are held from below by many pillars, referring to the stars and the constellations and the galaxies supporting the heavens:

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ 

"In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful"

1. By the heaven with its impregnable castles;
2. by the Promised Day,
3. and by the witness and what is witnessed

Some interpreters refer to the buruj as the Zodiac signs, but most agree that here Allah takes a solemn pledge of the constellations, stars and galaxies that support the heavens and the skies - the wonderful world of astronomy that Allah has created for us to wonder how vast is His empire, unshared by none whatsoever. Then Allah also takes a solemn pledge of the Promised Day, the Day of Judgement, a day when everyone will be made accountable to one's deeds, good or bad, and will be rewarded and punished accordingly.

The third solemn pledge "by the witness (the seer) and what is witnessed (the seen)" needs some elaboration. Some interpreters are of the view that every living being will witness the Promised Day, and the Day itself will be what is being witnessed.

The next four verses relate to the People of Ditch (Ashaab al Akhdood):

• the people of the pit were destroyed
• with fire abounding in fuel,
• while they sat around it,
• and were witnessing what they did to the believers

Akhdood is a historical place located 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Najran city in Saudi Arabia. The event of Al-Akhdood occurred in 520 or 523 ACE, in the time of Dhu Nuwas, the last Himyarite King. There are many interpretations of the event related to people of AKhdood. One of the most common and accepted versions is as under: [3]

According to Christian sources, this event took place around 523 C.E. Dhu Nuwas converted to Judaism and chose Joseph as his new name. He went to Najran to force the Christian people there to convert to Judaism. When they refused, the King threw them alive into one or more burning ditches. It is said that about 20,000 or even more Christians perished into the fires of ditches.

In the next two verses, Allah mentions that those whoa re victims of oppression are the ones who belongs the dominion of heavens and earth and that Allah watches who are the transgressors:

• Against these they had no grudge except that they believed in Allah, the Most Mighty, the Most Praiseworthy,
• to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. Allah witnesses everything.

The Akhdood later witnessed the wrath of Allah and the whole city was thrown upside down. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to see the remains of the city of Akhdood many years ago when I was posted in Najran, Saudi Arabia. The place is otherwise not allowed to be visited for it had been cursed by Allah for torturing the believers.

The revelation of this surah is timed when pagans of Makkah and the non believers were leaving no stone unturned to torture and humiliate the newly reverted Muslims and the narration of People of the Ditch meant as a caution to the Makkans, lest they faced a similar fate. And for those who stood fast and held their faith in Allah, there are tidings of rewards and bounties:

• As for those who believed and acted righteously, theirs shall be Gardens beneath which rivers flow. That is the great triumph.
• Stern indeed is your Lord's punishment.
• He it is Who creates for the first time and He it is Who will create again,
• and He is the Ever Forgiving, the Most Loving

Then yet again Allah reminds the nonbelievers about the fate of Pharaoh and Thamud:

• Has the story of the armies reached you,
• the armies of Pharaoh and Thamud?
• The unbelievers are indeed engaged in denying it, calling it a lie,
• Although Allah surrounds them.

People of Thamud are the same upon him Prophet Saleh (peace be upon him) was sent to show them the path of Allah and who refused and killed the she camel the prophet had forbade them not to harm and faced the wrath of Allah (we will deliberate on the incident when we present summary of Qur'an, Surah 7 Al-A'raf). The ruins of Petra in Jordan are said have been the abode of people of Thamud.

And of course the Pharaoh who refused to accept divine message brought to him by Prophet Musa (Moses, peace be upon him) and drowned along with his mighty army when people of Israel had reached safety across the sea. We will discuss in detail about Prophet Musa and fate of Pharaoh later.

The last two verses of the Surah are attributed to the glory of Holy Qur'an, which remains unpolluted since its revelation for its protection has been pledge none other than Allah Himself:

• Nay; but this is a glorious Qur'an,
• inscribed on a well-guarded Tablet.

Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi in his book "Tafhim al-Qur'an (The Meaning of the Qur'an)" explains these two verses as:

That is, "The writ of the Qur'an is unchangeable and imperishable. It is inscribed in the Preserved Tablet of God. which cannot he corrupted in any way Whatever is written in it, has to be fulfilled: even the whole world together cannot avert its fulfillment. 

Meaning by no matter how hard the nonbelievers try or make an effort they would never be able to alter the final words and commandments of Allah which are to stay unchanged till the Day of Judgement. Those who underscore the finality of Allah's commandments are the one to be the end losers, here in this world and in the hereafter.

You may now like to listen to Arabic recitation of Al-Balad with English subtitles:

You may refer to our post "114 Chapters (Sūrahs) of the Holy Qur'an" for translation, meaning and summary of other chapters (Though not complete but building up from 30th Part backwards for chapters in 30th Part are shorter and easier to understand)

Photo | References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

An effort has been made to gather explanation of the surahs of the Holy Qur'an from authentic souses and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. However, those wanting detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to sites the references of which are given above.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

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Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on Social Media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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