Shaykh Ramzy Ajem answered:
According to the majority of Muslim theologians (i.e. the Asharis), humans and jinn are held accountable
on the day of Judgement for their knowledge and belief in God only if a Messenger has reached them.
God, the exalted, says
Q12 WHO IS ACCOUNTABLE FOR KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF IN GOD - RAMZY AJEM
1. Questions & Answers in Islamic Theology by Shaykh Ramzy Ajem
WHO IS ACCOUNTABLE FOR KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF IN GOD?
Shaykh Ramzy Ajem answered:
According to the majority of Muslim theologians (i.e. the Asharis), humans and jinn are held accountable
on the day of Judgement for their knowledge and belief in God only if a Messenger has reached them.
God, the exalted, says:
ً ُ َر َ َ َْ ٰ َ َ ِ َ ُ ُ َ َو
We never chastise, until We send forth a Messenger. (Quran 17:15)
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the universal and final messenger of God sent to all mankind and jinn. As
such, any human being or jinni who lives in the era after his call becomes a recipient of his message.
God, the exalted, says:
َن ُ َ ْ َ َ ِس ا َ َ ْ ا ِ َٰ َو اً ِ َ َو اً ِ َ ِس ً َ ِٕا َك َ ْ َ ْرا َ َو
We have sent you not, except to mankind entirely, giving them glad tidings,
and warning them, but most people understand not. (Quran 34:28)
Human accountability in the afterlife, however, is conditioned on the following:
1. Sanity;
2. Pubescence;
3. Soundness of the senses and;
4. Receiving the Messenger’s call ﷺ.
WHAT ARE THE FATE OF NON-MUSLIMS, CHILDREN, AND THE INSANE?
Shaykh Ramzy Ajem answered:
The following people are granted amnesty in the afterlife:
1. Persons who have no intellect or sanity;
2. Persons who die before the age of puberty (according to the majority);
3. Persons who are both blind and deaf (a reliable position);
4. Persons who die and did not received the Messenger’s call ﷺ, even if they be atheists or
polytheists.
Notes from the Sanusiya Course 2022 by Shaykh Ramzy Ajem
