1. Q130. We have received the message of Islam some way. But most people on
earth who are born in other religions have not even received the message of
Islam. How can these people be punished by Allah if they die doing "Shirk"?
Answer.
1.The Gathering
Allah(SWT) gives us the answer of this question is the Qur'an in Surah Al Araf 7:172-173
"172 When thy Lord drew forth from the children of Adam from their loins their
descendants, and made them testify concerning themselves, (saying): Am I not your
Lord (who cherishes and sustains you)? they said: yea we do testify (this), lest ye should
say on the day of judgment: of this we were never mindful:
173 Or lest ye should say: our fathers before us may have taken false gods, but we are
(their) descendants after them: wilt thou then destroy us because of the deeds of men
who were futile?"
Allah(SWT) informs us about a gathering in which all of the children of Adam IE all
mankind were present. Allah our lord made everyone testify concerning Himself "Am I
not your Lord (who cherishes and sustains you)?" All of mankind testified "they said: yea
we do testify (this)". All of mankind from all times did testify concerning Allah that He
alone is our Lord. But why did Allah(SWT) do this?
"1. lest ye should say on the day of judgment: of this we were never mindful 2. Or lest
ye should say: our fathers before us may have taken false gods, but we are (their)
descendants after them: wilt thou then destroy us because of the deeds of men who
were futile?"
The memory of this incident was taken away however this realisation about his creator is
present in every Human being. We need to be informed about several things in this
world. And we believe in what we are told. For example we were told who are our
parents and we believe in it. Similarly we are being informed by our creator about this
gathering. And we believe in it.
2.Every Child is born in "Deen ul Fitr"
Allah's Rasool(SAW) said "Every child is born with a true faith of Islam (i.e. to worship
none but Allah Alone) but his parents convert him to Judaism, Christianity or Magainism,
as an animal delivers a perfect baby animal. Do you find it mutilated?" Sahih Bukhari
Book of Funerals Ch no 78 vol. 2: no 441
3.The Judgment of Right and Wrong given to every Soul
Allah says in the Qur'an in Surah Shams 91:7-10
"7 By the Soul, and the proportion and order given to it;
8 And its enlightenment as to its wrong and its right;
9 Truly he succeeds that purifies it,
10 And he fails that corrupts it!"
4.Allah's Promise to show the truth as the truth
Allah promises in His Qalam Surah Fussilat 41:53
"Soon will We show them Our Signs in the (furthest) regions (of the earth), and in their
own souls, until it becomes manifest to them that this is the Truth. Is it not enough that
thy Lord doth witness all things?"
Every person shall see the truth in the furthest regions of the earth and also his own
souls until he see the truth as truth.
5.Truth stands out clear from Falsehood
Allah says in the Qur'an Surah Baqara 2:257
" Let there be no compulsion in religion: truth stands out clear from error"
Truth has been given this Quality that it stands out very clear from Falsehood – provided
the person keeps his eyes open to the truth and wants to see the truth. If the person

2. closes his eyes to the truth however clear the truth may be as compared to falsehood it
will appear to him all confusing!
6.Allah will never forgive Shirk
Allah says in the Qur'an Surah Nisa 4:48
"Allah forgiveth not that partners should be set up with him; but he forgiveth anything
else, to whom he pleaseth; to set up partners with Allah is to devise a sin most heinous
indeed."
If any person does Shirk whichever family he was born in he will never be forgiven. The
Judgment in him about Right and wrong and the quality of truth of being clear from
falsehood will guide any sincere seeker to oneness of Allah.
7.Judgment according to Test
Allah(SWT) is the most just. He says in the Qur'an in Surah Nisa 4:40
"Allah is never unjust in the least degree"
He will judge everyone according to the acts that the person does. The person who
receives the message through a human shall be judged according to his situation. And a
person who does not receive the message through a human will be judged according to
his situation. For example if there is a race between a person with both his feet and a
handicapped person with one foot, won't you give a lead of 50 meters to the person in a
100 meters dash?
8.Muslims underestimate their test normally
Normally Muslims can be found underestimating their test. Many Muslims think that just
being born in Muslim families will give them a ticket to Paradise. After inheriting the
message the responsibility to implement and propagate the message is very great
indeed!