Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

As-Salaam-Alekum,

I am a revert to Islam. I do pray but not often. I pray when I get time. This is very important cos I need to explain this to one of my Hindu friend So, its very important for me to know this, I hope you will answer my question at the earliest.

I have heard one of my muslim brother saying to one that the name ESHWAR is mentioned in quraan. Is that true? Who are these people whom the hindus worship example, ram, shiva, eshwar etc... were these prophets or who are they whom the hindus worship? If yes, then why hindus and muslims?

I had been to Jamaat and our Imam was telling that only muslims go to heaven. Is that true? Please give an explanation to this? For example: A child is born and he is absolutely unware of his religion. His parents do not discriminate and teach him which is what religion and what to follow. they only teach him to do good deeds and be obident, If this child dies will he be sent to hell as he was not a muslim or will be sent to heaven because he is free of any sins?

I asked this same question to the Imam in Jaamat and he said that the child will be sent to hell because he is not a muslim. Is that true? This makes no sense for me why? I am really in a state of confusion... I need your answer at the earliest.

Allah hafiz,

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Answer:

Hindu Ram Shiva non Muslim child

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Statement: I do pray but not often. I pray when I get time.

Dear and Beloved Brother in Islam, although your question is not addressed for prayer, as your brothers and sincere well-wishers in faith, we take the liberty of quoting you some guidance from the Quran and the Sunnah regarding its importance in Islam.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 103:

Indeed the Salaat is a prescribed duty that should be performed by the believers at (their) appointed times.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verses 45-46:

45 Nay! Seek (Allah's) help with patient perseverance and ‘salaah’: it is indeed hard except to those who bring a lowly spirit.

46 Who bear in mind the certainty that they are to meet their Lord and that they are to return to Him.

The Prophet (saws) said, "The head of the matter is Islam, its pillar is the prayer, and the top of its hump is Jihad in the Way of Allah."

Jabir reports that the Prophet (saws) said, "Between a person and disbelief is discarding prayer."

Related by Ahmad, Muslim, Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah.

Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'Aas reported that the Prophet (saws) one day mentioned the prayer and said, "Whoever guards and observes his prayer, they (his prayers) will be a light and a proof and a savior for him on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever does not guard and obvserve them, they will not be a light or a proof or a savior for him. On the Day of Resurrection, he will be with Qarun, Fir'aun, Haman and Ubayy ibn Khalf."

Related by Ahmad, at-Tabarani and Ibn Hibban.

Abu Hurairah reports that the Prophet (saws) said: "The first thing that the people will be called to account for on the Day of Resurrection will be the prayers. Our Lord will say to the Angels although He knows better: 'Look into the ‘Salah’ of My servant to see if he observed it perfectly or been negligent in it.’ So if he observed it perfectly it will be recorded to his credit, but if he had been negligent in it in any way, Allah would say: ‘See if My servant has any supererogatory (nafl) prayers.’ Then if he has any supererogatory prayers, Allah would say: ‘Make up the deficiency in My servant's obligatory prayer with his supererogatory prayers.' Thereafter all his actions will be examined in like manner"

Related by Abu Dawud.

Your Question: I have heard one of my muslim brother saying to one that the name ESHWAR is mentioned in quraan. Is that true?

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 17 Surah Israa verse 110:

Say: "Call upon Allah or call upon ‘Rahmaan’: by whatever name ye call upon Him (it is well): for to Him belong the Most Beautiful Names. Neither speak thy Prayer aloud nor speak it in a low tone but seek a middle course between."

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 7 Surah Aaraaf verse 180:

The Most Beautiful Names belong to Allah: so call on Him by them

Dear and beloved brother in Islam, to the best of our knowledge, the ‘hindi’ term derived from ‘sanskrit’ language Eshwar is not mentioned in the Glorious Quran, which was revealed in the Arabic language.

If by ‘Eshwar’ our Hindu brethren mean The One and Only God, Lord, Creator, Sustainer, Cherisher and Provider of the Worlds; and they do not associate this their term with any other of their ‘gods’ except the One and Only Lord Creator of the Heavens and the Earth and everything that exists in between; there is absolutely no harm for our Lord Declares in His Quran: ‘by whatever name ye call upon Him (it is well): for to Him belong the Most Beautiful Names.’

As long as they do not associate this name with any other than the One and Only True Lord, and by ‘Eshwar’ they mean to address the One and Only True God Who Created the heavens and the earth and everything that exists in between; there is absolutely no harm.

Your Question: Who are these people whom the hindus worship example, ram, shiva, eshwar etc... were these prophets or who are they whom the hindus worship? If yes, then why hindus and muslims?

Beloved Brother, we wish to clarify here that Allah is our witness, we do not mean to ridicule or revile the belief of our Hindu brethren, or their gods, or their deities in the least by our statements; our only intention is to state the fact and the truth as it is and we do hope and pray that our statements are not construed as an abuse or ridicule of their beliefs and deities.

Beloved brother, if one asks even the best of the Hindu scholars, they will confirm that all their 330 million ‘gods’, including the ones whom they term Ram, Shiva, Vishnu, Ganesh, Krishna, etc. and all the stories associated with them are nothing but absolute myths. And a ‘myth’ is described as a traditional story involving supernatural or imaginary persons, embodying popular ideas on natural and social phenomena.

It seems that the early thinkers of this ancient movement embodied their concept of good and evil in their self-invented stories, and to make it easy for people to comprehend the concept of the triumph of good over evil, they attached these natural and social phenomena to absolutely fictitious characters of their imagination and named them Ram, or Vishnu, or Shiva, or Krishna, etc. As time progressed the ignorant amongst them took these fictitious characters and started assigning each of them an aspect of their life like wealth, health, death, etc. believing them to be gods and deities, and started the worship of the images and idols made in those names.

The characters of Ram, Shiva, Krishna, Vishnu, etc. and their fantastic stories of yesteryears are a fiction and product of someone’s imagination just as Santa Claus, Mickey Mouse, James Bond, Batman and Spiderman are a fiction and product of modern imagination!!!

But because the concept of ‘One God’ is embedded in the nature of human beings, if one were to ask our Hindu brethren: how many amongst their 330 million deities is the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth: their answer would be always be none, for there is but One Creator! And this One God Lord Who Created is whom they call by various names in their languages as ‘Eshwar’, or ‘Palanhaar’, or ‘Paramatma’, etc. Our Hindu brethren may have made 330 million images and idols of their self-invented deities and gods, but ask them to produce an image or idol of the One whom they believe created everything in existence or whom they name ‘Eshwar’, or ‘Palanhaar’, or ‘Paramatma’; they will confirm that there is no image of this Supreme Lord and Creator!

Your Question: If yes, then why hindus and muslims?

Our Hindu brethren, although they confirm belief in the One and Only True Creator and Sustainer of the heavens and the earth, assigned each department of their lives like wealth, health, death, weather, etc. to each of their self-invented names, named them as their gods and deities, and started worshipping their images and idols in addition to their worship of the One and Only True Lord Who Created.

The ‘muslims’ on the other hand are those who absolutely and categorically reject any division of power or authority amongst anyone in creation (whether real or fictitious) except The One and Only True Lord God Who Created the heavens and the earth and everything that exists in between: and they submit their will totally and completely in devotion and worship to none except this One and Only Creator.

Your Question: I had been to Jamaat and our Imam was telling that only muslims go to heaven.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 62:

62 Those who believe (in the Qur'an), and those who follow the Jewish (Scriptures), and the Christians, and the Sabians: any who believe in Allah and the Last Day and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verse 69:

69 Those who believe (in the Qur'an), those who follow the Jewish (Scriptures), and the Sabians, and the Christians: any who believe in Allah and the Last Day and work righteousness, on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verses 111-112:

111 And they (the Jews and the Christians) say: "None shall enter paradise unless he be a Jew or a Christian." These are but their (vain) desires! Say: "Produce your proof if ye are truthful."

112 Nay! Whoever submits his whole self to Allah and is a doer of good he will get his reward with his Lord; on such shall be no fear nor shall they grieve.

Every religion claims that only their followers are entitled to enter Paradise! Allah Declares in the Quran that even the Jews and the Christians at the time the Quran was being revealed claimed that ‘None shall enter paradise unless he be a Jew or a Christian.’ But Allah Subhanah absolutely thwarts their claims and Declares that these claims are nothing but their absolutely vain desires!

And then Allah Declares in Truth Who exactly are those who are entitled to His Mercy and His Eternal Rewards:

• any who believe in Allah and the Last Day and work righteousness
• Whoever submits his whole self to Allah and is a doer of good, he will get his reward with his Lord;

Thus my beloved brother, in light of the above absolutely clear guidance of the Holy Quran, the Mercy and the Eternal Rewards of the Lord All-Just, All-Wise will not be based upon whether one called himself a Muslim, or a Jew, or a Christian, or a Hindu, or whatever! The criteria laid forth by Allah Subhanah for entry into Paradise is whoever truly believes in Allah Subhanah and the concept of the Last Day, works righteousness in accordance with the guidance of their Creator, and truly submits his whole self to his Lord Creator….such alone will enter His Realms of Paradise.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 22 Surah Hajj verse 17:

17 Those who believe (in the Qur'an), those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Sabians, Christians, Magians, and Polytheists: Allah will Judge between them on the Day of Judgment: for Allah is Witness of all things.

Regardless of whatever each religion or sect or individual claims, the Truth is that Allah Subhanah Alone will Judge in Absolute Justice according to the criteria laid down by Him of who truly was a believer, who truly did works of righteousness according to His Guidance, and who truly submitted himself to the Will of his Creator….and whoever amongst mankind passes this test will deserve the Mercy, Forgiveness, and Rewards from The All-Just, All-Mighty, Lord Creator.

Your Question: For example: A child is born and he is absolutely unware of his religion. His parents do not discriminate and teach him which is what religion and what to follow. they only teach him to do good deeds and be obident, If this child dies will he be sent to hell as he was not a muslim or will be sent to heaven because he is free of any sins?
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 41 Surah Haa Meem verse 46:

46 Whoever works righteousness benefits his own soul; whoever works evil it is against his own soul: nor is thy Lord ever unjust (in the least) to His servants!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 22 Surah Hajj verses 7-10:

7 And verily the Hour will come: there can be no doubt about it or about (the fact) that Allah will raise up all who are in the graves.

8 Yet there is among men such a one as disputes about Allah without knowledge, without guidance, and without a Book of Enlightenment.

9 (Disdainfully) bending his side in order to (lead men) astray from the Path of Allah; for him there is disgrace in this life and on the Day of Judgment we shall make him taste the Penalty of burning (Fire).

10 (It will be said): "This is because of the deeds which thy hands sent forth for verily Allah is never unjust to His servants!

One amongst the many Noble and Exclusive Attributes of our Lord Creator is that He is the ‘Al-Aadil’ or the All-Just; and it does not behove and befit His Majesty and His Mercy to ever be unjust to any in His creation.

One amongst the promises and laws of our Just and Supreme Lord and Creator is that He never never ever would punish a people who did not receive His Message!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 17 Surah Israa verses 13-15:

13 Every man's augury We have fastened on his own neck: on the Day of Judgment We shall bring out for him a scroll which he will see spread open.

14 (It will be said to him:) "Read thine (own) record: sufficient is thy soul this day to make out an account against thee."

15 Who receiveth guidance receiveth it for his own benefit: who goeth astray doth so to his own loss: no bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another: nor would We visit with Our Wrath until We had sent Our messenger!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 26 Surah Shuaraa verses 208-209:

208 Never did We destroy a people but had its warners

209 by way of reminder; and We never are unjust.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 35 Surah Faatir verse 24:

24 Verily We have sent thee (O Prophet) in Truth, as a bearer of glad tidings and as a warner: and there never was a people without a warner having lived among them.

And just to make absolutely sure that this Just-Law is implemented and that one who has not received the Message of their Lord is punished, every time a people are about to be cast into the dungeons of the Hell Fire, they will be asked by the guardian Angels of the Hell Fire whether or not a warner from their Lord came to them and recited to them the Warning and the Message of their Lord! And every wrongdoer at the gates of Hell Fire on that Tumultuous Day will indeed admit and confess himself that Allah’s warner did indeed come unto them, but it was they themselves who in their arrogance rejected Allah’s Message and His Warning!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 67 Surah Mulk verses 6-11:

6 For those who reject their Lord is the Penalty of Hell: and evil is (such) destination.

7 When they are cast therein they will hear the (terrible) drawing in of its breath, even as it blazes forth.

8 Almost bursting with fury: every time a group is cast therein its keepers (the Angels) will ask "Did no warner come to you?"

9 They will say: "Yes indeed: a warner did come to us but we rejected him and said `Allah never sent down any (Message): ye are in nothing but an egregious delusion!' "

10 They will further say: "Had we but listened or used our intelligence we should not (now) be among the companions of the Blazing Fire!"

11 They will then confess their sins: but far will be (Forgiveness) from the Companions of the Blazing Fire!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 39 Surah Zumar verses 71-72:

71 The unbelievers will be led to Hell in crowds; until when they arrive there its gates will be opened and its Keepers (the Angels) will say "Did not messengers come to you from among yourselves rehearsing to you the Signs of your Lord and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours?" The answer will be: "True: but the decree of punishment has been proved true against the unbelievers!"

72 (To them) will be said: "Enter ye the gates of Hell to dwell therein: and evil is (this) abode of the arrogant!"

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 35 Surah Fatir verses 36-37:

36 But those who reject (Allah) for them will be the Fire of Hell: no term shall be determined for them so they should die nor shall its Penalty be lightened for them: thus do We reward every ungrateful ones!

37 Therein will they cry aloud (for assistance): "O Our Lord! Bring us out: we shall work righteousness not the (deeds) we used to do!" Did We not give you long enough life so that he that would should receive admonition? And (moreover) the warner came to you! So taste ye (the fruit of your deeds): for the wrongdoers there is no helper."

Dear and Beloved Brother in Islam, it is Allah Subhanah, our Lord and the Lord of the Heavens and the Earth who has taken the responsibility of making the arrangements to deliver and make available His Message to all His slaves; and rest absolutely assured, that The Lord never ever ever fails in fulfilling His Responsibilities!!!

Thus first and foremost, it is not possible that a person lives a life and he is not visited by a warner from their Lord! Rest absolutely assured that somehow, somewhere Allah Subhanah will make arrangements for the person to be visited by His warner who will warn him of the meeting with their Creator!

But for arguments sake, lets assume that a nomadic man born in remote jungle, during his entire life, never ever came across a warner from their Lord who presented the Message of the Lord to him….rest assured that the case and judgment of this person rests with his Lord and Creator, and it is our ardent belief that our Lord will never never ever be unjust to any amongst His creation!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 26 Surah Shuaraa verses 208-209:

208 Never did We destroy a people but had its warners

209 by way of reminder; and We never are unjust.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan