The Death of Queen Elizabeth II: Non-Muslims in Heaven?
In the days following the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II, Muslim reaction on the internet has been bitterly divided.
Many expressed sorrow at the death of a Queen who made them feel welcome and valued during her reign, and who has been a fixture of their lives for decades.
Others, however, railed against anyone who dared to write ‘RIP’ next to her name, because she was ‘obviously’ destined for hellfire, not being a Muslim.
So what does the Qur’an say?
Does it entitle us to give a blanket verdict about the grim afterlife of all humans, except Muslims?
Sincerity leads to Salvation
As the clear verses cited in the photo-graphic below show, the Qur’an indicates that sincere people from other faiths, who strive to serve God will be judged on the basis of their best endeavours.
It also rules out a divine blank-cheque for Muslims who surround themselves with sin, and yet expect to go to Jannah.
The Qur’an only positively condemns to hellfire, those who reject God’s Word out of arrogance and knowingly turn away from the truth:
…(Hell) will claim all such as turn their backs [on what is right], and turn away [from truth]
Qur’an 70:17
Surely those who receive our revelations with denial and arrogance, the gates of heaven will not be opened for them, nor will they enter Paradise until a camel passes through the eye of a needle. This is how We reward the wicked.
Qur’an 7:40
Given that we have no way to read the minds of others, how can we arrogate ourselves to determine their intentions?
Did Queen Elizabeth fail to come to Islam, due to genuine misunderstandings, or out of arrogance, contempt and bias? Allah alone can judge that.
Judge Not…
It is mystifying to me, why so many Muslim cyber-warriors need to waste time and effort passing verdicts about the afterlife of others?
Are they not aware that the Qur’an stresses that we should not do so , as we are not accountable for the deeds of others?
Those are a people who have passed away. Theirs is that which they earned, and yours is that which you earn. And you will not be asked about what they used to do
Qur’an 2:134
Why don’t they reflect on the fact that when Pharaoh asked Moses (Peace upon him) about the previous generations of Polytheistic Egyptians, the esteemed Prophet replied that Allah is aware of them and it is for him to decide about them? If Musa alayhisalaam didn’t declare every such person bound for hell, who are we to do so? (20:51-52).
The Qur’an also cites the words of Jesus (Peace upon him) on the Last day.
The Messiah too, stresses that only Allah can choose to forgive or punish the sinful and disobedient amongst his followers, i.e. those who started to worship him alongside God:
” If You should punish them – indeed they are Your servants; but if You forgive them – indeed it is You who is the Exalted in Might, the Wise...”
Qur’an 5:118
Some Scholarly Views
The illustrious companion Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) is also reported as saying that nobody should say a specific person is bound for hell or for heaven (Tafsir at Tabari, 8:34 , on Qur’an 6:129)
Surely this applies to Queen Elizabeth as much as anyone else?
Nor is there any consensus amongst all traditional scholars about every Non-Muslim being denied salvation.
The Ash’ari school as represented by Imam Ghazali, is particularly clear that those whom received the message of Islam in a distorted form, will if Allah wills, be forgiven:
“…I would say, Allah willing, most Christians of Byzantium and the Turks of this age will be covered by Allah’s mercy… All they have heard since childhood was that some great liar carrying the name Muhammad claimed to be a prophet…”
Imam Al-Ghazali, Faysal At Tafriqah 12
Imam Ibn Taymiyya appears to have similar views. He states that People of the Book born long after the Prophets (like Queen Elizabeth) will be judged based on their sincerely seeking the truth, and their honest mistakes will not be punished (Al-Jawab al-Sahih 2/301-302)
Shaykh Yusuf Qaradawi amongst other prominent scholars, also argues that the ‘Kafir’ described as hell-bound by Allah, is a deliberate rejector of the truth, not a person who sincerely hasn’t been able to arrive at the truth.
The prominent Muslim preacher and scholar Abdullah Andalusi also agrees:
“no one except God can determine whether someone is ultimately saved or not, or a theological [1] ‘Kafir’, since sincerity can only truly be known by God, and only He judges the hereafter of anyone.
There will be people on the day of judgement that never labelled themselves a ‘Muslim’ and will not suffer perdition (i.e. a Hanif – rightly inclined). One famous example of this (partly) during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) is Zayd bin ‘Amr who never labelled himself a Muslim before he died (probably because he died before the Prophet Muhammed announced his prophethood ﷺ).
Likewise, on the day of judgement the Quran explains that there will be Christians, Jews and others who will be saved. They are the ones who were sincere, rejected falsehood, accepted whatever of the truth they could find in their time:
‘Indeed, those who believed and those who were Jews or Christians or Sabeans who believed in God and the Last Day and did righteousness – will have their reward with their Lord, and no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve’ [Quran 2:62]
In another verse about ‘People of the Book’ [Jews and Christians]:
‘They are not [all] the same; among the People of the Scripture is a community standing [in obedience], reciting the verses of Allah during periods of the night and prostrating [in prayer]’[Quran 3:113]
This does not mean that Islam can be rejected with no consequence, or isn’t required for salvation, but only that each soul will be judged in the hereafter by God’s superior wisdom and mercy according to their circumstances, choices and sincerity. Allah (SWT) will judge knowing whether they had access to revelation (Islam), and whether or not they understood it properly, their awareness of truth and whether they questioned or followed blindly their own religions/ideologies they were dogmatically taught” growing up.”
‘What is a Kafir‘
For Each of You is a Way
When the Qur’an says only Islam will be accepted by Allah (3:19) , it means submission to the will of God as far as a person understands it.
That means that even though Islam is the authentic path to Allah and salvation, God is willing to allow followers of other traditions possible salvation, as they will be judged on what ‘came to them’ and how far they were sincere in following God according to that understanding:
To each of you We have ordained a code of law and a way of life. If Allah had willed, He would have made you one community, but His Will is to test you with what He has given ˹each of˺ you. So compete with one another in doing good. To Allah you will all return, then He will inform you ˹of the truth˺ regarding your differences.
Qur’an 5:48