Sam Shamoun

The Quran says that Allah will judge everyone righteously, that no soul will ever be dealt with in an unjust manner:

These are the communications of Allah which We recite to you with truth, and Allah does not desire any injustice to the creatures. S. 3:108 Shakir

GOD does not inflict an atom's weight of injustice. On the contrary, He multiplies the reward manifold for the righteous work, and grants from Him a great recompense. S. 4:40 Khalifa

And We will set up a just balance on the day of resurrection, so no soul shall be dealt with unjustly in the least; and though there be the weight of a grain of mustard seed, (yet) will We bring it, and sufficient are We to take account. S. 21:47 Shakir

And God will judge with (justice and) Truth: but those whom (men) invoke besides Him, will not (be in a position) to judge at all. Verily it is God (alone) Who hears and sees (all things). S. 40:20 Y. Ali

These passages seem to be saying that Allah will be perfect in his judgments and that every person will receive exactly what he or she deserves, whether salvation or punishment depending on how they lived and what they believed. The Quran even claims that Allah will also be just to people of other religions:

Those who believe (in the Qur'an), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians and the Sabians,- any who believe in God and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. S. 2:62 Y. Ali

Those who believe (in the Qur'an), those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Sabians and the Christians,- any who believe in God and the Last Day, and work righteousness,- on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. S. 5:69 Y. Ali

Those who believe (in the Qur'an), those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Sabians, Christians, Magians, and Polytheists,- God will judge between them on the Day of Judgment: for God is witness of all things. S. 22:17 Y. Ali

However, the so-called sound traditions contradict the above statements since they quite plainly teach that Muslims who have professed faith in Allah’s unity and in the apostleship of Muhammad will enter paradise, even if they have committed evil acts:

Narrated Abu Dharr:

I came to the Prophet while he was wearing white clothes and sleeping. Then I went back to him again after he had got up from his sleep. He said, "Nobody says: ‘None has the right to be worshipped but Allah’ and then later on he dies while believing in that, except that he will enter Paradise." I said, "Even It he had committed illegal sexual intercourse and theft." I said, "Even if he had committed illegal sexual intercourse and theft? He said. "Even If he had committed illegal sexual intercourse and theft." I said, "Even it he had committed illegal sexual intercourse and thefts." He said, "Even If he had committed Illegal sexual intercourse and theft, in spite of Abu Dharr’s dislikeness. Abu ‘Abdullah said, "This is at the time of death or before it if one repents and regrets and says ‘None has the right to be worshipped but Allah’, he will be forgiven his sins." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 72, Number 717)

Narrated Abu Dharr:

The Prophet said, Gabriel came to me and gave me the glad tidings that anyone who died without worshipping anything besides Allah, would enter Paradise. I asked (Gabriel), ‘Even if he committed theft, and even if he committed illegal sexual intercourse?’ He said, ‘(Yes), even if he committed theft, and even if he committed illegal sexual intercourse." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 93, Number 579)

The traditions also claim that Allah will cast Jews and Christians into hell in the place of the Muslims! In other words, Allah will ransom Muslims from their sins by punishing the Jews and Christians in their stead:

Chapter 8: THROWING OF NON-BELIEVERS IN HELL-FIRE FOR BELIEVERS AS DIVINE GRACE AND MERCY

Abu Musa' reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: When it will be the Day of Resurrection Allah would deliver to every Muslim a Jew or a Christian and say: That is your RESCUE from Hell-Fire. (Sahih Muslim, Book 037, Number 6665)

Abu Burda reported on the authority of his father that Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) said: No Muslim would die but Allah would admit IN HIS STEAD a Jew or a Christian in Hell-Fire. 'Umar b. Abd al-'Aziz took an oath: By One besides Whom there is no god but He, thrice that his father had narrated that to him from Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him). (Sahih Muslim, Book 037, Number 6666)

Abu Burda reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: There would come people amongst the Muslims on the Day of Resurrection with AS HEAVY SINS AS A MOUNTAIN, and Allah would FORGIVE THEM and He would PLACE IN THEIR STEAD the Jews and the Christians. (As far as I think), Abu Raub said: I do not know as to who is in doubt. Abu Burda said: I narrated it to 'Umar b. 'Abd al-'Aziz, whereupon he said: Was it your father who narrated it to you from Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him)? I said: Yes. (Sahih Muslim, Book 037, Number 6668)

The following narrations are taken from Riyad as-Salihin:

412. 'Ubada ibn as-Samit reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Whoever testifies that there is no god but Allah alone with no partner and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger and that 'Isa is the slave of Allah and His Messenger and a word which He cast into Maryam and a spirit from Him and that the Garden is real and the Fire is real will enter the Garden WHATEVER HIS ACTIONS." [Agreed upon]

This hadith expands the requirement for salvation by making it necessary to confess Jesus as Allah’s Word and Spirit. Thus, it is not enough to mention Muhammad since the Islamic creedal confession must include a statement of belief in Jesus as well.

415. Anas said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was riding with Mu'adh behind him. He said, 'Mu'adh!' He replied, 'At your service, Messenger of Allah.' He said, 'Mu'adh!' He replied, 'At your service, Messenger of Allah' three times. Then the Prophet said, 'There is no one who testifies that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, sincerely from his heart, without Allah making it unlawful for the Fire to touch him.' Mu'adh said, 'Messenger of Allah, shall I tell the people that so that they can rejoice?' He said, 'Then they will rely on it.' Mu'adh related it when he was dying, fearing to commit a wrong action [by concealing the knowledge]." [Agreed upon]

426. Mu'adh ibn Jabal said, "I was riding behind the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, on a donkey. He asked, 'Mu'adh, do you know what is Allah's right on His slaves and the right of the slaves on Allah?' I replied, 'Allah and His Messenger know best.' He said, 'Allah's right on His slaves is that they should worship Him and not associate anything with Him. The slaves' right on Allah is that He will not punish anyone who does not associate anything with Him.' I said, 'Messenger of Allah, shall I tell the people that so that they can rejoice?' He said, 'Then they will rely on it.'" [Agreed upon]

432. Abu Musa al-Ash'ari reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "On the Day of Rising, Allah will hand over a Jew or a Christian to every Muslim and say, 'Here is your redemption from the Fire." [Muslim]

In another variant from him is that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Some of the Muslims will be brought on the Day of Rising with sins the size of mountains and Allah will forgive them."

(Al-Imam Abu Zakariya Yahya bin Sharaf An-Nawawi Ad-Dimashqi, Riyad as-Salihin (The Meadows of the Righteous), 51. Chapter: On Hope; online edition)

In light of the foregoing, can anyone really believe that the god of Islam is just? Where is the justice in Allah simply overlooking the sins of people without demanding that his holiness be satisfied and that the debt be paid? Where is the justice of Allah in punishing Jews and Christians for the sins of the Muslims? Is this how Allah encourages Muslims, by telling them that no matter what evil act they commit they have nothing to fear since as long as they die confessing absolute faith in the unity of Allah they will receive forgiveness for all their vile and immoral acts?

Articles by Sam Shamoun
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