Question
According to verse sixty-two of sura al-Baqara can we say that anyone who believes in Allah and the Last Day and does good deeds shall be given his reward in hereafter and shall have no fear or grief irrespective of his or her religion? Can non-Muslims of today enjoy aforesaid reward while some religious scholars say that it is only privilege of Muslims?
Answer
In of my earlier responses to a similar question I wrote:
A short explanation of this verse seems necessary here since some people argue on its basis that belief in the Prophethood of Muhammad (sws) is not a requirement of salvation. Suffice to say that the verse does not mention the Prophethood of Muhammad (sws) for the simple reason that it is not a basic requirement of salvation. It should be kept in mind that one of the obvious conditions for salvation in the Hereafter is that a person is not guilty of any such sin as entails eternal punishment in the Hereafter. We know from the Quran that sins as intentional murder (4:93), polytheism (4:48), living a life of sin (2:81) and knowingly denying the Messengers of Allah (98:6) are sins which make a person worthy of everlasting punishment in the Hereafter. Consequently, just as a person who believes in Allah, in the last Day and does righteous deeds but is guilty of murdering a person shall be doomed in the Hereafter, a person who fulfils these three criteria but still knowingly denies a Messenger of Allah will not be saved in the Hereafter.
I hope this helps.
Answered by: Dr. Shehzad Saleem
Date: 2015-01-22
