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:

Will a muslim who is a good human being in all respects (as per the spirit of Islamic teachings) but does not perform regularly Islamic rites has any chance to enter paradise? If he has no chance to enter paradise, then what is the use of being a good human being if that person is not a practicing muslim? On the contrary, if the practicing muslim is not a good human being, will he have a chance to enter paradise? If the condition to enter paradise is to be a practicing muslim and also a good human being, then how many muslims will enter paradise?

 

I have pondered on the above questions and have discussed many times with interested persons but no one has a final answer. The best answer is "Allah only knows". The sense of ambiguity arises due to the fact that we all feel that Allah will not punish good human beings specially muslims though they have not performed the rituals in letter and spirit.

 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

 

Answer:

 

Belief and good deeds

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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 32 Surah Sajdah verse 19:

19      For those who believe and do righteous deeds are Gardens as hospitable homes for their (good) deeds.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 42 Surah Shura verse 22:

22      Thou wilt see the wrongdoers in fear on account of what they have earned and (the burden of) that must (necessarily) fall on them.  But those who believe and work righteous deeds will be in the luxuriant meads of the Gardens: they shall have before their Lord all that they wish for: that will indeed be the magnificent Bounty (of Allah).

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 30 Surah Rome verse 45:

45      That He may reward those who believe and work righteous deeds out of His Bounty: for He loves not those who reject Faith.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 31 Surah Luqmaan verses 8-9:

8        For those who believe and work righteous deeds there will be Gardens of Bliss.

9        To dwell therein.  The promise of Allah is true: and He is Exalted in Power, Wise.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 47 Surah Muhammad verse 12:

12      Verily Allah will admit those who believe and do righteous deeds to Gardens beneath which rivers flow; while those who reject Allah will enjoy (this world) and eat as cattle eat; and the Fire will be their abode.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 18 Surah Kahf verse 107:

107    As to those who believe and work righteous deeds they have for their entertainment the Gardens of Paradise

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 85 Surah Buruj verse 11:

11      For those who believe and do righteous deeds will be Gardens Beneath which rivers flow: that is the Great Salvation

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 22 Surah Hajj verse 23:

23      Allah will admit those who believe and work righteous deeds to Gardens beneath which rivers flow: they shall be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and pearls; and their garments there will be of silk.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 22 Surah Hajj verse 56:

56      On that Day the Dominion will be that of Allah: He will judge between them: so those who believe and work righteous deeds will be in Gardens of Delight.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 22 Surah Mumin verse 40:

40      He that works evil will not be requited but by the like thereof: and he that works a righteous deed whether man or woman and is a believer such will enter the Garden (of Bliss): therein will they have abundance without measure.

 

Respected brother in Islam, the Realms of Paradise is the prerogative of Allah Subhanah Alone; and the two absolutely inseparable pre-conditions the Lord Most High Most Wise has conveyed in His Message for one’s entry into the Eternal Gardens of Paradise are:

1. Belief, and
2. Righteous good deeds in accordance with the Quran and the Sunnah.

 

One may assume oneself or another to be ‘good and righteous’ according to their own self-invented criteria…..but to be ‘good and righteous’ in the Sight of Allah Subhanah it is absolutely imperative that one fulfill both of the inseparable characteristics of belief and deeds in accordance with the Guidance revealed by Allah Subhanah.  

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 45 Surah Jathiyah verse 21:

21      What! Do those who seek after evil ways think that We shall hold them equal with those who believe and do righteous deeds; that equal will be their life and their death? Ill is the judgment that they make!

 

If one declares belief, it is absolutely imperative that he fulfills (at least) all the obligatory deeds required of those who have declared belief in accordance with the Message revealed by the Lord….in letter and in spirit….if indeed he wishes to attain the promised rewards. 

 

If one simply declares belief, but refuses to fulfill the required obligations that are attached to belief….such belief would be no more than a mere declaration in the Sight of Allah Subhanah….if He Wills He may take them to account; and if He Wills He may turn towards them in Mercy.

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 18 Surah Kahf verses 103-106:

Tell them (O Prophet (saws)), “Should We tell you who are the most unsuccessful people and miserable failures in regard to their deeds?   They are those,  all whose edeavours in the worldly life,  had gone astray from the Right Way,  but all along they were under the delusion that everything they were doing was rightly directed!   Those are the people who rejected the Revelations of their Lord and did not believe that they would ever go before Him.   Therefore all their deeds were lost,  for We shall assign no weight to them on the Day of Reserruction.  Their recompense is Hell for the disbelief  they showed,  and for the mockery they adopted in regard to My Aayahs and My Messengers!”

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 39 Surah Zumar verse 65-66:

If you commit ‘shirk’ (associate other deities with Allah) all your works will be rendered vain and you will be among the losers.  Therefore,  you should worship Allah Alone,  and be among His grateful servants.

 

Allah says in the Quran: Chapter 4 Surah An-Nisa Verse 48

Shirk (associating other deities with Allah) is the only sin that Allah does not forgive, and He forgives, whomsoever He pleases, sins other than this.  For whosoever associates any other partner with Allah, does indeed forge a big lie and commits the most heinous sin

 

In light of the above absolutely clear guidance of the Glorious Quran, one who has sincerely believed, but perchance has been negligent in fulfilling his obligations….there is at least a chance that Allah might turn towards him in Mercy; but if one were to die in the state of disbelief, absolutely regardless of his deeds….such a person has absolutely no chance of entering Paradise.

 

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