Non-Muslims in Hell Forever?

Question:     As-salaamu `alaykum. Does Islam say that every non-Muslim will be in hell forever?

The Qur’an is full of miracles as proofs that it is from Allah, even the hadiths contain much proofs that Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was a prophet of Allah like for example the signs of Judgment Day – some of the signs that he mentioned have started to take place. Let’s imagine I’m a non-Muslim and I know that there is a religion called Islam, but nobody has ever shown me the miracles in the Qur’an and hadiths, nobody presented these proofs to me. Yes, I am not Muslim, but is it allowed for a Muslim to say that I will burn in hell forever? Because maybe if the truth was presented to me I would have accepted it or what about those kafirs who have never even heard about Islam? They don’t even know that a religion called Islam exists; can we say they will burn in hell for eternity?

consultant:     Wael Shihab

Answer
Wa `alaykum as-salamu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Dear brother, thank you for your question that shows your interest to know more about the teachings of Islam and your concern about people, even non-Muslims.
It should be clearly known that no human can judge that a given person will be in paradise or go to hell. As this is none of humans’ business, rather it is a divine matter that Allah only can decide; He Almighty knows a person’s heart, intention, speech, and actions.
In his response to your question, Dr. Wael Shihab, PhD in Islamic Studies, Al-Azhar University, and the Head of the (English) Shari`ah Dept. of Onislam.net website, stated,
Thank you for your question.
We, Muslims, believe that the final judgment lies in the hands of Allah Almighty, as He is the Most Just, Most Loving, Most Merciful, and Most Compassionate to His people. It is never for us to judge or decide people’s fate. In fact, it is not allowed in Islam to specify hell for any human being, no matter what his or her beliefs are.
Muslim scholars also say that one shouldn’t hold any human being in contempt because he or she might be closer to Allah than oneself. Being our Creator, only Allah knows what is in our hearts, our intentions, our actions, and our speech. He knows whether we have harmed people or whether we have sought for peace and understanding among His creation. In Islam, even a Muslim can never be sure whether he will be going to heaven or hell.
For Muslims, Islam is the final religion that Allah has sent for all peoples. So, it is our belief, as Muslims, that Islam is the final message of Allah that people should correctly follow and apply in order to lead a happy life in this world and in the Hereafter.
There are Qur’anic verses which generally indicate that the believers will enjoy the eternal blessings in paradise while the disbelievers will be punished in hell forever. However, a Muslim is not entitled to judge a given living person to be in hell or paradise forever. Ibn `Abbas, the well-known scholar of the Qur’an, comments on the Qur’anic verse {In the day (of Judgment) when He will gather them together (He will say): O you assembly of the jinn! Many of humankind did you seduce. And their adherents among humankind will say: Our Lord! We enjoyed one another, but now we have arrived at the appointed term which You appointed for us. He will say: Fire is your home. Abide therein forever, save him whom Allah wills (to deliver). Lo! Your Lord is Wise, Aware} (Al-An`am 6: 128), “This verses implies that we should leave the question of judging the disbelievers’ fate to Allah”. (Al-Qurtubi, Al-Jami` li Ahkam Al-Qur’an, 7: 84)
Given the above, it is our duty, as Muslims, to deliver Islam’s message to all people through dialogue, good manners, and translating Islamic teachings into practice.
It is also the duty of every person to look and search for the truth and convincingly follow and call for it.
May Allah accept your and our good deeds!

Allah Almighty knows best.

Source: OnIslam