Islam and the fate of others

By Rusman

Given the lack of faith placed in the scholarship of any official Islamic religious body in Malaysia people may find it a better use of their time to educate themselves and spend more time on self-reflection rather than pointing fingers at people during a moment of grief and mourning.  It would be the Ghazzalian thing to do.

From the Ph.D. dissertation of Mohammad Hassan Khalil entitled “MUSLIM SCHOLARLY DISCUSSIONS ON SALVATION AND THE FATE OF ‘OTHERS” also published as a book on Amazon here and PDF of dissertation available here.

In sum, by examining the works of certain highly influential medieval and modern Muslim scholars of various theological backgrounds [al-Ghazali, ibn Arabi,  Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn Qayyim al Jawziyyah, Rashid Rida], we find that the discourse on salvation and the fate of ‘Others’ involves a limited array of recurring themes, particularly the two themes of Divine mercy (rahmah), which is often associated with God’s unlimited volition, and the significance of Muhammad’s Message, which is often associated with human submission and Divine justice. Even so, the conclusions put forth by these scholars are radically different in certain regards. All are utilizing most of the same texts (the exceptions being a handful of hadiths which usually function to supplement a particular argument), emphasizing the same themes, and yet, because of variations in hermeneutic strategies and motivations, we find that these texts allow for the kind of variation that makes the often monolithic characterizations put forth by numerous scholars a demonstration of apologetic reassessment, polemical over-simplification, or intellectual laziness. Indeed, a recognition of this discourse is necessary for those of us who seek to be conscious of the spectrum of scholarly readings of Islamic scripture. Indeed, we would do well to avoid simply echoing a single side of a particular debate,
even if that side represents the majority.

I will conclude as I began, by asking the question, “What does Islam say about the fate of ‘Others’?” Whatever the answer may be, I hope that the present study demonstrates, at the very least, that we should avoid the very trap many scholars have fallen into, and that is providing one-dimensional responses, whether it be with regard to the issue of salvation on the Day of Judgment, the issue of eternal punishment, or both. Indeed, a deeper appreciation of the rich diversity of possibilities is in order.” -DinMerican