Islam means a declaration by a person he or she believes there is no deity but Allah and that Muhammad was His last messenger to mankind. The other end of the word Islam is more general than indicated (submission or surrender to Allah). This is indeed the essence of the divine messages preached by all prophets and messengers, from Adam to the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Referring to the Prophet Abraham (AS), the Quran says: “Your Lord said: Surrender. He said:” I submit to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.”The word for “Submit” in Arabic in this verse Koran is “aslama” from which the term Islam is derived. We are also told in the Qur’an was the Prophet Abraham (AS) to appoint the believers ‘Muslim’ or ‘Muslims’, which means “Those who submit to Allah.”
The two senses of the word are related because the cornerstone. Islam is the principle of complete submission to Allah. When someone betrays any doubt about the complete submission to Allah, do not you think this person is Muslim, because it violates the basic characteristic of Islam.
There are more than a reference in the Quran about the type of religion that Allah accepts. In all these references the term Islam is used. A clear example is found in verse 19 of the Su’rah 3 where Allah says: “Really, the practice of worship with Allah is Islam.” Many scholars are of the opinion that this verse and similar verses refer to Islam in its final form as taught by Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
There is an equal number of scholars who take the verses in the general direction of Islam, surrender, submit to Allah completely. For them, the verse already mentioned must be translated into Spanish as: “The truth of the only religion acceptable to Allah is that (the man) to surrender to Him” The two views are not contradictory since the final version of the divine religion, Islam in other words, it gives emphasis to the main lines with the general sense of the term Islam. We give a greater focus to include the followers of prophets before Muhammad (SAW) who responded to the divine messages and subjected to Allah. As is well known that all prophets preached essentially the same message, inviting and calling their nations to submit to Allah. This applies to verse 85 of the Su’rah 3. Yes we translate the strictest sense the verse means: “If anyone seeks a religion other than Islam, never accept him and the other life to come will be the losers.” If we take in a broader sense, we say it means: “If anyone seeks a religion other than submitting to God, God never accepted it, and so on.”
I personally prefer the latter opinion. We must be clear, however, that since Muhammad (SAW) has taught mankind the religion of Islam as the last and most complete version of divine faith, this is the only acceptable way for Allah to surrender to Him
Other verses talk about different communities that have nothing to fear in life after death. Let’s take an example from verse 62 of the Su’rah 2 to be translated thus: “The believers, like those who follow the Jewish faith and Christians and the Sabians – all who believe in Allah and the Last Day and do righteous deeds – shall have their reward with their Lord, and fear will have no penalty. ” These verses must be taken in a historical sense. We know for sure that the message of Islam as preached by Prophet Muhammad (SAW) abrogates all previous messages.
Consequently, Islam is the only religion that Allah accepts. However, the people of our ancestors who followed Judaism, Christianity or another faith preached by the prophets before and subjected to Allah only, and the truth will be rewarded with Allah and have nothing to fear in the Day trial. After the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), humanity has no choice but to believe in its message or deny it. If you refuse to follow the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) will be the losers, regardless of creed that has followed. However, it is the responsibility of Muslims, preaching to mankind the message of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Those who do not get to know about it, or the message reaches them improperly, they can not be condemned by us, Allah will judge and He knows your situation.
Of course there are good people among the followers of other religions. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, recognized this. When he was asked “Who are the best people?, He replied:” The best people before the days of Islam are the best people in Islam, that while properly understand the Islamic faith. ” In the first major battle that the Muslims fought against the unbelievers, the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, appointed a number of people on the enemy side and ordered that they were not killed. Muslim soldiers had strict orders not to kill these people if given the opportunity, were ordered to take these people named as prisoners. These people named were people who did not take place in active hostility against Islam. When we meet good people among the followers of other religions, we must show good relations with them. One can say that some of them accept the principles of Islam but Muslims can not be made by social pressure. This may be true, but we can not condone such an attitude.
The ultimate goal of embracing Islam is being right with God. This takes precedence over all other considerations. One may wonder what will happen with these people on the Day of Judgement. We must remember that on that day Allah is the absolute sovereign. He determines what happens to each of His creation. It is our job to decide what will happen to anyone, either the best or the worst in people. It is only Allah who determines that. However, since we know Islam, and the word of truth and the message that Allah has given mankind through His last messenger. We can not deviate from Islam. We can not condone the practice of these people to give little weight to their social conditions. We say that the relationship with Allah is of utmost importance. Treat them as Allah on the Day of Judgement is a matter of God and not ours.
