Letters to the Editor

What will be the judgment on the Day of Judgment for the nomads (people who live far from the world in deserts, forests) who do not know about Islam?

Muhammed Abdullah, via email

YMD

You may not have the following intention. But, generally, this kind of question is asked to raise an objection by the people against the possibility of they themselves being judged. What they mean is: “Alright, we will be questioned for what evil we did. Agreed. But, what about those who never received a message? How will they be judged? Obviously, they will not be judged and punished for their evil deeds. So, the question is (O God), why should You subject us to questioning and punishment?”

The answer is: when a crime is committed, the question of what will happen to the victim comes after what will happen to the criminal. If the criminal is properly judged, the victim will be properly compensated.

In this case, the criminals are those who received the Message. They were told to take it forward. They showed their backs. So, on the Day of Judgment, the victims will be asked, “What did you do with the message?” They will answer, “We never received one.” So, those who were entrusted with the Message and asked to take it forward will be asked, “What did you do with the Message?”

Before leaving this world, Jesus Christ sent his apostles across to various parts of the world. It is said that he sent one to India. Prophet Muhammad commanded his followers: “Convey (the message received) from me.”

He was so serious about his own responsibility, that he addressed a multitude of believers and asked them to testify that he himself had delivered Allah’s message to them.

Having no answer, as individuals, for not having delivered to those who live deep in deserts and forests, they will be punished. It is likely that their good deeds will be offloaded from them and given away to those they had ability to deliver but did not. Thus, the criminal will be judged, and the victim will be compensated.

In this case, the criminal faces greater danger than the victim. If the criminal said, for instance, that: “I had too little knowledge to convey to others,” he will face two charges: one of not knowing enough of what matters, and a second one of not having conveyed whatever he was knew.

As regards the victims: those who never received a Message, they will not have to answer for why they did not Pray or fast. But they will be questioned about two rights in the Hereafter: Allah’s rights, and rights of the humans. If they wronged the people, while it was disallowed in their own society, and regarded as evil by one and all (such as raping, looting, robbing, cheating, lying), they will have to settle the scores with those they wronged. As regards Allah’s right, it is His right that He should be believed as the One true God since He has planted this message into the heart and soul of every human. If someone ignores this call to believe in none but One God, and prefers to worship idols, images, other humans, Jesus Christ, devils, the Sun, cats (a temple for one in ancient Egypt has just been unearthed), then, he will be consigned to the Fire.

Another opinion is that so far as belief or disbelief in Allah is concerned, everyone who did not receive the Message either from a Prophet, or from his followers, will be sent a Messenger right on that Day and their fate decided on the basis of their response to the Prophet then raised among them. Exactly how this will happen is not clear.

But what is clear is that those who were derelict of their duty to convey, will be punished.

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