The Meaning of the Saying of Allah the Exalted: "And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam"
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh:
May Allah greet you and bless you.
The questioner:
May Allah bless you. We begin this session with this question from the brother Maim Salih, who says: May Allah bless you. Regarding the saying of Allah the Exalted[Ali 'Imran 3:85], what is the intended meaning? Is this religion of Islam the general religion for all people? And is anyone who lags behind it or departs from it considered a non-Muslim?
The Shaykh:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. The religion of Islam is the religion of all the Prophets, and it is the oneness of Allah (tawhid) (Mighty and Majestic) and acting in accordance with His law. This is general for all the Prophets and all the believers in every time and place. So whoever departs from this religion is a disbeliever (kafir) and a loser in this world and the Hereafter. Islam is general, and it is the religion of all the Prophets. The term Islam is also applied to what Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) brought, and what he brought does not depart from the previous religions of the Prophets, but it may differ only in the secondary rulings, the practical rulings. For every nation, Allah prescribes what is suitable for them of rulings in their time, then He abrogates it and brings a new Shari'ah.[Al-Ma'idah 5:48]. As for the foundation, which is the creed of tawhid, this is general and is never abrogated.
It is the religion of all the Prophets and is called Islam. All the Prophets are Muslims, and all their followers are Muslims. Whoever departs from this is a disbeliever, and in the Hereafter, he is among the losers. When Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was sent, Islam became what he brought, and what this Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) brought.
So no one remains on another religion, neither Judaism nor Christianity. Rather, it is obligatory that one follow this Messenger.[Al-A'raf 7:158] and his words, and follow him so that you may be guided. Those who believe in him and honor him and support him and follow the light that was revealed with him, those are the successful ones. For this reason, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you,
May Allah greet you and bless you.
The questioner:
May Allah bless you. We begin this session with this question from the brother Maim Salih, who says: May Allah bless you. Regarding the saying of Allah the Exalted
And whoever desires other than Islam as religion
وَمَن يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الْإِسْلَامِ دِينًاThe Shaykh:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. The religion of Islam is the religion of all the Prophets, and it is the oneness of Allah (tawhid) (Mighty and Majestic) and acting in accordance with His law. This is general for all the Prophets and all the believers in every time and place. So whoever departs from this religion is a disbeliever (kafir) and a loser in this world and the Hereafter. Islam is general, and it is the religion of all the Prophets. The term Islam is also applied to what Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) brought, and what he brought does not depart from the previous religions of the Prophets, but it may differ only in the secondary rulings, the practical rulings. For every nation, Allah prescribes what is suitable for them of rulings in their time, then He abrogates it and brings a new Shari'ah.
To each of you We prescribed a law and a method
لِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مِنكُمْ شِرْعَةً وَمِنْهَاجًاIt is the religion of all the Prophets and is called Islam. All the Prophets are Muslims, and all their followers are Muslims. Whoever departs from this is a disbeliever, and in the Hereafter, he is among the losers. When Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was sent, Islam became what he brought, and what this Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) brought.
So no one remains on another religion, neither Judaism nor Christianity. Rather, it is obligatory that one follow this Messenger.
Say, [O Muhammad], "O mankind, indeed I am the Messenger of Allah to you all, [from Him] to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. There is no deity except Him; He gives life and causes death." So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the unlettered prophet, who believes in Allah
قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعًا الَّذِي لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ فَآمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ النَّبِيِّ الْأُمِّيِّ الَّذِي يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِNo Jew or Christian from this Ummah will hear of me and then not believe in what I have brought, except that he will enter the Fire.
لا يسمع بي من هذه الأمة يهودي ولا نصراني ثم لا يؤمن بالذي جئت به إلا دخل النار.The presenter:
May Allah reward you,
Source
نور على الدرب - الفوزان - 02/262 — archive.org (0:52)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.