it's not just warning the non-muslims
warning the muslims who hardly act upon Islam
and anyways, is there a problem if it's written in the Qur'an? I mean if that's where non-believers are going then what's wrong if you describe it? that should serve as clearer warning that if you don't believe you know what punishment awaits you. It's making sure ppl will be horrified of Allah's punishment.
It's kinda like when a teacher says, "If you misbehave you will be expelled." It's scarier than, "If you misbehave you will receive immense punishment." They won't really get what's really scary if you don't know how you'll punish him.
I remember a comment in this forum saying that heaven will be boring if there's no work, it's better hell, at least you get something new and have more entertainment... or somewhere along those lines.
That just shows you there are ppl in this world who think life and hereafter is just a complete joke.
To be honest, I think the latter sounds much more scary.
Let's look at another aspect. Why is fear necessary? I don't know about you, but I don't want to live in fear that I'll be torchured because I'm not allowed to believe in anything other than what a book/messenger/God etc tells me to.
Another question. In the Christian Orthodox belief(as far as I am aware of), anyone can enter paradise because they are judged on their conditions.(example:Growing up in a country where there is no money for religious teaching's. That person might never have the chance to read a holy book, therefore never going to go to paradise/heaven. But in Christian Orthodox beleif, that person can)
Does the Qur'an specify about anything like that?
Well then, it's seems you prefer being expelled right after you do something. IMO, if I know how extreme the punishment will be I will, as much as possible, try to avoid that.
it's not only about living in fear. it's quite a mix of:
love for Allah, coz as a Muslim you believe that He sustained and cherishes believers and gave a us guidance (the Qur'an and Muhammad SAW).
hope for Allah's reward (i.e. Heaven and the chance to meet Him)
and fear of Allah's punishment (i.e. Hell)
Yes, we have that belief too. But he will not be sent straight to Heaven. Allah knows what will happen, but to those who did not get a chance to read about Islam, they will be raised up in the Day of Judgement and judged on the spot whether they shall believe or not. I don't know much on this subject though so I don't know how it will be, but everyone will be judged as fairly as possible.
The oldest known religion is about 40000 years old.
The modern man is about 150000-200000 years old.
How could God in any possible religion judge these people and send them to hell when they didn't even have a chance to prove themselves?
It's quite unfair.
that's the thing I keep hearing, that Islam is a new religion and Muhammad (S.A.W.) was the one who created it.
We believe, as we are what you might call "creationists, that Adam, the first man, was created and was a Muslim. Muslim means one who peacefully, willingly, and wholly submits himself/herself to Allah. Before Allah chose Islam as Allah said in the Quran,
"This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” (5:3),
there was something called Tawheed, meaning Oneness of God (i.e. Allah). You worship one God that has no partners.
And after Adam, there were other Prophets and Messengers sent to different peoples.
"We did aforetime send messengers before thee: of them there are some whose story We have related to thee, and some whose story We have not related to thee. It was not (possible) for any messenger to bring a sign except by the leave of Allah: but when the Command of Allah issued, the matter was decided in truth and justice, and there perished, there and then those who stood on Falsehoods."
—Qur'an, sura 40 (Ghafir), ayah 78
"For We assuredly sent amongst every people a messenger with (the command), 'Serve God and eschew evil'""
(16:36)
and after all those Messengers and Prophets, Muhammad (SAW) was sent as a Seal of the Prophets or the Last Prophet to Mankind and all things that exists, and with him, Allah chose Islam as the final religion or way of life.
