naturally develop different temperaments and identities. A person born
in a Hindu family becomes a Hindu upon growing up. For him the Hindu
religion is perfect. For such a person it is ingrained into his nature
from his childhood that he is a Hindu first and last. Supposingly he
receives the message of Islam. What are the chances that he will give
up his religion, his identity and accept a new one. Isn't it tough for
this person to become Muslim as compared to someone born a Muslim. It
scares me to think that if I were born into some other faith than
Islam where would I be today. So why is it not the law that everyone
does have an equal opportunity to experience and accept Islam from the
cradle. It this a matter of Allah's will, Sprituality (Hidayah) or
Human Psychology. Please respond with references from Quran and
hadith.
Praise be to Allaah.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"So set you (O Muhammad) your face towards the religion (of pure
Islamic Monotheism) Haneef (worship none but Allaah Alone). Allaah's
Fitrah (i.e. Allaah's Islamic Monotheism) with which He has created
mankind. No change let there be in Khalq-illaah (i.e. the religion of
AllaahIslamic Monotheism), that is the straight religion, but most of
men know not"[al-Room 30:30]
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him)
that the Messenger of Allaah(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said: "Every child is born in a state of fitrah (the natural
state of man, i.e., Islam), then his parents make him into a Jew or a
Christian or a Magian." (Agreed upon).
The correct view is that what is meant by fitrah is the religion of
Islam, as stated in the hadeeth narrated by Muslim from the Messenger
of Allaah(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), who said:
"Allaah said: 'I created My slaves as haneefs (believers in pure
monotheism), then the Shaytaan misled them from their religion; he
forbade them what I had permitted to them and commanded them to
associate others with Me for which I had not sent down any
authority.'" What it means when it is said that a child is born as a
Muslim is that he is born inherently ready, when he reaches the age of
discretion, if he is given the choice between Islam and its opposite,
to prefer Islam over its opposite and to choose Islam as his religion,
so long as there is nothing to prevent him from doing so, such as his
whims and desires or tribalism. Following his desires makes him prefer
falsehood so that he may attain some share of leadership or wealth,
and tribalism or racial pride makes him follow his forefathers or
elders, even if they are not following true guidance. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"Nay! They say: 'We found our fathers following a certain way and
religion, and we guide ourselves by their footsteps'"[al-Zukhruf
43:23]
And Allaah tells us what the followers among the people of Hell will
say (interpretation of the meaning):
"And they will say: 'Our Lord! Verily, we obeyed our chiefs and our
great ones, and they misled us from the (Right) Way'"[al-Ahzaab 33:67]
If every child is born in a state of fitrah, then obviously there will
be some who will be influenced in ways that are in accordance with
that fitrah and will strengthen it, such as those who are born to
Muslim parents and grow up in a Muslim society. And there will be some
whose fitrah is changed, such as those who are born to kaafir parents
and group up among the kuffaar, be they Jews, Christians, Magians or
mushrikeen. Undoubtedly the one who is born in Islam has means of
guidance and happiness which are not available to others who are born
and grow up in kaafir societies. Being given easy access to the means
of faith and guidance is a blessing from Allaah which He gives to
whomsoever He wills. It should also be noted that the person whose
fitrah has been changed from Islam will not be punished for the sins
of another; rather he will be punished if the call of the
Messenger(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) reaches him and
he does not accept it out of stubbornness, arrogance or tribalistic
pride in the religion of his forefathers and countrymen, because proof
is established against him when the call of the Messenger reaches him,
and in such a case, if he persists in his kufr then he deserves to be
punished. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger (to give
warning)"[al-Israa' 17:15]
What you say in your question, "It scares me to think...", is correct
and is wise, for it is the blessing of Allaah upon you that you were
born in Islam. If you had been born into another religion, there would
have been the fear that you might remain in that false religion, but
when Allaah wills good for His slave, He makes it easy for him to have
the means of guidance which will bring him from the religion of kufr
to the religion of Islam. The entire matter is up to Allaah.
But when you say in your question, "So why is it not the law that...?"
this is a false question caused by unawareness of the wisdom of Allaah
and His ways of dealing with His creation. Of course it is impossible
for the same opportunities to be available to all, because there are
so many different human religions, and guidance to Islam happens when
a person chooses to be guided, because Allaah has given man the
ability to distinguish between truth and falsehood, between what is
beneficial and what is harmful, by means of the reason that He has
instilled in him, and the explanations with which He has sent His
Messengers. At the same time, the will of the person is subject to the
will of Allaah, for He is the One Who sends astray whomsoever He wills
by His justice and wisdom, and He guides whomsoever He will by His
grace and wisdom.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Verily, this (the Qur'aan) is no less than a Reminder to (all) the
'Aalameen (mankind and jinn)
To whomsoever among you who wills to walk straight.
And you cannot will unless (it be) that Allaah wills the Lord of the
'Aalameen (mankind, jinn and all that exists)"[al-Takweer 81:27-29]
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