How can Islam be for all humanity when some people die non-Muslims due to ignorance or poverty? Will these be punished? What is the use of punishment in the afterlife if it does not prevent crime in this world, as atheists claim? How accurate is the atheists' claim that Islamic slaughter tortures the animal, and what is the divine wisdom behind this method? Is it permissible for a non-Muslim to touch the Qur'an with the intention of reading it and learning about Islam?
The answer addresses three misconceptions and one question. Firstly, it advises against debating atheists except for those who are qualified. Secondly, it refutes the misconceptions: 1. "Not everyone hears about Islam": Whoever has not received the message will be tested on the Day of Judgment, and this is from Allah's mercy. 2. "We are not punished in this world, and otherworldly punishment is useless": Allah punishes disobedient people and disbelievers in this world with various punishments such as illness and financial loss, and otherworldly punishment deters many from committing sins. 3. "Slaughtering animals is torture": Islam commanded kindness to animals and prohibited torturing them. Rather, it commanded kindness during slaughter by sharpening the blade and putting the animal at ease. The aforementioned article clarifies that the slaughtered animal loses sensation of pain after a few seconds due to the disruption of sensory centers, and that its movements and convulsions are effects from the nervous system to pump blood for cleaning the meat.
As for the question of a non-Muslim touching the Quran, it refers back to a previous fatwa.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/73073