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Do the Jews and Christians of our time have the حجت (proof/case established against them), considering Allah Almighty's statement: "And We would not punish until We had sent a messenger"?

2 min readAlso available in العربية

The statement "It is among the nullifiers of Islam to declare polytheists as disbelievers" is incorrect. The correct understanding is that declaring them disbelievers is obligatory, not a nullifier (of Islam). However, failing to declare Jews, Christians, and those who follow religions other than Islam as disbelievers is among the nullifiers of Islam. There is no doubt about the disbelief of Jews and Christians, as it is established by text and consensus and is a matter known by necessity in the religion. The ruling of their disbelief does not depend on the establishment of proof (upon them); Allah the Almighty described them as disbelievers before the coming of the clear proof. Allah says: "Those who disbelieved among the People of the Scripture and the polytheists would not have ceased [from disbelief] until there came to them the clear proof." (Al-Bayyinah: 1). The clear proof (Al-Bayyinah) refers to Muhammad, peace be upon him, who called them to faith. Thus, the original disbeliever, meaning one who follows a religion other than Islam, is a disbeliever in reality, and the establishment or non-establishment of proof upon them pertains to their entry into Hellfire on the Day of Judgment. And whoever hears about the Prophet, peace be upon him, and does not believe in him, has no excuse before Allah, as stated in the Hadith: "By Him in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, no one from this nation, neither a Jew nor a Christian, hears about me and then dies without believing in that with which I was sent, except that he will be among the dwellers of the Fire." Given the spread and prominence of Islam, it is inconceivable that they would not have heard of the Prophet, peace be upon him. As for those whom the message of Islam has not reached, Allah the Exalted will test them on the Day of Judgment.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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