By the One in Whose Hand Muhammad's soul is, there is nobody of this Ummah (community), whether they be Jewish or Christian, who hears of me and then dies without believing in what I was sent with except that he will be among the people of Hellfire
Chapter: Obligation of believing that the message of our Prophet Muhammad (saws) is for all people, and the abrogation of all other religions
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said:
"By the One in Whose Hand Muhammad's soul is, there is nobody of this Ummah (community), whether they be Jewish or Christian, who hears of me and then dies without believing in what I was sent with except that he will be among the people of Hellfire."
Reported by Muslim (No. 153) and Ahmad (No. 7856, 8255).
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) swears by Allah that none of this nation, be he Jewish or Christian or otherwise, who hears of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and of his message then dies without believing in him except that he will be among the dwellers of Hellfire who will reside therein forever.
Lessons
It demonstrates the generality of the Prophet's message that addresses the whole world, the obligation of following him, and the fact that his Shariah has abrogated all the previous legislations.
Whoever disbelieves in the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), his belief in other prophets (peace be upon all of them) will not be of any avail to him.
Those who have not heard about the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and the call of Islam has not reached them are excused and their case in the Hereafter is left to Allah Almighty.
A person can embrace Islam even shortly before death, even if he is in severe illness, so long as the soul did not reach the throat (did not witness death).
Belief in the soundness of the disbelievers' religion, including the Jews and the Christians, is disbelief.
The reference in this Hadīth to the Jews and the Christians indicates that the ruling includes the people of other faiths as well. If this is the case with the Jews and the Christians, who received divine scriptures, then it is more emphatic for those who have no scripture, for everyone must embrace Islam and obey its Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him).
Explanation in Arabic
يَحْلِفُ النبيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بالله أنه لا يَسمعُ به أَحَدٌ مِن هذه الأمة، يَهوديٌّ أو نصرانيٌّ أو غيرُهما تَبْلُغُه دعوةُ النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ثم يموت ولم يؤمن به إلا كان من أصحاب النار خالدًا فيها أبدًا.
عموم رسالةِ النبيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إلى جميع العالم، ووجوب اتِّباعِه، ونسخ جميع الشرائع بشرعه.
مَن كَفَرَ بالنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم لم ينفعه زَعْمُه إيمانَه بغيرِه من الأنبياء صلوات الله عليهم أجمعين.
من لم يَسمع بالنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، ولم تَبْلغْه دعوةُ الإسلام فهو معذور، وأَمْرُه في الآخرة إلى الله تعالى.
يتحقق الانتفاع بالإسلام وإن كان قُبيل الموت، ولو في المرض الشديد، ما لم تبلغ الروح الحلقوم.
تصحيح دين الكفار -ومنهم اليهود والنصارى- كُفْرٌ.
ذكر اليهودي والنصراني -في الحديث- تنبيهًا على من سواهما؛ وذلك لأن اليهود والنصارى لهم كتاب، فإذا كان هذا شأنهم، فغيرهم ممن لا كتاب له أولى، فكلُّهم يجب عليهم الدخول في دينه وطاعته صلى الله عليه وسلم.
Scholars’ grades
Scholar
Grade
Applies to
Work
Muslimd. 261 AH
Authenticصحيح
The hadith
صحيح مسلمNo. 153
Grades of other versions (7)
AuthenticAl-Albaniصحيح — صحيح الجامع (7063)
Authentic chainShu'ayb al-Arna'utإسناده صحيح على شرط الشيخين — تخريج المسند لشعيب (8203)