Author Description
Can non-Muslims be saved? And can those who are damned to Hell ever be redeemed? In Islam and the Fate of Others, Mohammad Hassan Khalil examines the writings of influential medieval and modern Muslim scholars on the controversial and consequential question of non-Muslim salvation.This is an illuminating study of four of the most prominent figures in the history of Islam: Ghazali, Ibn 'Arabi, Ibn Taymiyya, and Rashid Rida. Khalil demonstrates that though these paradigmatic figures tended to affirm the superiority of the Islamic message, they also envisioned a God of mercy and justice and a Paradise populated by Muslims and non-Muslims.Islam and the Fate of Others reveals that these theologians' interpretations of the Qur'an and hadith corpus-from optimistic depictions of Judgment Day to notions of a temporal Hell and salvation for all-challenge widespread assumptions about Islamic scripture and thought. Along the way, Khalil examines the writings of many other important writers, such as Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya, Mulla Sadra, Shah Wali Allah of Delhi, Muhammad Ali of Lahore, James Robson, Sayyid Qutb, Yusuf al-Qaradawi, Farid Esack, Reza Shah-Kazemi, T. J. Winter, and Muhammad Legenhausen. Islam and the Fate of Others is both timely and overdue.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates the complex and often misunderstood question of whether non-Muslims can achieve salvation within the framework of Islamic theology. Mohammad Hassan Khalil, an associate professor of religious studies, utilizes a rigorous analysis of primary texts from both medieval and modern Islamic scholars to challenge monolithic views on the subject. By examining the works of figures like Ghazali and Ibn Taymiyya, Khalil argues that Islamic tradition contains a diverse range of perspectives that emphasize divine mercy and justice alongside the affirmation of the Islamic message.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Detailed analysis of the theological positions of Ghazali, Ibn 'Arabi, Ibn Taymiyya, and Rashid Rida.
- Examination of Qur'anic interpretations and hadith corpus regarding Judgment Day and the nature of Hell.
- Comparative study of historical and contemporary Muslim perspectives on the fate of non-Muslims.
- Discussion of the concept of a temporal versus eternal Hell in Islamic thought.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars and students of Islamic studies frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the nuance of salvation theology in Islam. Experts highlight the book's ability to dismantle simplistic stereotypes by providing a comprehensive and scholarly overview of diverse theological interpretations.
Page Count:
271
Publication Date:
2012-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0199314004
ISBN-13:
9780199314003
Philosophy
Religion
History
Islam
Salvation
Theology
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