This question was firstly posted at www.readingislam.com in Ask About Islam Section (answered by Imam Ahmed Saad)
Question
As-Salam `Alaykum. What religion did Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) parents follow? Abu Talib had sweared to help the Prophet in every way but he refused to give up the religion of Abdul-Muttalib, so does that mean even Prophet's (PBUH) father practiced the same religion?
I read in some texts that one sect each from the Jews and Christians will go to heaven. What does this imply? Islam was practiced in the true sense only after it was revealed to the Prophet (PBUH). Could it be possible that his parents believed in the messages given to the prophets before him or were they pagans? What about those who strove to stick to religion of Ibrahim and couldn't live enough to abide by the message of the final word to be declared?
Before Islam, people travelled in quest for truth to adhere to monotheism like Zayd ibn Amr and yet many others, but couldn't survive to meet the Prophet. Will they too meet a fate like the disbelievers though they were striving and seeking the right path? When did Islam get its name? In surat Al-Maidah, Islam was chosen as our religion, Alhamdulilah? But when was it called so for the first time? Allah knows best and He is the only Judge. I hope I find answers to what I am seeking.
Answer
Salam, dear questioner.
Thank you very much for these questions that require some good research work and reading into the biography of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Also this question gives a chance to highlight facts which every Muslim does need today.
First of all, there is a need to know that Islam is the religion with which Almighty Allah (God) has sent every messenger and prophet. It is not an attributive name. It does not belong to a person or a nation or a tribe. Rather, it is a description of every person who accepts the truth and submits himself to Allah.
However, why uniquely 'Islam'; because previous messages were given specific names? The answer is that because Islam is the message that completed the messages sent by Prophets in their respective times to their respective people; it is the plethora of values, beliefs and great ordinances that are meant to connect people with their creator, and thus it was given an eternal distinguished description by Prophet Abraham who is known to be the father of the three monotheistic religions of the world today.
The Qur'an tells us what means:
*{And strive hard in (the way of) Allah, (such) a striving a is due to Him; He has chosen you and has not laid upon you an hardship in religion; the faith of your father Ibrahim; He named you Muslims before and in this, that the Messenger may be a bearer of witness to you, and you may be bearers of witness to the people.}* (Al-Hajj 22:78)
This shows that although each Prophet and Messenger came with Islam in essence, their messages were given a link with something particular to them. As for Islam, being the finality of all these messages, it was given the original name that links it to Almighty Allah only.
Therefore, the name signifies the universality of Islam and its being the final message as it was given no connection to any place or people. Rather, it is people who will be getting their description from it when they are called 'Muslims'.
The uniqueness of the name indicates two important things; its being a completion of all previous time/space related messages as it is the final form of submission to the one true God (al-hanifiyyah or monotheism) and its universality as it is not linked with any tribe, time, place or person.
We as people have no clue to predict the destiny of anyone; Muslim or a non-Muslim; we just hope and it is Allah who decides who ends up where.
Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) confirmed this fact in the Quran, as he said what gives the meaning of:
*{If You should chastise them, then surely they are Thy servants; and if You should forgive them, then surely You are the Mighty, the Wise.}* (Al-Ma'idah 5:118)
Even while they have strayed from worshipping the one true God, Jesus could not judge these people and give a verdict about them, simply because it is only Allah who judges people.
The Quran again highlights this fact as it says:
*{Surely those who believe and those who are Jews and the Sabeans and the Christians and the Magians and those who associate (others with Allah), surely Allah will decide between them on the day of resurrection.}* (Al-Hajj 22:17)
Based on these texts, we can conclude that no one is entitled to know the destiny of an individual, as it is the deeds of that individual that he will encounter on the Day of Judgment and it is up to Almighty Allah to decide where they should end up.
The abyss in which many of our brothers and sisters do fall in is their readiness to predict the destiny of any individual, although there is no evidence that gives them such a dangerous authority. On the contrary, we are told, as previously shown, that we have no clue what the destiny of any individual will be and that we should leave this to the Day of Judgment because this life is the space for work and action not the space of judgment and destinies.
Coming now to your point about the parents of the Prophet and his uncle Abu Talib and what religion they followed. Firstly, the above mentioned facts do apply to the situation here meaning that no one can predict what destiny these three individuals will face.
Yet, a very important thing to be born in mind is that these three fall into the category of Ahl Al-Fatrah (people who have not received a message) simply because at their time no Prophet came and the judgment regarding these people is that they are to be left completely to Allah and cannot be described as being mushrikin polytheists or whatever, because they have not received a message.
Almighty Allah says:
*{We never punish until we have sent a messenger.}* (Al-Israa' 17:15)
Imam Ibn Taymiyah(a Muslim scholar) said: "The Quran and the Sunnah have clearly indicated that Allah will not punish an individual until a message is delivered to him. When no message is delivered at all, no punishment will be due and when a message was delivered but some details were not, Allah will held the person accountable for what has been delivered to him only." (Ibn Taymiyah, Majmu` Al-Fatwa, Vol. 3, p. 493)
If it is said that how come you say that they belong to Ahl Al-Fatrah while the religion of Abraham was already there? We can simply say that although the religion of Abraham was already in place, a modified or altered version of it was practiced. Because by the lapse of time many details have been changed and altered. Therefore, we cannot say that these people are responsible for something which has not been delivered in its original form to them.
It is true that many people including Zayd ibn Amr ibn Nufail and many others started a quest for the true message and found, by their instinct and primordial nature, that it is very repugnant to worship idols. But such are individual efforts and we cannot take them as a law or a rule because in the end they were exceptions to the widespread practice at that time.
Digging to find the roots of the original religion of Abraham was definitely a praised thing; yet, when it comes to accountability other criteria aside from personal efforts has to be considered, because exceptions cannot become a rule.
Regardless of their connection or kinship or parenthood relation with the Prophet, the Prophet's uncle, parents or anyone else will be brought as individual on the Day of Judgment and be held accountable for his/her deeds and nothing else is taken into consideration. Almighty Allah says what means:
*{The day on which property will not avail, nor sons.}* (Ash-Shu`araa' 26:88)
*{And every one of them will come to Him on the day of resurrection alone.}* (Maryam 19:95)
I hope this answers your questions. Please keep in touch.
Salam.
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