Considering All Religions before Choosing

Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Weltch

Question

Is it strictly prohibited (haram) to not consider the possibility of other religions besides Islam to be the correct religion potentially? If Islam is correct, why do Satanists only mock Christianity?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

It is indeed important to base one’s choice of religion on both an intellectual and spiritual basis.

The true God-made religion should make sense in one’s mind and heart. That said, many religions of the world are either obviously not God-made because their core beliefs are unintelligible or because they lack a comprehensive worldview that guides creation to their God-given purpose in life.

Criterion of a God-Made Religion

Being that belief in One God is the only rational conclusion one can easily eliminate without the need for further consideration and research, atheism and polytheism.

Next, one can also eliminate some of the monotheistic religions due to the fact that they are specific to a certain place or time such that the religion is not possible for all creation at all times to follow.

Judaism

Judaism is named after Judea a portion of the Holy Land given to one of the 12 tribes of Isreal: the tribe of Judea. Prior to this event and this individual the name Judea and Judaism never existed. This means Abraham, Solomon, David, and the remainder of the Prophets prior to Moses would never have identified themselves a followers of Judaism. In fact, they would not know that word if it were mentioned to them.

Thus is would be illogical for the Timeless Creator to punish people who existed prior to this time period for not following Judaism.

Christianity

The same can be said for Christianity. Prior to the advent of Jesus Christ (Upon him be peace and blessings) the name (and by extension the religion) of Christianity did not exist. Thus the tenant of faith that no one can attain salvation without believing Jesus died for their sins cannot logically or fairly be applicable to those who died prior to Jesus’ birth.

Moses, Abraham, Noah, etc… could not have been Christian.

In addition to this Biblical Scholars are in unanimous agreement that the original revelations of Moses and Jesus are no longer in existence. This leaves anything in the Bible, whether New or Old Testament, draped with a shadow of speculation and uncertainty.

Islam

Islam is a verbal noun. It means to submit one’s will to the will of God, the Creator, which is applicable to all creation regardless of time or place. Adam (peace be upon him) and all who were born after him could fulfill this requirement of submission.

In fact, Jesus is quoted in the Bible saying, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.” [Bible, John 6:38]

By definition, this means Jesus was a Muslim (i.e., one who submitted his will to God).

This congruency and clarity of beliefs and practice is only found in Islam with the same beliefs as taught by all the Prophets throughout time: there is only One God and success is in following the revelation and Prophet of your time.

The Practices of the Satanist is Not a Proof

It is true that many Satanists blaspheme Christian beliefs, symbols, and values. This is in no way proof for or against Christianity. There are many reasons for this distinction.

1) The Satanists do attack other religions (including Islam), however, it seems to be a lot less publicized. An attack on Sacred Islamic beliefs/symbols publicly has always led to backlash. The Danish cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and give him peace) clearly showed that. Contrast that with the Christian community’s reaction to the many depictions of Jesus Christ in Hollywood or television parodies like South Park or Family Guy etc…

2) Christianity is much older and has been politicized in the pre-modern age such that all detractors were persecuted.

3) Christianity is the largest of the three monotheistic religions, greatly due to point number 2.

Advice

My greatest and sincerest advice to you is to dedicate some time to studying the true beliefs and practices of Islam via qualified teachers. It is easy to be shaken by outward appearances and empty claims circulated through the media and the internet. The only way to see through the smoke is with knowledge. Consider the many courses offered here at SeekersGuidance for free.

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch

Checked and approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a teacher of Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he completed four years at the Darul Uloom Seminary in New York where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences. He then travelled to Tarim, Yemen, where he stayed for three years studying in Dar Al-Mustafa under some of the greatest scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib. In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Qur’an and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Qur’anic exegesis, Islamic history, and a number of texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.