Question

Is it possible that God does not merely save followers of other previously valid religions besides Islam out of a divine amnesty, but for the truth that exists in previous religions, including those such as Native American religions, and others?

Response

Every true religion has been revealed by God through His messengers the prophets (upon whom be blessings and peace), so all religions were originally the truth. But how much of this original truth remains is irrelevant once they have been superseded by a subsequent revelation, since the very fact of their abrogation shows they are no longer acceptable to God or adequate for men. The position of Imam Ghazali cited in the Letter to 'Abd al-Matin entails that followers of such faiths, if unreached by the new prophet or his message, will be saved by a general amnesty from Allah regardless of the amount of truth or falsity in them, as He has said,

"We do not punish until We send a Messenger" (Qur'an 17:15).

      All salvation, for Muslims or others, is out of divine favor and amnesty, not because of works, even the work of having true faith, for faith is counted in Islam among one's works, it being rigorously authenticated that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said,

Shall I not inform you of the best of your works?-belief in God . . . (Bukhari, 3.188–89: 2518. S).

And he (Allah bless him and give him peace) also said:

"None your works shall enter any of you into paradise." Someone said, "Not even you, O Messenger of Allah?" and he said, "Not even me, unless Allah conceals me beneath a mercy from Him.[1] But do what is right" (Muslim,4.2169: 2816. S).

So not even by the truth of one's religious convictions does anyone enter paradise, but rather only through Allah's favor in accepting one's faith of them, in which sense all who enter paradise are under the "divine amnesty" of Allah's mercy.

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