Where will they go? They can not go to heaven since they were not Muslim. But to be fair, there was no way in which they could become Muslim since they were born before rasool-Allah. Or what happens to the red-Indian or people in rural China who never came to know about Islam. Or such cases will be treated on case to case basis before sending them to heaven or hell. Anyone has information.
Assalam Alaikum
What makes you think that they were'nt Muslim? Islam didn't start with the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) it was perfected.
Assalam Alaikum
Assalam-o-Alaicum
There were people even before Rasulullah SAW
were following true teaching of Jesus, and
were Muslims. Among one of them was Slaman
Farsi RA.
Well.. then one stops at Palestine. I do not think rest of the world knew much about Christianity or Judaism oin old times. What happens to them?
Dear PG
Assalam-o-Alaicum
Allah SWT will not ask these questions in
the day of judgement. There are three
questions in the grave,and four questions
will be asked in the day of judgement. Life
is short and is being given to prepare for
those questions. Now what will happen to
people in old times will not save myself
from punishment of the grave.
Vallahu Alam
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The word "Islaam" means "submission", that is to say "submission to the Will of Allaah (SWT)" and therefore a "Muslim" is "one who submits", that is to say "one who submits to the Will of Allaah (SWT)".
Therefore the people who came before Our Noble Chief Muhammed (SAW) could also have been Muslims. The proof for this is in Allaah's saying in the Qur'aan regarding Prophet Ibraheem (AS) who came many years before Musa, 'Esa Ibn Maryam and Muhammed (ASWS):
<
And also, the du'aa of Ibraheem (AS):
<< Our Lord! And make us Muslim * unto you and of our offspring a nation Muslim * unto you.>> [Sura al-Baqarah:128]
And also Allaah's saying, regarding the name "Muslim" :
<< He has chosen you, and has not laid upon you in religion any hardship, it is the religion of your father Ibraheem. It is He (Allaah) Who has named you Muslims both before and in (this Qur'aan), that the Messenger (Muhammed (SAW)) may be a witness over you, and you be witnesses over mankind.>> [Sura al-Hajj:78]
So it is Allaah (SWT) who has named us Muslims, and also gave this name to the righteous people who came before the advent of Muhammed (SAW).
And also we can see that any people who submit themselves to the Will of Allaah (SWT) were known as Muslims.
However, this submission to the Will of Allaah (SWT) must be in accordance to divinely revealed knowledge, via the Prophet or Messenger sent to the people. So the people who followed the teachings of 'Esa Ibn Maryam (AS) were Muslims; the people who followed the teachings of Musa (AS) were Muslims; and, the people who follow Muhammed (SAW) up until the Day of Judgement are also Muslims. (This is not to be confused with present day Christianity and Judaism. These people do not follow the true teachings of 'Esa and Musa (AS) respectively).
As regards the "other people" who could not possibly have heard of Judaism, Christianity or Islaam or any of the other Prophets and Messengers we know of - people such as the Native Americans, or Native Australians etc., then there will have also been Muslims amongst them who will be granted Paradise. The proof of this is Allaah's saying:
<< And indeed, We have sent among EVERY nation a Messenger proclaiming: "Worship Allaah (Alone) and avoid Taghut (i.e. false deities)." Then of them were some whom Allaah guided and of them were some upon whom the straying was justified. So travel through the land and see what was the end of those who denied (the truth). >> [Sura an-Nahl:36]
So every nation was sent a Messenger, and those who followed him were Muslims and were saved from the Hell Fire. Through time however, these people changed the teachings of their Prophet and began associating partners with Allaah (SWT), i.e. committed Shirk.
So there have been Muslims throughout the earth since Aadam (AS), and there will continue to be Muslims upon the earth until the Day of Judgement.
And Allaah (SWT) knows best.**
As-Salaam 'Alaikum,
Just a note regarding the comments from brother Abrar:
It is extremely important that we learn from the past generations in order that we may correct ourselves. This is the reason why Allaah (SWT) refers to the past generations countless times in the Qur'aan. Further, He (SWT) also encourages us to travel the lands to see what became of these people, and to reflect on why they were punished or rewarded. This is also the reason why Allaah (SWT) tells us about the previous Prophets and Messengers - so that we may learn from their characters, and also as a source of comfort for our Prophet Muhammed (SAW).
As regards the questioning in the grave then this is not something that we can simply revise in this lifetime and comfortably answer in the grave. We have to have lived al-Islaam in order to be able to answer the questions in the grave. Otherwise, the Kuffaar could also revise the answers "just in case". So this brings me back to my original point, in that we need to know why Allaah (SWT) destroyed the nations that came before us so that we do not fall into the same traps ourselves.
As for whether Allaah (SWT) will ask these questions on the Day of Judgement or not, then we do not know. Every thing that we have done on this earth, however small, will be revealed on that Day unless Allaah (SWT) in His Mercy decides to keep it covered. And Allaah (SWT) will call witnesses for each and every thing, to the point that even our own hands and feet will talk and be witnesses against us. So we should fear that Day when there will be no shade except the shade of Allaah (SWT), and prepare for it in this life while we still have time.
And Allaah (SWT) knows best.
Assalaamu alaikum,
Abu Muhammed,
Jazaak'Allaah kairun.
Wassallaamu alaikum
...
There was an interesting study done here in Canada on a group of Native American tribes. They found that a particular tribe actually worshipped an entity known as "Allah" and they also found some remnants of Qur'anic verses in their religious scriptures. I can't recall much else about the study, maybe someone else knows. But it kinda makes you wonder.