The Shar’i Ruling on Non-Muslims Accepting Islam Source: Fatawa Arkan-e-Islam
Question
Is it obligatory for a non-Muslim to accept Islam?
Answer
Alḥamdulillāh, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
According to Islamic Shari‘ah, it is obligatory upon every non-Muslim—whether Christian, Jew, or follower of any other religion—to embrace Islam. The evidence for this is found in the noble Qur’an where Allah ﷻ says:
﴿قُل يـأَيُّهَا النّاسُ إِنّى رَسولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيكُم جَميعًا الَّذى لَهُ مُلكُ السَّمـوتِ وَالأَرضِ لا إِلـهَ إِلّا هُوَ يُحيۦ وَيُميتُ فَـٔامِنوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسولِهِ النَّبِىِّ الأُمِّىِّ الَّى يُؤمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَكَلِمـتِهِ وَاتَّبِعوهُ لَعَلَّكُم تَهتَدونَ ﴿١٥٨﴾
(Surah Al-A‘raf)
Translation:
“O Muhammad! Say: O mankind! Indeed, I am the Messenger of Allah to you all—the One to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. There is no deity but Him. He gives life and causes death. So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, who believes in Allah and His words. And follow him so that you may be guided.”
Why Is Accepting Islam Obligatory?
◈ This clear Qur’anic verse proves that the Prophethood of Muhammad ﷺ is universal, meaning it is for all humanity.
◈ In light of this universal message, it becomes incumbent upon every individual to believe in him and to follow his path.
A Concession for Non-Muslims
Although accepting Islam is obligatory, Islam—by the mercy and wisdom of Allah ﷻ—has allowed certain non-Muslims to remain upon their religion under the following conditions:
◈ They must respect Islamic rulings.
◈ They must live under Muslim governance and pay the jizyah (a tax in return for protection).
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿قـتِلُوا الَّذينَ لا يُؤمِنونَ بِاللَّهِ وَلا بِاليَومِ الءاخِرِ وَلا يُحَرِّمونَ ما حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ وَرَسولُهُ وَلا يَدينونَ دينَ الحَقِّ مِنَ الَّذينَ أوتُوا الكِتـبَ حَتّى يُعطُوا الجِزيَةَ عَن يَدٍ وَهُم صـغِرونَ ﴿٢٩﴾
(Surah At-Tawbah)
Translation:
“Fight those among the People of the Book who do not believe in Allah, nor in the Last Day, nor prohibit what Allah and His Messenger have prohibited, nor follow the religion of truth—until they pay the jizyah with willing submission and feel themselves subdued.”
Prophet ﷺ's Instructions During Warfare
It is narrated from Buraidah (RA) that when the Prophet ﷺ appointed someone as a commander over an army or expedition, he instructed him:
«اُدْعُهُمْ اِلٰی ثَلَاثِ خِصَالٍ اَوْ خِلَالٍ فَأَيَّتُهُنَّ مَا اَجَابُوکَ فَاقْبَلْ مِنْهُمْ وَکُفَّ عَنْهُمْ»
(Saḥīḥ Muslim, Book of Jihad and Expeditions, Hadith: 1731)
Translation:
“Call them to three things. If they respond to any one of them, then accept it and cease fighting against them.”
One of those three conditions is the payment of jizyah.
Scholarly Opinion
◈ According to the majority of scholars (jumhūr ‘ulamā’), jizyah may be accepted not only from the People of the Book (Jews and Christians), but also from other non-Muslim groups.
◈ This opinion is based on textual evidence from the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Summary
◈ It is obligatory for every non-Muslim to enter into Islam.
◈ If they refuse to embrace Islam, then according to Islamic law, they must pay jizyah and live under the governance of the Islamic state.
❝ Hādhā mā ‘indī, wallāhu a‘lam biṣ-ṣawāb ❞
(This is what I know; and Allah knows best what is right.)
