The People of the Book: Do they qualify as believers or disbelievers?

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This is a fundamentally important question in Islam. If the People of the Book are indeed believers, then Islam is not necessary to avoid eternal torment in hell. However, if the People of the Book are disbelievers, then Allah has a lot to answer for...namely why did he allow for so many people to be led astray by books they themselves did not corrupt? A typical Islamic response would be: "It's a test." But if that's the case, why would any omniscient (all-knowing) being require a test to know the hearts of men? And why create an eternal torture chamber to punish those humans who failed the test when he knew they were going to fail before he even created them? Allah is either a sadist or he is not omniscient.
==Will Jews and Christians be saved from hell?==
===Yes===
===No===
==Are Jews and Christians going to be punished in the place of sinful Muslims?==
===Yes===
According to the Qur'an, people can carry the burdens of other people's sins
Jews and Christians will be punished in the place of Muslims
===No===
According to the Qur'an, people cannot carry the burdens of other people's sins—Doh!
 
==Should Jews and Christians follow their scriptures?==
===Yes===
Jews should follow the Torah (nevermind that the Qur'an contradicts the Torah)
Christians should follow the Gospel (nevermind that the Qur'an contradicts the Gospel)
Allah has given different scriptures for different groups of people to follow
The Qur'an supposedly confirms the previously revealed scriptures (i.e. the Torah and Injil)
 
===No===
A Christian or Jew can be a disbeliever despite faithful adherence to their scriptures
According to the Gospel, Jesus is the Son of God. According to the Qur'an, he is not.
What it all comes down to is belief in Muhammad...not Allah
Category:Qur'anCategory:People of the Book