Question: You state that those who do not accept Islam will face Hell. Non-Muslim friends ask: what, then, is the fate of people like tribal groups whom the teachings of Islam have never reached?
S. Seeni Salahuddin, M. Raja Muhammad, M. Sahul Hameed, D. Seeni Naina, S. Siddiq, P. Abdul Rahman Shahid – Cool bar, Periya Kadai Veethi, Mandapam.
Answer: When Prophet Musa (Moses) preached the doctrine of monotheism to Pharaoh, Pharaoh asked him the very same question you are asking now.
He asked, "What is the state of the earlier generations?" Musa replied, "The knowledge regarding that is with my Lord in a record. My Lord does not err, nor does He forget" (Al-Quran 20:51, 52).
The essence of the question was: "You are speaking of a single God only now; what verdict will you pass regarding the people whom your message has not reached?"
Prophet Musa answered that the knowledge concerning this rests solely with his Lord; his Lord would neither make an erroneous decision nor forget anything. He did not declare them inhabitants of Hell or Paradise but left the outcome to God. God, who cherishes justice above all, will not deliver an unjust verdict; He will deliver a fair one.
Deciding who will go to Paradise and who will go to Hell is beyond our authority.
Therefore, regarding people whom no message has reached, it is our prerogative to simply hold the view that God—who is far more just than we are—will deliver the correct verdict.