A verse misused for evidence by many: (Indeed, those who believed and those who were Jews and the Christians and the Sa…

A verse misused for evidence by many:

(Indeed, those who believed and those who were Jews and the Christians and the Sabeans - those who believed in Allah and the Last Day and did righteous deeds - will have their reward with their Lord, and no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve), to mislead people that the verse applies to people of various faiths in our time, Muslims and others.

So we say dear ones: The verse's context and referring it back to the clear Quran and scholars' statements show the verse has one of two meanings:

1. Either it's speaking about believers in prophets in their time who followed them and died on monotheism before Muhammad's mission peace be upon him.

And this meaning's appropriateness is that with the frequent mention of the Children of Israel's evils, it may occur in people's souls that Allah condemns all of them, and that they were all disbelievers opposing their prophets, so Allah clarified that among them were righteous believers who followed their prophets and were good successors to them, so these are those who have their reward with their Lord and no fear upon them nor will they grieve.

2. Or the verse speaks of those who were from other faiths in the time of our Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him and believed in him and entered Islam.

And the appropriateness of this second meaning is that the verse before it concluded with His saying about the Children of Israel: (And humiliation and wretchedness were stamped upon them, and they returned having earned anger from Allah. That was because they disbelieved in the signs of Allah and killed the prophets without right. That was because they disobeyed and were transgressing).

So perhaps a questioner would say: Does this mean there's no repentance for them from their crimes and sins? So the answer came that if they believe and do righteous deeds, the door of repentance is open to them.

And none of the sensible Muslims throughout centuries said this verse means (it's all the same thing), and that Jews and Christians may believe in Allah and the Last Day and disbelieve in Muhammad peace be upon him and still be among Paradise's people! Otherwise why the call to Islam? And why (Say: O mankind, indeed I am the Messenger of Allah to you all)?

And Allah is the One whose help is sought.