Al-Jawāb as-Sahīh li-man baddala dīn al-Masīh - Ibn Taimiya - (2/291)

Section: The Proof Is Established Against Anyone to Whom the Messengers’ Call Has Reached

A fundamental principle must be set forth here: the scriptural texts make it clear that Allah does not punish a person until He has sent him a messenger, thereby establishing the proof against him.

The Exalted says:

“Every human being—We have fastened his destiny around his neck, and on the Day of Resurrection We shall bring forth for him a record which he will find spread open. ‘Read your record; today you are sufficient to take account of yourself.’ Whoever is guided is guided only for his own benefit, and whoever strays, he strays only to his own loss. No bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another, and We never punish until We have sent a messenger.” (Al-Isrāʾ 17:13–15)

He, Most High, also says:

“Messengers bringing good tidings and warnings, so that mankind may have no argument against Allah after the messengers.” (Al-Nisāʾ 4:165)

And regarding the people of Hellfire He says:

“Whenever a company is cast into it, its keepers will ask, ‘Did no warner come to you?’ They will reply, ‘Yes indeed, a warner did come to us, but we denied him and said, “Allah has sent down nothing.”’” (Al-Mulk 67:8–9)

He also says:

[فَصْلٌ: قِيَامُ الْحُجَّةِ عَلَى مَنْ بَلَغَتْهُ دَعْوَةُ الرُّسُلِ] وَهُنَا أَصْلٌ لَا بُدَّ مِنْ بَيَانِهِ وَهُوَ أَنَّهُ قَدْ دَلَّتِ النُّصُوصُ عَلَى أَنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُعَذِّبُ إِلَّا مَنْ أَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِ رَسُولًا تَقُومُ بِهِ الْحُجَّةُ عَلَيْهِ. قَالَ - تَعَالَى -: {وَكُلَّ إِنْسَانٍ أَلْزَمْنَاهُ طَائِرَهُ فِي عُنُقِهِ وَنُخْرِجُ لَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ كِتَابًا يَلْقَاهُ مَنْشُورًا - اقْرَأْ كِتَابَكَ كَفَى بِنَفْسِكَ الْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكَ حَسِيبًا - مَنِ اهْتَدَى فَإِنَّمَا يَهْتَدِي لِنَفْسِهِ وَمَنْ ضَلَّ فَإِنَّمَا يَضِلُّ عَلَيْهَا وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَى وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّى نَبْعَثَ رَسُولًا} [الإسراء: ١٣ - ١٥] وَقَالَ - تَعَالَى -: {رُسُلًا مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنْذِرِينَ لِئَلَّا يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى اللَّهِ حُجَّةٌ بَعْدَ الرُّسُلِ} [النساء: ١٦٥] وَقَالَ - تَعَالَى -: عَنْ أَهْلِ النَّارِ {كُلَّمَا أُلْقِيَ فِيهَا فَوْجٌ سَأَلَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَا أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ نَذِيرٌ - قَالُوا بَلَى قَدْ جَاءَنَا نَذِيرٌ فَكَذَّبْنَا وَقُلْنَا مَا نَزَّلَ اللَّهُ مِنْ شَيْءٍ} [الملك: ٨ - ٩] وَقَالَ: