God, exalted is He, said concerning Moses:

“O my people, if you have truly believed in God, then put your trust in Him—if indeed you are Muslims.”
(Sūrat Yūnus 10:84)

And He said regarding the prophets of the Children of Israel:

“Indeed, We sent down the Torah, wherein are guidance and light. By it the prophets who had submitted [to God] judged for the Jews, as did the rabbis and scholars, in accordance with what they were entrusted of God’s Book, and to which they were witnesses.”
(Sūrat al-Māʾidah 5:44)

He also said in the story of Bilqīs:

“She said, ‘My Lord, I have indeed wronged myself, and I submit—with Solomon—to God, Lord of all beings.’”
(Sūrat al-Naml 27:44)

And He said about the disciples of Jesus:

“When I inspired the disciples, ‘Believe in Me and in My Messenger,’ they said, ‘We believe; so bear witness that we are Muslims.’”
(Sūrat al-Māʾidah 5:111)

These are the truly felicitous and perfected people—from Noah all the way to the disciples—steadfast upon Islam.

The same applies to faith, for He, exalted is He, says:

“Indeed, those who have believed, those who were Jews, the Christians, and the Sabians—whoever believes in God and the Last Day and acts righteously—their reward is with their Lord; no fear shall come upon them, nor shall they grieve.”
(Sūrat al-Baqarah 2:62)

Here God highlights that the fortunate among these four groups are distinguished by belief in God and the Last Day and by righteous deeds. In Sūrat al-Ḥajj He mentions six communities, saying:

“Indeed, those who have believed, those who were Jews, the Sabians, the Christians, the Magians, and those who associate others with God—God will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection; surely God is witness over all things.”
(Sūrat al-Ḥajj 22:17)

Thus, when He spoke of judging between them on the Day of Resurrection, He listed the six communities, whereas in the earlier verse, when He spoke