the coming of the Messenger—namely, polytheism and pre-Islamic ignorance—was reprehensible and evil. Yet they do not deserve punishment until after the Messenger comes. Thus, people have held three views concerning polytheism, injustice, lying, indecency, and similar acts:

One view is that their reprehensibility is known through reason, and that people deserve punishment for them in the Hereafter even if no messenger has come to them. This is maintained by the Muʿtazilah and many followers of Abū Hanīfah, who also attribute it to Abū Hanīfah himself. It is likewise the view of Abū al-Khattāb and others.

Another view is that, before divine instruction, such acts are neither reprehensible nor good nor evil. Rather, what is reprehensible is whatever one is told not to do, while what is good is whatever one is told to do or permitted to do. This is maintained by the Ashʿarīs and those who agree with them from the three groups.

A third view is that these acts are bad, evil, and reprehensible before the Messenger comes, but punishment is deserved only once the Messenger has come. This is the position of the generality of the early generations and most Muslims, and it is supported by the Quran and Sunnah. Both explain that the practices of the disbelievers are evil, reprehensible, and bad even before the messengers come, although they do not deserve punishment until a messenger has come.

It is related in al-Sahīh that Hudhayfah said:

“O Messenger of Allah, we were in a state of pre-Islamic ignorance and evil, then Allah brought us this good. Will there be any evil after this good?”

He replied, “Yes: callers at the gates of Hell. Whoever responds to their call to it, they will cast into it.”