Questioner: In the Holy Book and in the practice of the Holy Prophet, the Ahle Kitab have been given a special status compared to other people, followers of other religions. The Promised Messiah has told us that all other religions which exist today were also from God and their prophets were also true prophets such as Hindus and others. So why is this special status only preserved for the Ahle Kitab?
For example, may I give an example? The Mushrikeen are called Nijas, but that Nijasat is spiritual rather than bodily, rather than physical. So once we know that the Hindus and the Parsis and all the other followers of other religions are also from God, why this special status only for the Ahle Kitab who are the Jews and the Christians?
Huzoor: There is no such status for Ahle Kitab as you claim that the Holy Qur’an has established. If you read one particular verse of the Holy Qur’an, which subject has been discussed elsewhere, then all the problem is resolved.
Those who believe, the Jews, the Christians and the Sabi’een. Those who believe in God and do good, there is no fear for them, nor do they grieve. Their reward is from God. There is no fear for them, nor do they grieve. So who are Sabi’een? Are you sure? But some of you don’t know, so let me finish it now. Sabi’een have been translated in our literature and with reference to the classical Islamic literature. Sabi’een, Sabi is an Arab word referring to those people who belong to books other than the books of Torah and Injil.
But who do belong to books and belong to religions which were originally revealed by God. So all of them, wherever they have been, are in essence either Ahle Kitab or Sabi’een and both have been guaranteed fair treatment by God if they truly believe and do righteous deeds. Only Mushrikeen are exempted.
