Question
Assalamualaikum!
I had a question about teenagers being killed or dying before they had found their way to Allah, what happens to them? Will they find their way to heaven or are they condemned to hell?
I ask this question because even though I was raised in a Muslim family, I did not really take religion or God seriously. long story short, I was a terrible Muslim who did not ponder about Allah or Allah’s creations, I never prayed on time or completed any of the compulsory prayers, and just in general was a pretty hypocritical person who really only was a Muslim in name and my actions did not really show my sincerity and devotion to Allah.
But then I turned 19 years old and suddenly, it was as if I had been inspired. I just had this crazy epiphany and my parents or my friends had no part in it. I just started reading the Quran and researching Islam like crazy and then something horrible happened to me and unlike in the past when I would just back away from religion and be angry with God, I was steadfast and just clung to Allah and Islam with every single fiber of my being.
I saw the tragedy that happened in Norway and I saw that many of the people killed were teenagers (theyre not quite children but theyre not adults either…) so I was wondering what happens to them in the Hereafter? I know that the Quran says that only true believers in God and who are righteous in deed and follow the righteous path can attain paradise but Im guessing some of these teenagers could have been atheists or misguided. But I also know that the Quran says that if someone kills a person, it is as if they had killed all of mankind so I know that murder is a heinous crime in Islam but does that mean that the murderer will carry the sins of the teenagers he had killed? Because doesn’t the Quran say that people only carry the burdens of their own sins and not others?
I was just wondering but thank you in advance.
Answer
Wa Alaykumu Salam
No one goes to Hell unless they put forth a conscience and willful effort to commit and support evil. We will all be left for God to judge according to His wisdom. All the warnings given to people apply to those who purposefully reject the truth after it has been made absolutely clear to them. Obviously, ignorance and other innocent factors do not apply. Thus, we can say with certainty that God will judge everyone accordingly based on their knowledge, experiences and environment. We should not assume someone is going to Hell, whether they are Muslim or not; it simply is not our place.
You are correct in saying that a murderer does not bear the sins of his victims but he has plenty to worry about just for the crime he committed.
I hope this helps.
God knows best.