If Quran offers equal opportunity for Muslims, Christians, Jews and Sabians, why do we need Islam?

Sources

• ✓ 22:17 · Al-Hajj

  22:17 · Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall

  إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ وَٱلصَّٰبِـِٔينَ وَٱلنَّصَٰرَىٰ وَٱلْمَجُوسَ وَٱلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوٓا۟ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَفْصِلُ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ شَهِيدٌ

  Lo! those who believe (this revelation), and those who are Jews, and the Sabaeans and the Christians and the Magians and the idolaters - Lo! Allah will decide between them on the Day of Resurrection. Lo! Allah is Witness over all things.

• ✓ 3:84 · Aal-i-Imraan

  3:84 · Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall

  قُلْ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَيْنَا وَمَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسْمَٰعِيلَ وَإِسْحَٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَٱلْأَسْبَاطِ وَمَآ أُوتِىَ مُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ وَٱلنَّبِيُّونَ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍۢ مِّنْهُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُۥ مُسْلِمُونَ

  Say (O Muhammad): We believe in Allah and that which is revealed unto us and that which was revealed unto Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes, and that which was vouchsafed unto Moses and Jesus and the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and unto Him we have surrendered.

• ✓ Tafsir Ibn Kathir on 22:17

  Sunni

  Tafsir Ibn Kathir · 22:17

  Allah, the Exalted, informs us here about the people of these various religions—among the believers and those besides them, such as the Jews, the Sabians (whom we previously described in Surah Al-Baqarah explaining their distinct identity), the Christians, the Magians, and also those who associate partners with Allah and worship other than Him. He states that on the Day of Resurrection, He will separate between them. He will judge among them with perfect justice, admitting those who believed in Him into Paradise, and consigning those who disbelieved to the Fire. Indeed, Allah is a witness over their deeds, a guardian over their words, aware of the secrets in their hearts and what they hide within themselves.

• ✓ Tafsir Ibn Kathir on 3:84

  Sunni

  Tafsir Ibn Kathir · 3:84

  Allah the Exalted here reprimands those who seek a religion other than the religion ordained by Him — the one He revealed His scriptures through and sent His messengers to implement. This religion consists of worshiping Him alone without partners. The phrase "And to Him submits whoever is in the heavens and the earth" means that all beings in heavens and earth submit to Him, whether willingly or unwillingly. Submission here is both voluntary and compelled, in reference, for example, to what Allah says elsewhere: "And to Allah prostrates whoever is in the heavens and the earth willingly or unwillingly, and their shadows [as well] in the mornings and the afternoons" (Ar-Ra'd 13:15). Another verse confirms this universal submission: "Do they not see that whatever Allah has created — their shadows incline to the right and to the left, prostrating to Allah while they are humble? And to Allah prostrates whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth of creatures, and the angels [as well], and they do not disdain [to worship Him]. They fear their Lord above them, and they do what they are commanded" (An-Nahl 16:48-50). The believer surrenders his heart and inner self submitting sincerely and willingly to Allah, while the disbeliever is forced to submit out of compulsion, under Allah’s might and dominion, though he rejects it. This submission under duress is unavoidable because of Allah’s absolute authority and unmatched power. There is a narration clarifying this phrase, though with a distinct nuance, reported by the hadith master Abu al-Qasim al-Tabarani from the Prophet ﷺ: He said, regarding "And to Him submits whoever is in the heavens and the earth willingly or unwillingly," that those in the heavens are the angels, those on earth are people born into Islam, and those who submit unwillingly are those brought as captives from other nations chained and shackled, being led to Paradise against their will. The Prophet ﷺ also remarked in authentic tradition: "Your Lord is astonished at a people being led to Paradise in chains." This shows a deeper meaning about compelled submission in the Hereafter. However, the straightforward meaning of the verse—universal submission, willingly or unwillingly—is the stronger interpretation. Scholar Waki‘ commented citing Mujahid that this verse is similar in import to the verse: "And if you ask them who created the heavens and the earth, they surely will say, 'Allah'" (Luqman 31:25). Another report from Ibn Abbas as transmitted through Mujahid says the submission took place at the time the covenant was taken from all created beings. The phrase "And to Him they will be returned" means on the Day of Resurrection everyone will be gathered back to Allah so that He may recompense each according to his deeds. Then Allah commands the Prophet ﷺ to say: "Say, 'We believe in Allah and what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Descendants — that is, the Divine scriptures and revelation — and what was given to Moses and Jesus and the prophets from their Lord. We do not make any distinction between any of them, and we surrender to Him.'" This affirms belief in all revealed Books and all Prophets sent by Allah without rejecting any, showing the unity of faith. Following that Allah states: "And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam – it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers." This means anyone who departs from Allah’s prescribed way will have their deeds rejected and will suffer loss in the Hereafter. The Prophet ﷺ said in authentic hadith, "Whoever does an action not endorsed by us will have it rejected." The renowned scholar Imam Ahmad related from Abu Hurayrah, while in Medina, a hadith describing how on the Day of Judgment various deeds will present themselves before Allah, saying: "You are upon good." Finally Islam itself will come and say, "I am Islam," and Allah will accept it, saying, "You are upon good; through you I give and through you I take." Then Allah’s statement in this verse applies clearly: "And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and he will be among the losers in the Hereafter." Imam Ahmad alone narrated this explanation, with his trustworthy transmitters, although one of them did not hear it directly from Abu Hurayrah, which scholars note. In essence, this verse asserts the exclusive acceptance of submission (Islam) to Allah alone, the unity of all prophets and scripture in this path, and the certainty of recompense and loss for those who reject it.