Non-muslim dies, and I know him/her. As far as I know this person beleived and
accepted Islam, but died before they could convert. What does Islam say about
such a person, is he/she forgiven by Allah or still considered as one of the
“kaffar”?
Praise be to Allaah.
If a person does not pronounce the Shahaadatayn and enter Islaam, we cannot say that he is a
Muslim, even if he admired Islaam and recognized that it the best religion, a great religion, and
so on. Abu Taalib, the uncle of the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) died a kaafir, and Allaah forbade His Prophet to pray for forgiveness for him, even though
he used to defend the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and said in
his poems:
“I do know that the religion of Muhammad is better than all other religions of mankind;
were it not for fear of blame or slander, you would find me accepting it completely.”
If a person accepts Islaam out of conviction, and begins to practise it, then he is a Muslim,
even if he does not register his Islaam officially, or go to a court or Islaamic centre to obtain
documentation, or announce it to others. If such a person dies, then we hope for Paradise for
him and pray for mercy for him.
And Allaah is the One Who sees all that His slaves do.
