Why Is Belief in Muhammad a Requirement for Salvation, When Earlier Prophets Never Mentioned Him?

The Standard Islamic Perspective: The Centrality of Muhammad for Salvation

In Islam, belief in Muhammad as the final prophet of Allah is a fundamental requirement for salvation. According to Islamic teachings, accepting Muhammad as the last and final messenger is not just a matter of faith—it is an absolute necessity for a person to be considered a true Muslim and to attain salvation in the Hereafter.

1. Qur'anic Basis: Muhammad as the Seal of the Prophets

The Quran explicitly declares Muhammad as the final prophet, making belief in him a non-negotiable aspect of faith:

• Finality of Prophethood:

  “Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets.”
  — (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:40)

• Obligation to Believe in All Prophets:

  “Say, [O believers], 'We believe in Allah and what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Descendants, and what was given to Moses and Jesus and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him.’”
  — (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:136)

The Quran emphasizes that Muhammad is the final prophet, and that belief in all previous prophets, including him, is mandatory for salvation. This concept is further reinforced in other verses:

• Denial of Muhammad Equals Disbelief:

  “But those who disbelieve in Allah and His messengers and wish to discriminate between Allah and His messengers and say, ‘We believe in some and disbelieve in others,’ and wish to adopt a way in between—those are the disbelievers, truly.”
  — (Surah An-Nisa 4:150-151)

2. The Shahada: Declaration of Faith

The fundamental testimony of faith in Islam, known as the Shahada, explicitly mentions Muhammad alongside Allah:

• The Shahada:

  “There is no deity but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”

This declaration is the entry point into Islam and is a prerequisite for being recognized as a Muslim.

3. Prophetic Tradition (Hadith): Salvation Through Belief in Muhammad

The Hadith literature further emphasizes the necessity of believing in Muhammad for salvation:

• Belief in Muhammad for Paradise:

  “Whoever testifies that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah, and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, that Jesus is His servant and Messenger, and that Paradise is true, and Hell is true, Allah will admit him into Paradise.”
  — (Sahih Bukhari 3435)

• Exclusivity of Muhammad's Message:

  “By Him in Whose Hand Muhammad’s soul is, there is none from this nation (Jews and Christians) who hears about me and then dies without believing in what I was sent with, except that he will be among the inhabitants of the Hellfire.”
  — (Sahih Muslim 153)

4. Muhammad as a Universal Messenger

Unlike previous prophets who were sent to specific nations or communities, Muhammad is presented in the Quran as a universal messenger for all humanity:

• Universal Mission:

  “And We have not sent you [O Muhammad] except as a mercy to the worlds.”
  — (Surah Al-Anbiya 21:107)

• The Final Message:

  “This [Quran] is a message for all of humanity so that they may be warned by it and know that He is but one God, and so that those of understanding may be reminded.”
  — (Surah Ibrahim 14:52)

5. Muhammad’s Mention in Earlier Scriptures (According to Islam)

Islamic teachings assert that Muhammad was foretold in the previous scriptures, despite the fact that his name does not explicitly appear in the existing texts of the Torah or the Gospel. Muslims believe that the Jews and Christians distorted their scriptures, removing or altering the prophecies about Muhammad.

• The Torah and Gospel Mention Muhammad:

  “Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find written in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel…”
  — (Surah Al-A’raf 7:157)

• The Claim of Scripture Corruption:

  “So woe to those who write the Scripture with their own hands, then say, ‘This is from Allah,’ in order to exchange it for a small price.”
  — (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:79)

According to Islamic tradition, Muhammad’s coming was prophesied in the original Torah and Gospel, but these prophecies were either altered or removed by Jews and Christians over time.

6. The Concept of Abrogation: Muhammad’s Message as the Final Revelation

Islam teaches that the message of Muhammad supersedes all previous revelations, making it the final and ultimate guidance for humanity:

• The Quran as a Criterion (Furqan):

  “And We have sent down to you [O Muhammad] the Book in truth, confirming what was before it and as a criterion over it.”
  — (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:48)

• Abrogation of Previous Laws:

  “Whatever verse We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring forth one better than it or similar to it. Do you not know that Allah is over all things competent?”
  — (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:106)

In this context, believing in Muhammad is essential because his message is seen as the final divine guidance, and rejecting it is equivalent to rejecting Allah’s final message.

7. Conclusion: Why Belief in Muhammad Is Essential for Salvation in Islam

From the Islamic perspective, belief in Muhammad is a requirement for salvation because:

• He is the final prophet, and his message is universal for all of humanity.

• The Quran is the final revelation, and rejecting Muhammad is rejecting this final divine guidance.

• Previous scriptures (in their original form) are believed to have foretold his coming.

• The Shahada, the declaration of faith in Islam, directly includes Muhammad.

• Islamic theology asserts that those who die without believing in Muhammad cannot attain salvation.

In summary, Islam presents Muhammad not just as one prophet among many, but as the final, universal messenger whose message abrogates all previous revelations, making belief in him a non-negotiable requirement for salvation.