How can the noble verse: (Indeed, those who believed and those who were Jews or Christians or Sabeans—those who believed in Allah and the Last Day and did righteousness—will have their reward with their Lord, and no fear will be upon them, nor will they grieve) be reconciled with the fact that whoever does not believe in Islam from among the Jews and Christians will not enter Paradise?

The two verses in Surah (definition) Al-Baqarah (62) and Surah Al-Ma'idah (69) are similar in stating that whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day and does righteous deeds will have their reward, and no fear will come upon them, nor will they grieve. Ibn Kathir explains that this applies to everyone who followed the messenger of their time. So, whoever adhered to the Torah and the Sunnah (definition) of Moses before the coming of Jesus was saved, and whoever followed Jesus and the Gospel before the coming of Muhammad was saved. However, after the prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him), whoever does not follow him will be doomed. No religion or deed will be accepted from anyone unless it conforms to his law, because Islam is the accepted religion, and the believers are the Ummah of Muhammad due to their belief in all prophets and the strength of their conviction.