Question:
I was asked by some non-Muslims, when Aadam and Eve came in this world which religion did they belong to. well I as a Muslim have no doubts on their not being a Muslim but in future if I do come across questions like that, can you please tell me how do I support my answer. Or rather, what would be the best explanation that I can provide them with?
Fatwa:
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger.
Islam means submission to Allah, believing that none has the right to be worshipped but Him, obeying Him and fulfilling his commandments, and not ascribing any partners to Him. Aadam (Adam), may Allah exalt his mention (and his wife Eve (Hawwaa'), and all the Prophets after him were Muslims. All of them submitted themselves to the worship of Allah Alone, obeying him and fulfilling His commandments, and declared themselves free from associating partners with Allah and free from those who associate partners with Him.
Indeed, the Quran explained that Islam is the religion of all the Prophets and Messengers, may Allah exalt their mention, and that Allah does not accept from anybody any religion but Islam.
Allah says (what means): {And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.} [Quran 3:85]. Allah also says (what means): {Truly, the religion with Allah is Islam.} [Quran 3:19].
Allah further says about Ibraaheem, may Allah exalt his mention, (what means): {Ibraaheem was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was a true Muslim Haneefah (to worship none but Allah alone) and he was not of Al-Mushrikeen (idolaters, polytheists, disbelievers, pagans} [Quran 3:67].
Allah also says about the Prophet Yoosuf (Josef), may Allah exalt his mention (what means): {Make me die as a Muslim (the one submitting to Your Will), and join me with the righteous} [Quran 12:101]. He says in reference to Moosaa (Moses), may Allah exalt his mention (what means): {And Moosaa said: "O my people! If you have believed in Allah, then put your trust in Him if you are Muslims (those who submit to Allah's Will)."} [Quran 10: 84].
In reference to Prophet Nooh, may Allah exalt his mention, Allah says (what means): {I have been commanded to be one of the Muslims} [Quran 10: 72].
Allah says about Ya'qoob (Jacob), may Allah exalt his mention (what means): {Or were you witnesses when death approached Ya'coob, when he said to his sons, ''What will you worship after me?'' They said, “We will worship your God and the God of your fathers, Ibraaheem and Ismaa'eel (Ishmael) and Isaac-one God. And we are Muslims [in submission] to Him.} [Quran 2:133].
All these verses clarify that Islam was the religion of all Prophets and Messengers from Aadam, may Allah exalt his mention, to our Prophet Muhammad .
Allah knows best.
Fatwa answered by: The Fatwa Center at Islamweb