Will Ahl Al-Kitaab (People of the Book) enter Paradise?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

The term "Ahl Al-Kitaab" (People of the Book) is frequently mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah (tradition). It usually refers to the Jews and Christians. In some contexts, it refers to the Jews only. In the following examples, Ahl Al-Kitaab refers to the Jews and Christians:

•        The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, taught Muslims how to reply to them, saying: “And upon you (meaning, may what you said be upon you too)." This should be said to anyone from the People of the Book who greet with the saying "peace be upon you." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

•        Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And do not argue with the People of the Scripture except in a way that is best.}[Quran 29:46]

•        Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And the food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you.}[Quran 29:46] This verse declares that the animals slaughtered by the Jews and Christians are lawful for Muslims to eat.

If a Jew or a Christian does not embrace Islam, does not believe in Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, until he dies as a Jew or a Christian, being a non-Muslim, he will go to Hell. The Quran, the Sunnah and Ijmaa‘(consensus) maintain this. Here are some examples:

Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):

•        {Fight those who do not believe in Allaah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allaah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture— [fight] until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled. The Jews say, "Ezra is the son of Allaah"; and the Christians say, "The Messiah is the son of Allah." That is their statement from their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved [before them]. May Allaah destroy them; how are they deluded?}[Quran 9:29-30]

•        Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {They have certainly disbelieved who say, "Allaah is the Messiah, the son of Mary" while the Messiah said, "O Children of Israel, worship Allaah, my Lord and your Lord." Indeed, he who associates others with Allaah— Allaah has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire. And there are not for the wrongdoers any helpers. They have certainly disbelieved who say, "Allaah is the third of three." And there is no god except one God. And if they do not desist from what they are saying, there will surely afflict the disbelievers among them a painful punishment.}[Quran 5:72-73]

The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, swore by Allaah The Almighty that if any person, whether a Jew or a Christian, knows about the Prophet's message, but does not believe in him until he dies, he will enter Hell. [Muslim]

There are other examples declaring that the Jews and Christians, being non-Muslims, will remain in Hell forever and that they will be deprived of Paradise. (This point has been examined under the title of Ahl Al-Kitaab (People of the Book), found in the classification by subject.)