Question:
Salamualikum Sir
Many people even Sufis claim that all religions teach the same message and all lead to God. All have spirituality and saints in them. People quote Islam is reference for that. Many sayings of Rumi, Ibn Arabi etc say same. What is the reality?
Answer:
The reality is that whoever today says sincerely ashadu an la ilaha ill’Lllah wa ashadu anna Muhammadan rasoolullah, sall-Allahu `alayihi wa sallam, has a chance for Paradise. Other than that, there is doubt in it. The Path of Salvation lies in correct beliefs. However, we are not the judges, Allah Alone is the Judge.
As to what the Sufis said, it is related to a deeper understanding of things. For those uninitiated in their teachings, methods and uses of language it can be a pitfall to read their writings and may lead one to erroneously condemn them. Allah knows best.
Taher Siddiqui
