This second Sura also contains a long passage recounting God's mercy to the
Jews under Moses and in the wilderness. There is a verse in it which has given
rise to much controversy:
Verily they who believe (Muslims), and they who follow the Jewish religion
and the Christians and the Sabianswhosoever of these believeth in God and the
last day, and doeth that which is right, shall have their reward with their
Lord: fear shall not come upon them, neither shall they be grieved. Sura Al-Baqarah
(ii) 59.1
This seems to show that all these religions are equally good, but this is not
the generally received idea, for some commentators2 say that the
words ' believeth in God and the last day; and doeth that which is right,' mean
that non-Muslims must forsake their errors and become Muslims; others hold that
the passage is abrogated by the verse:
Whoso desireth any other religion than Islam it shall not be accepted of him,
and in the next world he shall be of those who perish 3. Sura
Al-'Imran (iii) 79.