A lady is interested in Islam and we discuss Islamic topics every week at the Masjid. She had a few questions. I would rather ask from an expert. 1. Are all people who follow any religion other than Islam going to hell? 2. What happens to the people who do good things in this world?Do they also go to Hell? For example, Mother Teresa.

The only religion that Allah will accept from us is Islam. Allah says:

“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.” [1]

“...The only religion in the sight of God is Islam...”[2] 

Hence, whoever dies without saying the Shahadah and accepting Islam, we as Muslims must believe that they are destined for the Hellfire, regardless of how good they may have been in this life.  Now this may sound harsh if you mention it to a non-Muslim. So, to explain it to them, we say:  "We have to first understand our purpose of life: is our purpose in this world simply to eat, sleep, work, acquire some material things and enjoy ourselves? Is this our purpose? Why are we born? What is the object of our existence, and what is the wisdom behind the creation of man and this universe?

Furthermore, think about your human body, with its massive and intricate control systems. Think about your brain, how it works, how it functions, how it analyzes, stores information, retrieves information, then distinguishes it and categorizes it in a millionth of a second and does things constantly. Think about your heart, how it pumps continuously for 60 or 70 years, in taking and discharging blood throughout your body, and maintaining that steady precision throughout your life.

Now think about the oceans, the fish, the insects, the birds, bacteria, and the chemical elements that have not yet been discovered and cannot be detected. Yet each one of them has a law that they follow with total synchronization, balance, and harmony.

Now think about this earth, it's one planet in our solar system, and our solar system is one of the systems in the Milky Way Galaxy. There are millions of galaxies like the Milky Way. Think about how they are all in order. They are not colliding with each other.

Some people argue that there is no proof of divine origin, there is no proof that there is a God, there is no proof that this universe was created for a divine purpose. Well, when you see the design of this universe, you know that it is very powerful and precise, and something this powerful and precise that is beyond your own imagination cannot be foolish. It could not have been just thrown together. Did all this synchronization, variation, design, and infinite numeration happen by chance? Do all these things in our universe function perpetually and perfectly by chance? And do they keep on reproducing themselves and maintaining themselves also by chance?  No, of course not. That would be totally illogical and foolish to think.

The design, order, and complexity of the universe as well as the world around us are evidence of the existence of a supreme intelligence, a perfect designer. All the heavenly bodies are controlled by precise laws of physics. Can there be laws without a lawmaker? The universe, the earth, and living things on the earth all give silent testimony to an intelligent, powerful Creator. Well, such is God, who created this universe and all that is in it. A superior Divine being who brought all of this together and created it in total perfection. He is the Almighty Power, God, the Creator, who has the knowledge to design and has created this entire universe.

He is the only One deserving of our praise and gratitude. If we were made by a Creator, then surely that Creator must have had a reason, a purpose, in creating us. Thus, it is important that we seek to know God’s purpose for our existence. After coming to the realization of this purpose, we can choose whether we want to live in harmony with it or not.  The purpose of creation for all men and women for all times has been one: to know and worship God.

However, we cannot worship God on our own without having a guide to show us how to worship Him. This is why God, our Creator, sent many prophets and messengers to mankind throughout history, for the sole purpose of guiding them to understand the purpose of their being. These prophets include Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, John the Baptist, and Jesus (peace be upon them all), among others. But God's final message to man, a reconfirmation of the eternal message and a summing-up of all that has gone before, was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) through Gabriel.

The Quran says:

"And We (God) did not send any Messenger before you but we inspired him (saying): There is no god but God. None has the right to be worshipped but I (God). So worship me.” [3]

And so Islam's answer to the meaning and purpose of life fulfills the fundamental human need: a return to God. However, everyone is going back to God willy-nilly, so the question is not merely going back, but how one goes back. Will it be in shameful agonizing chains awaiting punishment, or joyful and grateful humility for that which God has promised? If you await the latter, then through the Qur'an and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), God guides people back to Him in a manner that will ensure their eternal happiness.

God said in His final revelation to mankind:

“I have not created the spirits nor the human beings for any other purpose except to worship Me.” [4]

That in a nutshell is the purpose of this life. The purpose behind our creation is to recognize the Creator, to worship Him, to surrender ourselves to Him, and to obey the laws that He has determined for us. This is our purpose in this life.  If somebody gave you a hundred dollars, for no apparent reason, you would at least say thank you. What about your eyes, you brain, your heart, your breath, what about that? Who gave you that? Is He who gave you all these, not worthy of praise and thanks?

Hence, it makes complete sense that the one who does not submit to God's true religion of Islam, no matter how good he was in this life, that he will end up in Hellfire, because he committed the greatest crime ever, and that was to associate others with God and to not worship God alone as He legislated.

[1] [Qur'an 3:85]

[2] [Qur'an 3:19]

[3] [Qur'an, 21:25]

[4] [Qur'an, 51:56]

For additional reading please refer to:

http://www.islamqa.info/en/ref/13350/

http://www.islamqa.info/en/ref/6667/

http://www.islamqa.info/en/ref/10300/

http://muslimmatters.org/2007/08/29/what-to-make-of-mother-teresas-crisis-of-faith/