Hi Wil
I am so pleased and happy you asked this question, thankyou. As you may have worked out by now I am a 'moderate' Muslim, although I prefer to call myself orthodox, as I stay as close as possible to the teaching of the Quran.
Here is one of my favourite verses of the Quran (sorry about the cut and paste):
002.062YUSUFALI: Those who believe (in the Qur'an), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians and the Sabians,- any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.
PICKTHAL: Lo! Those who believe (in that which is revealed unto thee, Muhammad), and those who are Jews, and Christians, and Sabaeans - whoever believeth in Allah and the Last Day and doeth right - surely their reward is with their Lord, and there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve.
SHAKIR: Surely those who believe, and those who are Jews, and the Christians, and the Sabians, whoever believes in Allah and the Last day and does good, they shall have their reward from their Lord, and there is no fear for them, nor shall they grieve.
Now look at Yusufali and Pickthal's comments in brackets - this is their interpretation, not the word of G-d. Shakir has translated this verse without giving comment and this
is the word of G-d handed to mankind in the Quran. Yusufali negates Jews and Christians by inserting (in the Quran) and Pickthal negates Jews and Christians by inserting (revealed unto thee, Muhammad). However, G-d has clearly stated who has the opportunity to go to heaven "WHOEVER believes in G-d, the Day of Judgement and does good".
The Quran also states very clearly, four times, that "there is no compulsion in religion". Muslim men can marry Jewish and Christian women and there is no requirement for the women to change religion and they are permitted to worship Allah acording to their own faith. Muslim women cannot marry outside the faith because our children take the religion of the father.
Also look at the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh), he allowed Jews and Christians to live in peace, with no demands on them to change their relgion. People often talk of the taxes levied against non-Muslims but we pay taxes to the country/state we live in even today. 10 years ago I lived in Bavaria and 5% of my wage was taken at source for the Catholic Church - I had no choice. So this argument holds no water with me.
Also, the Quran teaches us that G-d has sent a messenger to each nation (Muslims believe there has been well over 100,000 Prophets (pbut) and Mohammad was the final Prophet). Is it possible that G-d would be so merciful and send every nation/tribe/language/colour/creed/gender, etc a Prophet, yet then decide "forget that lot and just do this or no heaven?" I doubt that very much - but only my personal view.
Finally, before I bore you to sleep. My husband (a born Muslim) has been taught that even a very sinful Muslim will be punished then brought to heaven. Whereas, a good pious nonMuslim is going straight to hell for eternity (with the exception of all children who die, who go straight to heaven without judgement). So the question I always ask my husband is "what are the first words of the Quran?". They are:
Bismi Allahi alrrahmani alrraheemi
which means:
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the
Merciful.
So a personal message to everyone, of any religion, who says "only our gang can go to heaven"............
Thank you Wil, I needed that.
Salaam