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Fatwa CenterIslam is not simply knowing that Muhammad is the Messenger
Question
Is it obligatory upon the Christian who follows a sound religion (meaning that he knows that Muhammad and ‘Eesaa (Jesus) are messengers of Allaah) to follow the Islamic Sharee‘ah because anyone who follows any religion other than Islam it is not accepted from him?
Answer
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.
If anyone from the People of the Book continues in his religion after the mission of Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, he is not following a sound religion. Rather, he is following a false one. Simply knowing that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is the Messenger of Allaah is not considered encompassing the meaning of Islam and all that it stands for as this knowledge is not accompanied by obeying him and submitting to his teachings.
The People of the Book who are considered to be disbelievers and were fought by the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, knew that he was sent by Allaah The Almighty and they knew this just like they knew their own sons. However, their knowledge did not protect their lives nor make them Muslims. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Those to whom We gave the Scripture know him as they know their own sons. But indeed, a party of them conceals the truth while they know [it].}[Quran 2:146]
No one can be a Muslim without professing the two Testimonies of Faith and thereafter fulfilling their requirements that include submission to the orders of Allaah The Almighty and His Messenger. Ibn Taymiyyah 
mentioned that obedience and submission are the essence of religion. This cannot be obtained through words alone; it requires action. Any action that is not performed for Allaah The Almighty has no status in the religion and the person who has no religion is a disbeliever.
And Allaah Knows best.
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