The Finality of Islam & The Rebuttal of Perennialism : This essay, originally published in Arabic under the title Al-Tahqiq al-Bahir fi Ma'na al-Iman bi al-Yawm al-Akhir ~ (A Profound Analysis of the Meaning of Belief in the Last Day), investigates the concept of faith (iman) in God and the Last Day within the Islamic Tradition, specifically engaging with a contemporary heretical claim that seeks to decouple belief in Prophet Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, from the necessary prerequisites for salvation.
The proponent of this claim promotes the 'Unity of Religions' (tawhid al-adyan) and asserts that belief in God and the Last Day alone suffices for divine reward on the Day of Judgement, irrespective of belief in the Prophethood of Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. To legitimise his assertion, he misuses the Qur'anic verse : " Surely those who have believed, and those of Jewry, the Christians and the Sabians - whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, and works righteousness, they shall have their reward with their Lord. and there shall be no fear for them, nor shall they grieve. " [2:62].
Shaykh 'Abd-Allah al-Ghumari, may Allah have mercy upon his soul, presents a robust and comprehensive rebuttal of this heterodoxy. By analysing classical exegesis (tafsir) of the aforementioned Qur'anic verse along with other authoritive Islamic sources, including Prophetic traditions and scholarly consensus (ijma'), he demonstrates the centrality of belief in Prophet Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, alongside belief in God and the Last Day as a cornerstone of Islamic faith and an indispensable prerequisite for salvation.