Question:

Is a Kafir (disbeliever, Non-Muslim) obligated to embrace Islam?

Answer:

Every disbeliever is obligated to embrace the religion of Islam, even if they are Christian or Jewish. This is because Almighty Allah says in His Noble Book: “Say (O Muhammad ﷺ): ‘O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah - to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He); It is He Who gives life and causes death. So believe in Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad ﷺ), the Prophet who can neither read nor write (i.e. Muhammad ﷺ) who believes in Allah and His Words [(this Quran), the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel) and also Allah’s Word: “Be!” - and he was, i.e. ‘Iesa (Jesus) son of Maryam (Mary)], and follow him so that you may be guided.’“ [Al-A’raf: 158].

Therefore, it is obligatory for all people to believe in the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). However, out of the mercy and wisdom of Almighty Allah, this Islamic legislation permitted non-Muslims to remain on their religion on the condition that they submit to the rulings of the Muslims. Allah Almighty says: “Fight against those who (1) believe not in Allah, (2) nor in the Last Day, (3) nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger (4) and those who acknowledge not the religion of truth (i.e. Islam) among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), until they pay the Jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.” [At-Tawbah: 29].

Furthermore, in Sahih Muslim, on the authority of Buraydah, whenever the Prophet (peace be upon him) appointed a commander over an army or a detachment, he would advise him to fear Allah and treat the Muslims with him well, and say: “Invite them to three traits or qualities; whichever they accept from you, accept it from them and withhold [your hands] from them.”—among these qualities being that they pay the jizyah.

Therefore, the most correct opinion among the scholarly views is that the jizyah can be accepted from non-Muslims other than Jews and Christians as well.

In conclusion, non-Muslims are obligated either to enter into Islam or to submit to the rulings of Islam, and Allah is the Grantor of success.