Should I follow the Ashari school of Sunni beliefs because of its opinion on the fate of non-Mu

Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

Barak Allahu feekum. The differences between the two schools of aqida are minor and subtle--they are neither major nor practically significant. One should learn the basics in a practical, reliable manner, according to either school, and then busy oneself with increasing in one's good deeds--every sunna that one brings to life through one's actions increases the light in one's heart and strengthens the certitude of one's faith. It is this light and certitude that calls people to Islam, not mere words or theological nuances.

On the issue of non-Muslims: it is not true to affirm that the Ashari school holds that "non Muslims will go to paradise." Rather, the only difference is about those whom the message of Islam hasn't reached. And there is difference within the Ashari school as to what is considered sufficient for the message of Islam to have reached the person.

This is explained in the following answer:

The Fate of Non-Muslims in the Afterlife

Shaykh Adib Kallas of Damascus, a master of the science of aqida who is well-versed in the nuances and texts of both schools of Sunni beliefs, made an interesting observation about the various positions about the fate of non-Muslims in the afterlife. He said,

“We know that those who reject faith (man aba) are in Hell. It is not decisively established what exactly entails rejection of faith—this is why the scholars of Sunni Islam differed. As for the details, we should concern ourselves with our own fate: Allah will ask us about ourselves, not about what He should do with others.”

See also:

The beliefs of the Sunni way

The way of the people of truth

Does one have to be Ashari or Maturidi?

And Allah alone gives success.

Wassalam,

Faraz Rabbani