"Certainly We have winnowed out for hell many of the jinn and humans: they have hearts with which they do not understand, they have eyes with which they do not see, they have ears with which they do not hear. They are like cattle; indeed, they are more astray. It is they who are the heedless." - Qur'an 7:179
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Amina Inloes,
Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the Islamic College in London and also the Managing Editor of the Journal of Shi'a Islamic Studies. 651 Answers
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Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi,
Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to religious questions. In the past, he has also spent significant time in India guiding the community. 3753 Answers
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Zoheir Ali Esmail,
Shaykh Zoheir Ali Esmail has a Bsc in Accounting and Finance from the LSE in London, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University. He studied Arabic at Damascus University and holds a PhD from the University of Exeter in the philosophical and mystical readings of Mulla Sadra in the context of the schools of Tehran and Qum. 374 Answers
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Abbas Di Palma,
Shaykh Abbas Di Palma holds a BA and an MA degree in Islamic Studies, and certifications from the Language Institute of Damascus University. He has also studied traditional Islamic sciences in London, Damascus and Qom and taught for different institutions in Italy and UK. 208 Answers
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Zaid Alsalami,
Shaykh Dr Zaid Alsalami is an Iraqi born scholar, raised in Australia. He obtained a BA from Al-Mustafa University, Qom, and an MA from the Islamic College in London. He also obtained a PhD from ANU, Canberra. He has written and translated several Islamic texts and also prepared educational videos on Islamic rulings and practices. 707 Answers
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Seyed Saied Alavi,
Seyed Saied Alavi is a researcher based in Qom who has studied from the Howzah of Qom and also completed a Pastoral studies program. He is currently a university lecturer in the fields of Shia Theology and the History of Religions as well as other subjects. 9 Answers
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It is not good to reduce this verse to a question of religious identity.
The verse is speaking about humans (and jinn) in general. Human beings have the potential to ascend above the level of the angels, or descend lower than the level of animals.
One of the purposes of the human life is for the human being to develop their spiritual and human potential. People who do not use their God-given capabilities to think, reflect on, and draw lessons from the world around them (including to consider what is right and wrong and their reason for being), who focus only on consuming (like cattle), who blindly follow others (like sheep), or who care only about indulging in their animal desires fail to reach a minimum level of their God-given potential and, as a result, end up in Hell. This is especially true if their appetites and apathy leads them to harm others, take away the right of others, or blindly accept injustice.
So, basically, God created Hell for human failures.
(Obviously this verse is not about people who genuinely are unable to contemplate some things, for instance, if they have a mental impairment.)
This is independent of whether a person identifies themself as a Muslim or not. Of course a true Muslim - not just a Muslim in name - would strive to rise above their animal side and would take heed of the Qur'anic injunction to think, reflect, and ponder on God, the creation, the human being, ethical matters, society, and how to live.