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| Misconception: Islam does not assure you salvation |
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The idea of being Paradise guaranteed, and that a person’s life will be as horrible and unbearable if he has no such guarantee, is a misconception. If you were to say that every person has a guarantee of Paradise, this would be utterly disastrous, because then everyone would commit all kinds of forbidden acts, feeling safe because of this guarantee. Many of the crimes committed by some among the Jews and Christians have been done on the basis of this guarantee, with documents of forgiveness from their priests. Allah has told us about such people: “And they say, ‘None shall enter Paradise unless he be a Jew or a Christian.’ Say, ‘Produce your proof if you are truthful.’”[al-Baqarah 2:111] For us Muslims, Paradise is not the matter of our own desires or the desires of anyone else, as Allah says: “It will not be in accordance with your desires (Muslims), nor those of the People of the Scripture (Jews and Christians); whoever works evil will have the recompense thereof, and he will not find any protector or helper besides Allah.” [al-Nisa’ 4:123] However, Islam offers a guarantee to every sincere Muslim who obeys Allah and remains in this state of devotion until he dies, that he will definitely enter Paradise. Allah says in the Qur’an: “But those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, We shall admit them to the Gardens under which rivers flow (i.e., in Paradise), to dwell therein forever. Allah’s promise is the truth, and whose words can be truer than those of Allah? (Of course, none).” [al-Nisa’ 4:122] “Allah has promised those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, that for them there is forgiveness and a great reward (i.e., Paradise).” [al-Maa’idah 5:9] “(They will enter) ‘Adn (Eden) Paradise (everlasting Gardens), which the Most Beneficent (Allah) has promised to His servants in the unseen: verily, His promise must come to pass.” [Maryam 19:61] “Say: ‘Is that (torment) better, or the Paradise of Eternity promised to the muttaqeen (pious and righteous persons)? It will be theirs as a reward and final destination.” [al-Furqaan 25:15] “But those who fear Allah and keep their duty to their Lord (Allah), for them are built lofty rooms, one above another, under which rivers flow (i.e., Paradise). (This is) the Promise of Allah, and Allah does not fail in (His) promise.” [al-Zumar 39:20] Islam also guarantees the disbeliever who ignores the commands of Allaah that he will definitely enter Hell. Allaah says: “Allah has promised the hypocrites, men and women, and the disbelievers, the Fire of Hell, therein shall they abide. It will suffice them. Allaa has cursed them and for them is the lasting torment.” [al-Tawbah 9:68] “But those who disbelieve, for them will be the Fire of Hell. Neither will it have a complete killing effect on them so that they die, nor shall its torment be lightened for them. Thus do We requite every disbeliever!” [Faatir 35:36] Allah will say to the disbelievers on the Day of Judgment: “This is Hell which you were promised! Burn therein this Day, for that you used to disbelieve!” [Yaa-Seen 36:63-64] Allah will not go back on His promise to either the believers or the disbelievers. He describes how both of them will be at the end of the Day of Judgment: “And the dwellers of Paradise will call out to the dwellers of the Fire (saying): ‘We have indeed found true what our Lord had promised us; have you also found true, what your Lord promised (warnings, etc.)?’ They shall say, ‘Yes.’ Then a crier will proclaim between them: ‘The Curse of Allah is on the zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers, etc.).” [al-A’raaf 7:44] Everyone who believes and does righteous deeds, and dies in this state, will definitely enter Paradise. Everyone who disbelieves and does evil deeds, and dies in this state, will definitely enter Hell. One of the great guiding principles of Islam is that the believer should tread a path between fear and hope. He should not take it for granted that he will enter Paradise, because this will make him complacent, and he does not know in what state he will die. Nor should he assume that he is going to Hell, because this is despairing of the mercy of Allah, which is forbidden. So the believer does righteous deeds, and hopes that Allah will reward him for them, and he avoids evil deeds out of fear of the punishment of Allah. If he commits a sin, he repents in order to gain forgiveness and protect himself from the punishment of Hell. Allah forgives all sins and accepts the repentance of those who repent. If a believer fears that the good deeds he has sent on before him are not enough, as you suggest, then he will increase his efforts, in fear and hope. No matter how many righteous deeds he has sent on before him, he cannot rely on them and take them for granted, or else he will be doomed. He keeps striving and hoping for reward, and at the same time he fears lest his deeds be contaminated with any element of showing off, self-admiration, or anything that will lead to them being rejected by Allah. Allah describes the believers: “… those who give that (their charity) which they give (and also do other good deeds) with their hearts full of fear (whether their alms and charity, etc.) have been accepted or not), because they are sure to return to their Lord (for reckoning).” [al-Mu’minoon 23:60] So the believer keeps on striving, fearing and hoping, until he meets his Lord, believing in Tawheed (Divine Unity) and doing righteous deeds, and earns the pleasure of his Lord and Paradise. These are the right motives for action. Righteousness cannot be achieved in this life in any other way. |
| Key Terms |
Q: How Does Islam View: - The Nature of Man, - the Purpose of Life and, - the Life Hereafter? A: Click Here |
More to know About: The Meaning of Islam |
A thorough Explaination of The Tawhid The Pure Islamic Monotheism |
Q: What is the theme of Quran? and what does it call for? A: Click Here |
The Password to paradise doors is: "La iLaha iLLa'LLaah, Mohammadun RasuLu'LLah" translated into: "Ther is no god but Allah, Mohammad is the messanger of Allah" but, what is its real meaning? Click Here |
Famous MisConceptions regarding Islam: 1. Islam degrades woman 2. Islam grants no salvation 3. Mohammed wrote the Quran 4. Muslims hate Jesus 5. Muslims worship Mohd. 6. Muslims = Arabs |
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