Salvation in Islam

Salvation in Islam


Islam teaches that all persons are born sinless. According to Islam, we are only responsible for the sins we commit intentionally. Recognizing our human nature, God the Most Merciful, is the One who accepts sincere repentance and forgives sins.
Forgiveness hadiths

My mercy prevails over my wrath, (Hadith Qudsi #1)

On the authority of Abu Huraira (may God be please with him), who said that the Messenger of God (may the blessings and peace of God be upon him) said: "When God decreed the Creation He pledged Himself by writing in His book which is laid down with Him: My Mercy prevails over My Wrath."
It was related by Muslim (also by al-Bukhari, an-Nasa'i and ibn Majah)

O son of Adam, (Hadith Qudsi #34)

On the authority of Anas (may God be pleased with him), who said: I heard the Messenger of God (pbuh) say: God the Almighty said: "O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it (i.e. as the earth, meaning that God will forgive in like measure to man's sins)."
It was related by at-Tirmidhi (also by Ahmad ibn Hanbal). Its chain of authorities is sound.


To enhance and maintain the relationship between God and the humans, Islam prescribes various forms of worship for us to perform. Worship in Islam serves the needs of humans both spiritually and physically in a balanced yet integrated manner. And yet….


Muslims are not saved by good deeds

Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 8, Hadith No. 470:
Narrated Abu Huraira r.a.: God's Messenger (pbuh) said, "The deeds of anyone of you will not save you [from the (Hell) Fire]." They said, "Even you (will not be saved by your deeds), O God's Messenger?" He said, "No, even I (will not be saved) unless and until God bestow His Mercy on me. Therefore, do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately, and worship God in the forenoon and in the afternoon and during a part of the night, and always adopt a middle, moderate, regular course whereby you will reach your target (Paradise)."


Salvation hadith

Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 4, Hadith No. 644:
Narrated Ubada r.a.: The Prophet (pbuh) said, "If anyone testifies that La ilaha ill Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but God Alone) Who has no partners, and that Muhammad (pbuh) is His slave and His Messenger, and that Jesus (pbuh) is God's slave and His Messenger and His Word ("Be!" – and he was) which He bestowed on Mary and a spirit (Ruh) created by Him, and that Paradise is the truth, and Hell is the truth, God will admit him into Paradise with the deeds which he had done even if those deeds were few." (Junada, the sub-narrator said, "Ubada added, 'Such a person can enter Paradise through any of its eight gates he likes.' ")


Therefore, from the above hadith, we conclude that it is the correct belief that can save a person. Not just words, but correct belief. And God knows best.

Forgiveness in the Qur'an
"Do not ascribe purity to yourselves"

Qur'an 53:32 ("The Star"):
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Those who avoid great sins and illegal sexual intercourse except the small faults, - verily, your Lord is of vast forgiveness. He knows you well when He created you from the earth (Adam), and when you were fetuses in your mother's wombs. So ascribe not purity to yourselves. He knows best him who fears God and keeps his duty to Him.

"If Allah were to punish mankind for his sins, there would not be a living creature left on the face of the earth"

Qur'an 35:45 ("The Originator of Creation"):
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
And if Allah were to punish men for that which they earned, He would not leave a moving (living) creature on the surface of the earth, but He gives them respite to an appointed term, and when their term comes, then verily, Allah is Ever All-Seer of His slaves.

Qur'an 16:61 ("The Bee"):
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
And if Allah were to seize mankind for their wrong-doing, He would not leave on it (the earth) a single moving (living) creature, but He postpones them for an appointed term and when their term comes, neither can they delay it nor can they advance it an hour (or a moment).

"Do not give up of the Mercy of your Lord"

Qur'an 39:53 ("The Groups"):
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Say: "O 'Ibadi" (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not the Mercy of Allah, verily Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Posted in: Islamic Lecture