Q: How does a muslim get to Heaven, saved, reach a state of perfect harmony with God?


A: A Muslim is one who accepts Islam as the religion of GOD to follow. The Arabic word "Islam" is derived from the word "Salam" which means peace. Islam simply means submitting yourself peacefully in worshiping and believing in the One True Living Undivided GOD Almighty. If a person believes in Allah Almighty as One GOD and Muhammad is His Messenger, then that person is a Muslim. Allah Almighty said in the Noble Quran "The religion before Allah is Islam...(The Noble Quran, 3:19)" So according to the Noble Quran, Islam is the religion of Allah Almighty that we must follow. Allah Almighty is not a GOD to fear; He said: "Nay-whoever submits his whole self to Allah and is a doer of good He will get his reward with his Lord; on such shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. (The Noble Quran, 2:112)" He is also the Most Merciful and Most Forgiving; see Noble Verses 2:163, 2:173, 3:89, 2:199, 3:155, 4:17, and many more for proofs.

Allah Almighty is our real friend; "(O Muslims) Your (real) friends are Allah, His Messenger [Muhammad], and the (Fellowship Of) Believers, those who establish regular prayers and regular charity, and they bow down humbly (in worship). (The Noble Quran, 5:55)" And also "Who can be better in religion than one who submits his whole self to Allah, does good, and follows the way of Abraham the true of faith? For Allah did take Abraham for a friend. (The Noble Quran, 4:125)"

Allah Almighty is close and listens to our prayers; "When My servants ask thee concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me: Let them also, with a will, Listen to My call, and believe in Me: That they may walk in the right way. (The Noble Quran, 2:186)"

Allah Almighty forgives pretty much all sins except idol worshiping and trinity beliefs; "Allah forgiveth not that partners should be set up with Him; but He forgiveth anything else, to whom He pleaseth; to set up partners with Allah is to devise a sin most heinous indeed. (The Noble Quran, 4:48)." Therefore, Islam forms the direct relationship between a Muslim and His Creator Allah Almighty as long as a Muslim believes in One True GOD. There is no middle man between a Muslim and His Creator; "It was We Who Created man, and We know what dark suggestions his soul makes to him: for We are nearer to him than (his) jugular vein. (The Noble Quran, 50:16)"

"When My servants ask thee concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me: Let them also, with a will, Listen to My call, and believe in Me: That they may walk in the right way. (The Noble Quran, 2:186)"

The Muslim's faith and righteousness will both make him live in perfect harmony with Allah Almighty.

A continuation to my answer from sister Jacqueline S. Waheed; may Allah Almighty always be pleased with her: "A: One of the basic arguments raised by non-Muslims, especially Christians, against Islam concerns the concept of salvation. They say that in Christianity, one is saved by faith, whereas in Islam one must earn their salvation through good deeds. Unfortunately, many Muslims fall into the trap of defending the position imposed on them by these non-Muslims. This then provides the Christians with a basis for their entire Jesus-Father-Crucifixion-Salvation framework. They then go on to argue that salvation is a gift from God that cannot be earned. But if the true Islamic concept is made clear, the Christian has no basis to attack Islam.

Many times, Muslims fail to realize that the Islaamic concept of salvation is not based upon good deeds, but is based primarily upon faith. In the dozens of times Allah Almighty talks in the Quran about salvation, he always states, "Those who believe and do good deeds." Belief is always mentioned before deeds or works. When one converts to Islaam, one does not do it by doing some good work but rather through realizing and believing that there is but one God and Muhammed peace be upon him is his last messenger. Non-Muslims may perform good works as well, but what sets them apart from Muslims is their lack of IMA’AN (Aqeedah) [faith], or belief. The reason that the good works of the non-believers are worthless in the hereafter is because of their disbelief. Unless a person's imaan or aqeedah is not correct, all his good deeds are worthless.

One of the more popular Hadiths of the Prophet peace be upon him states, "All actions are based upon intentions," implying that the purpose, intent, or imaan behind your action is what you get rewarded for; the actual action is really a consequence of the belief.

Another Hadith states, "A man came to the Prophet peace be upon him and asked, 'When will the day of judgment come?' The Prophet peace be upon him replied, 'What have you prepared for the judgment day that you are so concerned for it?' He replied, 'I do not have any good deeds in my account, but I do have one thing:

I love Allah and His Messenger peace be upon him.' The Prophet peace be upon him then said, 'In that case, do not worry; you will be with those whom you love.'" (Agreed Upon).

This Hadith also confirms the Islaamic position of placing aqeedah and belief before actions. For example, Allah Almighty says in various parts of the Quran, "The believers you will find praying..." He does not say the people who are praying are believers. It is the belief that brings about the action, but the converse is not always true.