Thank you! Perhaps you would clarify further? Can I be saved via the cross of Christ to pay for my sin or do I hope to be someday, maybe saved, if Allah judges my works as worthy?
We need to consider the reported words of Yeshua (ʿalayhi as-salām): 'It is not anyone who says to me: “Lord, Lord,” who will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven. When the day comes many will say to me: "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, work many miracles in your name?" Then I shall tell them to their faces: I have never known you; away from me, all evil doers!’ (Matthew 7: 21-23).
The only people who call Yeshua ‘Lord’ are the Christians, and so it is clear that these verses refer only to them; it is equally clear that some Christians are going to find themselves in a spot of bother on the Day of Judgement, in spite of what they believed; and in spite of the seemingly righteous acts they carried out in the name of their ‘Lord’.
Note the words: ‘…..the person who
does the will of my Father in heaven’. This is a clear indication that belief (faith) alone is not enough. There has to be
action (works)…..a doing of the Father’s will.
In short, your own religion teaches you that not all Christians are bound for Heaven.
Islam teaches that each soul is responsible for its own actions:
‘Say: “Should I seek a Lord other than Allāh, when He is the Lord of all things?” Each soul is responsible for its own actions; no soul will bear the burden of another. You will all return to your Lord in the end, and He will tell you the truth about your differences.’ (Al-An‘am: 164); and again: ‘Whoever accepts guidance does so for his own good; whoever strays does so at his own peril. No soul will bear another’s burden…..’ (Al-Isra: 15).
These verses finds their counterparts in the Bible: 'Parents may not be put to death for their children, nor children for parents, but each must be put to death for his own crime.’ (Deuteronomy 24:16); and again: 'Now, you say: "Why doesn't the son bear his father's guilt?" If the son has been law-abiding and upright, has kept all my laws and followed them, most certainly he will live. The one who has sinned is the one who must die; a son is not to bear his father's guilt, nor a father his son's guilt. The upright will be credited with his uprightness, and the wicked with his wickedness. If the wicked, however, renounces all the sins he has committed, respects my laws and is law-abiding and upright, he will most certainly live; he will not die. None of the crimes he committed will be remembered against him from then on; he will most certainly live because of his upright actions. Would I take pleasure in the death of the wicked - declares the Lord Yahweh - and not prefer to see him renounce his wickedness and live?’ (Ezekiel: 18: 19-23).
The message conveyed by these verses is clear enough: Allāh (Subḥānahu ūta'āla), who is Just, will never punish people for the sins of others.
St Thomas Aquinas writes: ‘It was not necessary that God should become incarnate for the restoration of human nature. For God with His omnipotent power could have restored human nature in many other ways.’ (Summa Theologica: Part Three; L.1, C.3).
Muslims believe that Allāh (subḥānahu ūta'āla) does indeed choose a different way of dealing with sin – the way of forgiveness; and that this has always been the case. There was no need for the Cross.
The Exalted delights in showing compassion and mercy towards everyone who - in all sincerity - asks for it. His mercy overrules His justice by a country mile.
Islam teaches that on the Day of Judgment all will stand before Allāh (subḥānahu ūta'āla). Each will be given a record of their lives. Those whose book is placed in their right hand will be admitted to Paradise; and those whose book is placed in their left will not.
It is said that a record of good deeds is made straight away; but that a record of bad deeds is delayed for some hours, to allow for repentance. Even when a sin is recorded it can be erased by sincere and genuine repentance (tawbah): ‘But He will overlook the bad deeds of those who have faith, do good deeds, and believe in what has been sent down to Muhammad - the truth from their Lord - and He will put them into a good state’ (Muhammad: 2).
Not only does sincere and genuine repentance wipe out an evil deed, it transforms that deed into a good one: ‘Those who repent, believe, and do good deeds, Allāh will change the evil deeds of such people into good ones. He is most forgiving, most merciful’ (Al-Furqan: 70).
Every day of their lives - many times a day - Muslims speak the words: ‘The Lord of Mercy’; ‘The Giver of Mercy’; ‘The Compassionate’; ‘The Merciful’. These are the Beloved‘s Names. We did not give them to Him, He chose them for Himself. Of all His Names these are His favorite. That is why we are asked to speak them so often - so that we do not forget Who it is that loves us; Who it is that binds us to Himself with ties of tenderness, mercy and forgiveness.
Whenever we repent, we should follow it up with some act of kindness; or with a spot of fasting or self-denial; and we should do so solely out love for Allāh (subḥānahu ūta'āla), and not out of fear of punishment; nor for any other reason. This will suffice.
