Chapter Six
The Concept of Salvation: Faith, Law, and Accountability
A Journey of Revelation
Chapter 6:
Introduction
Salvation, in the context of divine guidance, is the attainment of God Almighty’s pleasure and success in the Hereafter. The Qur’an and the Bible address salvation, but their frameworks differ significantly. This chapter examines these frameworks, highlighting faith, law, deeds, and God Almighty’s mercy.
Salvation in the Qur’an: Faith, Deeds, and Mercy
The Qur’an emphasizes that salvation requires **belief (Iman)**, **righteous action (‘Amal Salih)**, and reliance on God Almighty’s mercy:
“Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds will have Gardens of Paradise as a lodging.”
Qur’an 18:107
Ibn Qayyim (God Almighty be merciful to him) explains that faith without deeds is incomplete; deeds without faith are invalid. Salvation is thus a combination of correct belief, lawful action, and submission to Allah.
The Qur’an also emphasizes accountability:
“Whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.”
Qur’an 99:7-8
The scholars understood this verse as affirming perfect justice: no action is overlooked, and every person will be fully accountable.
Salvation in the Bible: Faith and Law
The Bible teaches adherence to God Almighty’s commands and faith in Him. For example:
“If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God… you shall live.”
Deuteronomy 30:16
The apostle James emphasizes that faith without works is dead:
“Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
James 2:17
The scholars observed that while the Bible acknowledges obedience, later interpretations sometimes shifted focus toward grace alone, causing theological disputes regarding salvation.
Faith, Law, and the Qur’anic Distinction
The Qur’an clarifies that the **law (Shari’ah)** was sent to guide actions, but **salvation is not automatic through ritual alone**. It requires sincere faith:
“And your faith will not benefit you if you do not perform righteous deeds.”
Qur’an 18:110
The scholars, including Ahmad ibn Hanbal (God Almighty be merciful to him), emphasized that obedience, worship, and moral conduct must accompany belief, as salvation is attained by combining the two under God Almighty’s mercy.
The Role of God Almighty’s Mercy
Even complete belief and deeds are insufficient without God Almighty’s mercy:
“My mercy encompasses all things.”
Qur’an 7:156
The scholars understood that mercy is the ultimate determinant of salvation, while faith and deeds form the necessary preparation. Reliance on mercy does not negate responsibility or accountability.
Comparative Insights
– Both scriptures affirm accountability: Qur’an 99:7-8; Bible, Ezekiel 18:20. – Both emphasize obedience and righteous conduct: Qur’an 2:2-3; Bible, Deuteronomy 30:16. – The Qur’an uniquely emphasizes divine protection of the message, ensuring clarity in the criteria for salvation, while the Bible’s textual variations leave interpretive challenges.
Conclusion
Salvation, in Islam, is attained through a **balance of faith, righteous deeds, accountability, and reliance on God Almighty’s mercy**. The Qur’an provides a complete framework, correcting any distortions in previous scripture and reaffirming that the path to God Almighty’s pleasure requires **belief in His messengers, obedience to His commands, and hope in His mercy**.
All Qur’anic interpretations rely on classical tafsir by the early scholars of Islam. Biblical citations are included for comparative purposes and evaluated in light of the Qur’an.