Brian wrote:

asalamalakum Arman.

This is brian, the christian who came to jummah prayer a few weeks ago. How are you doing? Anything new? I just want to thank you for your kindness and being so hospitable. It really does make a difference. I just had a friend visit my church a few days ago, and she was uncomfortable

Brian wrote:

>sorry about that. i accidentally sent the other email without >finishing while trying to do something else.

>anyways, i knew how my friend felt and how much it means to have someone >give you attention when in some place unfamiliar. thanks.

>I have a quesiton for you. How does one make it to heaven according to >Islam? Is it becasue of doing good, wherein we are judged on scales >for what we do, or is it because of Allah's forgiveness and mercy, >independent of our own merit?

>This is the one question that any religion should have a very reasonable >asnwer to, or else there would be almost no point to follow that >religion. Eternity (after-life) matters much more than pre-death-life.

>Thank you for your impute and time. Khuda Hafiz,

>Brian Lucero

Arman wrote:

Dear Brian,
Waalaykum Salaam,

Sorry it's taken me so long to get mack to you. I apologize once again if I made you feel at all uncomfortable when we met a couple of weeks ago. I am very glad we got a chance to talk, though. Everyone feels uncomfortable when faced with new experiences/sensations...I know just what you felt that day and this is why I tried to make you feel more comfortable.

You have questions=) Good! Unfortunately I must say that I can do neither the Quran or Prophet Muhammad's (saw) hadith (or actions) justice. I might however, describe my plan to you. It is really very simple. According to Islam, Allah is the most gracious and the most merciful. He is that which benefits us and harms us, and it is him alone who according to the Quran will be our final judge. It is up to Allah alone. For me, what this means is that I am never sure...I am forced constantly to question my actions, to question my belief, to question whether I believe I am acting in a way that will warrant success by the best of judges.

The beauty is that I am never satisfied--I strive as best I can to be the best I can in every way. It is in this struggle that a person becomes a better Muslim. I struggle because I want to succeed, to gain closeness to Allah. With this understood, I will be the first to tell you that I am not perfect. But at the very least I can be sincere. When I mess up, I try to admit, ask for God's forgiveness, and move on. This doesn't mean I can forget or that what I do doesn't count towards what I (or any other, for that matter) reaps on the final day. In this way, I hope to gain for myself the best of God's forgiveness for my many mistakes, as well as the best of His rewards for any good I have done in this world<--anything one gains or loses will be based on the merit of his or her actions and beliefs, and one's beliefs govern his or her actions. Indeed, in the Quran it states very clearly that every man and woman will be judged on the merit of his or her actions--that the good will be weighed against the bad, the right against the wrong. It is true that the next life is probably much more important than this puny existence=), however, this does not discount the import of this existence for those of us who have been created to live it.

I hope that this lengthy and drawn out message might help you succeed in whatever you strive for=)

Khuda hafiz from your bro,
Arman

Brian wrote:

>well, i remember sending a long email to you, however, i guess i sent it >to the wrong place, and i can't find it in my sent folder cause i >deleted all my trash a few days ago. it's okay though..

>Anyways, in your last response to my question on how one gets to heaven >according to Islam, you said that you would never know if you are going, >but that's it's through Allah's decision on whom his forgiveness >resides.

>Does this mean that Allah will forgive some but not others....and if so, >based on what? Forgiveness means the forgetting or whiping away of >someone's sin penalty. So WHO Allah forgives can't be based on how good >they are, for that's why they would desire forgiveness in the first >place, because they need it. If they were good enough, then they >wouldn't need forgivenes. So does this mean that some people have sin >yet others don't. Now if we all have sin, how does Allah decide whom he >forgives?

>You say that Allah is merciful and gracious, and this is backed up by >the starting of every surah in the Qu'ran. Yet, wouldn't that mean that >that is his character, and that it can't change. ....So, why wouldn't >everyone be forgiven? Obviously, according to Islam many are going to >hell, and many are going to heaven. Does Allah forgive whoever just >because he feels like it? Would this then mean that Allah is not a just >god, because he doens't deal with everyone with the same standard?

>Al-Qur'an says that 'eveyone will recieve his just reward' (Surah >3:161). Accordingly, if one does bad, he has to be rewarded bad, >ultimately Hell...for Allah will have to give him his just reward. Is >there any criteria that gives that Muslim assurance of being forgiven, >would then be the next and most important question one would ask.

>Basically, is there SALVATION in Islam?

>If one person was 51% good, yet 49% bad, would he go to heaven, because >on the scales he weighed out good? If it's true that he would, then it >seems this person is earning heaven on his own merit, and has no need >for Allah's forgiveness. >Would every person who is 51% good and 49% bad earn heaven? If they >don't, then how can Allah be just?, for his standard would be different >for everyone. If it is true that we earn heaven on our own merit, then >what is our need for God? For all we have to do is make sure we are >more good than bad. I wouln't have to be a Muslim then , or believe in >Mohammed's message, or even get to know God - becuase all i have to do >is be good. But we know Islam teaches we this is not so.

>So, then where is our salvation? How do we get it?

>Do we earn it? ...according to the last paragraph, we don't. Is it >based on whom Allah forgives?.., meaning it would ultimately be his >choice and not our own, leaving us paying the penalty in hell yet >without anyway to avoid it on our own account. ....ultimately being >the question of his character, if he is a just god or not.

>Arman, does, or can, Islam answer the question of Salvation? I've been >reading the Qu'ran like you told me to. However, i have come accross no >solution to our sin problem. If there is one, please reference me to >those passages in the Qu'ran.

>Thank you so much for spending the time trying to answer my questions. >I know you are truly seeking God's truth, as I am. Keep in strength >friend.

>Pursuing God,
>brian lucero >

> >But if it's because of our own adecuecy, our own goodness, then why say >that Allah is merciful and forgiving? If you're >going to get to heaven by your own works, then get ready to be >dissapointed. For you have already sinned against God. A murderer >isn't let free by the judge in court just because it's been 20 years. >no, the murderer will go to prison for life, even if he had repented.

>Basically, Islam doens't provide a way to get to heaven , to be >reconciled back to God. It might provide a way for how you should live >life here on earth, in your body, but how does it provide a way for your >soul? You don't know where you're going when you die. Even the >prophet Muhummed said that he doens't even know. Then how can you >know. You don't. Insha'Allah, right? Let me tell you, the God >that I serve does care. His will is that all go to heaven, and that >none is lost. If they will seek God with all their heart and follow hard >after Him, He will heal their transgressions. But only because there >was a sacrifice paid. Someone had to pay for their consequences and >take upon the penalty for them to be able to inherit heaven. If Jesus >did not die in order that the penalty for sin is paid for, then NO ONE >will make it to heaven.

>Does Islam assure you of heaven? the ultimate quesiton. where are >you going when you die. you have the desire to >know, but will never while you embrace Islam. Seek the truth like Mr. >Deedat, but don't lie to yourself and twist scripture >and proof, the sign of God, when they come to you.

>If you will seek the truth, and not be ignorant and a rejecter, then I >challenge you to go to read the following from the links. or else you >can reject and not be challenged, and never know.

>Pursuing God,
>brian

>www.angelfire.com/realm2/truth/islam.html
>www.answering-islam.org

Arman wrote:

Dear Brian,

Sorry for getting back to you so late. You write a very compelling and intriguing letter. There is more in its breadth than I can address simply in this email. I will try to do your questions justice though...

God does indeed have his standards. You seem confused with the possibility of a Being being both just and merciful at the same time. Perhaps I can help.

(1) You are angry and stressed out by people at work or traffic and take it out on your son or daughter or wife or father or mother etc.--an obvious injustice, not very merciful either

(2) Your child misbehaves but out of "mercy" you don't reprimand so as not to hurt the child--merciful, but no justice

(3) A person you are very close to does something you know is unacceptable; you don't want to hurt that person but know that to help hime or her you must make them aware--you thus are being both just and merciful...note that this is the action most sincere and loving in nature of the three above***

If God were only gracious he could be unjust. God could also be Just without being gracious & merciful. However, He states clearly in the Qur'an that he is both, and emphasizes strongly that he deals in an extremely merciful manner with those who deserve his mercy (see below)

There is a reason why every Surah in the Qur'an begins with "In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the most Merciful" and not simple "...the most Just". Indeed, there are 99 attributed names that God goes by in the Qur'an, and every one supports the position of the Creator as the most Supreme being<--I invite you to reflect

Bismillah, I would like to refer you to the following verses (ayahs) from the Holy Qur'an:

(1) On Sin & Forgiveness
--Refer to the Qur'an 39:53-54.

Forgiveness for a sin or transgression against one's own soul requires one to repent sincerely and amend one's conduct so as to keep from repeating the same err over and over. One must in essence realize and then admit to the fault and fix it with the energy God has given him or her. To not do so would be an injustice to one's soul, and thus people who repeatedly make the same mistakes and never learn are doing themselves double the injustice--the sin is heavier. --Qur'an 4:31-32.
--Qur'an 7:106-112.
--Qur'an 53:31-32.

Ultimately we all make mistakes. However, those who repent their mistakes and understand their injustice are not equal to those who never strive to recognize and correct their wrong-doings. I think you and I would both agree with this point. Allah knows what is in the hearts of his creations; if a man or woman does injustice and seeks repentance, his or her attempt and sincerity will be accounted for by the Wisest and most Merciful of judges. Furthermore, there are a large variety of people in this world. Take, for example the person who does 51% good and 49% bad and the person who has a pure heart, strong faith, etc. who does (for the sake of argument) 99% good and 1% bad (do not forget that there is a median in between these extrema, another topic of discussion perhaps)--nowhere in the Qur'an does it state that the rewards and punishment of the two will be equal! This makes sense, yes? Some of the ability to balance and judge is built into us=)

But we can under no circumstances pretend to know the destinies of every being to have ever lived with the multitude of backgrounds, lifespans, etc.---there are so many variables! Actions don't just happen on the outside of one's body, but they effect one's spiritual and physical health too. It is not so simple as good and bad. Some people do what appears good with bad intent, while others can do bad with good intent. A person who is a firm believer all his life and then turns away at the last breath can be sent to Hell without forgiveness; and likewise a man who commits heinous crimes all his life but realizes his mistakes and truly repents in the last breath can at the same time be spared from Hell by God's grace. It is a beautiful system whereby every man and woman is held accountable intil his or her time comes and hope is not lost till the end. At this point God decides upon the merits of one's actions/intents/capabilities/circumstances/etc. whether a person deserves forgiveness on the way to reward or punishment (there are, by the way, varying degreed of reward and punishment).

(2)On the Final Judgement
--Sura 82 (Infitar, The Cleaving Asunder), especially verses 1-5
--lots more

(3)EVERYTHING INCLUDING SALVATION--A most direct answer to your questions can be gotten if you look at Surah 6:15-20. This is everything you seem to be asking for put into one piece.

Salaam,
Arman

Brian wrote:

Asalamalaikum :)

Thank you so much for writing back Arman. I know it takes time and prayer and extra energy. These conversations with you, even though might seem confusing or frustrating at times, make me dig deeper into God's revelation, deeper into prayer, and deeper into research, to check what my foundations are made of. I hope the same sharpening is being done to you too. God will not let mine and your efforts go to waste.

I got your email tonight, and really wanted to go to bed. However, I thought that i'd look up the Qu'ranic verses that you gave me, and make notes on them. I have a few questions about them and your last email. Note: you don't have to strive to get back to me in response quickly. Respond when you have time and energy, at your leisure. Thanks again.

You mentioned Sura 39:53-54, which says that Allah forgives all sins, because he is merciful. Yet when I read the following verses, it says that Allah does not forgive -Idolotry (4:116) - Murder of believers (4:93) or -Apostacy (3:90). Allah, even though entitled "Most merciful", seems to have a limit to where his mercy is frustrated. Is this a contradiction?

You gave me the verse Sura 53:31-32, which basically says that Allah will overlook the small sins if one has not committed one of the great sins, leading to our forgiveness. However, I remembered the verse in Sura 99:7,8, which says Allah will punish even an atom's weight of sin. Which one is correct? (by the way, did Muhummed and his followers know what an atom was?).

I sincerely agree with you, as you predicted, that our intentions are judged by God, not just our outward works. (Comment: when I said 51% good, I meant good - not only in actions, but totally, in heart and all - as God would see it, everything). And that if we sincerely repent, Allah is just to forgive us. But that there is a median whereby we are forgiven, which you can probably guess. And by this median, mercy is shewn forth, yet, also, justice made done.

And your claim is backed up by your words, paraphrased: 'One can be bad his whole life, then repent at the end and still go to heaven; While one can be good his whole life, then turn away and go to hell.' And this is justified by: 'If one does injustice and seeks repentance, his sincerity will be accounted by God.' I certainly agree that the intentions matter. Now, as you said, if I know what I did wrong, and sincerely repent, then Allah will forgive me. Then, what is the need for me to follow Islam, if in the case that I do know what I did wrong and sincerely have a heart after God? Is the repentance and sincerety enough? Or do I need some other cooperative to work me into heaven with the preceeding?

You were right, Surah 6:15-20 does talk about all that one needs to get to heaven, namely "savlation." It says that this salvation is given to those whose penalty is averted from them by the mercy of Allah, and this is how the salvation comes. What I am wondering though, is who (compared to the others) is given this very needed gift of mercy. How does one obtain this mercy. It does not make it clear as to who will be saved, or the criteria for it. Now if, as you said above, it is the intention of the heart, repentence, and life's circumstances that opens the door to this great mercy, then can you sincerely say that I am not one to whom is graced with receiving it. For I am sincerely penitent for my transgressions, and have a heart after God. If this is what it takes to receive this mercy, this forgiveness, then do I not fit that standard for salvation, even though I am not following Islam?

This type of standard would surely not be acceptable to most Muslims.

In deepest love and sincerety,
Brian Lucero
(12-03-02)