The Truth About Salvation — Page 11
11 redemption would ensue from the excellence of his conduct. He replied that it too would come from God’s grace. 3 There is no one higher in excellence than the Holy Prophet sa , therefore, if he regarded God’s mercy as the cause of his salvation, then it is inconceivable that anyone else could depend on their deeds for their redemption. Nevertheless, good conduct is necessary to draw God’s grace, and it is this principle which is forwarded by Islam. One may compare this with Christian theology and decide for themselves which of the two presents the more cogent argument. Christianity claims salvation is unattainable because human beings are sinful and cannot fully adhere to the law of God. They consider even minor infringements as acts of wrongdoing and, therefore, think it impossible for anyone to follow the law in its entirety. Since no one can succeed in this, it is essential for people to be reprimanded for their sins. Just as governments punish those who break the law, anyone who defies the commandments of God must also be punished. According to this principle, salvation is unattainable by following the law. However, Christians are mistaken [in their commitment to this form of reasoning]. The idea that it is necessary to adhere to the fullness of the 3 Muslim , p. 1226, 2000 Riyadh, hadith no. 7116. [Publishers]