The significance of the Five Pillars of Islam for eternity According to the Koran, all Muslims will first go to hell after their death (Sura 19:71-72; see also 32:13; 7:179). Whether and after what time unrepentant Muslims are admitted to paradise after a kind of purgatorial hell (Hadith Al-Bukhari 9:542) depends on their good and evil deeds. The good deeds are placed in a scale (Sura 23:102-103; see also 21:47). Good deeds include Muslims believing in Allah and his prophet, observing the five pillars (confession, ritual prayer, charity, fasting, pilgrimage) and honouring Muhammad above all else (Al-Bukhari 1:13). According to this, those who collect enough good deeds will enter paradise (Sura 98:7-8; see also 14:23; 5:9; 42:26). Yes, good deeds can even cancel out bad ones: "Good deeds cancel out evil ones" (11:114; see also 25:70). But the expectation of paradise must remain UNCERTAIN, as no Muslim has insight into his "paradise account" and can therefore never know whether his deeds are sufficient. Furthermore, a hadith states, in contradiction to the above Qur'anic verse, that good deeds will not gain entrance to paradise for anyone (Al-Bukhari 8:474). Even Muhammad did not know at a certain time whether he himself or his successors would enter paradise: "I do not know what will happen to me, nor do I know what will happen to you" (Sura 46:9; see also Al-Bukhari 5:266 and 4:16). Muhammad's most important successors and later caliphs, Abu Bakr and Omar, are also said to have been unsure whether they would enter paradise, although Muhammad promised paradise to ten of his successors, including them, at another time (Muslim 0220). For Muslims, the certainty of being accepted by God is also linked to the forgiveness of their sins. Although Allah is said to be "merciful and full of forgiveness" (34:2) and forgives all sins (39:53), a strong uncertainty remains. For God may or may not forgive (Sura 28:67). God does what he wants (2:284) By the way, hell will be full of women (Sahih Muslim Book 36, Hadith Number 6596). Could you tell me why a person should follow the five pillars if they do not give any guarantee to get out of hell? Muslims cannot speak of the certainty of salvation because this would call into question God's free will and His free decision (2:20; 16:93). For a Muslim, it will only be decided on the Day of Judgment whether he is saved or not. In contrast to Muslims, Christians have a consistently clear promise from God that they will not come into judgment (John 5:24; 1 John 5:12). Salvation to eternal life is absolutely certain in union with Jesus Christ, and Christians can and should already be able to rejoice in the certainty of their salvation (Luke 10:20; 1 John 5:13f).
The significance of the Five Pillars of Islam for eternity
According to the Koran, all Muslims will first go to hell after their death (Sura 19:71-72; see also 32:13; 7:179). Whether and after what time unrepentant Muslims are admitted to paradise after a kind of purgatorial hell (Hadith Al-Bukhari 9:542) depends on their good and evil deeds. The good deeds are placed in a scale (Sura 23:102-103; see also 21:47). Good deeds include Muslims believing in Allah and his prophet, observing the five pillars (confession, ritual prayer, charity, fasting, pilgrimage) and honouring Muhammad above all else (Al-Bukhari 1:13). According to this, those who collect enough good deeds will enter paradise (Sura 98:7-8; see also 14:23; 5:9; 42:26). Yes, good deeds can even cancel out bad ones: "Good deeds cancel out evil ones" (11:114; see also 25:70). But the expectation of paradise must remain UNCERTAIN, as no Muslim has insight into his "paradise account" and can therefore never know whether his deeds are sufficient.
Furthermore, a hadith states, in contradiction to the above Qur'anic verse, that good deeds will not gain entrance to paradise for anyone (Al-Bukhari 8:474).
Even Muhammad did not know at a certain time whether he himself or his successors would enter paradise: "I do not know what will happen to me, nor do I know what will happen to you" (Sura 46:9; see also Al-Bukhari 5:266 and 4:16). Muhammad's most important successors and later caliphs, Abu Bakr and Omar, are also said to have been unsure whether they would enter paradise, although Muhammad promised paradise to ten of his successors, including them, at another time (Muslim 0220).
For Muslims, the certainty of being accepted by God is also linked to the forgiveness of their sins. Although Allah is said to be "merciful and full of forgiveness" (34:2) and forgives all sins (39:53), a strong uncertainty remains. For God may or may not forgive (Sura 28:67). God does what he wants (2:284)
By the way, hell will be full of women (Sahih Muslim Book 36, Hadith Number 6596). Could you tell me why a person should follow the five pillars if they do not give any guarantee to get out of hell?
Muslims cannot speak of the certainty of salvation because this would call into question God's free will and His free decision (2:20; 16:93). For a Muslim, it will only be decided on the Day of Judgment whether he is saved or not. In contrast to Muslims, Christians have a consistently clear promise from God that they will not come into judgment (John 5:24; 1 John 5:12). Salvation to eternal life is absolutely certain in union with Jesus Christ, and Christians can and should already be able to rejoice in the certainty of their salvation (Luke 10:20; 1 John 5:13f).