As followers of Jesus, we should always be sharing our faith with those around us. There are now around 2 billion Muslims in the world. Having some knowledge of the Qur’an can help open doors to understand them better. We will always rely on the Bible as our authority (2 Timothy 3:16), praying that it will speak to many (Romans 10:17) and draw them to Himself.
Ayahs from The English Reference Qur’an Translation about salvation:
Say to the disbelievers, “You will be defeated and gathered into hell – a dreadful home. (3:12) You had a sign: two groups met, one group fighting in Allah’s path, and the other disbelievers who saw them with their own eyes twice as many as they were.” Allah supports with his salvation whomever he wills. That is a lesson for those who have eyes to see. (3:13) People were deceived by the love of things they covet: women, children, vast hoards of gold and silver, branded horses, cattle, and tilled land. These are matters of this world. Allah has the best place to return. (3:14) Say, “Shall I tell you of better things than that? The reverent will have heavenly gardens with their Lord, with flowing rivers underneath. They will live there forever, with purified kinds and Allah’s pleasure.” Allah sees his servants (3:15) who say, “Our Lord, we have believed, so forgive us our sins and protect us from the torment of hellfire.” (3:16) They are enduring, honest, humble, generous, and ask forgiveness before dawn. (3:17)
Allah has made it all good news, so that your hearts will be at rest. Salvation is only from Allah. Allah is mighty and wise. (8:10)
Allah calls [people] to the house of peace and guides whom he wills to a straight path. (10:25) Those who do good deeds will have a good reward and more. No blackness or humiliation will be on their faces. They will go to heaven and be there forever. (10:26) Those who do bad deeds will be repaid with bad deeds like them. Their faces will be humiliated. They have no defender from Allah. It is as if their faces were covered with pieces of darkness from the night. They will go to hellfire and be there forever. (10:27)
The works of those who disbelieve in the signs of their Lord and in meeting him will be in vain. We will not give them any weight on the day of resurrection. (18:105) Hell is their reward because of their disbelief and their mocking my signs and my messengers. (18:106) Believers who do righteous deeds will have heavenly gardens of paradise as their abode. (18:107) They will be in it forever, never desiring a change from it.” (18:108)
Perform prayers, pay the poor-tax, and obey the messenger so that you may be shown mercy. (24:56)
He sent his messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to explain all religion, even though the disbelievers hate it. (61:9) Believers, shall I show you a way that will rescue you from painful torment? (61:10) You believe in Allah and his messenger and struggle in Allah’s path with your money and your souls. That is better for you if you only knew. (61:11) He will certainly forgive your sins and cause you to enter heavenly gardens with flowing rivers underneath and fine dwellings in the heavenly gardens of Eden. That is the great victory, (61:12) and there another that you will love. This is Allah’s salvation and a victory that is near. So give good news to the believers. (61:13) Believers, be Allah’s helpers, as Isa son of Mariam asked the disciples, “Who are my helpers for Allah?” The disciples said, “We are Allah’s helpers.” Some of the people of Israel believed and others disbelieved. We aided the believers against their enemy, and they were victorious. (61:14)
In the name of Allah, the most gracious and merciful. When Allah’s salvation and victory come, (110:1) and you see people entering into Allah’s religion by droves, (110:2) then extol your Lord’s praises and ask his forgiveness. He accepts repentance. (110:3)
Ayahs from Qur’an chapter 30 with comentary from Tafsir Ibn Kathir:
Disbelievers follow their desires unknowingly. Who can guide those Allah has led astray? They have no savior. (30:29) Set your face toward religion as a monotheist, which is the instinct Allah gave people.There is no substituting Allah’s creation. That is straight religion, but most people do not know it (30:30) as they turn toward him. Fear him, perform prayers, and do not became idolaters, (30:31)
This was also recorded by Muslim.
that is the straight religion, means, adherence to the Shariah and the sound Fitrah is the true, straight religion.
but most men know not.
means, most people do not know this and they deviate far astray from it, as Allah says:
And most of mankind will not believe even if you desire it eagerly. (12:103)
And if you obey most of those on the earth, they will mislead you far away from Allah’s path. (6:116)
turning in repentance to Him,
Ibn Zayd and Ibn Jurayj said, “This means, returning to Him.”
and have Taqwa of Him;
means, fear Him and remember that He is always watching.
and perform the Salah,
which is the greatest act of worship.
and be not of the idolators.
Be of those who single out Allah, devoting their worship sincerely for Him alone, not anyone or anything other than Him.
Ibn Jarir recorded that Yazid bin Abi Maryam said:
“Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, passed by Mu`adh bin Jabal and asked, `What is the foundation of this Ummah?’
Mu`adh said, `Three things, and they are the things that will bring salvation:
•Al-Ikhlas (doing a deed for Allah alone), which is the Fitrah with which Allah created mankind;
•Salah, which is the thing that tells a believer apart from a disbeliever;
•and obedience, which is protection.’
More from Sahih Muslim:
Introduction to BOOK 02: THE BOOK OF PURIFICATION (KITAB AL- TAHARAH)
Unless the soul is purged of all impurities one cannot achieve salvation. This is known as Tahdrah in Islam, and it is the foundation stone of Imin. This high objective of the purifi cation of the soul requires intentional and deliberate efforts and a good deal of sacrifice on the part of man, and the most elementary stage in this sacred path is the cleanliness of body.
Introduction to BOOK 06: THE BOOK OF FASTING (KITAB AL-SAWM)
Fasting has been ordained as a religious duty for the Muslims for subduing their lust and keeping their appetites well within reasonable bounds so that man may not become their slave and lose control over himself. The Qur’an clearly states that a man cannot attain salvation unless he learns to restrain his self from low desires.” And as for him who fears to stand before his Lord and restrains himself from low desires, Paradise is surely the abode” (lxxix. 40-41).
Book 037, Number 6662:
Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: There was a person before you who had killed ninety-nine persons and then made an inquiry about the learned persons of the world (who could show him the way to salvation). He was directed to a monk. He came to him and told him that he had killed ninety-nine persons and asked him whether there was any scope for his repentance to be accepted. He said: No. He killed him also and thus completed one hundred. He then asked about the learned persons of the earth and he was directed to a scholar, and he told him that he had killed one hundred persons and asked him whether there was any scope for his repentance to be accepted. He said: Yes; what stands between you and the repentance? You better go to such and such land; there are people devoted to prayer and worship and you also worship along with them and do not come to the land of yours since it was an evil land (for you). So he went away and he had hardly covered half the distance when death came to him and there was a dispute between the angels of mercy and the angels of punishment. The angels of mercy said: This man has come as a penitant and remorseful to Allah and the angels of punishment said: He has done no good at all. Then there came another angel in the form of a human being in order to decide between them. He said: You measure the land to which he has drawn near. They measured it and found him nearer to the land where he intended to go (the land of piety), and so the angels of mercy took possession of it. Qatada said that Hasan told him that it was said to them that as death approached him, he crawled upon his chest (and managed) to slip in the land of mercy.
Book 039, Number 6762:
Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: There is none amongst you whose deeds alone would attain salvation for him. They (the Companions) said: Allah’s Messenger, not even you? He (the Holy Prophet) said: Not even I, but that Allah wraps me in Mercy and He grants me pardon. Ibn ‘Aun pointed towards his head with his hand saying: Not even I, but that Allah wraps me in His Forgiveness and Mercy.