Islam is is The Road to Jannah (Paradise)
His Grace (The General Mufti): Dr. Noah Ali Salman (May Allah Have mercy on his soul)
All perfect praise be to Allah; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
Some people view Islam from a philosophical perspective, so they tend to analyze its positions, justify its rulings, and review its different aspects. These people can come up with weird Hadiths (Prophetic narrations) in order to be under the spotlight, and that is their limit. What they do isn`t hard work since it boils down to meditating these rulings, reviewing their justifications, and expressing that through bombastic words.
Other people pay no attention to justification and researching, rather, they are interested in acquainting themselves with these rulings to apply them in their life and abide by them.
The difference between the two groups is evident since there is a great difference between one who goes to perform prayer once he hears the call for it {Azan} and one who hears it but gets a piece of paper in order to write a complete analysis about the meaning of the Azan and the beauty of its words, then promises his audience to write about the virtues of prayer in their next encounter, without getting moved by that Azan and simply performing prayer. Such a person may not realize the wisdom behind some issues; therefore, he starts having doubts and steering religion the way he likes, and this is the first step in violating the rules of the religion and twisting it. As a result, people despise him and turn him into an outcast because Allah has granted them the ability to distinguish the truth from the falsehood, for He, The Most Exalted Says in this regard (What means): " We have, without doubt, sent down the Message; and We will assuredly guard it (from corruption)." [Al-Hijr/9].
Undoubtedly, Allah The Almighty told His Apostle that this type of people will emerge in his nation, so he warned us against them when he (PBUH) said: "None of you [truly] believes until his desires are subservient to that which I have brought." [Muslim]. Allah, The Exalted, Said about those who want to steer that which the Prophet has brought according to their desires (What means): "But many do mislead (men) by their appetites unchecked by knowledge. Thy Lord knoweth best those who transgress." [Al-An`Am/119].
Moreover, there is no doubt that the mind can capture the wisdom behind a portion of the rulings of Islam; while it can`t realize the secret behind the legislation of some, and people differ in terms of their attitudes towards them. This doesn`t mean that Islam includes rulings unbearable by humans, and only suit the angels who were created to obey Allah. On the contrary, Islam is a down to earth religion, which takes the conditions of human beings and their nature into consideration; therefore, it legislated exemptions in worship at times of travel, sickness and the like. Islam has covered every aspect of life and it suffices to realize that these rulings were implemented by Allah`s Apostle and his companions, and they are humans, not angels.
Adherence to the rules of Islam to the letter leads to attaining eternity in the Hereafter, and not any eternity since it can be in Hell or Heaven. Allah`s Apostle said in this regard: "It is to dwell eternally in Heaven or in Hell." Allah, The Exalted, also Said (what means): "Nay, those who seek gain in evil, and are girt round by their sins, - they are companions of the Fire: Therein shall they abide (For ever). But those who have faith and work righteousness, they are companions of the Garden: Therein shall they abide (For ever)." [Al-Baqarah/81-82]. Eternity is unquestionable, but there is a great difference between the above types for once we believe that Islam is the religion ordained to us from Allah, that Allah commanded us to implement it, that we will be called to account for every transgression on our part, that we will be rewarded for every act of worship, then we will ascertain that dwelling in Heaven eternally is for the obedient and the righteous, and that the sinners and transgressors will be in a situation which makes children hoary-headed. Allah, The Exalted, Says (What means): "The Religion before God is Islam (submission to His Will)." [Al Imran/19]. He, The Almighty also Says (What means): "If anyone desires a religion other than Islam (submission to God), never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter He will be in the ranks of those who have lost (All spiritual good)." [Al Imran/85]. Once we realize this, we will believe that Islam is our pathway to dwell in Heaven eternally. And Allah Knows Best.
