Will keeping the Five Pillars of Islam get me to heaven/Paradise?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

According to the Bible, all people have sinned and fall short of God's glory (Romans 3:23). Because of this, no amount of good works or religious observance can earn salvation. Instead, God offers salvation as a free gift through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8–9). This goes directly against the Islamic teaching that keeping the Five Pillars of Islam (declaration of faith, prayer, giving alms, fasting during Ramadan, and pilgrimage to Mecca) is necessary for salvation.

Scripture consistently emphasizes that salvation comes through faith in God's provision, not through human effort or religious rituals. Jesus clearly taught that He was the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one could come to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). The Bible also teaches that true faith in Christ will result in a transformed life, characterized by good works (James 2:14–26; Ephesians 2:10). However, these works are the result of salvation, not the cause of it. They are the fruit of a genuine relationship with God, not a means to earn His favor. Alongside this, Scripture provides assurance of salvation for those who put their trust in Christ (1 John 5:13; Romans 8:1), compared to religious systems that leave followers uncertain about their eternal destiny.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Isaiah 64:6: "We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment." This verse shows the inadequacy of human efforts to achieve righteousness before God.
• Jeremiah 31:31–34: God promises a new covenant where He will forgive sins and write His law on people's hearts, pointing to a relationship based on grace, rather than works.
• Psalm 51:16–17: "For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." This psalm reveals that God values a repentant heart over religious rituals.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." This emphasizes faith in Jesus as the way to eternal life.
• Ephesians 2:8–9: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Paul clearly states that salvation is by grace through faith, not by works.
• Romans 10:9–10: "Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." This passage outlines the simple path to salvation through faith in Jesus.
• Galatians 2:16: "Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified." Paul reiterates that justification comes through faith in Christ, not by observing religious laws.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Our standing before God is based on His grace and our faith in Jesus, not on our religious performance or good works. This truth frees us from the burden of trying to earn God's favor through our own efforts. Instead of striving to keep a set of religious rules or practices perfectly, we are called to trust in Jesus's finished work on the cross. This doesn't mean that good works and spiritual disciplines are unimportant—they are the natural outflow of a life transformed by God's grace. However, they are not the basis of our salvation.

For those seeking assurance of their eternal destiny, this biblical perspective offers hope and certainty. We can have confidence in our salvation, not because of our own righteousness, but because of God's faithfulness to His promises and the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice. This assurance allows us to live with joy, gratitude, and a desire to honor God, rather than fear and uncertainty about our eternal fate.

UNDERSTAND

• Islamic teaching says that part of salvation is keeping the Five Pillars of Islam (declaration of faith, prayer, giving alms, fasting during Ramadan, and pilgrimage to Mecca). The Bible teaches that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not through religious practices.
• Scripture shows that no amount of good works or rituals can achieve righteousness before God.
• Jesus is the only way to salvation.

REFLECT

• How do you personally find assurance and security in your faith, knowing that salvation is through Jesus and not based on your own efforts or works?
• How can your understanding of salvation through faith in Christ influence your actions and relationships with others who have different beliefs?
• How do you reconcile your own spiritual practices with the biblical teaching that salvation is a gift, not earned by religious rituals or good works?

ENGAGE

• How does the concept of grace in Christianity compare to the idea of Allah’s mercy in Islam regarding salvation?
• A good connection point with a Muslim who believes they have to follow the Five Pillars of Islam to be saved is to encourage them in their zeal to do good and follow God. Muslims are very dedicated and religious, yet we know this is not what Jesus says is the way of salvation. You can explain the concept of grace and salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, emphasizing that salvation is a gift, rather than something earned by works. As the relationship or conversation continues, you can use Scripture and a personal testimony to illustrate how Jesus fulfills the promises and prophecies of the Bible.
• The Qur'an emphasizes righteous deeds, sincere faith, and submission to Allah’s will as essential for attaining Paradise. In Islam, the security and certainty of salvation are not guaranteed. Muslims are encouraged to follow the Five Pillars and live righteously, but ultimate judgment and entry into Paradise depend on Allah’s mercy and justice. What is the importance of knowing our salvation is secure and how can we share what the Bible teaches about assurance of salvation to Muslims?
• INCLUDE ARTICLE LINK: https://www.compellingtruth.org/five-pillars-Islam.html