Muhammad Makes no Promise of Salvation

In the Islamic faith, Muhammad dictates that his followers follow many rules in order to try and gain favor with Allah.  Rules such as when to pray, how to pray, how to bathe, how to eat, what to eat, and many lists of what is forbidden, and what is not.  Islam has many rules, more than I really care to count, but here's the question?  Are you assured salvation if you follow them?  According the Muhammad, the answer is no.  


According to Surah 46:8-9-"Or do they say, 'He has forged it'? Say: 'If I have forged it, you have no power to help me against Allah. He knows very well what you are pressing upon; He suffices as a witness between me and you; He is the All-forgiving, the All-compassionate.' Say: 'I am not an innovation among the Messengers, and I know not what shall be done with me or with you. I only follow what is revealed to me; I am only a clear warner."

This Qur'anic verse is showing us that Muhammad doesn't even know what will happen to him, let alone anyone else.  He cannot promise anyone salvation if they follow his teachings.  This is reinforced in the Hadith of Sahih Bukari, Volume 5, Book 58, Number 266:

Narrated 'Um al-'Ala:
An Ansari woman who gave the pledge of allegiance to the Prophet that the Ansar drew lots concerning the dwelling of the Emigrants. 'Uthman bin Maz'un was decided to dwell with them (i.e. Um al-'Ala's family), 'Uthman fell ill and I nursed him till he died, and we covered him with his clothes. Then the Prophet came to us and I (addressing the dead body) said, "O Abu As-Sa'ib, may Allah's Mercy be on you! I bear witness that Allah has honored you." On that the Prophet said, "How do you know that Allah has honored him?" I replied, "I do not know. May my father and my mother be sacrificed for you, O Allah's Apostle! But who else is worthy of it (if not 'Uthman)?" He said, "As to him, by Allah, death has overtaken him, and I hope the best for him. By Allah, though I am the Apostle of Allah, yet I do not know what Allah will do to me," By Allah, I will never assert the piety of anyone after him. That made me sad, and when I slept I saw in a dream a flowing stream for 'Uthman bin Maz'un. I went to Allah's Apostle and told him of it. He remarked, "That symbolizes his (good) deeds." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 5, Book 58, Number 266)

Qur'anic verses further illustrate that Allah never assured Muhammad, nor anyone else, that he would forgive them of their sins.  Surah 110:1-3-"When comes the Help of Allah (to you, O Muhammad against your enemies) and the conquest (of Makkah), And you see that the people enter Allah's religion (Islam) in crowds, So glorify the Praises of your Lord, and ask for His Forgiveness. Verily, He is the One Who accepts the repentance and forgives."

Surah 48:1-2-"Lo! We have given thee (O Muhammad) a signal victory, That Allah MAY forgive thee of thy sin that which is past and that which is to come, and MAY perfect His favour unto thee, and MAY guide thee on a right path"

Now we can go into this in more detail, but the truth is inescapable.  Muhammad cannot make any promise of salvation if you follow him.  If you obey all the rules of Islam, there is still no absolute certainty that you will obtain salvation.  Muhammad himself prayed for forgiveness, he did not know if he was going to Heaven or Hell.  This essentially means that it is pointless to follow the path of Islam, as the man who laid out the path, cannot be certain of where it will lead.  The simple truth is this.  A blind man cannot lead the way, just as Jesus warns us in Luke 6:39.

Sources:

The Holy Bible

The Holy Qur’an

Sahih Bukhari

Shamoun, Sam.  “Was Muhammad Sure of his own Salvation?”  Answering Islam.  Accessed from https://www.answering-islam.org/authors/shamoun/muhammad_salvation.html.

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