but is not Islam based on works and NOT faith alone?
Hello,
Islam is based on faith
and works; and not on faith alone. And so is Christianity.
A Christian might say: ‘I have faith that Christ is my Redeemer. That by his sacrificial death and resurrection I am cleansed of the stain of original sin and made whole. I am saved.’
This (or something like it) is that person’s faith. Someone might say, ‘OK, great. But what are you going to do about it?’ And the Christian might reply: ‘Nothing. Faith alone is enough.’
If faith is all we need then we have no need of prayer (neither private nor public), since prayer is an act of faith (a ‘work’). If faith is all we need then why bother preaching the Word? Why bother teaching Christianity to our children? If faith is all we need why do we find this in the New Testament:
'When the Son of man comes in his glory, escorted by all the angels, then he will take his seat on his throne of glory. All nations will be assembled before him and he will separate people one from another as the shepherd separates sheep from goats. He will place the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left.
‘Then the King will say to those on his right hand: "Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take as your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you made me welcome, lacking clothes and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me."
‘Then the upright will say to him in reply: "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome, lacking clothes and clothe you? When did we find you sick or in prison and go to see you?" And the King will answer: "In truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me."
‘Then he will say to those on his left hand: "Go away from me, with your curse upon you, to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you never gave me food, I was thirsty and you never gave me anything to drink, I was a stranger and you never made me welcome, lacking clothes and you never clothed me, sick and in prison and you never visited me." Then it will be their turn to ask: "Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, a stranger or lacking clothes, sick or in prison, and did not come to your help?" Then he will answer: "In truth I tell you, in so far as you neglected to do this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me." And they will go away to eternal punishment, and the upright to eternal life.' (Matthew 25: 31-46).
Those who say that faith alone is enough would do well to remember these words: 'It is not anyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord," who will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven.’ (Matthew 7: 21).
How is it possible to carry out the will of the Beloved if not by righteous deeds?
Have a good day.