CL. Edwards Responds: Certainty in Jannah
Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem
بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ,
Mr. Edwards decided that he wouldn’t respond to the entire post, so he’d just post a comment because as in his own words, my exposition was “too long”. Not a problem, let’s see what estranged concept he brings to the table this time:
His question is rather absurd, but to humour him, the answer is quite simple. Only God can for a certainty determine where I will go. I do not know the future and I don’t speak on behalf of God. However, the Qur’aan tells us what we need to believe in and what we need to practise upon to gain Jannah and as Muslims we strive towards that, knowing that God’s mercy is greater than His anger. It’s absurd to say, “yes”, because I am not God, I do not know the future and I do know what God’s judgement upon me will be, as I, like all other humans, are a sinner.
The Qur’aan does not make it difficult though, so what does a Muslim need to act upon and believe to gain heaven?
This is the Book; in it is guidance sure, without doubt, to those who fear Allah;
Believe in the Qur’aan, use it as a form of guidance, so that we develop taqwa (God consciousness).
Who believe in the Unseen, are steadfast in prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them;
Believe in what Allaah has ordained for us and what He has told us, but which we have yet to know or experience. Perform praise and worship of God and live life within the means He has provided for us in a righteous way.
And who believe in the Revelation sent to thee, and sent before thy time, and (in their hearts) have the assurance of the Hereafter.
Belief in the Qur’aan, Injil, Tawrah Zabur, Suhuf al Ibrahim. As for assurance of the hereafter:
(And in the Hereafter they are certain) that is the resurrection, the standing (on the Day of Resurrection), Paradise, the Fire, the reckoning and the the Scale that weighs the deeds (the Mizan). The Hereafter is so named because it comes after this earthly life. – Tafsir ibn Kathir : Suratul Baqarah (2) : 4.
Lastly:
They are on (true) guidance, from their Lord, and it is these who will prosper.
Meaning:
(They are) refers to those who believe in the Unseen, establish the prayer, spend from what Allah has granted them, believe in what Allah has revealed to the Messenger and the Messengers before him, believe in the Hereafter with certainty, and prepare the necessary requirements for the Hereafter by performing good deeds and avoiding the prohibitions.
(And they are the successful) meaning, in this world and the Hereafter. They shall have what they seek and be saved from the evil that they tried to avoid. Therefore, they will have rewards, eternal life in Paradise, and safety from the torment that Allah has prepared for His enemies. – Tafsir ibn Kathir : Suratul Baqarah (2) : 4.
Therefore the Qur’aan is extremely clear, it essentially spells it out for all Muslims, that sincere belief and God sanctioned actions would secure one a place in heaven. Of course Mr. Edwards doesn’t believe in this doctrine. He believes that no matter what he does, he gets to go to heaven, which brings up the question, does God reward sin? Funny enough, his friend and long time partner in crime (of deceit), Antonio Santana did admit to us that God rewards sinning in Christianity:
It’s absolutely nonsensical for one to say he knows where he is going in the afterlife merely based on some inconsistent and incoherent belief of “salvation in Christianity”, which has been thoroughly refuted here. They’re self claimants to their own misigivings, even the Jesus of the Bible lets it be known that merely believing in him will not benefit you in the least:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. – Bible : Matthew (7) :21.
So who are these people who won’t go to heaven then?
The sense of this verse seems to be this: No person, by merely acknowledging my authority, believing in the Divinity of my nature, professing faith in the perfection of my righteousness, and infinite merit of my atonement, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, shall have any part with God in glory. – Adam Clarke’s Exegesis : Matthew (7) : 21.
In fact, the Bible wages sin and deceit for the one who speaks on God’s behalf, specifically when it comes to God’s will (judgment, doings etc):
Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf? Will you speak deceitfully for him?- Bible : Job (13) : 7.
The meaning of this verse is made much clearer by a scholarly Christian’s commentary:
“In order to support your own cause, in contradiction to the evidence which the whole of my life bears to the uprighteousness of my heart, will ye continue to assert that God could not thus afflict me, unless fragrant iniquity were found in my ways; for it is on this ground alone that ye pretend to vindicate the providence of God. Thus ye tell lies for God’s sake, and this ye wickedly contend for your maker.” – Adam Clarke’s Exegesis : Job (13) : 7.
See, Job in this verse or rather, this chapter, is condemning the people to whom he was sent to preach. It is because they began to play God and judge who is righteous and sinful among themselves. Decided who God afflicted and whom God did not afflict with punishment. They claimed because Job was afflicted, that he was a sinful man (yet it was not the case, he was purer than them all), whereas they perverted the truth (much like Mr. Edwards) and cast righteous judgement on themselves:
“Will you speak wickedly for God?
As he suggests they did, they spoke for God, and pleaded for the honour of his justice, by asserting he did not afflict good men, which they thought was contrary to his justice; but: then, at the same time they spoke wickedly of Job, that he being afflicted of God was a bad man, and an hypocrite; and this was speaking wickedly for God, to vindicate his justice at the expense of his character, which there was no need to do, and showed that they were poor advocates for God…”- The New John Gill Exposition of the Entire Bible : Job (13) : 7.
Well, atleast through Biblical means, his own scripture and by extension his own God, has deemed him a wicked and hypocritical man. Casting judgement on himself (for righteousness) whereas condemning others, when he does now know what God knows is in their hearts. I suppose he needs to be rewarded with Grace for his sin. God rewarding sin, what a joke.
wa Allaahu Alam.
[and God knows best.]
As Salaam Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu,
MashaAllah, great response akhi.
This line of arguing from Christians is strange. They seem to willingly misunderstand and misinterpret Islam to show that they have some certainty in the hereafter that we do not.
The fact is we have a promise and a covenant from Allah, a clear blueprint. We just have to fulfil our end of the deal. We don’t boast about our hereafter like they do simply because we do not know what our end will be. However, we can know if we are on the right track today.
Allah says in His Quran (15:3):
Leave them to eat and enjoy, and let them be preoccupied with (false) hope. They will come to know!
You said ” Only God can for a certainty determine where I will go.” so that’s basically what I said so you agree with me? I am not understand what about my premise you disagree with?
Also this was not a answer to my question do you Ijaz have assurance of salvation..why is that such a hard question to answer direct?
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Here you go:
https://callingchristians.com/2011/12/21/cl-edwards-caught-lying-cant-make-up-his-mind/
Peace be upon those who follow righteous guidance,
Mr. Edwards you have been replied to directly a number of times by more than one person. Be a man of uprightness. Your stubbornness, reflects very badly indeed.
We are assured paradise, providing we keep our end of the deal. A hollow word of belief is not enough. Neither are good works without firm belief and repentance.
Perhaps I can break it down enough for you to understand.
1. Muslims are given clear and easy instructions to attain salvation.
2. Saying I believe is not enough. Doing a bunch of good deeds is not enough.
3. Monotheism, repentance, firm belief and good deeds are required.
4. Anyone who fulfils their obligations in these matters are promised paradise.
5. What we do not know is if we will end our lives upon this creed. Just as you do not know how you will end your life.
6. A bad end breaks the deal. A good end’s reward is paradise.
If you cannot understand this rather simple concept, I’m afraid you need a new hobby.
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