Belief in One God: The Key to Salvation

For one to attain salvation (that is, for him to be saved from the torment of Hell-fire), he has to firmly believe that there is no God but the One and Only True God (Allah).

Prophet Muhammad (peace is upon him) says:
"The key to paradise is testimony to the fact that there is no God but Allah". (Reported by Mu'adh b. Jabal, based on hadith compilation by Muslim).
"He who died knowing (and acknowledging it) that there is no God but Allah, He is in fact entitled to get into paradise". (Reported by Uthman , and also compiled by Muslim).

By the same token, any person who deviates from the belief in Allah (the One and Only True God) will have Hell-Fire as his ultimate abode, as evidenced in following saying of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) :
"Two thing yield inevitable result. A person said: Allah's Messenger, what these two thing are? He said: He who died associating anything with Allah would definitely enter into Hell-Fire and who died without associating anything with Allah he in fact entitled himself to go into Paradise" (This hadith [Prophetic saying] was reported by Jabir , and compiled by Muslim).

The foregoing Hadith conforms to Allah's saying that He for gives sins other than that of associating other Gods with Him, as the following Qur'anic verse manifests:

"God forgives not (the sin of) joining other gods with Him; but He forgives whom He pleased other sins that this: one, who joins other god with God, hath strayed far, far away (from the right)." ( Qur'an, Nisaa, 4:116)

For anyone to strengthen his faith and attain salvation, he should, therefore, contemplate the foregoing verse. He should always bear in mind that, being the Wisest of Judges, "God is never unjust in the least degree.." (Qur'an, Nisaa, 4:40). Furthermore, the following verses, reflecting Allah's justice, should inspire every man to seek salvation through complete faith in Him, instead of irrationally seeking salvation through blood atonement.

"whoever works righteousness, man or women, and has faith, verily, to him will We give a new life, a life that is good and pure, and We will bestow on such their reward according to the best of their actions". (Qur'an, Nahl, 16:97).

"He that works evil will not be requited but by the like there of: and he that works a righteous deed - whether man or woman - and is a believer – such awill enter the Garden (of Bliss): therein will they have abundance without measure". (Qur'an, Mu-min, 40-40).

"That man can have nothing but what he strives for". (Qur'an, Najm, 53:39).

"Than shall anyone who has done an atom's weight of good, see it! And anyone who has done an atom's weight of evil, shall see it". (Qur'an, Zilzal, 99:7-8)

Thus, complete faith in Allah (the One and Only True God) is essential for one's own salvation. Faith becomes meaningful only when it is translated into practice. So, fortunate is he whose belief and deeds are always meant for pleasing Allah alone.