Can keeping the Five Pillars of Islam get me to heaven?

Answer

Because God is just, He will punish sin—regardless of how well you adhere to the Five Pillars of Islam.

As a Muslim, you aspire to enter paradise after death. However, as a sinner, how can you evade God’s judgment? You might ponder, “Perhaps my dedication to upholding the Five Pillars will offset my transgressions. Hopefully, God will grant me entry into paradise.”

You endeavor to observe the Five Pillars of Islam. You bow towards Mecca five times daily. The creed (shahada) frequently crosses your lips. You abstain from food and drink during daylight hours in Ramadan. You are accumulating funds for the pilgrimage to Mecca and generously giving alms to the needy.

Yet, you still wonder, “Are the Five Pillars sufficient?”

Your conscience accuses you of falling short of God’s standard of holiness. How could the perfectly holy God admit someone tainted even by a minor sin into paradise?

A single sin led to the downfall of the first man. Adam’s transgression was not a “major sin” like adultery, murder, or blasphemy. By consuming the forbidden fruit, Adam introduced the curse of sin and death into the world.

Can we escape? We who have disrespected our parents, deceived our neighbors, or defrauded our clients (Exodus 20)? We habitually sin by prioritizing selfish desires over loving God (Matthew 22:36-40). We often overlook or rationalize our sins. However, God does not overlook or excuse any sin. He will evaluate every thought, word, and action (Ecclesiastes 12:14;Matthew 12:36;Revelation 20:12-15).

God is a just Judge. Even in this world, a judge must penalize wrongdoers. A judge cannot pardon a thief simply because the offender claims to attend the mosque every Friday and fast during Ramadan. If sin remains unpunished, the law would be disregarded,and God would be dishonored.

God is the just Judge and will not let sin go unpunished, regardless of how well you keep God’s laws or how many good deeds you do. Keeping the Five Pillars of Islam cannot lead you to heaven. You are a sinner according to God’s Word (Romans 3:23;1 John 1:8).

The punishment for our sin is death—eternal death in hell. Our rightful home is hell. We need God’s mercy. But how can God be both merciful and just?

The Bible explains how God’s mercy aligns with His justice: “For by works of the law no human being will be justified in [God’s] sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe” (Romans 3:20-22a).

Keeping the law cannot bring us to heaven. Instead, the law exposes our sin. God’s justice demands eternal death in hell for sin, but His mercy offers eternal life in heaven through faith in Jesus. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” «For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.», (Romans 6:23).

As the eternal Son of God, Jesus is one with God the Father. God sent His Son to earth to become man, but Jesus never ceased being God. Born by the power of the Holy Spirit to the virgin Mary, Jesus didn’t inherit Adam’s sin nature. Jesus is referred to as the second Adam «For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. », (1 Corinthians 15:22). While Adam’s single disobedience brought theCurse of sin on the world, Jesus’ perfect life brings the hope of paradise to those who trust in Him.

Jesus took the punishment for sin—death—by dying on the cross on behalf of believing sinners. Then, Jesus rose from the dead, showing He conquered sin and death.

Don’t try to take care of sin on your own. Even by keeping the Five Pillars of Islam, you will still fall short of God’s perfection. Turn from sin in repentance and turn to Jesus in faith (Luke 24:46-47; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:21-31; Galatians 3:6-14). God forgives believing sinners and gives them eternal life in heaven.

God may be working in your heart, showing you your sin and the need for Jesus. Receive God’s gift of eternal life! Trust Jesus as your crucified Savior and follow Him as your resurrected Lord!