Salam Grace Seeker
Would it be fair to say that you have a conditional belief iin salvation where, if you do XYZ in accordance with Allah's instructions, then you will go to heaven? Or is it, even then, still uncertain?
It is certain that if we do XYZ, we will go to heaven. It is uncertain that whether we do XYZ or not? Like as the Quran says
103.001 وَالْعَصْرِ
103.001 By (the Token of) Time (through the ages),
103.002 إِنَّ الإنْسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ
103.002 Verily Man is in loss,
103.003 إِلا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ
103.003 Except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy.
Al-Qur'an, 103.001-003 (Al-Asr [The Declining Day, Eventide, The Epoch])
Text Copied from DivineIslam's Qur'an Viewer software v2.910
Now it gives 4 conditions for salvation i.e faith, righteous deeds, calling people to truth and urging people to be steadfast and patience. How can I say that every deed I have committed is righteous? How can I say that I have called enough people to the truth. Practically, we cannot be perfect. But God helps us there too and He forgives our sins whenever we repent as I quoted in my previous post
039.053 Say: "O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
So, in Islam, is there no way -- through proper mix of belief, intentions, actions, thoughts, will, attitude, submission and whatever else I may have left out -- to have certainty with regard to salvation?
We will go to heaven according to God if we have faith and do righteous deeds, but like I said, we are uncertain not of the promise of God but of ourselves because practically we cannot do everything righteous. Still God forgives us whenever we ask.
My understanding of "certainty" is that those who are in Christ can be as certain of our salvation as we are certain that God keeps his promises. If, in faith, one has died with Christ as expressed in baptism, then one will also be raised with Christ through being joined with him, both in this life and in the next. Of course, if we doubt God's promises, then nothing is certain.
The problem with that certainty is that it cannot stop you from sinning. If I am so certain about my seat in heaven, what can stop me from stealing? Why should I earn through honest means and live simple instead of stealing and living happy?
I would expect the same is true for a follower of Islam. How can one be certain of anything (even one's own connection with Allah) if one doubts Allah's promises or his word?
Like I said, we don't doubt Allah's word, we doubt ourselves.
So, how is it that Muslims don't express more certainty about their salvation? (Serious question.)
Muslims don't usually say that: I am going to hell or something like that. We say that InshAllah I am going to heaven. Like I said before, if a guy is certain that he will go to heaven, he will have no incentive to avoid sins.
Peace