I have been asked to join this thread and help maybe answer some of the questions about Islam. I hope I am actually useful in that area.
This issue of salvation seems to have created a bit of confusion though.
So, I give Islam the benefit of the doubt and assume that it is my understanding that is still lacking.
Either that, or perhaps you were told about it from new or undereducated muslims who were confused about it themselves, because it is actually pretty straight forward subject.
The meaning of salvation itself needs to be "differentiated" between what it is in Islam and what it is in christianity or other religions and churches.
In Islam there is no "original sin". We are born on cleanliness and instinct and are held accountable only after puberty. Our existence in this World have come after Adam was created and where he resided in paradise until "the apple" incident let's just call it, but that was forgiven from both Adam and Eve.
We are here on this Earth to worship God. The act of recognizing that God is our creator, our lord, and our benefactor alone with no other, IS our "salvation".
As the prophet said:
"Whomever said "There is no god except Allah" truly believing it, will enter paradise"
Or in another much clarifying hadith narrated by Moath bin Jabal:
"Whomever declared that no god but the One God and that Mohammad is his messenger, prayed his prayer and fasted Ramadan, became his right to be forgiven and have salvation, whether he made Hijra or sat where he was born (means doing nothing)." so Moath asked: "shouldn't I announce it to the people?" the prophet said: "Let the people do deeds, for paradise has a hundred levels, between each level and the next is greater than the sky and the ground....." (Tabarani)
So basically people's good deeds are what gets them their level and rewards in paradise, and allows them to be spared ANY cleansing punishment for their bad actions, but it's worship and belief in God that gives them salvation.
But Islam also admits to the reality of sin. And that God is holy. If God is holy, then the standard (for admission to God's presence) would not be that good outweighs evil, but that our lives are full of good and not evil. Even a bit of leaven, leavens the whole loaf. So, based on our works it would seem that there is no hope of salvation.
Sorry, no comment from me because I do not follow what you're saying.
Yet, rather than teaching people to fully rely on God and in response to God's grace to do good works as offerings of thanksgiving, Islam continues to teach to do good works as a way to earn salvation by causing the scales to tip your direction.
I don't see the sense in making philosphical deductions of what "should" be the way to God as analyzed by outside view when something can be understood from direct reading. You've been on the forum for a while and I think you may remember when some non-muslims were "complaining" about how come disbelievers who do not believe in God will still spend eternity in Hell even if they do good deeds and have lead righteous lives. So it is obvious that many people already know that as muslims, our belief in God is first and foremost our salvation.
However, it isn't really belief if we say yes we believe and then we neglect the worship actions that we were told we have to do, deeds confirm the belief. Just like in a test it's no good to claim you know the answers and then do not bother solving anything. So there are fundamental deeds that we need to perform to actually BE believers relying on God for our salvation. Those are the corners of Islam: 5 prayers, fasting of Ramadan, annual zakat, and one pilgrimage. The 5 prayers have no excuse not to perform, the rest are only for those capable either health-wise or financially or both. On top of those, muslims perform as many good deeds as they can and stay away from as many sins as they can because they fear judgement day and God's punishment, even if temporary. That's where the scales come in.
The scales on Judgement Day are for believers only. It is the scale that decides whether they will need to go through any cleansing punishment for their actions or go straight for paradise. All hadiths are clearly denoting that good deeds outweigh bad ones, and that God forgives the sins we repent from, yet a single moment in hell will be worse than our entire lives in this World and there will be people who have loads of that.
If the scales tip in the believer's favour, they go through to paradise. If the scales don't, they will have to be punished in Hellfire until they atone for their unforgiven sins (never regretted or repented from). Even for those who make it through and the scale tips in their favour, there will be a difference between the great pious believers who did everything they could to lead the best of lives, and those who barely got through. Judgement Day's horrors and length alone is foretold to make our full lives in the World with all the hardship we endured seem like a passing breeze and like a single night followed by morning in comparison. There will be those in shadows well dressed and rested and already informed of their place in paradise, and those who will be left in limbo until the time of reckoning, and those standing underneath a burning sun that will be feet away from their heads, their blood will boil. Some believers will sleep through most of the actions, and some will witness many of the horrors. Part of the torture of Judgement Day itself is its immense length: "
Beware a day which will be 50,000 years long". Some people will be left so long without reckoning in the burning sun that they will plead to be taken anywhere even if it is Hell. Then there is still crossing the pathway, and in the end there will be the level in paradise at which people will spend their eternity, they will attain it by their actions and will be widely varied.
The scales will also balance out people's pain towards each other and their level of life. Those who hurt others even by mentioning them badly behind their back will have some of their good deeds taken away from their scales and given to those who were wronged. Those who had a hard life will be given favour and rewards above those who had an easy one:
"When the people who lived in ease in their lifetimes see the favour and rewards on Judgement Day given to those who endured patient on their hardships, they will wish that they in turn have spent their entire lives having their skin being eaten by iron clippers"
However no amount of good deeds will be enough if there was no belief in God, just like no amount of problem solving will help you if you don't write your name on the answer sheets, and that is what is meant by belief in God, salvation by him.
Disbelievers who did not believe in God will endure all the punishments of Judgement Day and without scales will simply be lead to Hell, and all their good deeds will be as dissipating dust: "
[FONT=Verdana,arial]And We shall turn to whatever deeds they did (in this life), and We shall make such deeds as floating dust scattered about. [/FONT]" [25:23]
Hope this explains to you the concept of salvation and why still deeds are counted and important.
Supreme said:
1) Is there any evidence bar Islamic sources that the Kaaba as we know it today was built by Abraham? Or any third party sources that confirm the Black Stone in the Kaaba was in the original Kaaba?
2) Is there a great respect in Islam for teachers (of any subject)?
3) How is Islam's attitude to modern technology or science? Are there any major Islamic factions opposed to these things?
1) bar Islamic sources? You're on your own then.
2) Teachers of Islamic sciences have the highest of respect and considered "Inheritors of prophets" if they have sufficient knowledge, and earn a status and rewards for their knowledge. Teachers of worldly knowledge that are useful to people are equally respected. Teachers of useless matters are condemned for wasting their and people's time.
3) Islam has used scientific references and referred to scientific discoveries in showing the truth of its message, it has no qualms against science or using beneficial modern technology. No there are no opposing factions, not even within deviated sects.
