FIRST REMINDER. Saturday. 4th day of Dhul Qa'adah. One of the basic arguments raised by non-Muslims, especially Christians, against Islam concerns the concept of salvation. They say that in Christianity, one is saved by faith, whereas in Islam one must earn their salvation through good deeds. How do we answer that? BismilLah Many Muslims due to lack of Islamic Knowledge fail to realize that the Islaamic concept of salvation is not based upon only good deeds, but is based primarily upon faith. In the dozens of times Allah Almighty talks in the Quran about salvation, Allah always states, "Those who believe and do good deeds." Belief is always mentioned before deeds or works. When one converts to Islaam, one does not do it by doing some good work but rather through realizing and believing that there is but one God and Muhammed peace be upon him is HIS last messenger. Such persons becomes a Muslim and all their past sins forgiving to the extend that if they are to die that day without even offering one rakaat salaat, they will enter paradise by the permission of Allah. Non-Muslims may perform good works as well, but what sets them apart from Muslims is their lack of IMA’AN (Aqeedah) [faith], or belief. The reason that the good works of the non-believers are worthless in the hereafter is because of their disbelief. Unless a person's imaan or aqeedah is not correct, all his good deeds are worthless. If the faith or ageedah is good then the good deeds and other acts like salaat will raise our ranks in jannat. We are not aiming for downtown jannat but rather VIP Jannat up there with the Messenger in shaa Allah. So say Alhamdulillah for been a practicing Muslim and lets study our deen to do daawah to them as Allah commanded. We ask Allah to keep guiding us and protect us from any satanic influences. Aameen.