Islam: Religion of faith and works

Quite often Muslims aren't sure how to defend their religion when Christian missionaries bring up faith and works. They often pose the question: "We know we're going to heaven, because Jesus (pbuh) died for our salvation, do you know if you've done enough works to go to heaven?"

Well, this question is quite misleading. Islam is primarily about faith, then works. Consider the following verses from the Qur'an:

2:82 "And those who believed and did good deeds they are the inhabitants of Paradise, abiding therein eternally."

5:9 "God has promised those who believed and did good deeds that for them is a tremendous reward."

7:42 "And those who believed and did good deeds We tax no soul beyond its capacity. They are the inhabitants of the Garden. abiding therein eternally."

10:9 "Truly! Those who believed and did good deeds God shall guide them through their faith, under them do rivers flow in gardens of paradise."

19:96 "Upon those who believed and did good deeds shall God bestow Love"

29:7 "Those who believed and did good deeds We shall blot out their transgressions and shall reward them according to the best of that which they used to do."

42:26 "God answers those who believed and did good deeds and increases them from his bounty. And those who disbelieved, for them is a painful torment."

Notice, in each of these verses, and every other time works is mentioned in the Qur'an, faith is listed before it. Also, the following Hadith show the importance of faith:

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) once said that which means: "Know that none of you shall enter Paradise through his deds." The Companions remarked: Not even you O Messenger of Allah?. He replied, "Not even me. Except if God were to shroud me in His mercy."

-Muslim

"It is sufficient in knowledge indeed for one to fear God, and it is sufficient in ignorance indeed for one to be proud of his deeds."

-Al_Darimi

"A man came to the Prophet (pbuh) and asked, 'When will the day of judgment come?' The Prophet (pbuh) replied, 'What have you prepared for the judgment day that you are so concerned for it?' He replied, 'I do not have any good deeds in my account, but I do have one thing: I love Allah and His Messenger (pbuh).' The Prophet (pbuh) then said, 'In that case, do not worry; you will be with those whom you love.'"

When one converts to Islam, they do so by by realizing and pledging that there is no god but God, and that Muhammad is his messenger. They don't do it by doing a certain work. Also, there are many non-Muslims that do good works, but they lack belief. Their good works are useless in the hereafter because of their disbelief. The actions themselves don't matter, it is the faith or intention behind it. One of Prophet Muhammad's (pbuh) most popular sayings is that "All actions are based on intentions. Islam is a religion of Faith before anything else.