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What is required to enter Islam?

Shaykh Abdur-Razzaaq Al-Abbaad said:
Entering islam is not achieved by merely acknowledging Allah’s lordship; that he is The Creator, The Sustainer, The bestower of blessings and The Disposer of all affairs, but rather it’s a must along with this to come with the obligations of this recognition, which is none other than that He, the Most High is singled out with worship and that obedience is made specifically for him alone and that he is not given any partners along with him and that the religion (all religious duties) is performed purely for him.
Explanation of the 4 principles p.31

A reflection upon the worship that many of the people do

Shaykh Abdur-Razzaaq Al-badr said:
If the intention for other than Allah and giving a share to other Allah along with him enters into worship what will it become? Will it be the worship that Allah created the creation for? He (Allah) has said: {And I did not create the jin and mankind except to worship me} [Adh-Dhaariyaat v.56]. This worship which Allah created the creation for, is it those actions which many of the people practise? They ask Allah and they ask the stones, they worship Allah and they worship the domes, the stones, the trees and other than these. Is this the reason they were created for? Is this the meaning of his saying: {And I did not create the jin and mankind except to worship me} ? Never and certainly not. This is not worship but rather it is shirk (ascribing partners and equals to Allah), because of this worship does not become (true) worship except with Tawheed.
Explanation of the 4 principles p.20

The importance of Tawheed regarding our worship

Shaykh Abdur-Razzaaq said:
And this is a major principle which every single muslim should know and for this reason i mentioned to you that ibnu Abbas said: “Every command for worship (in the Qur’aan and Sunnah) is a command for Tawheed”, because worship does not become (true) worship except with Tawheed.
Explanation of the 4 principles p.20

How to protect yourself from the punishment of the grave and Hell fire

Shaykh ibnu Uthaymeen said:

A muslim shields himself from them by performing righteous actions which brings him closer to Allah. A righteous action comprises of two conditions:

1st: Ikhlaas (sincerity) for Allah, by way that he does not intend his actions of worship except for Allah and the Hereafter. He should not intend showing off to other people in order to earn praise or something from the Dunya.

2nd: That he does not introduce a new affair (innovation) from himself in Allah’s religion, for indeed Allah does not accept an action except if it’s done sincerely for him and is in agreement with his legislation.

Allah says in a Hadith Qudsee: “I am free from having a partner (equal) whosoever performs an action and ascribes a partner with me in it, i will abandon him and his shirk” [Muslim: #2985]

And the Prophet (sallaaAllahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever performs an action that is not from our affair (religion), then it is rejected” [Al-Bukharee # 2550 & Muslim #1718]

And from the means to protection from the punishment of the grave is that he protects himself from urine and cleans it completely. As the Hadith of ibnu Abbaas mentions that the Prophet (sallaaAllahu alayhi wa sallam) passed by two graves and He said: “Indeed they are being punished, and they are not being punished for something that was difficult, as for one of them he never used to protect himself from his urine and as for the other he used to walk around tale-carrying” [Al-Bukharee #215 & Muslim #292]

And from the means also is for a person to constantly seek refuge in Allah from the punishment of the grave, for this reason the Prophet (sallaaAllahu alayhi wa sallam) commanded us to seek refuge from four things in the last tashahud of the salaah: “O Allah truly i seek refuge in you from the punishment of the grave, from the punishment of the Hell fire, from the trials of life and death and from the evil trial of the dajjaal” [Al-Bukharee #798 & Muslim #587]
Fataawaa Noor Alaa Ad-Darb (12/12-13)

The way to achieve Ikhlaas and protect from losing reward during deeds

Shaykh ibnu Uthaymeen said:
The way that saves a person from this is to seek refuge in Allah from the shaytaan the cursed and to seek his aid in carrying out his obedience. Also a person should not pay attention to the whisperings which the shaytaan throws at his heart, for indeed the shaytaan does this to ruin and corrupt his worship and intention, therefore he should discard them and don’t pay attention to them. 

Perhaps a person may find difficulty in rectifying their intention but if he continues and is patient, then the final destination is for those who have Taqwa. Some of the Salaf use to say: “I have not strived with myself with anything more than Ikhlaas (sincerity)”. But he succeeded. 

So if a person continues with the action he is performing, seeks refuge in Allah from the shaytaan, seeks Allah’s aid in his obedience and is patient and forbearing, then indeed Allah will give him safety and success.
Fataawaa Noor Alaa Ad-Darb (12/11)

The Situation of the One who Meets Allah, Without Ascribing Partners to Him

The Prophet (sallaaAllahu alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Whoever meets Allah without ascribing partners to him will enter paradise, and whoever meets Allah ascribing partners to him will enter the Hell Fire”

Source/Book: Saheeh Muslim #93

Note: Ascribing partners to him also means worshiping others besides him.

What Are Allah’s Rights over His Slaves?

The Prophet (sallaaAllahu alayhi as sallam) said:

Allah’s right over his slaves is that they worship him alone and not to ascribe any partners to him”

Collected by: Al-Bukhaari #2856 & Muslim #30

Note: Do not give any of Allah’s rights to anyone or anything besides him, doing so will go against the purpose of our creation and lead a person to the worst and biggest sin.