For Muslims, following the straight path laid down by the prophets and exemplified by the last Prophet, Muhammad, whose message has been preserved since its revelation, is the means of safety and salvation.

According to Muslim belief, a person who consciously rejects the prophets and their message is rejecting God, and thereby earns His wrath. Those who have not consciously rejected any prophet will be judged according to their belief in God and their good deeds. Ultimately, the Creator is the sole judge, and Muslims believe that no human being can judge another in spiritual terms. A hadith states: "A person may appear to be working the deeds of the people of Paradise, while he is among the people of the Fire. And a person may appear to be working the deeds of the people of the Fire, while he is among the people of Paradise."

For Muslims, belief in accountability to God and responsibility for one's own deeds gives one a sense of purpose, and every moment and event in life has religious purport. Thus, awareness of God's presence serves as a deterrent against crime, corruption, immorality and injustice as well as a means of acknowledging the role of God in one's life.