Hi Carol
One of the misconception about Islam is that people think that we are only asked to do good deeds. Well this is not very accurate.
In Islam, we are asked to have FAITH+GOOD DEEDS:
Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has Faith, verily, to him will We give a new Life, a life that is good and pure and We will bestow on such their reward according to the best of their actions. [The Noble Qur'an 16:97].
Lo! those who believe and do good works, the Beneficent will appoint for them love. [The Noble Qur'an 19:96].
Allah has promised, to those among you who believe and work righteous deeds, that He will, of a surety, grant them in the land, inheritance (of power), as He granted it to those before them; that He will establish in authority their religion - the one which He has chosen for them; and that He will change (their state), after the fear in which they (lived), to one of security and peace: 'They will worship Me (alone) and not associate aught with Me. 'If any do reject Faith after this, they are rebellious and wicked. [The Noble Qur'an 24:55].
It is not your wealth nor your sons, that will bring you nearer to Us in degree: but only those who believe and work righteousness - these are the ones for whom there is a multiplied Reward for their deeds, while secure they (reside) in the dwellings on high! [The Noble Qur'an 34:37].
For those who believe and do good deeds, there is forgiveness and a great recompense [The Noble Qur'an 35:7]
Verily, those who believe and do good deeds are the best of created beings [The Noble Qur'an 98:7]
Where we can read this also:
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? [James 2:21-22].
Faith without good deeds isn't faith, and good deeds without faith isn't good deeds. Faith and good deeds must come together.
And another misconception about Islam is that Muslim doesn't know God or God is unknowable to Muslims!!!
I think we need to clarify one thing here:
Humans unable to see Infra-red or Ultra-Violet. Their hearing capability is also limited to sounds in the frequency range 20 to 20,000 hertz. And yet ironically, we ask "Why can't we see God? What is He made of?"
We just don't know God' ESSENCE. However we know God from His Glorious Signs and Attributes
How can we comprehend God's ESSENCE when we hardly know our own Antarctica continent???
"Nothing is like Him and He hears and sees all things.” [The Noble Qur'an 42:11].
Theologians say : "Whatever comes in your mind, it is not Allah."
Descartes says: "Humans are limited. The limited one cannot think about the limitless one."
The German writer Goethe described the entity Allah as, "O The Unknown Existence! They glorify You Your one thousand and one names. I wouldn't be able to glorify You even with Your thousands of names because You are above all exaltations!"
Einstein said: "The greatest feelings that might come from a human soul is the result of meditation and thinking in this Universe and its dimensions and darkness and mysteries. The one whose feeling or passion doesn't move or shake as a result of such thinking and meditation is a dead-alive. The mysteries of this Universe and its vast dimensions hide many things which among the Wisdom and Glory. Our limited minds can only aware this Glory and Wisdom in primitive ways. This awarness is the basic belief to humans. My religion is my admiration for this exalted spirit who has no limits and who can be seen in those little details and whom our uncapable minds can't aware, and my religion is the deepest faith in the presence of Wise Dominant Might which appears where ever we look in this incomprehensible Universe. This faith constitue the meaning of God for me"
God is unknowable in His ESSENCE. God is known by His Signs and Touches. God have gave us signs in order to see Him. He created this glorious universe and made it a mirror of His Presence:
Behold! in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day, there are indeed Signs for men of understanding [The Noble Qur'an 3:190].
I just want to give you a human example:
When you see a lamp, you'll know that the manufacturer has glass and has iron. You know that the manufacturer can tighten glass with iron. You know that the manufacturer made the lamp passes electricity...
Now did you see the manufacturer? Did you see the manufacturer doing all these actions? How did you know that the manufacturer has done all these?
Just when seeing his works you would be able to know the manufacturer.
God Almighty has left us signs and touches in any thing you may look at so we can know him.
As I said before, we have limited resources to see Almighty Glorious God.
And as for God incarnation as Christianity doctrine says, well I think I have given a reply in "Virgin birth" thread.
Peace and Blessings to you Carol
Alexei