TurnToIslam Original Sin

Absolute truth

لا إله إلا الله
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
This is a short introduction to the "original sin" concept in christian theology.


What is original sin?

Although Christianity emphasizes the inherited original/Adam's sin, this principle cannot be traced back to any prophet. No prophet preached it. All prophets emphasized the individual's responsibility for his own words and deeds, as God’s message is the same in its basics with all the prophets.

The doctrine of Original Sin basically boils down to this:

  • Everyone has "inherited" this sinful nature from Adam.
  • This sinful nature is going to make humans sin, or is a causative something back of the will.
  • God is going to condemn everyone to Hell for having this sinful nature.
Atonement and reconciliation

The word atonement is used in Christian theology to describe what is achieved by the alleged death of Jesus. The word was first used in 1526 to translate the Latin word reconciliatio.

In the Revised Standard Version the word reconciliation replaces the word atonement. Atonement (at-one-ment) is the reconciliation of men and women to God through the death of Jesus.

But why was reconciliation needed?

Christian theology suggests that Everybody carries this original sin of Adam with them which separates them from God, just as Adam and Eve were separated from God when they were cast out of the Garden of Eden.

The Atonement is that Jesus paid the penalty for the original and other sins of men by his death on the cross of Calvary, and that salvation cannot be obtained without belief in the saving power of his blood.


"There is no single doctrine of the atonement in the New Testament. In fact, perhaps more surprisingly, there is no official Church definition either."

(http://www.bbc.co.uk...esusdie_1.shtml)

Jesus taught that salvation lies in good deeds and faith, but the church states that salvation and success was achieved through crucifixion. The teachings of he who they believe to be the son of God, are not in line with what present day churches preach, the illogicality and inconsistency of their faith is obvious.

Original sin is an Augustine Christian doctrine that says that everyone is born sinful. The root of Christianity is the original sin upon which the crucifixion is justified and used for the benefit of Christians. Like trinity, Jesus never said I would be crucified for Adam's sin nor did he said that children are born sinful. None of these are found in the entire Bible.

The concept of Original Sin was explained in depth by St Augustine and formalised as part of Roman Catholic doctrine by the Councils of Trent in the 16th Century.

Getting rid of original sin

The way a person can 'cleanse' their soul from sin is

  • to accept that Christ's death on the cross atoned for this sin
  • to be baptised.
Many Christians who profess to believe in the doctrine of original sin do not know what it teaches. Even more Christians are ignorant of its history and origin.
 

Absolute truth

لا إله إلا الله
Practical Ills of Original Sin

By: Osama Abdullah



Everybody is practically a sinner in the concept of original sin but if the concept is analyzed, it says that everybody is innocent as the sin is not their own.

This concept is nowhere in the Bible. The only places where such a thing is mentioned, it speaks of worldly punishment and nothing else.

Other than the reason that it is not mentioned in the Bible and is an innovation, there are practical reasons why it should be banned.

  1. It blames God which is blasphemy
  2. It degrades Prophet Adam
  3. It degrades women
  4. It takes away the blame from the culprit and makes him a victim
  5. It encourages other man-made concepts – One lie leads to the other
  6. It encourages immorality
  7. It promotes a culture of blasphemy and complacency

It blames God which is blasphemy

As per the concept, the main one responsible for the whole of original sin is God. This is a blasphemy towards God. It attempts to degrade God by attributing Him a status of being cruel or being helpless, as He has no power to remove it. Christians believe that sacrifice and blood is required to remove this curse. This belief states that God cannot take away what He had done wrong. No wonder Christians are leaving their religion. This belief also explains the growth of Satanism as they consider Satan to be a competitor to God both having limited powers.

It degrades Prophet Adam

Prophet Adam (peace be upon him) is a man loved and respected by Muslims. He is the first man on earth and the father of all human beings. Attributing to him our sins is disrespect for our father. This concept makes him the worst man on earth and Jesus to be his complete opposite. This is also blasphemy as it insults the father of mankind and indirectly is disrespect of God.

It degrades women

Original sin gives all the blame of the incident of the apple to the mother of mankind. It degrades not only her but also all women as it blames womankind for such desires.
Original sin also degrades women in other ways such as calling motherhood a curse. In Islam, motherhood is a blessing from Allah but as per the original sin, it is a curse upon women.

It takes away the blame from the culprit and makes him a victim

Christians have a saying that is to hate the sin, love the sinner. This is against humanity. A rapist, killer, holocaust believer and performer etc are all taken as innocent people who have inherited the tendency to sin. Instead of hating them, they are loved. Another blasphemy towards God and the laws of God. The law of God says that such people should be killed. In the USA, the punishment for rape is 7 years in prison which is gross injustice to the rape victim. When Islam declares death to the rapist, the anti-God ones find it very cruel and barbaric.

It encourages other man-made concepts – One lie leads to the other

Since this concept is not to be found in the Bible, it’s followers make up lies to keep it alive and to stay away from exposing themselves. The concept is an innovation of Paul spread around by Churches. This false concept has led to other false concepts such as describing the mission of Jesus. Jesus himself says that he has come for Israel only but Paul says that his mission is to take away the sins of mankind caused by Adam. No such thing has been described in the Old Testament but one lie leads to another. This makes the Bible to be a book full of lies.

It encourages immorality


When a Christian reads that Prophets have raped, performed incest and what not, they feel that such a thing is morally not too bad. Further, these self-made acts of Prophets are defended by Christian priests and preachers who have to make up lies to defend their religion. The sin is hated and the sinner loved. Holocaust is hated but Hitler loved?

It promotes a culture of blasphemy and complacency

In the western world, we see pictures, idols, statues, movies and cartoons of religious personalities shown in a negative manner. In many pictures and movies, Adam and Eve are degraded by being shown naked, Jesus is degraded and this makes them consider their blasphemies to be freedom and art and culture. The westerners expect others to adhere to their blasphemies and when they make silly portraits of the last Prophet, they expect others to accept it as freedom.

Man-made concepts of forgiveness of sins have been invented. They make the person complacent as they can sin everyday of their life and come to Church once a week and get themselves all clean, the meter goes back to zero. Many priests have been caught taking money for such things. A totally pathetic culture is encouraged by original sin.

The devil has done careful planning!
 

Absolute truth

لا إله إلا الله
Biblical view

The Bible teaches that children cannot be sinners and guilty and condemned at birth, for they do not yet know the difference between good and evil, and have not yet come to the "age of accountability":

"Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it." Deuteronomy 1:39

"It is the soul that sins, and no other, that shall die; a son shall not share a father's guilt, nor a father his son's. The righteous man shall reap the fruit of his own righteousness, and the wicked man the fruit of his own wickedness." (Ezekiel, chapter 18, verse 20.)



It is a physical impossibility to be born a sinner because of the nature of sin. Sin is not a substance. It has no physical properties and cannot possibly be passed on physically from one person to another.


It is probably shocking for the Christian who has been taught this doctrine as Bible truth to be told that not one word of it can be found in the Bible. Christians believe this doctrine to be Bible doctrine because theologians, preachers, and Sunday school teachers teach them as if they were Bible doctrines quoted directly from the Bible, and give them a semblance of credence with Bible texts quoted out of context (as shown here & here ). To take any of them as evidence, you are committing a logical fallacy !

Where can you find written in the Bible that "The whole human race existed in Adam at the time of his transgression"? Or that "Adam's will was the will of the species"? Or that "In Adam's free act the will of the race revolted against God and the nature of the race corrupted itself"? Or that "All men existed as one moral person in Adam, so that in Adam's sin we sinned, we corrupted ourselves, and brought guilt and merited condemnation upon ourselves"? Or where can it be found written in the Bible that "Adam was the federal head and moral representative of the race, and God made a covenant with Adam, agreeing to bestow upon all his descendants eternal life for his obedience and making the penalty for his disobedience to be the condemnation of all his descendants"? Or where in the Bible can it be found written that "All men are guilty and condemnable for the depraved nature with which they are born"? Nowhere! These theories are not in the Bible. You can search the Bible through from cover to cover and you will never find a word of these theories on its pages.
 

Absolute truth

لا إله إلا الله
Islamic view

In contrast to the Christian teaching that human nature is basically evil [owing to the Original Sin], Islam teaches that it is essentially good. There are many elements to Human nature and each one has the potential to bring benefits. So there is no "Original Sin" in Islam. It is that when Man contradicts God’s commandments or His will, he commits sins.

Adam committed such a sin, which led to his expulsion from the Garden of Eden. But Adam repented and prayed to God for forgiveness, which God granted him, as mentioned in the following in Surah 2, verse 37:


2_37.png

Sahih International


Then Adam received from his Lord [some] words, and He accepted his repentance. Indeed, it is He who is the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful.


This means that unlike Christianity, which teaches that all the children of Adam are sinful for Adam’s sin, Islam teaches that all humans are innocent by birth and they become sinful only when they consciously commit a sin. Islam regards the concept of “original sin” and the need for atonement by God Himself - via dying on the Cross - as a pure invention of those who came after Jesus Christ, declaring themselves as Christians.

Another important point to bear in mind about the Islamic concept of sin is that one man’s sin cannot be transferred to another; nor can the reward due to a person be transferred either. The volitional implication of Fitrah is that man is responsible for his own wrong actions. Islam teaches that the justice of God is all-pervading and that there is no question of His punishing one person (like Jesus) for the sin of another (Adam) . Every individual is responsible only for his or her actions, for God is never unjust. This is made clear in the following in Surah 17, verse 15:


17_15.png

Sahih International


Whoever is guided is only guided for [the benefit of] his soul. And whoever errs only errs against it. And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. And never would We punish until We sent a messenger.


Every individual is an independent person who is responsible for his or her actions alone. There is no need for salvation from sin, for there is no original burden. One's success in the Hereafter lies in his living a righteous life in this world. Each has to build his/her own Heaven, avoiding the misery of Hell. Faith is important, but faith alone without deeds will be fruitless.

Indeed, God has has implanted His own religion (Fitrah) into every human birth. The true religion is innate, with which all humans are equipped. Behind the dazzling religious diversity of mankind stands an innate religion inseparable from human nature. This is the primordial religion, Ur-religion, the one and only true religion.



3_19.png

Sahih International


Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam. And those who were given the Scripture did not differ except after knowledge had come to them - out of jealous animosity between themselves. And whoever disbelieves in the verses of Allah , then indeed, Allah is swift in [taking] account.

. (Qur’an 3:19).

Everyone possesses it unless acculturation and indoctrination, misguidance, corruption or dissuasion have taught him otherwise. Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) said:


" Every newborn child is born on the innate nature (Fitrah ). Then his parents change him into Judaism, Christianity or Magianism."



Knowledge of Divine mercy as well as knowledge of the innate goodness of the human Fitrah, serves three very important functions:

Firstly it gives the believer hope of salvation and success;

Secondly, it gives him confidence in his own potential to do right and resist wrong;

Thirdly, it exhorts and admonishes him to actively pursue all that is right and resist all that is wrong.

These are the merits of sincere repentance. Just as the Prophet Adam, peace be upon him, repented and was pardoned for his wrong action, so may his descendents repent and be pardoned for their wrong actions.
 

Absolute truth

لا إله إلا الله
The Truth about the Concept of Original Sin
by Dr. Abdallah H. Al-Kahtany
Dedication
I dedicate this booklet to Allah. I am all hope that He will accept
I also dedicate this booklet to those who search for truth.
I feel indebted to the great Muslim scholar Ibn Taymiyyah for his marvelous work, by which I was inspired to study the concept of the Original Sin in Christianity.
I extend my thanks to Allah who enabled me to finish this work. I also thank my honored brothers; Dr. Abdallah Abu-Ishi and Dr. Abduraziq Sammander for their valuable suggestions and corrections.
If there is any good in this work, it is from Allah. If there is any wrong, it is from myself.

Abdallah Al-kahtany
P.O. Box 541, Khamis Mushait,
Saudi Arabia
Muharam 13th, 1415 June 22nd, 1994.

I. Introduction
Issues related to belief might seem to be sensitive to dread on. However, with the advances in communication and the breaking up of cultural barriers among people of various cultures, it becomes necessary that beliefs be investigated objectively and with an open mind. All concerned religious scholars and believers need to give a sympathetic ear to alternative positions or beliefs offered by people from distant cultures seeking answers to resolve or at least clarify various issues of universal nature. Especially, if such beliefs are exported to other nations side by side with all types of merchandise. As governments set quality standards on imports of all types, I think it is important to test such common values and beliefs as well. In particular, our relation with the Christian world has become so close that we both need to get acquainted with what each party has to contribute to the understanding of such pressing issues.
Since the concept of “The Original Sin” in Christianity forms the corner stone out of which a cluster of beliefs like the godship of Jesus, crucifixion and salvation have emerged. Therefore, it singles itself out as a good candidate to be studied.
The methodology that will be followed in this essay about “The Original Sin” involves two types of evidence. The first is to carry on the study based on all logical possibilities that would explain the truth value of “The Original Sin”. As a matter of fact, the writer heavily depended on arguments developed by Ibn Taymiyah - a thirteenth century prominent Muslim scholar. The second type of evidence used to study “The Original Sin” depended on drawing evidence from The Bible itself to reveal the truth of the concept in Christianity.
In doing so, it is ultimately left to the readers whom God has bestowed with intellect that distinguishes them from all other creatures to ponder, analyze, evaluate then decide for themselves.


II. Why is it important to study the concept of the Original Sin in Christianity?
Professor Jurgen Moltmann in his book The Crucified God said:
The death of Jesus on the cross is the center of all Christian theology ...all Christian statements about God, about creation, about sin and death have their focal point in the crucified Christ. All Christian statements about history, about the church, about future and about hope stem from the crucified Christ.
It is prevalent that without the concept of The Original Sin there would be
no need for crucifixion, salvation or atonement to take place. Garner led Armstrong, the Executive Vice-president and Co-Publisher of the Plain Truth (a Christian Magazine from America, which boasts a current, free world-wide circulation of 6 million copies a month), attempts to answer his own puzzle under the heading: "WAS THE RESURRECTION A HOAX?" ........
The resurrection of Jesus Christ of Nazareth is either the supreme fact of history or a flagrant, deliberate fabrication foisted off on the followers of Christianity.
Josh Mc Dowel (An American evangelist) said in his book The Resurrection Factor:
I was forced to the conclusion that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is either one of the most wicked, heartless, vicious, hoaxes ever foisted upon the minds of men, or it is the most fantastic fact of history.
With all the controversy presented above among some of the prominent American and other evangelists around the issue of crucifixion which was thought of to be necessary to atone for the Original sin, we realize the importance of investigating such a concept.

III. How can God be crucified to save humanity?
Christians have exceeded all limits to relate injustice to God the Almighty. They have indeed undermined God in ways that no other nation has ever done before. In fact, they are far away from praising God or glorifying Him. They claim that when Adam (PBUH) ate from the forbidden tree, God became angry and directed punishment onto him; that punishment continued on Adam’s offspring's until the coming of Jesus (PBUH). His crucifixion was to relieve the generations after him from their forefather’s sin. Christians also claim that all the sons of Adam (PBUH) were imprisoned by Satan, even the prophets of God such as, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, et al (PBUT).

On the other hand, let us see what the Qur'an says about these respected prophets: (6: 84-86)

“We gave him Isaac and Jacob: All (three) We guided: And before him, We guided Noah, And among his progeny, David, Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses, and Aaron: Thus do We reward Those who do good (84) And Zakariya and John, And Jesus and Elias: All in the ranks of the Righteous (85) And Ismail, and Elisha, and Jonas, and Lot: And to all We gave favour above the nations(86).”

We know that Abraham’s father was a nonbeliever and God did not punish Abraham (PBUH) for his father’s grave sin. Why would God hold him responsible for his forefather's (Adam’s) sin? This is, if we assume that Adam did not repent. However, God has declared that he has repented and was granted forgiveness by Him. This is what Allah the Almighty says about Adam (PBUH): (2:37)

“Then received Adam from his Lord certain words and his Lord repented him; for He Is The Oft-Repenting, The Bestower of Mercy”. (2:37)

The Christians have gone out of their way to claim that it was through crucifixion, which is one of the grave sins, that God has saved Adam (PBUH) and his offspring's from hell fire. They also claim that it was through crucifixion that God was able to trick Satan, not withstanding the fact that Satan disobeyed God and deserved punishment since the time he refused to prostrate to Adam (PBUH) and he misled him to commit the sin. In fact, God had the ability to punish Satan long before the coming of Jesus (PBUH). Thus, one cannot help but to question the assumption as to why the sons of Adam are to be held accountable for their forefather’s mistake.

As a matter of fact, the life of Jesus (PBUH) is much involved in mystery, and indeed the greater part of his private life, except the three main years of his ministry. It is not profitable to discuss the many doubts and conjectures among the early Christian sects and among Muslim scholars. The Orthodox Christian Church make it a cardinal point of their doctrine that his life was taken on the cross, that he died and and was buried, that on the third day he rose in body with his wounds intact, and walked about and conversed, and ate with his disciples, and was afterwards taken up bodily to heaven. This is necessary for the theological doctrine of blood sacrifice and vicarious atonement for sins including the innate Original Sin, which is rejected by Islam. However, some of the early Christian sects rejected the doctrine that Jesus was killed on the cross. Deedat in his book Crucifixion or Crucifiction (PP. 19-38) has provided numerous references to the falsity of this concept. He drew most of his evidence from the Bible and other writings by Christian authorities.

The issue of crucifixion, as presented in Christianity, only strengthens the claims of the Jews that they were behind the crucifixion of Jesus (PBUH), that was never true. Instead, let’s contemplate on what the Qur’an says about the issue of crucifixion:

“And due to their breaking their covenant, and their rejection of the Signs Of Allah, and their slaying the prophets injustly, and their saying ‘Our hearts are sealed’ No ! Rather Allah hath imprinted upon their hearts due to their denial therefore they believe but a little (155) And due to their denial, and their saying about Mary great blasphemy (156) And their saying ‘We killed the Messiah Jesus son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah’ but they killed him not, Nor did they crucify him. Only a likeness of that was shown to them. And those who differed about it are in doubt of it; they have no knowledge of it, only conjecture to follow, and with certainty they did not kill him. Rather Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is Ever-Powerful, Ever-Wise. And there is not one of the people of the book except that he will believe in him before his death, and on the day of Judgement he will be a witness against them.” (4:155-159)

In the Qur'anic verses above, there is a catalogue of iniquities of which the Jews were guilty, and for these iniquities we must understand some such words as: They are under divine displeasure”.

Their (the Jews) iniquities were: (1) they broke their Covenant; (2) they rejected Allah’s guidance as conveyed by His messengers; (3) they killed Allah’s messengers and incurred a double guilt which included murder and that of deliberate defiance of Allah’s law; and (4) they imagined themselves arrogantly self-sufficient, which means a blasphemous closing of their hearts forever against the admission of Allah’s grace. Then begins another series of iniquities from a different point of view: (1) that they rejected faith; (2) that they made false charges against a godly woman like Mary, who was chosen by Allah to be the mother of Jesus; (3) that they boasted of having killed Jesus when they were victims of their own self-hallucination; (4) that they hindered people from Allah’s way; and (5) that by means of usury and fraud they oppressed their fellow-men.

The false charge against Mary was that she was unchaste. Such a charge is bad enough to make against any women, how about Mary the mother of the prophet of Allah, Jesus (PBUH). They rejected his message from the beginning by ridiculing Allah’s power through his extraordinary birth (see The Qur’an 17: 27-28) . Chastity of women is highly respected because it is an essential aspect of their dignity and honor that nobody may doubt without strong evidence which is four eye witnesses that she has committed an unchaste act. If a person fails to do so, that person will be flogged with eighty lashes and debarred from being a competent witness. (See the verse that talks about this in The Qur’an 24:4)

Other sects of Christianity like the Basilidans rejected the issue of crucifixion of Jesus (PBUH) and believed that some one else was substituted for him. The Docetae (another sect of Christians) held that Christ never had a real physical or natural body, but only an apparent or phantom body. The gospel of St. Barnabas supported the theory that Christ was substituted on the cross.

Moreover, the Christians say that Christ (PBUH) was a man and a god at the same time. He purposely allowed the unbelievers to crucify him; so Jesus (god to them) would trick Satan. They claim that Jesus concealed his identity as god, so Satan would not know him. They say that he allowed his foes to take him, beat him up and spit on his face. According to them, he also allotted them to crucify him and put the thorns on his head; and showed the fear of death. Then, he started saying:

" Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachtani? which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46).

So, the Devil will not know that he is “God” or "the son of God”. Satan wants to take his soul to hell fire as he did to Noah, Abraham, Moses and other prophets (PBUT) and believers. Therefore, God will argue against Satan by saying, “ For what reason did you take my soul?” Satan would reply, “ Because of your sin”. Then god's human side would reply: “ I have no sins like other prophets. They had sins by which they deserve that their souls be thrown in hell fire.” They (the Christians) also say that this way God was able to establish a pretext (evidence) on Satan. Therefore, it became permissible for god to punish Satan and save the children of Adam from Hell-fire.

Such claims are full of falsity in relating injustice to God the Almighty. Who dares to speak about God in such away? This has indeed terribly rebuked the knowledge of God, His wisdom and justice in an unprecedented manner. God says:

“Say: ‘if the ocean were supply (Ink) for the words of my Lord the ocean would run out before the words of my Lord would run out, and even were we to bring the same supply as it with it’ ”. (Qur’an 18:109)

We will go through testing these claims in a logically organized manner from several angels.

If we accept that Jesus (PBUH) was saying "Eloi ... Eloi ... lima shabachtani ?” and he was not telling the truth but just doing so just to deceive Satan. He, then, is accused of lying. Thus Muslims believe that a prophet of God will never lie, since all the prophets of God are infallible. The only other alternative is that Jesus (PBUH) did not know that he was the “son of God” and this is absolutely out of the question. Therefore, we are left with the third, and most probable option which is that Jesus (PBUH) was a man.

IV. What is the real nature of Christ (PBUH)?

If Satan has taken the children of Adam for their father’s sin, then there is no difference between the human nature of Christ and other humans. There are many

places in the Bible where Jesus (PBUH) said that he was (or referred to himself as) the son of man among which:

a. " Come to see, a man who told me everything I ever did.. ( John 4:29)

b. " Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, A MAN approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, Which God did by him in the midst of you, as you yourselves also know.” (Acts 2:22)

In fact, Jesus (PBUH) was never quoted in the Bible as saying that he was the son of God. In addition to the fact that other prophets of God were referred to in the Bible as the son of God as in; (Psalms 2: 7) where David was referred to as the son of God;

" He said to me, “you are my Son; today I have become your Father”

Why is not David (PBUH) considered “a son of God” also in the same way as Jesus (PBUH) has been perceived?

V. What is the fate of Adam’s (PBUH) progeny?

If they say that the generations of people after Christ were like those who came before him; how can it be that Satan was allowed to take hold of the previous generations but not the latter ones when they are equally related to Adam (PBUH)? They have also committed greater sins than those of the prophets of God before them. How come Satan was given the chance to punish the preceding prophets to Jesus and relieving tyrants and unbelievers proceeding Jesus (PBUH) from punishment?

VI. Who gave Satan the Authority?

The claim that Satan was allowed to drive the children of Adam into hell could only have one of the following two entailments; either that what Satan did represents injustice committed on his part against the offspring of Adam, or that it is an act of justice.

  1. If such an action is justice, then Satan shouldn’t be blamed, and there would be no excuse for Christ to prevent him from carrying out justice. Furthermore Satan should be granted the opportunity to take hold of both those before, and those after Jesus (PBUH).
  2. If this action is injustice on the part of Satan, yet God did not prevent him from doing it before the coming of Christ then we are faced with one of two conclusions; either God was incapable – I declare His remoteness from such a claim – of preventing such an injustice; or He was able to stop it but He did not, then it was right not to prevent it. If it is right not to prevent it at one time then it is right not to prevent it at all times; likewise if it is wrong at one time then it is wrong at all times.
VII. Should Satan be punished?

If Satan had been excused to take people to hell before Christ came because of their father’s sin, then there is no need to persecute or even blame him. If Satan was not excused then there is no need to deceive him by holding him responsible for his crimes, because he deserved persecution.

If Jesus (PBUH) did not establish evidence on Satan before crucifixion and he did not crucify him, Satan could say that he did not know that this man represented the human side of God; and God had permitted him to take the children of Adam to hell. This (Jesus) was one of them. I had no knowledge that you had been incarnated with him. Had I known that, I would have glorified him. Therefore, I am excused in doing that, so do not practice injustice against me.

We could assume that Satan might say therein; “Oh my God! this is the only human that I have mistakenly taken his soul. However, I have the right to take the souls of people after him (Christ) as I had it before him, due to either their father’s sin or their own sins”. If what the Christians say is true, then God would need another pretext to hold Satan responsible for what he has done.

VIII. Was Satan given permission to deceive?

If we say that Adam (PBUH) has committed a sin and his children have also committed sins through Satan’s deception, then is it up to God or Satan to punish them for their sins? If we think that any reasonable person would say that Satan has the right to deceive the children of Adam, then will he be granted the authority to persecute them all without God’s permission?? Is not this claim borrowed from the Magians who say that every evil sin and persecution for it is carried out by the Satan? God has nothing to do with these things. He does not persecute anybody for the sins that he or she has committed. No doubt that such beliefs have found their way into Christianity from Magianism. Therefore, there is no evidence to support these claims, neither from the revealed books nor from any of the disciples. So, the Marinates sect of Christianity is basically a combination of Mazdasim and Christianity. Their leader “Mani” was a Magian-Christian. Indeed, the relationship between the two religions is very strong.

Has Satan persecuted the children of Adam and sent them to hell with or without the permission of God? If they believe that it was with the permission of God, then Satan does not deserve to be persecuted; if it was not with the permission of God, then is it fair to say that God would allow Satan to practice such injustice? If this were allowed by God to happen at one time, then it would be allowed at all times, and vice versa. There is no difference between the time before Jesus and the time after him.

IX. Could not God stop Satan?

Could God stop Satan and persecute him without this scheme (God’s incarnation in a human form, in the character of Jesus as claimed by Christians to deceive Satan and made him think that (Christ) was a man), and would it be right for God to do so? If the answer is yes, then God does not need to plot a scheme to deceive Satan and crucify Himself or “His son, Jesus”. Was it an obligation upon God to practice justice on Satan by stopping him from his mischievous acts? If it were not, then Satan would be permitted to operate his evil doings at all times since there is no difference between one time and another. If the Christians claimed that God was incapable of stopping Satan, then they would be accusing God of being weak (powerless) to restrain Satan. Such a perception of God is considered by all religions as the worst type of disbelief. Such a conclusion is similar to the atheists’ claim that light could not prevent the world from evil.

X. Did God allow crucifixion of Jesus?

How about what the disbelieving Jews have done to Christ (PBUH), by helping the Roman soldiers, as claimed, to crucify him (according to the Christian belief)? (See Matthew 26: 47-75) Were they obeying or disobeying God by doing so? If they were obeying God, then the Jews who crucified Christ (PBUH) deserve a reward from God for their obedience, just like any other obeying believers. In fact, nearly all Christians agree that the Jews were the greatest sinners among men and the worst creatures of God. Not only that, but they also curse them and would go on to the extent of permitting the shedding of their blood.

They have designated a time to persecute the Jews at the last days of their fasting to commemorate the days of crucifixion. Moreover, if those Jews were disobedient, could not God prevent them from crucifying Christ? If God could not, then He would not be able to prevent Satan from oppressing the coming generations. If God could prevent people from committing sins and He did not, then He was able to stop Satan with no need for such a scheme to deceive him.

On the other hand, if the act of crucifixion were approved by God, then it would be alright to give Satan the ability to oppress the children of Adam (PBUH) in the past and in the future. Therefore, there would have been no need for God to deceive Satan.

By now, we have come to realize that there is no doubt that any mature person will recognize the corruption that has come to Christianity. The purpose here is to explain some of the discrepancies that they have as excuses for themselves in order not to accept believing in Allah, in His book (The Qur’an), in His Prophet (Mohammed (PBUH)) and in His religion (Al-Islam). Allah is just and does not order people to believe in or do what they can not. God, praise be to Him, has never asked people for anything that is beyond their ability. It is unfortunate that Christians continue to attribute unspeakable injustice to God. No believer has ever done so before.

XI. How does Islam view man?

Every human being, Islam affirms, stands to benefit from these divine dispensations. The road to felicity is a free and open highway which anyone may tread of his own accord. Everybody is innately endowed with all these rights and privileges. God has granted them to all without discrimination. “Nature”, “the earth”, "the heavens” - all belong to each and every human.

Indeed, God has done all this and even more! He has implanted His own religion (Fitrah) into every human birth. The true religion is innate, with which all humans are equipped.

Behind the dazzling religious diversity of mankind stands an innate religion inseparable from human nature. This is the primordial religion, Ur-religion, the one and only true religion.

“The religion with Allah is Islam: Nor did the People of the Book differ except after the knowledge had come to them out of greed [and jealousy] between them; and whoever denies the signs of Allah, Allah is certainly swift in calling to account”. (Qur’an 3:19).

Everyone possesses it unless acculturation and indoctrination, misguidance, corruption or dissuasion have taught him otherwise. Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) said:" Every newborn child is born on the innate nature (Islam: complete surrender to Allah). Then his parents change him into Judaism, Christianity or Magianism.

Finally, Islam entertains no idea of "the fall of man”, no concept of “original sin”. It holds no man to stand in an innate, necessary predicament out of which he can not pull himself. Man, it holds, is innocent. He is born with his innocence. Indeed, he is born with a thousand given perfections, with faculties of understanding, and an innate sense with which to know the true God. In this all men are equal, since it follows from their very existence, from their creation. This is the basis for Islamic Universalism.

XII. Conclusion.

To summarize, this paper presents some of the possible logical arguments concerning the idea of the "Original Sin” as the most important belief in Christianity on which beliefs like crucifixion and salvation have been built. We conclude by summarizing all the logical possibilities in regard to Christian beliefs around the idea of “The Original Sin”;

  1. The first position assumes that God does what ever He wants with no wisdom, rationality or justice. Just like what the determinists say.
  2. The second position assumes that God performs justice which is required of people (using people's standards); as it is the claim of the fatalists.
  3. The third position assumes that God is All Just and He is free from committing all forms of injustice. However, His justice differs from that of His creation.
Based on the three assumptions mentioned above, we will examine the Christians’ belief regarding the idea of the "Original Sin", the Crucifixion of Christ (PBUH) and putting Satan in charge of taking his soul. Therefore, three arguments will be advanced to account for these claims.

  1. If we follow the first assumption, then God has the right to give Satan power over the children of Adam and persecute them all without any sin that they might have committed. So, there is no need to scheme a pretext for Satan.
  2. If we take the second assumption into consideration, we know if one realizes that one of his servants had commanded another person to commit a sin that the master dislikes, it would be just for him to persecute both the one who commanded and the one who obeyed. It would not be just to empower the unjust (the commanding one) to punish the commanded one. It is not just either to empower the unjust commander to transgress against the offspring of the commanded one who did not participate in their father’s sin. If we say that he has the right to enslave them because their father had obeyed him, then he should have the right to hold the ancestors and the offspring accountable. Therefore, it is not right to withdraw his right by deceiving him. If he has the right to hold them responsible for their father’s sins, then he is free to punish them both, the forefathers and the offsprings.

    If it is said that after Satan had taken the human side of Jesus (PBUH), he was then prevented from taking Adam’s progeny thereafter. If it were so, this sin of Satan would be the least of all his sins, because he had not know that he (Jesus (PBUH), according to the Christian belief, was representing the human side of God. If Satan had been given the permission to enslave the offspring of a man then enslaved one thinking that he was a man but was not then this mistake would not prevent him from enslaving the rest. Thus, if Satan mistakenly took Jesus (PBUH) as a son of man, this should not prevent him from taking the rest.

  3. The third assumption is that God’ Justice is not like that of His creatures’, but rather it is a characteristic of His justice in that He does not lessen the merits of anyone and does not punish anybody but for what he or she has committed. Therefore, it is not right for God to punish the children of Adam for their father’s sin. It is also not right for God to punish the prophets who have no sin, since all the prophets are infallible and innocent.
So, If they die with no sin for which they deserve to be punished, how can they be punished after they die for their father’s sin even if we assume that he (Adam) had died insisting on his sin, although this is a false assumption. And if we also make another false assumption that the prophets have sins for which they deserve to be punished after death and the empowerment of Satan is to punish them, then people who are not prophets and came after Christ deserve punishment also. How can we accept justice that poses an illogical double standard by allowing the punishment of prophets and not punishing those who are subordinate to them.

The idea of crucifixion as attributed to the theme of the “Original Sin” is not incompatible with only human intellect and understanding of justice, but also is contradictory to the teachings of the Bible itself. Ezekiel (18:20) reads:

“The soul who sins is the one who will die. the son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him.”

My dear reader! After trying to explain the falsity of the idea of “the Original Sin” by using both logical arguments and supportive evidence from the Bible (the Christian Holy Book); there is no doubt that such an idea was not preached by Jesus Christ (PBUH) since it contradicts with the teachings he brought as it is clearly illustrated in the quote from Ezekiel above. If so, then ...

Where did the idea of The Original Sin come from?
http://missionislam.com/comprel/orignal sin.htm
 

Absolute truth

لا إله إلا الله
Is there acknowledgment of sin in this religion? How is that and for what?

Original Sin or… Innocence? - Islamic Creed - counsels - OnIslam.net

The obvious answer to your question - especially its first part - is: Yes, there is acknowledgement of sin in Islam. But, this definitely demands an explanation.

First of all, it is necessary to understand what we mean by “sin”. This is important, because different religious communities have different perceptions about sin.
Sin is a concept used primarily in the Abrahamic religions [Judaism, Christianity, and Islam] describing a transgression against the will of God, which calls for repentance and at times penance.

Judaism regards the breaking of the commandments or the Jewish Law to be a sin. The Jews believe that all people sin at various points in their lives, and hold that the divine justice is tempered with divine mercy.

According to them, a state of sin does not condemn a person to damnation; only one or two truly grievous sins lead to anything like the Christian idea of hell. Their liturgy of “the Days of Awe” states that prayer, repentance and charity are the means of atonement for sin.

As for Protestant Christians use the term ‘sin’ primarily to refer to what they see as “humanity's inherently sinful nature”. This is while the Catholics mostly use the word for actual instances of sin, calling “the sinful nature of humans” as “concupiscence”, in the sense of ‘an innate tendency of human beings to do evil’.

Most denominations of Christianity hold the belief that the sin of Adam and Eve's disobedience to God is passed on to their descendants and thus the whole of mankind is accursed with that Original Sin, from which no salvation is possible unless one believes in the atoning death on the cross of the Son of God.

As for the Islamic view of sin, it is similar to the Jewish view. In fact, the religion of Islam is the natural culmination of the progressive revelation of God from the very first prophet to the last one, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Consequently, Islam believes in all prophets of God, from Adam to Muhammad, including Abraham, Moses and Jesus (peace be upon them all).

According to the Islamic creed, the original religion taught by all these prophets is and was always Islam, which is the peaceful submission to the One and Only God. Thus, the concept of sin as taught by all prophets of God ought to be the same.

The closeness between Judaism and Islam in this regard is obvious; but in Christianity we find a great difference, which results from the influence of Saul of Tarsus, who is later known as St Paul. Paul introduced into Christianity the ideas of ‘God becoming man’ and ‘God dying for the sins of man’. Such concepts are entirely alien to the Semitic religious tradition and considered ‘pagan’, according to the Islamic view.

In Islam, a sin is an act against the will of Allah. We have the ability to abide by His will and this is the meaning of the word Islam. Still we have the ability to ignore His will or deliberately oppose it; due to the fact that God has given us freedom - though within limits).

Islam is our conscious and peaceful submission to the will of Allah. The purpose of our existence as human beings is to worship and serve Allah – or to fulfill His will. And, a solid foundation of worshipping Allah is to show gratitude to Him for the great gifts He has granted us. Following this will bring us the greatest benefits in this life and the next. It is in trying to do this that our intentions are purified and it is by our intentions that we are judged.

In contrast to the Christian teaching that human nature is basically evil [owing to the Original Sin], Islam teaches that it is essentially good. There are many elements to Human nature and each one has the potential to bring benefits. So there is no "Original Sin" in Islam. It is that when Man contradicts God’s commandments or His will, he commits sins.

Adam committed such a sin, which led to his expulsion from the Garden of Eden. But Adam repented and prayed to God for forgiveness, which God granted him, as mentioned in the following in Surah 2, verse 37:
*{Then learnt Adam from his Lord words of inspiration, and his Lord turned towards him; for He is Oft-returning, Most Merciful.}*
This means that unlike Christianity, which teaches that all the children of Adam are sinful for Adam’s sin, Islam teaches that all humans are innocent by birth and they become sinful only when they consciously commit a sin. Islam regards the concept of “original sin” and the need for atonement by God Himself - via dying on the Cross - as a pure invention of those who came after Jesus Christ, declaring themselves as Christians.

Another important point to bear in mind about the Islamic concept of sin is that one man’s sin cannot be transferred to another; nor can the reward due to a person be transferred either. Every individual is responsible only for his or her actions, for God is never unjust. This is made clear in the following in Surah 17, verse 15:
*{Who receiveth guidance, receiveth it for his own benefit: who goeth astray doth so to his own loss. No bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another: nor would We punish until We had sent a messenger [to give warning].}*
Every individual is an independent person who is responsible for his or her actions alone. There is no need for salvation from sin, for there is no original burden. One's success in the Hereafter lies in his living a righteous life in this world. Each has to build his/her own Heaven, avoiding the misery of Hell. Faith is important, but faith alone without deeds will be fruitless.

And, Allah knows best.

Useful Links
The Concept of Sin in Islam
Is Man Born Sinful?
Original Innocence
 

Absolute truth

لا إله إلا الله
Is Man Born Sinful?

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear questioner, we would like to thank you for the great confidence you place in us, and we implore Allah Almighty to help us serve His cause and render our work for His Sake.

First of all, it is to be stated that the Original Sin doctrine is in utter contradiction to the Islamic belief. In this regard, we’d like to cite the following:

“Islam rejects the premises of the concept of Original Sin which is alien to Islam and inconceivable to the Muslim mind. Islam has a different version of the Fall. Adam acknowledged that he had gone astray and sincerely sought Allah’s forgiveness which was granted to him unconditionally. Adam and his progeny descended from bliss to the earth because of his error, and yet, none of his children inherited the blame for his error. The volitional implication of Fitrah is that man is responsible for his own wrong actions. It is inconceivable to Muslim thinking that mankind should be punished for wrong actions that others did. The concept of Divine forgiveness features strongly in the Qur’an, for Allah accepts the sincere repentance of His slaves.

Almighty Allah says: “But Satan caused them to deflect therefrom and expelled them from the (happy) state in which they were; and We said: Fall down, one of you a foe unto the other! There shall be for you on earth a habitation and provision for a time. Then Adam received from his Lord words (of revelation), and He relented toward him. Lo! He is the Relenting the Merciful.” (Al-Baqarah: 36-37)

Tawbah (literally, turning, i.e. away from wrong action, and to Allah) or repentance plays a very significant and decisive role in a Muslim’s life. Although man is born in a state of original goodness or Fitrah, he is also subject to temptation and folly. Allah has granted him the ability and opportunity to repent which means that he should admit his errors and turn remorsefully away from them to Allah.

Knowledge of Divine mercy as well as knowledge of the innate goodness of the human Fitrah, serves three very important functions: firstly it gives the believer hope of salvation and success; secondly, it gives him confidence in his own potential to do right and resist wrong; thirdly, it exhorts and admonishes him to actively pursue all that is right and resist all that is wrong. These are the merits of sincere repentance. Just as the Prophet Adam, peace be upon him, repented and was pardoned for his wrong action, so may his descendents repent and be pardoned for their wrong actions.” source

Shedding more light on the question in point, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:

“According to the Qur’anic perspective, man has been created with the equal inclination for good or bad. Allah says in the Qur’an: “And a soul and Him Who perfected it. And inspired it (with conscience of) what is wrong for it and (what is) right for it. He is indeed successful who causeth it to grow, And he is indeed a failure who stunteth it.” (Ash-Shams: 7-10)

Based on this and other Qur’anic verses, all of us has the propensity to do good or bad. So, in Islam we can choose either of the two ways: right or wrong and we are rewarded accordingly.

Human beings themselves recognize when they do sin that they have the choice to avoid it. When they do something good they have the choice to do it and they feel good about it.

If human beings had been on sins and they had no choice but to do sins, then there is no wisdom behind punishment. Allah Almighty is All-Wise and All-Just. He has assured us in the Qur’an: “No soul will be questioned about what another soul has don.” (Al-Israa’: 15)

This means that the sin of Adam did not pass on to his offspring; he paid for his own sin and we must pay for our sins unless Allah forgives us.

The Islamic concept in this matter is fully consistent with reason and revelation. It is also consistent with the teachings of the Gospel and the Old Testament before the Christians invented the doctrine of the Original Sin. As historians have pointed out, the concept of Original Sin and the Jesus being crucified or the sins of humankind had been imported to Christianity from Pagan sources.”
 

Absolute truth

لا إله إلا الله
Which child can be classified or called a ‘bastard’ according to shari’a?

Original Innocence... - Human Rights - counsels - OnIslam.net

Assalamu `alaykum.

A "bastard" is an illegitimate child, which is born from a relationship outside marriage.

There are two attitudes towards him/her according to the Islamic shari`a:
1) The social attitude
2) The legal attitude

As for the social status, he/she is considered an equal individual/citizen, who should not inherit or pay for a sin, which he/she is not responsible for. Islam denies that any person should be blamed for a sin that is committed by another person, even if that person is the father or the mother. Islam confirms that every one is only responsible for his own deeds. This has always stressed in the Qur’an:
...Every soul draws the consequences of its acts on none but itself: no bearer of burdens can bear of burden of another. Your goal in the end is towards God: He will tell you the truth of the things wherein ye disputed."

Surah 6 Verse 164
That is the reason why Islam does not share the belief of inheriting any "original sin" and confirms the concept of original innocence. How can God punish people for things they have not done? Such is the justice of God. The original innocence of each person is put wonderfully in the following section of the Qur'an:
By the Fig and the Olive,
And the Mount of Sinai,
And this City of security,-
We have indeed created man in the best of moulds,
Then do We bring him (to be) the lowest of the low,-
Except such as believe and do righteous deeds: For they shall have a reward unfailing.
Then what can, after this, contradict thee, as to the judgment (to come)?
Is not God the most just of judges?

Surah 95 Verses 1 - 8

If Allah's justice demands that no one is held accountable for acts they did not commit, then how can we do so? Clearly we must not. This illustrates the basis of ethics in Islam, which states that we should behave to others with the generosity, justice, kindness and forgiveness that we hope Allah will show towards us. This is exactly what Christ taught people to pray for:

"... forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us...".

Thus, according to shari`a, it is forbidden for members of society to discriminate against illegitimate children or humiliate them, not even by simply calling them “bastards” when addressing them in daily life, since it aims to humiliate them.

As for the strict legal situation, it is different. As the child's paternity is not known, then the child is not supposed to carry the name of a “suspected” nor a foster father, nor should he/she inherit from him.

Thus, the legal situation becomes that such a child carries the name of his/her mother's family and only inherits from the mother or her family. If the child was deserted by his/her mother after birth he/she is usually given any name and raised by foster parents or in welfare houses. Even so that person deserves kind and generous treatment from society to guarantee him/her equal opportunity in social and political life in the future.
 

Absolute truth

لا إله إلا الله
The Concept of Sin in Islam
The word 'Islam' in Arabic represents two basic concepts: One is 'submission' and the other is 'peace'. As the name of the religion, it stands for 'the peace we can attain in this world and the next by submitting to the One and Only God of the universe'.

Islam teaches that all the prophets of God – including Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad (peace be upon them all) taught basically the same religion: namely 'to worship the One True God and lead a life of obedience to His commandments'.

This is what Islam stands for. And for this reason, Muslims consider all the prophets of God as prophets of Islam; and all of them preached to their people the same message.

The story of our first parents Adam and Eve narrated in the Bible is also recounted in the Quran, which was the noble Book revealed as the Last Testament of God; that is, as the perfected form of the Guidance of God, which had been progressively revealed through the earlier scriptures such as the Torah and the Gospel.

Both Christians and Muslims are united in the belief that Adam – the father of mankind – was misled by Satan to disobey God and to eat the forbidden fruit, and consequently God expelled him and his progeny from Paradise.

Muslims believe that Adam soon after the act of disobedience became aware of the seriousness of his sin and repented. He sought the forgiveness of God, and God forgave him. In the Quran we read what means:

*{We said: "O Adam! dwell you and your wife in the Garden; and eat of the bountiful things therein as (where and when) you will; but approach not this tree, or you run into harm and transgression.

Then did Satan make them slip from the (garden), and get them out of the state (of felicity) in which they had been. We said: "Get you down, all (you people), with enmity between yourselves. On earth will be your dwelling-place and your means of livelihood - for a time.

Then learnt Adam from his Lord words of inspiration, and his Lord turned towards him; for He is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful.}* (Al-Baqarah 2:35-37)

As distinct from the above narration, the Christians hold the belief that God did not forgive Adam's sin and for that reason all the children of Adam till the End of Times would bear the blemish of that sin on them.

This is what they call 'Original Sin', and this sin will not be forgiven according to them, except for those children of Adam who believe that God sent His only-begotten son to vicariously suffer and die on the cross as expiation for that sin.

Muslims do not accept that there is anything called 'original sin'. They strongly reject the idea of God begetting a son for this purpose: To them God is one and one only; He does not beget, nor is He begotten; and there is no one like God.
Sin, from the point of view of Islam, is a conscious and willful act that violates a commandment of God or the right of a fellow being. We cannot consider a person to be a sinner if he or she acts under duress or out of ignorance, because human accountability is an important aspect of justice as envisaged in Islam. And no one can be truly held accountable for an action he has no power to avoid. Because, God does not lay more burden on a human than he can bear.
Islam teaches that sin is an avoidable act that harms the perpetrator's own soul. This means that there is no innate or inherited nature that prompts a person to disobey God. That is to say, it is a person's free choice whether to sin or not; and one's disposition to sin is only as much as, if not less than, their inclination to do good.

One important teaching of Islam as taught by the Prophet is this hadith:
"Deeds are but by intentions and every person shall have what he intended." (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

This means that a person's motive should be taken into consideration when we judge his or her actions. And we know that motive is something that is in the mind of the people and even if they speak out why they have acted in a particular way, we have no means of verifying their claim.

For instance, consider the case of a nurse who gave a patient a dose of the wrong medicine which proved fatal. The nurse may maintain that she did not know it was the wrong medicine; rather she was acting in good faith; but by mistake it happened to be the wrong medicine. If her claim is accepted, she cannot be held guilty of poisoning the patient to death. But suppose her claim is untrue. How can we know whether she is telling the truth or lying?

We may be able to see people who openly commit easily recognizable offences; but we should be on our guard before we judge a person on the basis of external evidence alone. That is to say, in a good number of cases we are likely to go wrong in our judgment. Only God can judge us and our actions correctly, without favor or prejudice.

Among the obvious sins we can count the following as examples: Associating God's creatures with God in worship, murder, adultery, robbery, bearing false witness, committing oppression, cheating, arrogant showing off, consuming usury, appropriating undeserving property especially that of orphans, plotting evil and harming people, etc.

Any person who indulges in one or more of such actions is obviously a sinner. But we should bear in mind that it is difficult for us humans to correctly evaluate a person's actions and arrive at a proper judgment. Because, we as humans, have our own limitations in properly assessing the actions of an outsider before arriving at a judgment; as we are unable to weigh the circumstances of a person's deed or his mental condition.

Therefore, only God Almighty can be the Judge of our beliefs and actions; and hence He is described in the Quran as "the Owner of the Day of Judgment."

In Islam, all sins can be forgiven except associating others with God. Whatever sins a Muslim commits, will be pardoned if he offers sincere repentance and does a lot of good deeds. The good deeds wipe out the bad ones. The door of repentance is always open and Allah will accept the repentance until the Muslim dies.
 

Absolute truth

لا إله إلا الله
Did Jesus Die for Our Sins?

consultant:Idris Tawfiq​

Answer

Thank you for your question and your comments, which are inspired by your desire to speak the truth about Islam.
It seems that the one you quote has a rather unusual and complicated understanding about the Christian teaching of Jesus dying on the cross for sins.
I have certainly never come across the idea before that people are actually obliged to sin in order to show their gratefulness for the forgiveness which Jesus has brought them.
This is certainly not within the scope of Roman Catholic belief, although it comes nearer to a more Evangelical belief, whereby there is nothing more that anyone can do or say because Jesus has already done it all.
Such a belief would lead some to say that even doing good deeds was not necessary, since Jesus' death on the cross had decided once and for all who had been saved in baptism. The idea of sinning on purpose, though, goes even beyond that belief and I know of no Christian Church that would subscribe to such an idea.

Understanding Christian Belief
It is a central tenet of Christian belief that Jesus died on the Cross to atone for the sins of mankind. Let us try and understand what this means.
According to such a belief, God created Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, and He placed them in the Garden of Eden, giving them everything they needed to enjoy perfect bliss. They could do anything they wanted, but were forbidden just one thing: they could not eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil.
Satan tempts Eve into eating of the fruit, and she in turn persuades Adam to do the same. As a result, the two are punished by being expelled from the Garden of Eden.
And so the Christian version of the story ends. Adam and Eve are condemned for their sin and their descendants will share forever their sin, since there is nothing they can do to make up for it.
In the Muslim account of this episode, to be found in the Qur'an, on the other hand, the couple is indeed found guilty, but they return to Allah and are forgiven. There is no inherited guilt for all eternity. Future generations come into the world sinless. In the Christian version, however, all human beings are born with Original Sin.

The Concept of Original Sin
This Original Sin is inherited because there is nothing anyone can do to make up for what Adam and Eve did. It cannot be forgiven, because this sin was committed against God, and only God Himself could forgive such a sin. Only someone equal to God could atone (or make up) for the sin.
Throughout the centuries, then, men and women tried to make up for the debt they owed to God.
At first, they offered sacrifices to their gods to please them and to stop them from harming them.
They later began to believe in only one God, but still wanted to offer sacrifice to Him to make up for the debt they owed. The problem was that they could not find anything to offer which was equal to the debt they were trying to make up for. Offering a sheep was no good, since it was God who made the sheep.
According to this doctrine of Atonement, it really needed someone superhuman, equal to God, to offer sacrifice for that first sin. Many saw in Jesus just that superhuman, equal to God Himself.
The way Saint John's Gospel describes the crucifixion of Jesus is as though Jesus mounts the cross willingly. He is not so much caught by the Jewish authorities as he is seen to be sacrificing himself. If Jesus is God's Son, then, his sacrifice is equal to the one who was offended.
Christians believe that Jesus' death on the cross meant that the Original Sin could be forgiven if people became Christian and were baptized. The act of baptism would wash away the Original Sin.

No Automatic Forgiveness
According to mainstream Christian belief, though, Jesus' death on the cross did not automatically forgive every one of the sins people would commit in the future, although it did make it possible for them to be forgiven if the sinner was truly sorry.
Your friend is mistaken, then, in thinking that mainstream Christian belief includes the idea that all of the sins he is ever going to commit will automatically be forgiven.
It is certainly outside the scope of Roman Catholic belief that he is obliged to sin in order to be grateful.

Dramatic Crucifixion
The second part of your friend's argument is flawed also. Lurid films have made the crucifixion of Jesus exceptionally cruel and brutal. Artists through the ages have shown very graphically the blood and the cruelty. Orators have appealed to the guilt of sinners by suggesting that they were responsible for Jesus' death.
For him to say that "every one of my sins represented a crack of the centurion's whip or a thorn being pressed into (Jesus') temples" is certainly very dramatic language.
Christian belief, though, teaches that Jesus died for Original Sin, which had already been committed. He was making up for something wrong that had been done, not anticipating future wrongs that might be done by individuals. These future wrongs would be forgiven in so much as the sinner was sorry.
Even though all of this doctrine is very complicated, there is still another aspect which we could mention.
There are certain Evangelical and Protestant groups which make it seem as though Jesus' death revolves around individuals: What Jesus did for me is what counts. That he is my personal savior is what is important.

Muslims Submit to Allah Alone
Islam, on the other hand, puts it the other way around. It is God (Allah) Who is important. Humans are His creatures and all they do should revolve around His will.
Muslims submit to the will of Allah, and therein find peace and fulfillment. It is not the individual who is important, but Allah alone.
On Judgment Day, each one will have to give an account for his actions, taking personal responsibility for what he has done.
Almighty Allah, who is both Merciful And Compassionate, will in sha' Allah forgive the wrong we have done.
I hope that this rather technical answer helps with your question. Please keep in touch.
Salam.

http://www.onislam.net/english/ask-about-islam/faith-and-worship/islamic-creed/167318.html
 

Absolute truth

لا إله إلا الله
Are Sins Inherited?

would you please explain why some are born as eunuchs, some dwarfs and some crippled ?



It is true that Islam does not believe in inherited sin or curse. Muslims do not accept the view that someone's physical defect is a punishment given to him/her instead of their father. Islam teaches that the justice of God is all-pervading and that there is no question of His punishing one person for the sin of another. This fact is emphatically and categorically stated in the Qur'an, where God says what means:


*{Whoever chooses to follow the right path, follows it but for his own good; and whoever goes astray, goes but astray to his own loss; and no bearer of burdens shall be made to bear another's burden. Moreover. We would never punish (any community for the wrong they may do) ere We have sent an apostle (to them).}* (Al-Israa' 17:15)


The points stressed in the above verse are:


1. You get the benefit for whatever good you do; and you get the punishment for whatever evil you do.


2. Nobody is made to carry the burden of another. This means that the sins of your father are not visited upon you.


3. God will not punish a person or community unless a messenger came to them earlier, warning them from the consequences of their evil deeds.


Here you ask why God creates some people as eunuchs, dwarfs and cripples, etc. The Noble Qur’an teaches clearly that this world is a testing ground for us. God says that He will test us by good fortune and bad fortune to reward those who are best in deeds. The Qur'an says what means:


*{He Who created death and life, that He may try which of you is best in deed: and He is the Exalted in might, Oft-Forgiving.}* (Al-Mulk 67:2)


*{Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere.}* (Al-Baqarah 2:155)

On the basis of the above verses, Muslims view birth defects or calamities we face in life as opportunities to earn God's pleasure. They do so by being grateful to God when they are fortunate and by being patient when they are faced with misfortunes. For instance, when we see a blind man, we become thankful to God for giving us sight; and we help the blind man in his misfortune in whatever way we can.

This is how we strive to pass the test Allah, the One and Only Creator of all of us, has set for us. At the same time it is a test for the blind man too. He is patient about his blindness and strives as best as he can, to gain the reward he deserves from his God.

Unlike Christianity, Islam teaches us that it is we ourselves who have to earn our heaven by doing good; as it is not given gratis. Nor does God do the injustice of making an innocent person suffer for your sake while you are having fun. The Qur'an clearly states what means:

*{… no bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another...}* (Az-Zumar 39:7)

In short, in Islam, Allah is a God of Perfect Justice.

And Allah knows best.
 

Absolute truth

لا إله إلا الله
Adam and His Sin

According to the Holy Qur’an, God created man as his vicegerent (or ambassador) on earth. In chapter 2 verse 30, we read:

Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: "I will create a vicegerent on earth." They said: "Wilt Thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood?- whilst we do celebrate Thy praises and glorify Thy holy (name)?" He said: "I know what ye know not." Surah 2 Verse 30
From the above verse, and others like it, we understand that as the khalifah or vicegerent of God on earth, man is gifted with certain powers, which other creatures of God do not possess. For example, he possesses (within limits of course) intellectual faculties. In verse 29 of chapter 2, we also read that God created all things on earth for man.

The duty of man as God’s khalifah is to make use of all the blessings of God on earth to his own benefit. For this, man is given freedom, that is, freedom of choice and action (also within limits). It is because of man’s special faculties and his freedom that he becomes the best of God’s creatures.

As mentioned in the verse quoted above, the angels asked God, whether He was placing on earth one who would make mischief and shed blood. This is a clear reference to the freedom given to man. If man is free, he may misuse that freedom to deny God, or to disobey Him. It was because of this freedom that Adam could disobey God and eat the forbidden fruit. When man contradicts God’s commandments or His will, he commits sins. Adam committed such a sin, which led to his expulsion from the Garden of Eden. But Adam repented and prayed to God for forgiveness, which God granted him, as mentioned in the following verse:

Then learnt Adam from his Lord words of inspiration, and his Lord Turned towards him; for He is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful. Surah 2 Verse 37
This means that unlike Christianity, which teaches that all the children of Adam are sinful for Adam’s sin, Islam teaches that all humans are innocent by birth and they become sinful only when they consciously commit a sin. Thus, the concept of “original sin” and the need for atonement by God Himself - by dying on the Cross - is a pure invention of those who came after Jesus Christ calling themselves Christians.
 

Absolute truth

لا إله إلا الله
The Doctrine of Original Sin

By Br. Khalid Sayfullah

"Say (O Muhammad): 'O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Exceed not the limits in your religion (by believing in something) other than the truth, and do not follow the vain desires of people who went astray in times gone by, and who misled many, and strayed (themselves) from the Right Path.'" [Qur'an 5:77]

The doctrine of original sin is one of the tenets of Christianity which was established in the 5th century A.D., under the influence of Augustine, by the Roman Catholic church. It must be understood from the beginning that this doctrine, is at best, only a theory!

Christians believe this theory to be a Bible doctrine. They reason that, since theologians and preachers teach this doctrine, then it must be true! This theory is not a Bible doctrine and nowhere in the Bible can there be found verses which give credence to it! Where, in the Bible, is it written that , "All men are guilty and condemnable for the depraved nature with which they are born"?

The fact that mankind has the boldness to propagate this (and other) theories as 'Bible truths', whilst being warned by God not to tamper with His Holy Word, by neither adding to or taking away from it, is surely one of mankind's greatest crimes!

"You must not add anything to my charge (to command, assign responsibility to), nor take anything away from it." (Deuteronomy, chapter 3, verse 4.)​

"Verily, We did send down the Tauraat (to Musa), therein was guidance and light, by which the Prophets, who submitted themselves to Allah's Will, judged the Jews. And the rabbis and the priests (too judged the Jews by the Tauraat after those Prophets) for to them was entrusted the protection of Allah's Book, and they were witnesses thereto. Therefore fear not men but fear Me (O Jews) and sell not My Verses for a miserable price. And whosoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed, such are the disbelievers." [Qur'an 5:44]​

Church history records that from the 2nd and 3rd century A.C. onwards, both the practices and doctrines of Christ were increasingly corrupted by heathen philosophies complete with their pagan superstitions and sense of morality. This influence was extensive. On the one hand there was unrestrained sexual lust, and on the other extremes in asceticism; the veneration and worship of saints, relics, images, and pictures; the development of a priesthood with priestly rituals and ceremonies; magical and spiritual powers ascribed to water, sacred words, and signs; water baptism for the remission of sins; and the baptism of infants. Heathen mythology was introduced and branded 'Christianity'!

Many of the early theologians were converts from heathenism, who wedded their pagan philosophical concepts to Christianity. These were educated men who gave the concepts of their heathen beliefs to Christianity, thereby corrupting the purity of the teachings of Jesus. They believed, especially Augustine, that unbaptised infants are damned because of inherited sin and guilt, and that saints and martyrs could intercede in our favour.

It was from this soil of religious ignorance and superstition that the Augustinian theory of original sin arose. The Augustinian theory declares that since all of mankind is descended from Adam, then on that basis the morality of Adam was transferred to his descendants, and therefore, all of mankind is intrinsically corrupt.

In the Bible of today we can find nothing to substantiate the doctrine of the original sin, in fact we are able to find denial of such a doctrine!

"Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children for their fathers; a man shall be put to death only for his own sin." (Deuteronomy, chapter 24, verse 16.)​

"It is the soul that sins, and no other, that shall die; a son shall not share a father's guilt, nor a father his son's. The righteous man shall reap the fruit of his own righteousness, and the wicked man the fruit of his own wickedness." (Ezekiel, chapter 18, verse 20.)​
Allah explains in Al Qur'an:

"Say: 'Shall I seek a lord other than Allah, while He is the Lord of all things? No person earns any (sin) except against himself (only), and no bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another. Then unto your Lord is your return, so He will tell you that wherein you have been differing.'" [Qur'an 6:164].​

Insha'Allah, we as Muslims are able to continue with our Da'wah towards those who are misled and misguided and Insha'Allah, those who mislead and deceive bear the burden of their own sin.

http://www.missionislam.com/comprel/origsin.htm
 

Absolute truth

لا إله إلا الله
Original sin does not exist and Jesus did not die for sins


Original sin does not exist and Jesus did not die for sins | Invitation to Truth


Christians say that non-Christians will go to hell for the inherited sins of Adam.
Original sin is not to be found in the Bible. It is a belief that came later into Christian books perhaps by people like Paul [1][2][3].

Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

Ezekiel 18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die.

“The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.” (Deuteronomy 24:16)

These verses make it clear that original sin is not a belief supported by the Bible and that we don’t need the blood of Jesus (may God bless him) to enter heaven. Good deeds with faith with the will of God will do.

Some people still disagree and present the following verses for their claim:
Gen 3:17-19and others…
Psalms 51:5
If we look at these verses, we see that mankind is suffering due to the sin of Adam (i.e.toiling on earth). These verses do not say that mankind is bound for eternal damnation for this sin.
Psalms 52:5 actually speak of the person’s personal sins as he was an illegitimate child.

JESUS DID NOT DIE FOR SINS

Apocalypse of Peter says ‘No crucifixion’
Matthew 26:34-35, 55-57, 69-75
34 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
35 Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.
…….
55 In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.
56 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.
57 And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
69 Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.
70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.
71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.
72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.
73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.
74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

Now as we clearly see, Peter did witness the so-called crucifixion event. He was present there. The only thing that saved him from death is his denial that he knew Jesus. Otherwise, he would’ve got crucified that night.

Jesus himself says that He was not crucified and another man in place of Him got crucified who looked like Him.

This is written in the apocalypse of Peter. Below is an extract, click to see the complete book:
Extracts from the Apocalypse of Peter
“Come therefore, let us go on with the completion of the will of the incorruptible Father. For behold, those who will bring them judgment are coming, and they will be put to shame. But me they cannot touch. And you, O Peter, shall stand in their midst. Do not be afraid because of your cowardice. Their minds shall be closed, for the invisible one has opposed them.”
When he said those things, I saw him seemingly being seized by them. And I said “What do I see, O Lord, that it is you yourself whom they take, and that you are grasping me? Or who is this one, glad and laughing on the tree? And is it another one whose feet and hands they are striking?”
The Savior said to me, “He whom you saw on the tree, glad and laughing, this is the living Jesus. But this one into whose hands and feet they drive the nails is his fleshly part, which is the substitute being put to shame, the one who came into being in his likeness. But look at him and me.”
…And he said to me, “Be strong, for you are the one to whom these mysteries have been given, to know them through revelation, that he whom they crucified is the first-born, and the home of demons, and the stony vessel, in which they dwell, of Elohim, of the cross, which is under the Law.
Peter then goes on to say what Jesus further said
“These things, then, which you saw you shall present to those of another race who are not of this age (i.e., the Arabs who then became Muslims).
 

Absolute truth

لا إله إلا الله
Original Sin and Atonement

According to the Bible, the devil beguiled Eve who, in turn, made Adam eat the forbidden fruit. But the real transgressor was woman as stated by St. Paul in his first epistle to Timothy: “And Adam was not deceived but the woman being deceived was in transgression” (2:14).

So through Eve, primarily, the Original sin was transmitted to each generation that succeeded. Even in newly born babies the consequence of Original Sin is so severe that if they are not baptized they are doomed to burn for ever and ever in the fire of hell (St. Augustine). Till recently the un-baptized infants were not buried in consecrated burial grounds because they were believed to have died in mortal sin.

Thus according to this Christian doctrine, mankind became doomed to eternal hell because of the Original Sin, no matter how good and virtuous a man or woman may be.

The Rev. W. Goldsek writes in this connection: “It should be clear as daylight to anyone that God cannot break His own law: He cannot forgive a sinner without first giving him punishment. For if he did so, who would call Him just and equitable”. (Goldsek: Atonement, page 5). So how was Divine justice satisfied? By the blood of Christ:“Since Christ, God and man, has taken upon Himself our sins (by his death on the cross) in order to atone for them by giving satisfaction to Gods outraged justice” (Rev. J.F.DeGroot, Catholic Teaching, page 162).

[*] The Doctrine of Trinity defies reason and is repugnant to it. It is against the testimony of modern science, which has discovered that all of universe is one and is governed by uniform laws, so that its Creator and Ruler is One. The concept of three gods, each equal in every sense of the word and none being complete and perfect on its own casts the biggest slur on the glory, majesty and perfection of God.

[*]Similarly, the concept of Sonship and atonement of sins through vicarious sacrifice is defective. Is it justice that the sin, and that too a minor one committed by Adam and Eve, should make the whole of mankind sinners, so that even an innocent child who dies without baptism is condemned to eternal hell? Would even a primitive, backward society; accept such a view of Divine justice?

[*] Divine justice is supposed to be more just and perfect. Even if it is supposed that solitary and minor sin committed by Adam and Eve is transmitted throughout mankind till eternity, who is responsible for this transmission? Why, God of course.

[*]If so, why should mankind be doomed to eternal hell for an act of God?

[*]Is it justice again, and that too Divine, that the blood of the innocent Son (the only sinless person according to the Christian dogma) should absolve and redeem mankind?

[*]What would you think of a judge who hangs his own innocent son in place of the guilty criminals?

[*]And are those who believe in this doctrine redeemed of sin? In fact it encourages sin for a life long indulgence in sin can be washed off by confession of faith in atonement to a priest at the bedside of the dying person.

[*]To sum up here the story of Christianity in a few words:

[*] Man drowned in sin, and God alienated from him and, in anger. To appease His wrath He sends His own son to the world through a virgin’s womb. The son is brought to the Cross and pays the penalty for human sin, thus washing away the sins of humanity with his blood. He dies for all, and then through his resurrection brings new life to mankind.

[*]This is the super- structure of Pauline schism as it was never taught by the Lord of Christianity. But it is not a new revelation. It has now come to light that Jesus as portrayed by Paul and others as “the new Adam” is only just the last of the virgin-born Sun-gods -Mithra, Apollo’ Bacchus, Horus, Osiris and others; all of them born at the first hour of the 25th of December. They all led a peaceful mission; the first miracle that all performed had some connection with wine; they all declared that they had come to save humanity through their blood; they all went to death at the third hour of Friday some time in March; they all remained in the tomb for two days; they all rose again on Easter Sunday; they all ascended into heaven with a promise to return.

[*]Thus centuries before the construction of the Christian church, different countries had already evolved a system of religion, which Christianity repeated word by word in the writings of the early Fathers. In the names of these virgin-born incarnates, people were initiated into their cult through baptism. Their votaries worshipped the Cross, and their great festivals were Easter and Christmas. In fact, the Roman Catholic Church, the first Church on Pauline lines after Jesus, is just a replica of the old cult of mystery; and Christian worship remains sun-worship with all its old features.

[*]How can we stigmatize Paganism as a false religion when all its features did but forestall the official Church in the West? If Paganism is false-hood, the formal Church must be falsehood too. Anyhow, current Christianity is not a religion if by religion is meant a code of life that may help man to live worthily in this world and in hereafter.

[*]Having briefly discussed the conceptual aspect of the Divine Being according to Christian dogma, one has to wonder when the upholders of the superiority of Christian dogma are seeking a genuine relationship with God, which one of the components of triune divinity do they establish such a connection with? How is such a relationship established and how does it benefit them spiritually? It becomes quite clear that since the concept itself is flawed, it cannot form the basis of a genuine and spiritually rewarding relationship.

The Bible upholds the concept of REPENTANCE

[*]9:After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.10: Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.11: Give us this day our daily bread.12: And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.13: And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.14: For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:15: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
unveilingislam
 

Absolute truth

لا إله إلا الله
If there is no original sin, then why does everyone have to die? Isn't death the consequence of sin?

https://www.islamcan.com/common-que...o-die-isnt-death-the-consequence-of-sin.shtml

Muslims have a very positive view of life and death. Life on earth is temporary. Death is the door through which one enters into everlasting life. Muslims do not see death as something scary or frightful. Death is the way one returns to Allah. God says in the Qur'an:
Say: The angel of death, who has been given charge of you, will carry off your souls. Then to your Lord you shall all return (Qur'an 32:11).

Muslims hopeful of God's mercy look forward to the day when God will address them as stated in the Qur'an:
O peaceful and fully satisfied soul, return to your Lord: you are well-pleased (with your good end) and well-pleasing (in the sight of your Lord). Join My (righteous) servants and enter my Paradise (Qur'an 89: 27-30).

Viewed in this way, death becomes a joy for the true believer. This view of death was further explained in a saying of the Prophet, on whom be peace. He said:
Allah loves to meet whoever loves to meet Him.

It is true that no one likes to die. But the prophet, on whom be peace, said:
When death comes to a believer, he is given good news of the pleasure of Allah and his gifts. There is then nothing dearer to him than what is ahead of him. So he loves to meet Allah, and Allah loves to meet him (This was reported by Bukhari and Muslim).

This positive view of death should not imply a negative view of life. Life should be lived to its fullest, and believers should not wish for an end to their lives. The prophet said; no believer should wish for death, for, as long as there is life in you, if you are righteous, perhaps you may increase your good deeds, and if you are sinful, perhaps given time you may repent (reported by Bukhari).

God in His plan devised this earthly life as a temporary life. The earth is a testing ground. Those who accept God's guidance in this life will be given the abundance of God's grace in the next, the everlasting life. When God decreed for humans to live on the earth, He declared:
Henceforth there shall come to you guidance from Me now and again; whoever will follow it shall have neither fear nor sorrow, and whoever will refuse to accept it and defy Our Revelation, they shall be doomed to the Fire wherein they shall remain forever (Qur'an 2:38-39).

Again, God says that He "created life and death so that He may try you, which of you is best in conduct" (Qur'an67:2).
God says further:
Indeed We created man from a mixed drop to try him and therefore We made him capable of hearing and seeing. We showed him the way, whether to be grateful or disbelieving (Qur'an 76:2-3; see also 90;8- 10).

In this life we should use our God-given faculties to learn and follow God's message. The Qur'an says that those who end up being punished for their sins will regret that they neither listened nor used their brains when God's message had reached them (see Qur'an 67:10).

Incidentally, in the Qur'an it is not said that God warned Adam and Eve of death if they ate from the forbidden tree. What God actually said to them was that if they ate from the tree they would become wrongdoers (see Qur'an 2:35). Given the Qur'anic viewpoint, there is no reason to consider death as a consequence for sin.


Why is it that Muslims do not accept the doctrine of original sin?

http://www.islamcan.com/common-ques...not-accept-the-doctrine-of-original-sin.shtml


The reason Muslims do not accept this doctrine is that the word of God, the Qur'an, does not agree with it. The Qur'an teaches that God is ever willing to forgive anyone who turns to him in sincere repentance. We find in the Qur'an that God taught Adam and Eve how to seek His forgiveness. When they did as God taught them, God forgave them (see Qur'an 20:122).

Adam and Eve were created with the potential to do either good or evil. They had a free choice either to obey God or disobey Him. They did not realize how deceptive the devil was, and so prompted by him, they made the wrong choice. Will God remain forever angry with them over that one mistake? No! Instead, God taught them how to repair their relationship with Him by praying for forgiveness. Muslims still often recite the same prayer, as follows:
Our Lord, we have wronged our souls. If you do not forgive us and have mercy on us, then surely we are lost (Qur'an 7:23).

What we obtain from that incident is not original sin, but original forgiveness, and an original lesson on how to seek that forgiveness. God set the precedent that He will forgive those who turn to Him in sincere repentance. We will all find ourselves in a similar situation as Adam and Eve. The prophet, on whom be peace, said that every child of Adam is a sinner, and the best of them are those who turn back to God in sincere repentance.

This shows that God does not demand absolute perfection from us humans. That would be an impossible demand, since God alone is absolutely perfect. To err is human. God wants us to know that he will accept us as we are, shortcomings and all, as long as we are trying our best to obey Him. Even in our human situations, it is well understood that absolute perfection is not to be demanded from anyone. Suppose teachers were to demand that all students must score 100% on all their tests, and that if they make even one mistake they will not pass. No one of sound mind will demand this, for it is clearly beyond human capacity. Similarly, God does not demand from people what is beyond their capacity (see Qur'an 2:226).

Some will say that Adam was created perfect and that when he sinned he ruined that perfection. This suggestion makes no sense. If perfection meant that Adam had no ability to choose between good and evil, then how did he exercise that choice which he supposedly did not have? And if he had the ability to choose, as Muslims believe, then why would God remain forever angry with him for his first mistake? Humankind was then in its infancy. We needed someone to pick us up when we fall, not someone to bulldoze us with a tremendous burden of sin and guilt.

Some will say that God could not forgive Adam even if He wanted to do so, since God is Just and He must exact justice. This is as if to say that justice is contrary to mercy, and that God is so fenced in by His own law that He has no freedom to do what He wants to do. How silly! The truth is that God warns us of His punishment, but He also promises forgiveness for those who sincerely repent. If He decides to save sinners, who is there to say He cannot do what He wishes?
 
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