Page 102 - World Religions I - Islam

guilt which entails punishment or requires redemption. Indeed, the responsibility for the Fall is
not Adam's; rather, it is Satan's. Adam's part in it is dhanb ("fault"), and its consequence is the earthly
exile of Adam and his descendants, but not an infirmity which condemns them to a state of
"original sin".1
• Sin is seen as disobedience to an established law (Shari'a). It is considered an act and not a state of being.
o "Say: the things that my Lord hath indeed forbidden are: shameful deeds, whether open or secret; sins
and trespasses against truth or reason; assigning of partners to God, for which He hath given no
authority; and saying things about God of which ye have no knowledge." - Al-Araf (The Heights) 7:33
o The harm in sin is only against oneself, for Allah is too majestic to be affected.
 "And whoever commits a sin, he only commits it against his own soul; and Allah is Knowing, Wise." -
An-Nisa' 4:111 (emphasis added)
 "And those who, having done something to be ashamed of, or wronged their own souls,
earnestly bring God to mind, and ask for forgiveness for their sins - and who can forgive sins
except God? - and are never obstinate in persisting knowingly in (the wrong) they have done." - Al-
Imran (The Family of Imran) 3:135 (emphasis added)
 "[Moses] said: 'My Lord! Lo! I have wronged my soul, so forgive me. Then He forgave him. Lo! He
is the Forgiving, the Merciful." - Al-Qasas 28:16 (emphasis added)
• The human soul is susceptible to sin, to which even the prophets themselves are guilty. Jesus is the only prophet
listed in the Qur'an to be blameless of sin.
o "Nor do I (Muhammad) absolve my own self (of blame): the (human) soul is certainly prone to evil,
unless my Lord do bestow His Mercy, but surely my Lord is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful." - Yousef (Joseph)
12:53
o Islam supports a doctrine of infallibility or sinlessness, known as ismah, which is often attributed to
prophets to show they were divinely protected from error and sin.
 The doctrine of ismah is contested amongst Muslim scholars, and is open to a wide range of
interpretations.
 The Qur'an teaches that the prophets were not free from error, as evidenced by the fall of
Adam, Moses murdering an Egyptian , as well as errors by David and Solomon.3
2
 According to the doctrine ismah, the errors of the prophets do not engage their substance,
however, and are considered "faults" (dhanb) but not "transgressions" (ithm).4 The Qur'an teaches
that God forgave Moses of wrongdoing (murder; Surah 28:15-16). If prophets don't "transgress",
what is there to forgive?
• If Allah had wanted, he could have prevented man from sinning.
o "Those who reject our signs are deaf and dumb, - in the midst of darkness profound, whom God willeth,
He leaveth to wander; whom He willeth, He placeth on the way that is straight." - Al-Anaam (Cattle) 6:39
o "Do not the Believers know, that, had God (so) willed, He could have guided all mankind (to the right)? But
the Unbelievers never will disaster cease to seize them for their (ill) deeds, or to settle close to their
homes, until the promise of God come to pass, for, verily, God will not fail in His promise." - Ar-Rad (The
Thunder) 13:31b (emphasis added)
o "If We had so willed, We could certainly have brought every soul its true guidance; but the Word from
Me will come true, 'I will fill Hell with Jinns and men all together.'" - Al-Azhab (The Clans) 32:13
• Allah does not love sinners.
o "God will deprive usury of all blessing, but will give increase for deeds of charity. For He loveth not
creatures ungrateful and wicked." - Al-Baqara (The Cow) 2:276
o "Call on your Lord with humility and in private, for God loveth not those who trespass beyond bounds." -
Al-Araf (The Heights) 7:55
o "The recompense for an injury is an injury equal thereto (in degree); but if a person forgives and makes
reconciliation, his reward is due from God. For (God) loveth not those who do wrong." - Ash-Shura

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