The concept of original sin is completely foreign to Judaism and Eastern
Christianity, having achieved acceptance in only the Western Church.
Furthermore, Christian and Islamic concepts of sin are virtual opposites
with respect to certain nuances. For example, there is no concept of
“sinning in the mind” in Islam; to a Muslim, an evil thought becomes a
good deed when a person refuses to act upon it.
Overcoming and dismissing the evil thoughts which forever assail our
minds is considered deserving of reward rather than punishment.
Islamically speaking, an evil thought only becomes sinful when
fulfilled.
Conceiving good deeds is more contrary to the base nature of man. Since
our creation, if not bound by societal or religious restrictions,
humankind has historically dined on the banquet of life with lust and
abandon.
The orgies of self-indulgence that have carpeted the corridors of
history envelop not only individuals and small communities, but even
major world powers which ate their fill of deviancy to the point of
self-destruction.
Sodom and Gomorrah may top most lists, but the greatest powers of the
ancient world-to include the Greek, Roman and Persian empires, as well
as those of Genghis Khan and Alexander the Great - certainly bear
dishonorable mention. But while examples of communal decadence are
innumerable, cases of individual corruption are exponentially more
common.
So, good thoughts are not always the first instinct of humankind. As
such, the Islamic understanding is that the very conception of good
deeds is worthy of reward, even if not acted upon. When a person
actually commits a good deed, Allah multiplies the reward even further.
The concept of original sin simply does not exist in Islam, and never
has. For the Christian readers, the question is not whether the concept
of original sin exists in present day, but whether it existed during the
period of Christian origins. Specifically, did Jesus teach it?
Apparently not. Whoever dreamt up the concept, it certainly wasn’t
Jesus, for he reportedly taught, “Let the little children come to me,
and do not forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew
19:14).
We may well wonder how “for of such” could be “the kingdom of heaven” if
the unbaptized are hell‑bound. Children are either born with original
sin or are bound for the kingdom of heaven. The church can’t have it
both ways. Ezekiel 18:20 records, “The son shall not bear the guilt of
the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son.
The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.”
Deuteronomy 24:16 repeats the point. The objection may be raised that
this is Old Testament, but it’s not older than Adam! If original sin
dated from Adam and Eve, one wouldn’t find it disavowed in any scripture
of any age!
Islam teaches that each person is born in a state of spiritual purity,
but upbringing and the allure of worldly pleasures may corrupt us.
Nonetheless, sins are not inherited and, for that matter, not even Adam
and Eve will be punished for their sins, for God has forgiven them. And
how can humankind inherit something that no longer exists?
No, Islamically speaking, all of us will be judged according to our
deeds, for “man can have nothing but what he strives for” (TMQ
53:38–39), and “Who receives guidance, receives it for his own benefit:
who goes astray does so to his own loss: no bearer of burdens can bear
the burden of another...” (TMQ 17:15).
Each person will bear responsibility for his or her actions, but no
infant goes to hell for being unbaptized and burdened with sin as a
birthright - or should we say a birth wrong?
http://www.tellmeaboutislam.com/the-original-sin.html
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