Original Sin And Salvation

Islam does not recognize the concepts of: original sin, women's responsibility for the fall from Grace, or the need for a savior to redeem humans who are sinners by nature. The Qur'an indicates that humans are created in the spiritual form and then lowered in the material form [Qur'an 95:4]

We are not the product of Original Sin and do not need an intermediary in the form of a savior, prophet, saint, or clergy to reach God [Qur'an 2:255]. Nobody is responsible for someone else's sin [Qur'an 31:33]. We are not sinners or angels by nature and we are capable of redeeming ourselves by making amends for our mistakes.

We were honored when God ordered the angels, who are created from light, to bow to Adam, who was created from clay. Satan refused and vowed to stand in the straight path to God [Qur'an 7:16] and offer us temptation or choice.

Satan vowed to approach us from our front, our back, our right, and our left [Qur'an 7:17]. He would not place himself below us and he knew that only God is above us. This indicates that all movements identified as the right, the left, the progressive or forward, the regressive or backward are influenced by temptation from Satan. Muslims are safe from Satan when they aim upward and receive their guidelines from the heaven above.

Both Adam and Eve were tempted by Satan in Paradise to try the forbidden tree and achieve eternal life [Qur'an 7:20]. They both shared the blame, felt shame and disgrace. God lowered them to earth to earn their living and experience conflict , life, and death [Qur'an 7:24,25]

They were not returned to heaven because they were originally created to be God's trustees on earth [Qur'an 2:30].

Their experience in the Garden of Eden shows how we can return to the Garden by balancing the needs of the Body And Soul . It is ironic that the desire for a long life and material possessions we do not have, which terminated Adam and Eve's life in paradise, is still very strong today.

We knew God in the spiritual form before our birth. We were veiled from God after birth. This is probably why babies cry when they are born. Babies are innocent and angelic. Small children run instinctively from adults to other children regardless of their shape or color.

As the material world tightens its grip on individuals, they turn away from God and stop trusting their instincts. The divine purpose of life on earth is to turn to God and to serve and worship Him. Those who transcend the veils and ultimately know Him will be His trustees on earth.

To return to God, we have to be mindful of Him, avoid pride and the devil's temptation, be moderate and faithful in our prayers [Qur'an 7:26,27,29]

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If you have comments or suggestions, e-mail me at a.f.aly@worldnet.att.net

Revised on 10/3/99