Do Muslims Believe in Original Sin?
Islamic Perspective on Sinning, Repentance, Forgiveness & Salvation
Nov 1, 2008
This is in contrast to various Christian concepts of original sin, which teach that people are born in a sinful state with the ancestral burden of Adam and Eve's sin. Salvation in Christianity is achieved through baptism and belief and worship of Jesus, whom Christians believe is God incarnate, and whom they believe died to atone and redeem mankind's sin.
The Naturally Pure State of Fitrah
Islamic doctrine teaches that all people are born fundamentally good with a natural inclination to worship one God (Allah). This innocent, sin-free state of birth is called fitrah. An upbringing in a religion other than Islam can deviate a person from this natural state.
Although born without original sin, a person is vulnerable to committing sins and becomes accountable for them after the age of reason.
Adam and Eve and Islam
The Qur'anic account of Adam and Eve holds that both were equally responsible for their sin of eating the forbidden fruit. Although they were banished from Paradise as a punishment, God forgave them after they sincerely repented. Their sin was not passed on to future generations, and Adam became the first prophet and messenger.
Jesus and Redemption in Islam
Muslims highly revere Jesus as a prophet, and like Christians, believe in his miraculous virgin birth and in his second coming. However, the Qur'an explicitly states that Jesus was man, not God. The Qur'an teaches that Jesus ascended body and soul into heaven, and that another man was crucified in Jesus' place.
Since Muslims believe that people are born inherently good, and that God loves those who obey Him, there is no concept of redemption in Islam. Muslims strive to earn God's pleasure and rewards based on their own merits.
Concept of Sin in Islam
God created man with free will to either obey Him or not. In Islam, sinning includes all actions which contradict the commandments or Will of God. There are both major and minor sins in Islam.
In Islam, no person is held accountable for the sin of another. The Qur'an states: "Whoever goes right, then he goes right only for the benefit of his own self. And whoever goes astray, then he goes astray to his own loss. No one laden with burdens can bear another's burden. And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger (to give warning)." (Qur'an 17:15)
Repentance (Tawbah) and Forgiveness
While Muslims fear their accountability on the Day of Judgment, they are hopeful for God's mercy. Muslims believe that sincere repentance (tawbah) and good deeds can help atone for their sins, and that God is Merciful and Forgiving.
"Say: O my slaves who have transgressed against themselves! Despair not for the mercy of Allah: verily Allah forgives all sins. Truly He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (Qur'an 39:53)
Islam teaches that there is only one sin which won't be forgiven: shirk. Shirk is the association of partners with God, or any other compromise of Islamic monotheism and the divine Oneness of God.
Salvation in Islam
Muslims do not believe in salvation on the merit of faith alone. On the Day of Judgment a person will be fairly judged according to his faith, his actions, and his efforts to sincerely repent. Ultimately, however, it is the Mercy and Forgiveness of God which will admit a person to Paradise, and not just his faith and deeds.
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