Original Sin?
Christians have propounded theory of original sin on the basis of Adam’s eating from the forbidden tree. This is a pivotal concept around which revolves the entire doctrinal structure of Christology. It is called ‘the sin of our parents’. It is started that while placing man into the Garden of Eden, God clothed the souls of Adam and Eve in glorious white garments as they were in God’s supernatural image and likeness through His sanctifying grace. As soon as they ate from the forbidden tree, they were stripped of the shining white garment, God’s life left their souls and they became spiritually dead. They were no longer God’s dear children, instead they became the children of devil. Heaven was closed against them and hell was ready to receive them. Sin darkened the minds of our first parents, and they lost the sanctifying grace and the right of heaven. Adam and Eve became subject to strong inclination to evil; they were driven out of Garden of Paradise, and became subject to death and the suffering on earth. Sin and death came into the world through the foresaid disobedience of Adam and Eve.
Christian (theologists?) have, therefore, bitterly accused the first parents and specially Eve as under:
- That Eve mistrusted God’s word and so the woman sinned by unbelief.
- Satan tempted Eve to pride and disobedience.
- Poor foolish Eve by giving forbidden fruit to Adam was guilty of the sin of bad example and scandal.
- Eve knew perfectly well that she had done wrong, but tried to throw the blame on the serpent saying that, ‘the serpent deceived me and I ate.’ What a vain excuse!
‘Adam sinned because as a coward he gave into the wicked suggestion of his wife saying ‘the woman whom thou gavest to me to be my companion, gave me of the tree and I did eat it.’ See how he tries to excuse his wickedness. Secondly, he sinned also by unbelief or mistrust in God’s word. He sinned also by pride or disobedience for he too tried to become like God.
It is a confirmed Christian creed that Adam and Eve are solely responsible for expulsion of mankind from the Paradise and that Adam’s sin passed from Adam to all mankind. That through Adam, all men share in his punishment, i.e. the state of sin in which all men born into the world as descendants of Adam. Adam’s sin brought misery and woe not only to himself but also to all his children.
To further elaborate the creed, we quote as under:
- By this disobedience our first parents plunged the whole human race into ingnorance.
- By the disobedience of our first parents, our will have been weakened; there is in all of us a strong inclination to sin.
- After Adam’s sin, God cursed the earth and passed the sentence of condemnation on all men.
- By the disobedience of Adam, the whole human race was plunged into suffering and death.
- Death, suffering, ignorance and strong inclination to sin are the chief punishments that have come upon us on account of the disobedience of Adam.
- On account of the sin of Adam, his descendants inherit his punishment as we would have inherited his gifts (had Adam?) been obedient to God.
- On account of the sin of Adam, (we?) his descendants come into the world deprived of sanctifying grace.
The sinful state or condition which followed from the sin continued; Adam had lost sanctifying grace. He was no longer just and holy, nor God’s child and an heir to heaven as he ought to have been according to God’s plan. His soul was ugly and foul in God’s eyes and spiritually dead. That was the sinful state of condition of Adam’s soul after his sinful act. It is this sinful state of soul that has passed in every child of Adam.
The deadly poison of sin entered into Adam’s soul by his act of disobedience to God and that deadly poison has passed into every child born into the world from Adam. This sin is called original because it comes down to us through our origin or descent from Adam. We call this the ‘sin of human nature’ or ‘the hereditary sin’.
It is further elaborated that ‘we all share the misfortune that followed upon the sin of our first parents. Every child of Adam is born into the world with the stain of sin on his soul. Original sin has stained the garment of his soul and he is utterly unfit for heaven.
The aforementioned creed of the Christians flares the fire of hatred, dislike and contempt against our first parents, as we hold them responsible for all our sufferings, miseries and death. Anyhow, we note that the aforementioned creed is not shared by any of the prophets from Adam to Jesus. God never made such a revelation nor such belief is found anywhere in the books of the Old Testament.
Entire credit for expounding such a dreadful and despicable theory of original and hereditary sin and its magnified and unavoidable impact on posterity of Adam goes to Saint Paul, a self-claimed apostle of Jesus. His followers did not lag behind and they to have been utilizing all their knowledge and expertise to enhance the blemish on the characters of the progenitors of entire human race. What a homage to our great grandfather and vicegerent of Allah on earth, who according to Bible, was created in likeness with God and resembling Him.
Important Characters and Concepts
During our study so far, we came across some important characters and concepts. A brief description of the same may help us for better understanding in our further discussion. These are:
Angels: Angels are invisible creatures of God, created from Noor (light). These imperceptible spiritual beings do not have physical bodies like men or animals and do not need food, drinks or other nourishment for their maintenance. They are incessantly busy in celebrating God’s praise and glorifying His holy name. This is their only source of life and energy. God has bestowed upon them great powers, knowledge and understanding to cope with their respective assignments to carry out orders of the Lord throughout the universe. Angels control atmospheres bring rains and carryout administration of the Kingdom of God exactly in accordance with the commands of Almighty Allah. They have neither discretion nor independent will nor any power to transgress the orders of the Lord. Although very superior creatures of Allah, the angels do not have any freedom of choice and action. They are the most obedient servants of Allah, bound to obey His commands without hesitation or delay. By the very nature of their creation, the angels cannot indulge into sin or any other transgression whatsoever.
Angels have different ranks and positions. Four among them, i.e. Jibrael, Michael, Issrapheel, and Izraeel are archangels holding highest position with Almighty Allah. They all have billions of assistants who all perform the respective missions as per commands of the Lord.
Jibrael is the angel of revelation, who brings divine commands and messages to all the prophets. He, with his assistants, guides and helps them to carry out will of the Lord. Michael is responsible for various changes in the atmosphere, brings rains, controls winds and various motions in the universe. Izraeel is the chief of the angels of death. Issrapheel will below the trumpet of death and resurrection on the Day of Judgment. They have numerous other assignments, which we can neither comprehend nor describe properly. Besides them, there are angels how seek Allah’s blessings and forgiveness on behalf of men on earth. They help righteous people in the hour of need and in performing of good deeds. There are guardian angels and others who observe human actinos constantly and record the same meticulously. Such record will be produced before the Lord against each human being on the Day of Recompense.
Angels are bestowed with immense powers and traveling speeds and extra ordinary senses of seeing and hearing etc. They can also appear in the forms of birds, men or other beings.
Qur’an has referred to the angels in almost 44 Suras, of which we give a few here under:
206) Those who are near to thy Lord, disdain not to do Him worship: They celebrate His praises, and prostrate before Him.
Al-Qur’an, 007.206 (Al-Araf [The Heights])
49) And to Allah doth obeisance all that is in the heavens and on earth, whether moving (living) creatures or the angels: for none are arrogant (before their Lord).
Al-Qur’an, 016.049 (An-Nahl [The Bee])
19) To Him belong all (creatures) in the heavens and on earth: Even those who are in His (very) Presence are not too proud to serve Him, nor are they (ever) weary (of His service):
20) They celebrate His praises night and day, nor do they ever flag or intermit.
Al-Qur’an, 021.019-020 (Al-Anbiya [The Prophets])
75) And thou wilt see the angels surrounding the Throne (Divine) on all sides, singing Glory and Praise to their Lord. The Decision between them (at Judgment) will be in (perfect) justice, and the cry (on all sides) will be, “Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds!”
Al-Qur’an, 039.075 (Az-Zumar [The Troops, Throngs])
Angels, therefore, remain a superior and blessed creation of God, nearest to His throne and present everywhere in the universe, worshiping Him ceaselessly, and carrying out all His orders exactly in accordance with His command.
Jinn: While Bible is silent about jinn, the Qur’an and Hadith have dealt with the subject extensively, jinn has been referred in 11 Suras of Qur’an and word ‘Jinna’ in 7 Suras. ‘Jaan’ a derivative of ‘Jinn’, is mentioned in 4 Suras; while there if reference about (affectees?), i.e. Majnoon in 8 Suras. Iblis or Satan is also from the jinn, but due to his notorious wicked and evil role he will be discussed separately hereafter.
God had created jinn out of fire much earlier than Man, ‘We created man from sounding clay, from mud moulded into shape; And the Jinn race, We had created before, from the fire of a scorching wind.’ (15:26-27)
Jinn have certain close or remote similarities with angels and man, while there are marked dissimilarities with the (booth?). Angels were created from Noor (light), jinn from fire and man from clay of earth. Jinn are spirits like angels but are mortal like men and remain within a limited domain of earth and sky. Jinn eat, drink, have sex and procreate. Although they have exceptionally long lives but are mortal. Jinn possess great powers and can travel at immense speed.
While angels have no propensities to do evil, jinn are like men possessed with powers to choose between vice and virtue and enjoy freedom of action according to their own choice. They are, therefore, accountable for all their deeds and deserve recompense accordingly. Jinn have passions like men and like angels; they take different shapes. They can appear as human beings, ghosts, snakes, black dogs etc.
Both jinn and men (?) all other creatures in the universe are bound to worship Allah which is the main purpose of their creation. Allah has told us that:
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالإنْسَ إِلا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
I have only created Jinns and men, that they may serve Me.
Al-Qur’an, 051.056 (Adh-Dhariyat [The Winnowing winds])
Jinn have been receiving proper guidance through prophets from among them and also through great human prophets and Rasuls like Moses and Muhammad ( ):
وَإِذْ صَرَفْنَا إِلَيْكَ نَفَرًا مِنَ الْجِنِّ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الْقُرْآنَ فَلَمَّا حَضَرُوهُ قَالُوا أَنْصِتُوا فَلَمَّا قُضِيَ وَلَّوْا إِلَى قَوْمِهِمْ مُنْذِرِينَ
قَالُوا يَا قَوْمَنَا إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا كِتَابًا أُنْزِلَ مِنْ بَعْدِ مُوسَى مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْحَقِّ وَإِلَى طَرِيقٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ
يَا قَوْمَنَا أَجِيبُوا دَاعِيَ اللَّهِ وَآمِنُوا بِهِ يَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ مِنْ ذُنُوبِكُمْ وَيُجِرْكُمْ مِنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ
وَمَنْ لا يُجِبْ دَاعِيَ اللَّهِ فَلَيْسَ بِمُعْجِزٍ فِي الأرْضِ وَلَيْسَ لَهُ مِنْ دُونِهِ أَولِيَاءُ أُولَئِكَ فِي ضَلالٍ مُبِينٍ
29) Behold, We turned towards thee a company of Jinns (quietly) listening to the Qur’an: when they stood in the presence thereof, they said, “Listen in silence!” When the (reading) was finished, they returned to their people, to warn (them of their sins).
30) They said, “O our people! We have heard a Book revealed after Moses, confirming what came before it: it guides (men) to the Truth and to a Straight Path.
31) “O our people, hearken to the one who invites (you) to Allah, and believe in him: He will forgive you your faults, and deliver you from a Penalty Grievous.
32) “If any does not hearken to the one who invites (us) to Allah, he cannot frustrate (Allah’s Plan) on earth, and no protectors can he have besides Allah: such men (wander) in manifest error.”
Al-Qur’an, 046.019-032 (Al-Ahqaf [The Wind-curved Sandhills, The Dunes])
يَا مَعْشَرَ الْجِنِّ وَالإنْسِ أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِنْكُمْ يَقُصُّونَ عَلَيْكُمْ آيَاتِي وَيُنْذِرُونَكُمْ لِقَاءَ يَوْمِكُمْ هَذَا قَالُوا شَهِدْنَا عَلَى أَنْفُسِنَا وَغَرَّتْهُمُ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا وَشَهِدُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا كَافِرِينَ
130) “O ye assembly of Jinns and men! came there not unto you messengers from amongst you, setting forth unto you My signs, and warning you of the meeting of this Day of yours?” They will say: “We bear witness against ourselves.” It was the life of this world that deceived them. So against themselves will they bear witness that they rejected Faith.
Al-Qur’an, 006.130 (Al-Anaam [Cattle, Livestock])
In Sura Al-Jinn, Allah informs us that some jinn accepted Islam, while others refused:
قُلْ أُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ أَنَّهُ اسْتَمَعَ نَفَرٌ مِنَ الْجِنِّ فَقَالُوا إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا قُرْآنًا عَجَبًا
يَهْدِي إِلَى الرُّشْدِ فَآمَنَّا بِهِ وَلَنْ نُشْرِكَ بِرَبِّنَا أَحَدًا
وَأَنَّهُ تَعَالَى جَدُّ رَبِّنَا مَا اتَّخَذَ صَاحِبَةً وَلا وَلَدًا
وَأَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ سَفِيهُنَا عَلَى اللَّهِ شَطَطًا
1) Say: It has been revealed to me that a company of Jinns listened (to the Qur’an). They said, ‘We have really heard a wonderful Recital!
2) ‘It gives guidance to the Right, and we have believed therein: we shall not join (in worship) any (gods) with our Lord.
3) ‘And Exalted is the Majesty of our Lord: He has taken neither a wife nor a son.
4) ‘There were some foolish ones among us, who used to utter extravagant lies against Allah;
Al-Qur’an, 072.001-004 (Al-Jinn [The Jinn])
There are many references about jinn in the Qur’an such as 6:132, 41:52, 72:14-15, 55:46-47and 41:25. To avoid further details we conclude that jinn are living beings concealed from our senses and revealed by Allah. Like men they have received guidance from Allah to live in a righteous manner, and they have been given freedom of choice and action. Among them are Muslims, i.e. who believe in Allah and His prophets and have undertaken to surrender to the commands and will of Allah. There are others who have refused to believe, and are rebellious wicked beings. The chief of the later group is Satan, whom we shall discuss shortly.
Adam (Man): God had already finished creation of heaven and earth. Angels were praising him and glorify his holy name. All the divine commands were being carried out by them meticulously and without any lapse on their part. Jinn had also been created much earlier than man, and they too had their sway over certain parts of the skies and earth. Iblis, a chief among the jinn, had long record of faithful service and worship to Allah; due to which he sued to enjoy company of the angels. Everything continued to go on smoothly, perhaps for millions and millions of years, when Almighty Allah decided to create mankind with a nature differing from the angels and the jinns. He decided to form the essence of the clay of earth with a predetermined purpose of making him vicegerent on earth, as is evident from the verses below:
12) Man We did create from a quintessence (of clay);
Al-Qur’an, 023.012 (Al-Mumenoon [The Believers])
59) The similitude of Jesus before Allah is as that of Adam; He created him from dust, then said to him: “Be”. And he was.
Al-Qur’an, 003.059 (Aal-E-Imran [The Family of Imran])
Almighty Allah also reveals that:
30) 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.”
Al-Qur’an, 002.030 (Al-Baqara [The Cow])
Hence, the sole purpose of creation of Adam was to place him as vicegerent of Allah on earth. The angels and Iblis knew the weakness of Adam and also his propensities to sin. Angel’s objection was satisfied by demonstrating superior knowledge of Adam about all the things on earth and all that he was required to deal with. Almighty Allah, therefore, commanded them to prostrate in veneration of Adam to which all the angels responded obediently but Iblis who was a jinn and having a nature different from the angels refused.
Refusal of Iblis (Satan) has been discussed in Qur’an at several places out of which we reproduce a few verses as under:
61) Behold! We said to the angels: “Bow down unto Adam”: They bowed down except Iblis: He said, “Shall I bow down to one whom Thou didst create from clay?”
62) He said: “Seest Thou? this is the one whom Thou hast honoured above me! If Thou wilt but respite me to the Day of Judgment, I will surely bring his descendants under my sway – all but a few!”
63) (Allah) said: “Go thy way; if any of them follow thee, verily Hell will be the recompense of you (all)- an ample recompense.
64) “Lead to destruction those whom thou canst among them, with thy (seductive) voice; make assaults on them with thy cavalry and thy infantry; mutually share with them wealth and children; and make promises to them.” But Satan promises them nothing but deceit.
65) “As for My servants, no authority shalt thou have over them:” Enough is thy Lord for a Disposer of affairs.
Al-Qur’an, 017.061-065 (Al-Isra [Isra, The Night Journey, Children of Israel])
The above narrated is enough to show that Satan was jealous of man, who was being given pass over him without any previous performance. He also felt proud of his creation from fire, which according to him was superior to clay. Due to his pride, he rebelled and refused to obey the orders of the Lord. When he was cursed he sought respite unto the Day of Resurrection, which was granted to him. He declared his mission that he will lead Adam and his descendants to destruction till the respite ends.
After the above episode, Almighty Allah said:
19) “O Adam! dwell thou and thy wife in the Garden, and enjoy (its good things) as ye wish: but approach not this tree, or ye run into harm and transgression.”
Al-Qur’an, 007.019 (Al-Araf [The Heights])
Allah also warned Adam and Eve as under:
117) Then We said: “O Adam! verily, this is an enemy to thee and thy wife: so let him not get you both out of the Garden, so that thou art landed in misery.
Al-Qur’an, 020.117 (Ta-Ha [Mystic letters Ta-Ha])
It has not been revealed how long Adam and Eve stayed in the Garden. Anyhow, it is supposed that they stayed there for a fairly long time. Adam had no previous knowledge and experience of the temptations of Satan. He knew nothing about his lies and deception in guise of a sincere advisor. He also had forgotten the warning of God about Satan. So both Adam and Eve innocently fell prey to him and ate from the forbidden fruit. The transgression resulted into the appearance of their nakedness to them and they instantly realized their fault and earnestly started beseeching forgiveness from Allah. They seriously repented and sought mercy of the Lord. Their prayer was accepted as revealed in the verses hereunder:
21) In the result, they both ate of the tree, and so their nakedness appeared to them: they began to sew together, for their covering, leaves from the Garden: thus did Adam disobey his Lord, and allow himself to be seduced.
020.122 But his Lord chose him (for His Grace): He turned to him, and gave him Guidance.
Al-Qur’an, 020.121-122 (Ta-Ha [Mystic letters Ta-Ha])
God further tells us that Adam and Eve learnt from the Lord words of inspiration with which they beseeched His forgiveness:
قَالا رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنْفُسَنَا وَإِنْ لَمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
They said: “Our Lord! We have wronged our own souls: If thou forgive us not and bestow not upon us Thy Mercy, we shall certainly be lost.”
Al-Qur’an, 007.023 (Al-Araf [The Heights])
The above words of God revealed to Adam remain a universal, unfailing and everlasting formula for seeking forgiveness, mercy and salvation from the Lord. Whosoever repents sincerely and earnestly to seek forgiveness of Allah, is not only forgiven the sin but he also receives additional grace and blessings from the Lord.
Allah says:
53) Say: “O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
54) “Turn ye to our Lord (in repentance) and bow to His (Will), before the Penalty comes on you: after that ye shall not be helped.
Al-Qur’an, 039.053-054 (Az-Zumar [The Troops, Throngs])
Prophet Adam realized and confessed his guilt immediately, and without any hesitation he humbly surrendered himself unconditionally to the mercy of Allah, which was not only granted to him but also he was exalted to a higher position. God tells us:
122) But his Lord chose him (for His Grace): He turned to him, and gave him Guidance.
Al-Qur’an, 020.122 (Ta-Ha [Mystic letters Ta-Ha])
It may be noted that Adam was not a chosen person either at his creation or during his stay in the Garden, but subsequent to his confession of guilt and seeking mercy and forgiveness of Allah, he was not only forgiven but he was exalted to the position of God’s first prophet on earth. From the above story, we draw following conclusions:
- That Adam was created solely with the predetermined purpose of making him vicegerent on earth. He was created from the essence of clay to conform closely to the environments of earth. His nature of creation, knowledge of good and bad, discretion to choose between the two, freedom of action were all pre-equipments for fulfillment of his assignment as inheritor of earth.
- Adam stay in the Garden was provisional and probationary during which Almighty Allah tested him and gave him practical demonstration as to how Iblis could detract the human begins and how fatal is the outcome of such transgressions. During this period Adam also learnt that one must immediately submit himself humbly before the Lord to seek his mercy and pardon in case of any intentional or unintentional violence of orders of the Lord. There is nothing else that can save man from this destruction.
- That man is not like angels who cannot fall into sin. Man’s nature and his involvements are such that he should always remains on his guards. There are numerous temptations inviting man to his immediate attractions, and man can always lean towards them forgetting, ignoring or violating the guidance of Allah. No one is absolutely immune from such attractions, but God fearing and faithful bondmen of Allah are saved by the grace of the Lord. Others fall prey to the delusions of Satan. Anyhow, man is free to act according to his own choice. As long as he is God-conscious and keeps in mind commands of Allah, Satan cannot overpower him to commit sin. Satan whispers his temptations to man, and man following his own immediate benefits is seduce into sin.
- That man was neither created in the likeness of God nor did he resemble him. A creature from clay can neither resemble God nor can be immortal. God says:
فَاطِرُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأرْضِ جَعَلَ لَكُمْ مِنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَاجًا وَمِنَ الأنْعَامِ أَزْوَاجًا يَذْرَؤُكُمْ فِيهِ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ
11) (He is) the Creator of the heavens and the earth: He has made for you pairs from among yourselves, and pairs among cattle: by this means does He multiply you: there is nothing whatever like unto Him, and He is the One that hears and sees (all things).
Al-Qur’an, 042.011 (Ash-Shura [Council, Consultation])
O MAN! What is it that lures thee away from thy bountiful Sustainer, (7) who has created thee, and formed thee in accordance with what thou art meant to be, and shaped thy nature in just proportions, (8) having put thee together in whatever form He willed [thee to have]? (9) Nay, [O men,] but you [are lured away from God whenever you are tempted to] give the lie to [God’s] Judgment!
The statement of Bible that ‘God created human beings making them to be like Himself’ cannot, therefore, be upheld. Adam was a mortal and was created with balanced propensities to vice and virtue peculiar to the nature of man. Man could never be immune from sin, but if he followed the divine guidance he would always lean towards virtuous life. The Christian theory that sin and earth entered the world due to original sin of one man (Rom. 5:12) is, therefore, baseless and does not find any support from Old Testament or Qur’an. They blame Adam that ‘on account of the sin of Adam (we?) his descendants come into the world deprived of sanctifying grace which we ought to have according to Gods original plan to be holy and just in His sight’ (Creed Explained p. 215). Our opinion is that man could not and did not thwart original plan of God. The accusation is entirely unfounded. Factually, Adam instead of depriving us of the sanctifying grace, was instrumental to bring prophet-hood, blessings and grace with him which has been passing on to his descendents from Seth, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم). We know that God is the only competent authority to forgive the sin. He graciously forgave Adam even before his placement on earth, but the Bible says ‘Because of what you (Adam) have done the ground will be under a curse,’ and the same shall produce thorns and thistles. This curse of Bible is not only misplaced but also the same is against the established facts. Out of billions of stars and planets in the universe, only the earth has the ideal potentials and environment for man other life on it. Qur’an is full of narration regarding bountiful blessings of Allah on earth. Even then if one considers earth under a curse, as Bible makes us believe, then how will we categorized billions of stars and planets burning hot with gasses and smoke? Israel it only the cursed planet, which became abode of all the prophets including Jesus the god of Christians. Let us rethink! Have we not unnecessarily magnified the sin of Adam to find false refuge behind the so-called original sin?
No doubt, Adam ate from the forbidden fruit but only once and did not repeat the mistake. He repented immediately and was forgiven by the Lord. He came to the world with a clean slate, was chosen as prophet and lived righteous thereafter till his death. We the descendants of Adam, on the other hand, are devouring millions of forbidden fruits repeatedly since his death. We neither repent nor refrain from the evil deeds and seek a justification in making Adam the original sinner and responsible for all our misdeeds. Justification for all our sins is (sought?) in the so-called sin of Adam and we have exalted Jesus to Godhead for our salvation. As such neither any responsibility for sin lies on us nor need we be afraid of any retribution. If the above concepts be the ultimate truth then 124,000 prophets have been making fools of us and guidance through God’s commands to do good and refrain from evil was merely exercise in futility.
The fact is that God has always been providing us the guidance to do good, and in case we fall into sin we must not stick to it obstinately; nor should we try to transfer our sin and responsibility for salvation to someone else. The right was as advised by all the prophets is to repent, to resolve, not to repeat the sin and to pray earnestly for mercy and forgiveness of Allah. This is the only and the unchanging Law of salvation with Allah. God addressed Moses as under:
114) And establish regular prayers at the two ends of the day and at the approaches of the night: For those things, that are good remove those that are evil: Be that the word of remembrance to those who remember (their Lord):
Al-Qur’an, 011.114
And as God further addressed Moses:
10) “Now do thou throw thy rod!” But when he saw it moving (of its own accord)as if it had been a snake, he turned back in retreat, and retraced not his steps: “O Moses!” (it was said), “Fear not: truly, in My presence, those called as messengers have no fear,-
11) “But if any have done wrong and have thereafter substituted good to take the place of evil, truly, I am Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Al-Qur’an, 027.010-011 (An-Naml [The Ant, The Ants])