In this article, insha’Allah, we are going to discuss the issue of Original Sin and Salvation in Christian theology as presented by Ms. Sajita in her article and display Islamic viewpoint as represented in the Qur’an and Sunnah. Her writing is in blue and mine is in black. Also read Ms. Sajita's response to this article by clicking here.

  Readers are encouraged to read original article written by Ms. Sajita before reading this reply. Under the title of ‘Original Sin’ Ms. Sajita narrated the sin of Adam and Eve quoting Biblical verses in the Book of Genesis and other Books in order to establish that since Adam and Eve sinned, then all their descendants are sinners, we are supposed to believe that the newborn baby is a sinner unless baptized. Christians resort to quoting ‘proof texts’ to support their view of ‘Original Sin’ but what about the next clear statement in the Bible?
“The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.” (Ezekiel 18:20)

  Here the Bible is explicit that everyone is responsible for his/her own acts and many Biblical verses convey the same theme, please consider the following passages
"The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin." (Deuteronomy 24:16, II Kings 14:6)

"But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge." (Jeremiah 31:30)

"None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him" (Psalms 49:7)

"So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it." (Numbers 35:33)

  In the light of the above quotes, one finds no difficulty in understanding that everyone is responsible for the consequences of his own deeds. In any court of justice in any civilized country, one fails to find a single person judged for his father’s or brother’s act. Other than that would be injustice. Is God unjust? Are humans more just than God? I do not imagine a fair person punishing a son instead of his father, let alone punishing the father and the son and the grandson, …etc.. Far is God from what they ascribe to Him.

(For more insight read the answers to these question on Jews for Judaism
Do Jews believe in the doctrine of original sin?
Isn't it true that humans are so innately sinful that they need an outside sinless agent to redeem them from sin?
What are the implications of the Christian doctrine of original sin? )

  In Islam, there is no doubt that everyone is responsible for his own acts “Who receiveth guidance, receiveth it for his own benefit: who goeth astray doth so to his own loss: no bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another” (Holy Qur’an 17:15)

  This is non-controversial matter and every single Muslim deeply believes that no one bears the burdens of another.

  Ms. Sajita has quoted some Qur’anic verses to show that her belief in Original Sin is supported by the Holy Qur’an.

**Ms. Sajita wrote** If we read in the Quran and the Bible we can see that Quran also says the same thing:-
Sura 7:22. So by deceit he brought about their fall: when they tasted of the tree, their shame became manifest to them, and they began to sew together the leaves of the garden over their bodies. And their Lord called unto them: "Did I not forbid you that tree, and tell you that Satan was an avowed enemy unto you?"

Sura 7:23. 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."

Sura 7:24. ((Allah)) said: "Get ye down. With enmity between yourselves. On earth will be your dwelling-place and your means of livelihood,- for a time."

Sura 7:25. He said: "Therein shall ye live, and therein shall ye die; but from it shall ye be taken out (at last)."

Sura 7:26. O ye Children of Adam! We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover your shame, as well as to be an adornment to you. But the raiment of righteousness,- that is the best. Such are among the Signs of Allah, that they may receive admonition!

All these verses say about the fall of Adam and repentance and forgiveness of sin. These verses also say that because of the sin of Adam, curse and death came in this world. Their shame became manifest to them and they started sew cloths for them.. And further we read that God gave them the raiment to cover their shame, as well as to be an adornment to them.

"Then learnt Adam from his Lord Words of inspiration, and his Lord Turned towards him; for He is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful." (Holy Qur'an 2:37)

  These words of inspiration are detailed in another Chapter of the Qur’an "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."" (Holy Qur'an 7:23)

  Another difference between Qur’anic and Biblical narration is that the Qur’an clearly states that Satan , not the serpent, was the one who seduced Adam and Eve. Also, the Qur’an leaves no doubt that Satan seduced both of them on the contrary of the Biblical account which says that the serpent seduced Eve, then Eve seduced Adam which had very grave consequences concerning the Christian theological view of woman as an example of ‘Eve the temptress’.
  (Please confer Holy Qur’an 2:35-28, 7:19-25 and 20:115-123 for more details about inhabitance of Adam and Eve in Paradise and their exile due to Satan’s deception)

**Ms. Sajita wrote** And the same thing Bible says in Genesis 3:21, "Also for Adam and his wife the LORD God made tunics of skin, and clothed them."

From where the skin came? Certainly God sacrifice an animal to cover the shame of Adam and Eve. The same thing Jesus did on the cross. To cover our shame and shameful act, to cover our sins and consequences of sin, to cover our take our guilt and sinful nature from us, He died on the cross. He shed His precious blood on the cruel cross for me and for you so that we may never be in shame and sin.

**Ms. Sajita wrote** Because we are born in sin that’s why we bent towards evil and sin. David says in Psalms 51:5, "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me." We can not come out from our sinful nature by our good deeds or by our own efforts. Yes, we need a Savior, we need a Messiah who can rescue us from our sins.

  Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) said: "God extends His Hand with repentance to sinner of the night till the morning and to sinner of the day till sunset" (narrated by Muslim and Ahmed "authentic")
And said: "If you commit sins till they reach the sky and repent, God will forgive you" (narrated by Ibn Majah "authentic")
In another place, he said: "the repentant of a sin is just like the sinless" (narrated by Bukhari and Muslim "authentic")
So, despair from God’s Mercy and Forgiveness has no place in Islamic theology because "God accepts the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and repent soon afterwards" (Holy Qur’an 4:17). Even if one sins then repents, then sins, then repents, …etc.. "Verily He is Most Forgiving to those who turn to Him again and again (in true penitence)" (Holy Qur’an 17:25).

  But what about the believer who does not repent? Does he/she gain forgiveness or not? The Qur’an and Sunnah tell us that God forgives our sins even if we do not verbally repent; Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) said: "The five daily prayers and Friday prayer to Friday prayer remove all sins inbetween if you avoid Major Sins." (narrated by Muslim, Tirmithi and Ahmed "authentic")

  Hujjat-ul-Islam Imam Muhammed Al-Ghazali (died 505 AH) said:

“Since we all make mistakes, we should repent all the time as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Follow the bad act with a good one to remove it" (narrated by Tirmithi and Ahmed "authentic"). So, good acts and obedience of God are sorts of repentance and the believer doesn't do without practicing good acts in order to regularly remove bad ones.” (Ihyaa 'Uloum-ed-Deen, Volume 4, Book of Repentance)

“These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.” (Genesis 6:9)

“And they (i.e. Zacharia and Elizabeth) were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.” (Luke 1:6)

  Ms. Sajita mentioned a very important point concerning the way Christians view human nature; she said: “We can not come out from our sinful nature by our good deeds or by our own efforts.” This shows that one’s free will, according to Christian theology, has no role in his/her salvation and he/she uses free will to sin only. Period.

  On the contrary of popular Christian belief, Jews believe in many ways other than blood sacrifice to remove sin like giving charity
"The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls. And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls." (Exodus 30:15-16)

"We have therefore brought an oblation for the LORD, what every man hath gotten, of jewels of gold, chains, and bracelets, rings, earrings, and tablets, to make an atonement for our souls before the LORD." (Numbers 31:50)

  Or using incense
"And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun. And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people." (Numbers 16:46-47)

  While sacrifice is used for unintentional sins
"Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them: If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering." (Leviticus 4:2-3)

"If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the LORD; then he shall bring for his trespass unto the LORD a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering." (Leviticus 6:15)

"And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering. And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the LORD, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him." (Numbers 15:27-28)

  Based upon these verses, blood sacrifice is not the only way to make atonement and Jews used to resort to more powerful means in order to be forgiven. For more information about this topic, please read insights into Leviticus written by Jews for Judaism.

**Ms. Sajita wrote** Genesis 3:19, "In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return."
This verse says, "Dust you are" it means they were created by dust as the Bible says in Gen 2:7, "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being." And the verse no. Genesis 3:17 says that, "And to dust you shall return." This verse clearly says that man/woman will die(they will return to dust). And more than this, Bible says about SPIRITUAL DEATH. We are made up of 3 parts, 1. Soul, 2. Body, 3. Mind
So when God said to Adam, "You will surely die" then He meant that, You will did spiritually. That’s what happened in the garden of Eden. Adam and Eve sinned but they did not die immediately (physically) but the moment they sinned they died spiritually. Their soul became dead and they separated from God because there is no sin in God and God can not be with those who sin

  Concerning the last phrase “Their soul became dead and they separated from God because there is no sin in God and God can not be with those who sin.” I prefer to quote Robert Squires (a Christian covert to Islam):

“In order to present a more balanced and complete view of the Islamic view of "salvation" (for lack of a better term in English), I think that I should quote a few more Qur'anic verses and Prophetic hadeeths. One important verse that relates to your statement above is: "Were it not for God's Grace and Mercy on you all, none of you would ever have become purified; but God purifies whom He pleases." (Qur'an, Chapter 24 - "The Light", Verse 21) This verse serves as further proof that it is God's Grace that ultimately saves man. Another important verses is: "No one despairs of God's Mercy except those who have no faith." (Qur'an, Chapter 12 - "Joseph", Verse 87). From an Islamic perspective, Christians are certainly in violation of this. The fact that Christians, for all practical purposes, despair of the Mercy of God can be demonstrated by the theological devices which they use to convince people that they cannot approach God without Jesus. They go to great lengths to convince people that God demands "perfect Justice", which in the end eliminates Mercy altogether. Muslims certainly believe that Almighty God is Just, but not in the distorted way that Christians teach. God's Justice is tempered by His Mercy, not His Mercy eliminated by His Justice - which is how the Doctrine of the Atonement works out. God ends up looking like a Shylock and Jesus is the hero. No wonder Christianity is so "Christocentric" instead of "Deocentric"! Who wants to be reminded of a God like that! Anyway . . . the view that both God's Mercy and Justice are continuously operative can be supported from the Old Testament and is how Jews have traditionally viewed God. The idea that God is "100% Holy so He can't come in contact with sin" have their origins in Greek philosophy, not Semitic monotheism. ”
(Taken from Muslim answers to inquiring Christian)

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   **Ms. Sajita wrote**
How  can we get Salvation?
1. Realize that you are sinner
2. Confess from your mouth
3. Repent from your sins
4. Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior
5. New creation
6. Promise of eternal life

  Jesus (peace be upon him) told the man that he should keep the commandments in order to have eternal life. Why didn’t Jesus tell him that there is no way to Heaven except through his blood? Was he misleading this man by not telling him that the only way to Heaven is through his blood?!

"And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live." (Luke 10:25-28)

  Nothing about Jesus’ blood or sacrifice? Again?!! One starts to wonder; if the entire purpose of Jesus’ mission is to offer atonement through blood sacrifice, then why did he preach observing the commandments and the Law as an ideal way to go to Heaven?!

"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:10)
  No mention of accepting Jesus as your ‘personal’ Savior to join the kingdom of heaven! Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) revealed the purpose of his mission and said: "But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Matthew 9:13)
  In spite of this, Christians desert repentance and look for none but sacrifice.

**Ms. Sajita wrote** Jabir reported that the Prophet of Islam said: "No good works of yours can ever secure heaven for you, nor can they save you from hell -- not even me, without the grace of God."

Abu Huraira related that when the verse, "Cause thy near relatives to fear," was revealed to the Prophet of Islam, the Prophet arose and began to proclaim: "Oh people of the Quraysh, and you sons of Abdul Manaf, and you Abbas, son of Abdul Muttalib, and you, Safiyyah my aunt, I cannot save you from the punishment of the Day of Resurrection. Take care of yourself, O my daughter Fatimah; you may use my property, but I cannot save you from God. Take care of yourself" (Bukhari).

Abu Huraira reported that the Prophet of Islam said: "No one of you will enter Paradise through his good works." They said: "Not even you, O Apostle of God?" "Not even I," he replied, "unless God cover me with His grace and mercy. Therefore be strong, and morning and evening, nay every moment, try to do good."

  This is a cornerstone in Islamic belief, we do not go to Paradise because of our deeds only but due to God’s Mercy. Even Messenger of God won’t go to Heaven with his good deeds only but with God’s Mercy, non-Muslims who read this Hadith should notice that the disciples’ question “Not even you?” means “Not even your deeds?” because the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to observe God in all his deeds. The purpose of the Hadith is to emphasize on God’s Grace and Mercy. The famous error whom Christians fall into when dealing with Muslims’ beliefs is that they think Muslims believe they will go to Heaven based upon their good deeds only that’s why Ms. Sajita thought that this Hadith can be an evidence that the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) was not sure about salvation.

  The other Hadith is mentioned with this wording twice in Sahih-ul-Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 51, Number 16 and Volume 6, Book 60, Number 294. In both it reads,
Narrated Abu Huraira:
When God revealed the Verse: "Warn your nearest kinsmen," God’s Apostle got up and said, "O people of Quraish (or said similar words)! Buy (i.e. save) yourselves (from the Hellfire) as I cannot save you from God’s Punishment; O Bani `Abd Manaf! I cannot save you from God’s Punishment, O Safiya, the Aunt of God’s Apostle! I cannot save you from God’s Punishment; O Fatima bint Muhammad! Ask me anything from my wealth, but I cannot save you from God’s Punishment."
(Please compare it with the awfully faulty translation quoted by Ms. Sajita)

  Here the Messenger of God (peace be upon him) was addressing Pagans of Mecca including his own tribe and family, he obeyed God’s command and warned them as it was revealed (the verse is mentioned in the Holy Qur’an 26:214). None can save them from God’s punishment unless they turn to Him and quit all their idolatrous practices. In order that Messenger of God can save them, they must first turn to God alone and reject worshipping idols, if they turn to God, only then the Prophet (peace be upon him) can save them.

  It pains me that some Christians quote Prophetic narrations without good reading; Ms. Sajita found a Hadith saying: “No one goes to Heaven with good deeds” and another one saying: “I cannot save you from God’s punishment”, so she pasted them without understanding of the meaning or the significance. Isn’t it amazing?!

**Ms. Sajita wrote** Volume 1, Book 12, Number 711:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Apostle used to keep silent between the Takbir and the recitation of Qur'an and that interval of silence used to be a short one. I said to the Prophet "May my parents be sacrificed for you! What do you say in the pause between Takbir and recitation?" The Prophet said, "I say, 'Allahumma, ba'id baini wa baina khatayaya kama ba'adta baina-l-mashriqi wa-l-maghrib. Allahumma, naqqim min khatayaya kama yunaqqa-ththawbu-l-abyadu mina-ddanas. Allahumma, ighsil khatayaya bil-ma'i wa-th-thalji wal-barad (O Allah! Set me apart from my sins (faults) as the East and West are set apart from each other and clean me from sins as a white garment is cleaned of dirt (after thorough washing). O Allah! Wash off my sins with water, snow and hail.)"

  So, the Prophet (peace be upon him) was certain that all his faults are forgiven, in spite of this he was so devoted in prayer that the disciples wondered.

Narrated Al-Mughira:
The Prophet used to offer night prayers till his feet became swollen. Somebody said, to him," "God has forgiven you, your faults of the past and those to follow." On that, he said, "Shouldn't I be a thankful slave of God”?" (Sahih-ul-Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 60, Number 360, also in Volume 2, Book 21, Number 230 and Volume 8, Book 76, Number 478 and on authority of ‘Aisha in Volume 6, Book 60, Number 361)

  So, Messenger of God (peace be upon him) used to pray because he was thankful and grateful to God, not because he was not sure of forgiveness, and we -Muslims- supplicate to repent and get closer to God.

**Ms. Sajita wrote** There is no Salvation in Islam
Allah Promised hell for his followers:
Al-Imran (The Family of Imran)
Sura 3:185, "Every soul shall have a taste of death: And only on the Day of Judgment shall you be paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved far from the Fire and admitted to the Garden will have attained the object (of Life): For the life of this world is but goods and chattels of deception."
This Suras from Quran very clearly says that after death everyone will go to hell fire then judgment.. When a person went to hell fire then how and why it is possible that he/she can come out from hell fire and go to paradise.. no way.. This verse does not say anything about eternal life. This verse very clearly says that every believer in Allah is tasting death means they did not get the life while Jesus promised eternal life and heaven as we read in

John 10:10 "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

And also every soul is going to hell fire till the day of judgment means they are not reaching heaven. So of course Allah promised hell fire for his believers. I said "no way" for coming out from the hell fire and go to heaven. There is no chance to go to heaven once you go to hell fire... But yes, Jesus can save you when you are still in this world as He said in John 3:15 "that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
How a person can save himself/herself from hell fire when he/she is already in hell fire? And this verse says that they will be there till the time of Day of Judgment. Do you think a person who is already in hell fire will get a seat in heaven after judgment? Judgment is a day when people get their sentence and verdict.. no reward my friend that day.
Allah promised hell fire for his followers but contrary to it Jesus promised heaven for His followers.

  Answering this is, in fact, a continuation of the previous paragraph. Answer should involve many angles.
1) Is it logic at all that someone calls people to a new religion promising them with Hell-Fire?! How reasonable is this?! Certainly, Christians love to believe this.

2) God (in Arabic Allah) promised believers with Paradise in the Holy Qur’an "But those who believe and do deeds of righteousness- We shall soon admit them to Gardens, with rivers flowing beneath- to dwell therein forever. God’s promise is the truth, and whose word can be truer than God’s?" (Holy Qur'an 4:122)
So, here’s a clear promise of God that Muslims shall go to Paradise.

3) On the contrary of the Qur’an that details events of the Judgement Day and the Hereafter, the Bible has none but a vague incomplete picture . That’s why many Christians think that Judgement after resurrection is for sinners only. The Holy Qur’an tells us that in the Day of Resurrection, some people will be admitted into Paradise without judgement like the Prophets, and the rest will be submitted to God’s Judgement: some will go to Heaven and some to Hell. I won’t get into more details due to lack of time but one can read about this topic in details in Islamic references like “Al-Tazkirah” (i.e. The Reminder) written by Imam Al-Qurtubi.

4) I failed to recognize what Ms. Sajita calls “This Suras from Quran very clearly says that after death everyone will go to hell fire then judgment”. The problem is that Christians like Ms. Sajita interpret the Qur’an according to their Christian terminology; they read the word ‘death’ and compare it with ‘eternal life’ promised by authors of the Gospels, then scream that “Allah Promised hell for his followers”!!!
Soul does not really die, it just has a taste of death. This expression describes the experience of soul when physical death occurs. It is noteworthy to know that after judgement everyone will have eternal life either in Heaven or in Hell.

5) In Islam we follow none but Divine Guidance in the Qur’an and Sunnah, that’s why it is interesting for me to ask Ms. Sajita, how can she know that the one who is punished in Hell can never get out? Is this based upon divine source (true or alleged in this case)? Or is it just guesswork? Even guesswork will not lead you to this conclusion because we see many people out of jail after spending their sentences. Guess again!

6) I have no doubt that Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) offered Heaven and happiness through faith and good works (Matthew 19:16-21 and 25:34-46)
“I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Matthew 9:13)

  In the end, one should say that people like Ms. Sajita do no good to their religion by attacking Islam this way. This article proved her stark ignorance of very simple Islamic terms, let alone Islamic teachings. And God guides only whom He pleases.