"Say
(O Muhammad): 'O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Exceed
not the limits in your religion (by believing in something) other than
the truth, and do not follow the vain desires of people who went astray
in times gone by, and who misled many, and strayed (themselves) from the
Right Path.'" [Qur'an 5:77]
The
doctrine of original sin is one of the tenets of Christianity which was
established in the 5th century A.D., under the influence of Augustine,
by the Roman Catholic church. It must be understood from the beginning
that this doctrine, is at best, only a theory!
Christians
believe this theory to be a Bible doctrine. They reason that, since
theologians and preachers teach this doctrine, then it must be true!
This theory is not a Bible doctrine and nowhere in the Bible can there
be found verses which give credence to it! Where, in the Bible, is it
written that , "All men are guilty and condemnable for the depraved
nature with which they are born"?
The
fact that mankind has the boldness to propagate this (and other)
theories as 'Bible truths', whilst being warned by God not to tamper
with His Holy Word, by neither adding to or taking away from it, is
surely one of mankind's greatest crimes!
"You
must not add anything to my charge (to command, assign responsibility
to), nor take anything away from it." (Deuteronomy, chapter 3, verse 4.)
"Verily,
We did send down the Tauraat (to Musa), therein was guidance and light,
by which the Prophets, who submitted themselves to Allah's Will, judged
the Jews. And the rabbis and the priests (too judged the Jews by the
Tauraat after those Prophets) for to them was entrusted the protection
of Allah's Book, and they were witnesses thereto. Therefore fear not men
but fear Me (O Jews) and sell not My Verses for a miserable price. And
whosoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed, such are the
disbelievers." [Qur'an 5:44]
Church
history records that from the 2nd and 3rd century A.C. onwards, both
the practices and doctrines of Christ were increasingly corrupted by
heathen philosophies complete with their pagan superstitions and sense
of morality. This influence was extensive. On the one hand there was
unrestrained sexual lust, and on the other extremes in asceticism; the
veneration and worship of saints, relics, images, and pictures; the
development of a priesthood with priestly rituals and ceremonies;
magical and spiritual powers ascribed to water, sacred words, and signs;
water baptism for the remission of sins; and the baptism of infants.
Heathen mythology was introduced and branded 'Christianity'!
Many
of the early theologians were converts from heathenism, who wedded
their pagan philosophical concepts to Christianity. These were educated
men who gave the concepts of their heathen beliefs to Christianity,
thereby corrupting the purity of the teachings of Jesus. They believed,
especially Augustine, that unbaptised infants are damned because of
inherited sin and guilt, and that saints and martyrs could intercede in
our favour.
It
was from this soil of religious ignorance and superstition that the
Augustinian theory of original sin arose. The Augustinian theory
declares that since all of mankind is descended from Adam, then on that
basis the morality of Adam was transferred to his descendants, and
therefore, all of mankind is intrinsically corrupt.
In
the Bible of today we can find nothing to substantiate the doctrine of
the original sin, infact we are able to find denial of such a doctrine!
"Fathers
shall not be put to death for their children, nor children for their
fathers; a man shall be put to death only for his own sin."
(Deuteronomy, chapter 24, verse 16.)
"It
is the soul that sins, and no other, that shall die; a son shall not
share a father's guilt, nor a father his son's. The righteous man shall
reap the fruit of his own righteousness, and the wicked man the fruit of
his own wickedness." (Ezekiel, chapter 18, verse 20.)
Allah explains in Al Qur'an:
"Say:
'Shall I seek a lord other than Allah, while He is the Lord of all
things? No person earns any (sin) except against himself (only), and no
bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another. Then unto your Lord
is your return, so He will tell you that wherein you have been
differing.'" [Qur'an 6:164].
Insha'Allah,
we as Muslims are able to continue with our Da'wah towards those who
are misled and misguided and Insha'Allah, those who mislead and deceive
bear the burden of their own sin.
Post a Comment