Accountability and Salvation

The Qur'an teaches us that the human race has been given an innate pure nature called "fitrah." Knowledge of Allah and in the spirituality are inherent in human existence, but spirituality can betray us if it is not led in the right direction. To depend only on a human sense of the "guiding spirit" is dangerous. Many groups, even cults, claim to be guided by God or by inspiration, yet these groups hold divergent, even conflicting beliefs. We find people behaving in contradictory ways who claim, nonetheless, that they are doing the will of God. "I feel," they say, "that the Holy Spirit guides and directs me." However, human beings have been endowed with an intellect to be used, not put on the shelf. A credible source of revelation is imperative. The Qur'an strongly rejects viewpoints based on myth, illusion, ignorance, blind imitation of others, conjecture, prejudice, whims and worldly desires. In fact, Allah confirms that most people on earth have gone astray through ignorance, conjecture and supposition:

"And if you obey most of those upon the earth, they will mislead you from the way of Allah. They follow not except assumption, and they are not but falsifying." (Surah Al-An’am, 6:116)

The Muslim does not see human existence here on earth as punishment for eating from the forbidden tree. That event is regarded as an experiential lesson for Adam and Eve before they came to this earth. The Qur'an teaches that even before the creation of the first human it was Allah's plan to establish human life and civilisation on earth (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:30). Thus, the Muslim does not view man as completely evil nor as completely good, but rather as a responsible being.

How can we humans, from the Islamic perspective, overcome sin? The Qur'an teaches that this life is a test and that earthly life is temporary (Surah Al-Mulk, 67:2). The Muslim believes in resurrection, accountability, and the Day of Judgement, He knows that there is reward and punishment, that there is life hereafter and that reward or punishment does not necessarily wait until the Day of Judgement, but begins immediately after burial.

To demand perfection in order to gain salvation is not realistic. It would be demanding the impossible and is therefore unjust. Islam teaches a person to be humble and to realize that he cannot achieve salvation by his own righteousness. The reconciliation of the imperfect human being with Allah is contingent on three elements: the grace and mercy of Allah, good deeds and correct belief. Correct belief and good deeds are prerequisites for Allah’s forgiveness and for rising above our common shortcomings.

How can sin be removed? The Qur'an gives the prescription:

"And whoever does a wrong or wrongs himself but then seeks forgiveness of Allah will find Allah Forgiving and Merciful." (Surah An-Nisa’, 4:110)

"Indeed, good deeds do away with misdeeds.” (Surah Hud, 11:114)

"But indeed, I am the perpetual Forgiver of whoever repents and believes and does righteousness and then continues in guidance." (Surah Ta-Ha, 20:82)

Islam teaches repentance: stopping evil ways, feeling regret for what one has done and determining to follow the path of Allah as much as humanly possible. There is no necessity for the sacrifice of a human being to wash away sins, only sincere repentance. The Qur’an puts it clearly:

“My Mercy encompasses all things.” (Surah Al-A'raf, 7:156)

Another passage reads: "Say, O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the Mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins [for those who repent and correct themselves]. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful." (Surah Az-Zumar, 39: 53)