What the Quran and Hadith Teach about Sin
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All human beings are born as Muslims. Imperfect education and poor child rearing cause many to turn away from Islam (Quran 30:30, Hadith Bukhari 8:597).
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According to Quran 16:78, people are born innocent and pure. But then “Satan touches every son of Adam on the day his mother gives birth to him, except for Mary and her son,” (Hadith Muslim, 30:5838). This touch is what makes a person commit sin and rebel.
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Humans have a tendency towards evil because Allah inspires wickedness into some of them (Quran 91:7-8).
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No one is free to choose good or evil. Allah decides the fate of a person from the time they are born. Some people are created for hell by Allah (Quran 7:178-179).
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Allah regards most sins as mistakes or errors rather than permanent offenses against him. They can be erased by subsequent prayers and deeds (Quran 3:134-135).
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Sins are not all equal. Furthermore, the same act can sometimes be good and at other times be evil. For example, adultery is forbidden. However, relationships with maidens and war captives are allowed (Quran 33:52 and 4:3). Lying against Allah and his prophet are prohibited but lying is allowed in war, between spouses, and for reconciling two parties (Hadith Muslim 32:6303). Killing a Muslim is not allowed, while killing an apostate is ordered by Allah (Quran 9:14).
The Dilemma with the Quranic version of Sin
According to the Quran, the first sin took place when Iblis (Satan) convinced Adam and his wife to disobey Allah and eat from a certain tree in paradise (Quran 2:35). As a consequence to their defiance, Allah expelled them from paradise (Quran 7:12-18). The Quran considers this incident a mistake made by Adam and his wife that was later fully forgiven. This disobedient act had no further influence on man or on creation.
But if it did not have any effect, why then, are we not living in paradise? Why are we living in a world full of pain and suffering? And why does everyone, including Muslims, have to pass through hell first before Allah decides their final destiny (Quran 19:70-72)?
Even though the original sin does not affect humans (as Islam claims), the Quran teaches that all people are sinful. Allah calls mankind:
Foolish (Quran 33:72), ungrateful (Quran 14:34), weak (Quran 4:28, 32), despairing (Quran 11:9), quarrelsome (Quran 16:4), and rebellious (Quran 96:6).
However, Allah does not offer a permanent solution to this wretched existence, and he does not guarantee eternal bliss unless a person were to die as a martyr for his cause (Quran 2:154). This seems at odds with Islam’s teaching that Allah is merciful.
What The Bible Teaches About Sin
The Bible’s teaching about sin is completely different. We are sinners as a result of man’s original sin in the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating from the forbidden tree, they broke the perfect relationship they had with God (Genesis Chapter 3). This impacted all of creation.
The Bible teaches us the following about sin:
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Sin never originates from God but from Satan.
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“Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.” James 1:13
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As humans, we are not able to abstain from sin.
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“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
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All sins are equal. Breaking one law of God is the same as breaking all of God’s laws.
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“For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” James 2:10
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All sin has a price and that price is death.
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“For the wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23a
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The Good News about Christ dying for our sins
Dear friend, you and I cannot pay the price for our sins, nor can we do enough good works to save ourselves. Only God Himself is able to repair that broken relationship. God did that once and for all through Jesus Christ on the cross. “… the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23b
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23
Jesus had the sin of the world placed on Him when he died on the cross. He paid the price that no person could ever pay. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
On the third day after His death, Jesus rose from the dead conquering sin and death for all time. Therefore, He is the only one who can forgive sins (Luke 24:1-7).
When you believe in Jesus’ work on the cross and accept it for yourself, you will be guaranteed eternal life with God. “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10
Forgiveness comes from God alone; not because we deserve it but simply because He loves us and He wants us to live with Him forevermore. “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” I John 4:10