Introduction:

Christianity teaches that humanity inherited a sinful nature from Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden. According to this doctrine — known as “Original Sin” — all humans are born guilty and estranged from God, and can only be saved through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Islam, however, presents a very different and more hopeful view of human nature. The Qur’an teaches that every person is born pure, innocent, and free of inherited sin. Each individual is responsible only for their own actions, and forgiveness from Allah is always available through sincere repentance.

What Christianity Teaches About Original Sin: The doctrine of Original Sin is based mainly on the writings of Paul, especially: “Just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.”— Romans 5:12. From this, many Christian traditions conclude:

1. Adam’s sin corrupted human nature.
2. All humans inherit this sinful state at birth.
3. Only through the atoning death of Jesus can this inherited guilt be removed.

This belief underpins the ideas of atonement, redemption, and baptism, which are central to Christian salvation theology.

The Original Teaching of Salvation — Before Paul:

Before Paul’s reinterpretation, salvation in the message of Jesus and all earlier prophets centered on faith in God, repentance, and righteous deeds, not on the death of a mediator.

1. The Prophets’ Consistent Message: Throughout the Old Testament, salvation was tied to obedience and repentance: Ezekiel 18:21–22 — “If the wicked will turn from all his sins… and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.” Micah 6:8 — “He has shown you, O man, what is good… to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. ”Isaiah 55:7 — “Let the wicked forsake his way… and He will have mercy upon him.”
2. Jesus’ Own Words: Jesus reaffirmed this same principle of repentance and keeping the commandments: Matthew 19:17 — “If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” Matthew 7:21 — “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father.” Luke 6:46 — “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I say?” Nowhere did Jesus say salvation depended on his death. Instead, he called people to righteousness, mercy, and faithfulness to God’s will.

The Islamic Perspective:

In line with the teachings of earlier prophets, including Jesus, Islam completely rejects the concept of original sin. Instead, it teaches that every human being is born with an innate, pure nature (fitrah). The sin of Adam was solely his own and not inherited by others. Allah forgave Adam and Eve after they repented, and no one is responsible for the sins of another. Salvation is attained through faith, righteous deeds, and repentance, rather than through blood sacrifice.

The Story of Adam and Eve in the Qur’an:

The Qur’an tells the story of Adam and Eve with a key difference: “Then Adam received words from his Lord, and He accepted his repentance. Indeed, it is He who is the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful.”— Surah Al-Baqarah (2:37) Unlike the Christian version, there is no concept of inherited guilt. Adam and Eve both repented, and Allah forgave them completely. Their sin did not taint humanity; rather, it served as a lesson in repentance and mercy. “Every son of Adam sins, and the best of sinners are those who repent.”— Hadith (Tirmidhi, 2499) This teaching restores hope and accountability to every person.

Individual Responsibility in Islam:

Islamic scripture emphasizes that each soul bears only its own burden: “No soul shall bear the burden of another.”— Surah Al-Isra (17:15) “Every person is accountable for what he has earned.”— Surah Al-Muddaththir (74:38)> “Whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.”— Surah Az-Zalzalah (99:7–8) There is no concept of inherited guilt or vicarious atonement in Islam.Each person has a direct, personal relationship with Allah — no mediator, priest, or savior is required.

Forgiveness Without Bloodshed:

In Christianity, atonement is tied to sacrifice — the belief that sin can only be forgiven through blood, as expressed in: “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”— Hebrews 9:22. Islam disagrees. Forgiveness in Islam comes through repentance (tawbah), not through blood or intermediaries. “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah.Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.”— Surah Az-Zumar (39:53) This verse is one of the most hope-filled messages in the Qur’an — declaring that no sin is beyond Allah’s mercy, and forgiveness is open to all who sincerely return to Him.

The Islamic View of Human Nature:

Islam views human beings as born good and capable of righteousness: “We have certainly created man in the best of forms.”— Surah At-Tin (95:4)Each person is born with a fitrah — a natural inclination to recognize and worship the Creator.It is only through environment, temptation, and choice that a person turns away from that natural purity.Unlike Original Sin, which views humanity as corrupt from birth, Islam teaches original goodness — with the potential for both good and evil depending on one’s choices.

Reason and Justice:

The concept of inherited sin contradicts both divine justice and human reason: How can a just God punish all people for one man’s mistake? Why would a newborn, innocent child be born sinful? Why would God need to sacrifice Himself to forgive what He already has the power to forgive? Islam answers these questions simply and consistently: Allah is perfectly Just and Merciful. He holds no one accountable for what they did not do.

Salvation in Islam:

Salvation in Islam is not about paying for another’s sins — it’s about faith, repentance, and striving for righteousness. “Those who believe and do righteous deeds — for them will be Gardens beneath which rivers flow; that is the great success.”— Surah Al-Buruj (85:11) Forgiveness is always available through:

1. Faith in Allah and His messengers.
2. Sincere repentance for sins.
3. Good deeds done for His sake.
4. Avoiding major sins and seeking His mercy regularly. No mediator is needed — only sincerity and turning back to the Creator.

Jesus in the Final Scripture:

In Islam, Jesus (peace be upon him) is regarded as a noble prophet, rather than a divine savior. He was sent to guide the Children of Israel back to monotheism, and not to die for their sins. The Quran states, “They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but it was made to appear so to them” (Surah An-Nisa, 4:157). Additionally, it is said, “And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another” (Surah Fatir, 35:18). Thus, Islam honors Jesus while maintaining the concept of God’s oneness and perfect justice. Consequently, any Christian who embraces Islam does not lose Jesus; rather, they come to know him even better.

Conclusion:

Islam’s rejection of Original Sin is not a denial of human imperfection — it is an affirmation of God’s mercy, justice, and wisdom.Adam’s sin was personal, and Allah forgave him. We are all born pure, not guilty. Forgiveness is earned through sincere repentance, not inherited guilt or blood sacrifice.Salvation is open to all who believe and strive for good. Islam restores a balanced view of humanity:we are neither fallen beyond hope nor divine beyond accountability — we are servants of Allah, created to know Him, worship Him, and return to Him. “Allah does not wrong anyone by even the weight of an atom.”— Surah An-Nisa (4:40)

References

1. Qur’an 2:37, 17:15, 39:53, 4:40, 35:18, 95:4, 85:11

2. Hadith — Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi (2499)

3. Bible — Romans 5:12, Hebrews 9:22

4. “The Concept of Sin and Salvation in Islam” — Dr. Bilal Philips

5. “A Comparative Study of Original Sin” — Dr. Zakir Naik-