RE: ProgressiveMuslims digest, Vol 1 #366 - 5 msgs

Salaams Charity,

I think most of us know that we  are born free of sin and are not
responsible for past actions of other people.  I wonder if there is an
Islamic term to describe this 'orignal sin.'  In either case, I was simple
stating the name of the event without any Christian connotation associated
with it.

Thanks for pointing it out though.

> --__--__--
>
> Message: 3
> From: "Caridad" <[email protected]>
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: Re: [Progressivemuslimsnetwork] RE:
> ProgressiveMuslims digest, Vol 1 #364 - 9 msgs
> Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2004 08:49:53 -0500
> Reply-To: [email protected]
>
> Salaam aleikum,
>
> I'm new here to some of you and am a returned member for
> those of you who
> remember me from before.  I just got back from living in
> Southern Africa (a
> fabulous 9 months . . . I so wish I could just settle there), so have
> returned to the list.
>
> I would like to respond to just one thing that y2 said:
>
> > I'm always reminded of a the 'original sin'.  God told Adam
> do not eat
> from
> > this tree.  God did NOT give Adam a reason like the tree is
> poisoness or
> the
> > tree will affect your state of mind...God simply gave Adam
> a direct order.
> > Adam/Eve eventually ate from the tree, and that was the
> original sin.  A
> > simple insignificant innocent act of eating a fruit.
> >
> > The orignal sin was not rape, murder, theft...It was
> disobeying a simple
> > insignificant order from God.  But it was more than that wasn't it.
>
> Charity's comment:
>
> I wanted to point out that original sin is actually a
> Christian theological
> concept.  Muslims believe that all people are born with
> innate goodness:
> Fitrah.  This theological concept says that ALL people are
> born muslim (with
> a little 'm': submission to the Divine), with the innate
> nature to do good
> and worship the One God, Allah.  The theological concept of
> original sin
> says that ALL people are born with this inherited original sin which
> required the 'sacrifice' of Jesus to absolve, as well as the idea that
> peoples' inherant nature is to choose to sin.  There is NO concept of
> original sin in Islam.  We 'people' are responsible for our
> own actions, not
> those of Adam, Eve, or any other predecesor.
> I have to say this difference is one of the main reasons for
> my choosing to
> be a Muslim.  For me it makes alot more sense . . . I like to
> meet people
> and give them the benefit of the doubt.  In most cases I find
> that people
> are genuine, not out to hurt me or others consciously, etc.
> It is more in
> tune with my innate optimism.  With the idea of original sin,
> it means that
> I would meet new people with the idea that this person's
> innate choice will
> be evil, doing bad, trying to hurt, etc.  So for me, the
> Muslim concept of
> Fitrah is constantly reinforced in my contemplation of and
> experience in
> Creation.
>
> I just wanted to make my voice heard :)  he he he, and say
> hello to some of
> the familiar faces here!
>
> -Charity
>