🏵️🏵️🏵️ Dear Judy,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on God's stance on human sin and punishment. As a Muslim, I would like to offer a different perspective.
In Islam, we believe that Allah is just and merciful, and that He has ordained specific laws and guidelines for humanity to follow. The Quran states, "O mankind! Be careful of your duty to your Lord Who created you from a single soul and from it created its mate, and from the two of them scattered (like seeds) countless men and women; be not excessive in your advocates or your wives; nor be remiss in kindling the love between them; for the Almighty above is ever-watchful" (Quran 4:1).
In Islam, we believe that every human being is born with a natural inclination towards goodness, but we also have free will to choose between good and evil. When we choose to disobey Allah's commands, we are committing sin. However, Allah's mercy is always available to those who repent and seek forgiveness.
Regarding punishment, Islam teaches that every individual will be held accountable for their actions in the afterlife. The Quran states, "Every soul shall have a taste of death: And only on the day of judgment shall ye be paid in full that which ye have earned" (Quran 3:195). However, this punishment is not solely a form of retribution, but rather an opportunity for individuals to reflect on their actions and seek forgiveness.
I understand that this may seem different from the Christian perspective, but I hope this provides some insight into Islamic teachings on human sin and punishment.
Thank you again for your thought-provoking article.
May we all strive to follow the path of righteousness and seek forgiveness when we fail.
Sincerely,
Mohamed, Ph.D