From: suheil@athena.mit.edu (Suheil I Laher)
Subject: Re: Quran, Adam and Original Sin
Originator: zeeshan@occs.cs.oberlin.edu (Zeeshan Hasan -Moderator)
Organization: Oberlin College Computer Science
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1993 15:54:13 GMT
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A few initial comments on belel khalid's article on adam, creation, roiginal sin,
etc.:

Firstly, I do not question that Br Belal's motives in writing the article were
honorable and good, with the intention of propagating Islam and removing
misconceptions. However, there are some errors which cannot pass uncorrected:

He wrote:
----------
ADAM NOT THE FIRST MAN ON EARTH(TRUTH ABOUT JINNS)
In the same way man's intellectual development also proceeded gradually. The 
Quran shows that human beings were in existence before Adam but that they 
were not yet able to bear the responsiblity of revealed Law. They lived in 
caves and in mountain fastnesses. It is for this reason that the Quran has 
called them by the name of JINN, which means literally those that dwell out 
of sight. Some people have applied this word to the genii of tales and 
fables, but the Quran does not support this interpretation. 
----------
There is no evidence for the interpretation given in the quoted passge above. 
The JINN are not humans, but another species of creation, which are explicitly
mentioned in the Qur'an as having been created from fire, as opposed to INSAAN
or mankind who is created from clay. We cannot normally see JINN. JINN are also
accountable for their actions, just like mankind - and can also go to heaven and
hell - there are believing JINN and disbelieving JINN. Iblees (Satan) is from the
Jinn - this is explicitly stated in the Qur'an). If JINN were not accountable for
their deeds, why would the Qur'an mention that Iblees will go to hell, and that
Allah will fill hell with JINN and humans?

Then, he wrote:
-----
ADAM WAS NOT IN PARADISE
It expressly states that when Adam and his people went out of the garden 
(which again, according to the Quran was a region of the earth and is not to 
be confused with Paradise)
----
This is not true. Rather, in the Qur'an we read (translation of which is):
And (We said): O Adam! Dwell you and your wife in the garden [al-jannah]; [7:19]
Then after they ate from the forbidden tree, they are told:
24. He said: Get forth, some of you, the enemies of others,
and there is for you in the earth an abode and a provision for a
time.
25. He (also) said: Therein shall you live, and therein shall
you die, and from it shall you be raised. [surat 7]
After they were expelled from Heaven (paradise) they were sent to the earth.

-----
Adam was not the first human being
------
O people! be careful of (your duty to) your Lord, Who created
you from a SINGLE BEING and created its mate of the same (kind) and
spread from these two, many men and women; and be careful of
(your duty to) Allah, by Whom you demand one of another (your
rights), and (to) the ties of relationship; surely Allah ever watches
over you.	[Qur'an, 4:1]

-------
THE ORIGINAL SIN
As Adam was not in paradise, so the phenomenon of the original sin is 
resolved very peacefully and amicably.
--------
This argument is not sound. Whether he was on earth or in heaven (of course, he
was in heaven) - the fact is that he acted against the command of Allah, so what
difference would it make if this were in heaven or on earth? What you have said
is not the refutation of "original sin". The doctrine of "original sin" is shown
as false by the (part of) Qur'anic verse meaning  (approximately) : 'and no
bearer of burden shall bear the burden of another'  [6:164] It is certainly in
accordance with common sense that a person cannot be punished for another's sins.


Concluding remarks:
As Muslims, we should always try to remove misconceptions about Islam, but we
should be careful not to distort the teachings of the Qur'an in an apologetic
attempt to make Islam more appealing to the 'rational' western mind. We should
especially refrain from interpreting Qur'anic verses according to our opinion:
It is reported in a Hadeeth (words to the effect that): whoever spoke about the
Qur'an according to his opinion, or concerning what he did not know, let him take
his place in Hell-fire. If it is within the power of Allah to create a being
through evolution from an amoeba, it is no more difficult for Allah to create a
being without evolution : evolution of itself does not have any power to create:
if such a process did in fact occur, it was controlled directly at every stage by
Allah (SWT) - any "intermediate" beings in the process exist only because Allah
wills them to exist, not due to any inate power of evolutionary processes.
Similarly, it is not difficult for Allah to resurrect us again without using
evolution. Even if evolution did occur for other life forms, this does not imply
that humans also evolved - Allah may usually cause things to happen in a certain
way, but occasionally, Allah does not cause it to happen in the normal way :
e.g. humans are usually born from a father and a mother, but Prophet Jesus (pbuh)
was born with only a mother.

I have written only very briefly - if anybody needs further clarification or
evidence, please let me know.

Wassalam
Suheil
 

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