Islam
Islamic soteriology focuses on how humans can repent of and atone for their sins so as not to occupy a state of loss. In Islam, it is believed that everyone is responsible for his own action. So even though Muslims believe that their father of humanity, Adam, committed a sin by eating from the forbidden tree and thus disobeying his Lord, they believe that humankind is not responsible for such an action. They believe that God is fair and just and thus they should not be held responsible or punished for a sin that they did not commit. In Az-Zumar (The Groups) chapter, in verse 7, in the Quran, God said "No bearer of Burdens shall bear the burden of another" . So repentance in Islam is to be forgiven from the sins that were committed by one's own hand. In Islam, for one to repent, s/he has to admit to their Lord that they have sinned, feel regret for the sin, be willing not to do the same sin again and finally to ask for repentance. S/he does not need to go to speak to someone to deserve the repentance, simply during the prayer or anytime, s/he speaks to her/his God (prays) asking his forgiveness. God said in the Quran "O you who believe! Turn to Allah (God) with sincere repentance! It may be that your Lord will expiate from you your sins, and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise)" . Muslims believe that God is merciful and thus we want them to continuously repent so that he forgives their sins as He said "Say: O my slaves who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah (God), verily, Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful”al-Zumar 39:53 and also "And whoever does evil or wrongs himself but afterwards seeks Allaah’s forgiveness, he will find Allaah Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful" al-Nisaa 4:110.
Muslims believe that they, as well as everyone else, are vulnerable to making mistakes and thus they need to seek repentance repeatedly at all times. Muhammad said "By Allah (God), I seek the forgiveness of Allaah and I turn to Him in repentance more than seventy times each day." (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, no. 6307)
Not only that God wants His servants to repent and forgives them, he rejoices over it, as Muhammad said "When a person repents, Allaah rejoices more than one of you who found his camel after he lost it in the desert." (Agreed upon. Narrated by al-Bukhaari, no. 6309)
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Famous quotes containing the word islam:
“During the first formative centuries of its existence, Christianity was separated from and indeed antagonistic to the state, with which it only later became involved. From the lifetime of its founder, Islam was the state, and the identity of religion and government is indelibly stamped on the memories and awareness of the faithful from their own sacred writings, history, and experience.”
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