Originally posted by siam
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If I could summarize my understanding so far---God creates in perfection (no sin, no death), but Adam's actions bring sin and consequently death, (imperfection) and God sends his son as sacrifice to clean/purify?....and after this event those that accept the premise, will become perfect...at some future point?...and when the end times near, God accelerates the program (of separating good/bad)---eschatology---and eventually because there is no Satan and death---things return to perfection?........
...and the point of it all is to allow humanity (after the crucifixion) the choice to accept or reject God's event/gift?
...and the point of it all is to allow humanity (after the crucifixion) the choice to accept or reject God's event/gift?
Islamic Paradigm....
In Islam, the concept of perfection is unimportant---our starting point is Tawheed(Unity)=One God.
If there is only One God in existence, then all humanity---irrespective of religion, race, gender...etc----pray to the same One God. (Even if the labels and concepts of God may differ.) It is the One God (and only God) that receives all our prayers and bestows blessings on all humanity both good or bad. Therefore, the criteria of Justice on Judgement day must be such that Justice tempered with compassion and mercy would be applicable equally to all humanity.
In Islam, the concept of perfection is unimportant---our starting point is Tawheed(Unity)=One God.
If there is only One God in existence, then all humanity---irrespective of religion, race, gender...etc----pray to the same One God. (Even if the labels and concepts of God may differ.) It is the One God (and only God) that receives all our prayers and bestows blessings on all humanity both good or bad. Therefore, the criteria of Justice on Judgement day must be such that Justice tempered with compassion and mercy would be applicable equally to all humanity.
All humanity are Bani Adam/Children of Adam and were put on earth with the responsibility as Trustees (Khalifa) of God. (God's will=Right belief that promotes right intentions that lead to right actions for the benefit of all of God's creations.) All were given Guidance (law=ethico-moral principles of justice) by the One God. God has also created humanity with inherent goodness (Fitra). Thus, those who follow the Guidance given them and inherent inclination to goodness...are "muslims" (one who submits to God/God's law). Those who, after knowing Guidance, reject it out of arrogance and self interest, are Kaffir. (Gratititude is the hallmark of the believer (shakir), as arrogance is that of the rejector (kaffir)).
Sin=error/mistake, and all human beings make mistakes but God is most Compassionate, most Forgiving. God forgives those who ask for forgiveness. Our life on earth is a test and blessings and trials are neither good or bad---they are both tests (for our souls/nafs). Guidance (law) provides for Justice on earth, but human justice is inadequate because we cannot know the unseen---only the seen---so we can judge by actions but cannot know intentions. God sees and knows all so God's Justice is better/more Just. Therefore, on Judgement day, Divine Justice prevails.
Divine Justice---Our souls are judged. The Angels and the Spirit (Ruh) stand as witnesses. We are given an account (books) of our good deeds and bad deeds and our resurrected body gives testimony. Our souls will already know the judgement before it is given because it will be just and self-evident. (there are many details and nuances...but this should serve as somewhat of an intro....)
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