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Unlock This CourseIn Why Do People Do Wrong? Selfishness, Greed and Sin you met four root causes of wrongdoing. For Muslims, a sin is anything a person thinks, says or does that goes against the commands of Allah.
Remember from Body, Nafs and Qalb: Human Nature in Islam that Muslims believe every child is born on the fitrah, without sin, because Adam and Hawwa were forgiven. So why do people go wrong? The Qur'an says that human beings were created weak (Qur'an 4:28). Muslims believe people are free to choose, quick to forget Allah, and tempted.
Key terms:
The Qur'an says that Allah told the angels to bow to Adam. Iblis, one of the jinn (beings made from fire), refused. He said he was better than Adam, because he was made from fire and Adam from clay (Qur'an 7:12). For Muslims this pride was the first sin. Iblis then promised to lead human beings astray until the Day of Judgement.
Muslims believe Iblis can only whisper. He cannot force anyone. The Qur'an pictures him telling people on the Day of Judgement that he only called and they answered, so they should blame themselves (Qur'an 14:22).
The Arabic root of kufr means 'to cover'. Muslims believe the world is full of signs of Allah, so kufr is covering up a truth a person could see. The word also means being ungrateful. The Qur'an says that Allah gives more to the grateful and warns the ungrateful (Qur'an 14:7).
Shirk means treating anything as Allah's partner or equal, such as worshipping an idol. It is the opposite of Tawhid, the oneness of Allah. The Qur'an says that Allah does not forgive partners being set up with him, but forgives anything less for whoever he wills (Qur'an 4:48).
Why is shirk the most serious sin? Muslims believe Allah alone made everything, so shirk gives a created thing the worship that belongs only to the Creator. Most Muslim scholars say Qur'an 4:48 is about a person who dies without turning away from shirk. Anyone who repents in their lifetime can be forgiven.
Two more points about shirk:
Muslims believe everything a person owns is on loan from Allah. Greed and selfishness begin when a person forgets this. The Qur'an warns people not to be like those who forgot Allah (Qur'an 59:19).
The Qur'an says that competing to pile up more distracts people until they reach their graves (Qur'an 102:1-2). In a hadith, the Prophet Muhammad said that if a person had a valley of gold, they would want a second one.
The Qur'an says that those who are saved from the greed of their own selves are the ones who succeed (Qur'an 59:9). Muslims who can afford it must give a share of their wealth each year to those in need. This duty is called zakah.
Muslims use this name for Arabia before the Qur'an was revealed. They describe a time of idol worship and endless revenge between tribes. Some baby girls were buried alive, which the Qur'an condemns (Qur'an 81:8-9). This ignorance did not mean being stupid. It meant living without Allah's guidance.
Ghaflah is knowing and not paying attention. The Qur'an says people's judgement is coming close while they turn away in heedlessness (Qur'an 21:1). Muslims see ghaflah as a root of wrongdoing. A person who forgets that Allah sees them finds it easy to lie or cheat.
Islam answers ignorance with knowledge. Muslims believe the first word revealed to the Prophet Muhammad was 'Read' (Qur'an 96:1), and a hadith says that seeking knowledge is a duty for every Muslim. Islam answers ghaflah with remembering. The five daily prayers and dhikr bring a Muslim's mind back to Allah through the day.
Muslims believe it can, but not once and for all. A hadith says that all the children of Adam sin, and the best of those who sin are those who repent.
Muslims believe effort alone is not enough. In a hadith, the Prophet Muhammad said that nobody enters Paradise by their deeds alone, only by the mercy of Allah.
Muslims believe each person will answer to Allah. The Qur'an says that whoever does a tiny speck of good or of evil will see it (Qur'an 99:7-8).
A hadith says that each of you is a shepherd and each is responsible for the flock. So Muslims believe rulers answer for the wars and injustice they cause.
The Qur'an tells believers to stand up for justice even against themselves or their family (Qur'an 4:135). So many Muslims believe they must not stay silent about injustice.
Are they inevitable? Muslims give different answers.
The Qur'an says humans were created weak, and Muslims believe Iblis will go on tempting until the Day of Judgement. The Qur'an calls Paradise the Home of Peace (Qur'an 10:25). Many Muslims take this to mean that perfect peace belongs to the next life.
The Qur'an says that Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves (Qur'an 13:11). Muslims believe people are born good and nobody is forced to hate.
Many Muslims hold both views: these evils may never vanish, but each person chooses whether to add to them.
Do not write that Shaytan makes people sin. Muslims believe he only tempts. Do not write that shirk can never be forgiven. Most Muslims believe a person who repents of it in their lifetime is forgiven. And kufr has two meanings: unbelief and being ungrateful.
Paper 1 style. Parts (a) and (b) test AO1. Parts (c) and (d) test AO1 and AO2.
(a) Identify three ways in which religious believers may try to overcome sin. [3 marks]
(b) Choose one religion. Outline two teachings about sin in this religion. [4 marks]
(c) Choose one religion. Explain beliefs about why human beings do wrong in this religion. [6 marks]
(d) 'Human beings will never be free from selfishness and greed.' Evaluate this statement, showing you have considered different points of view. In your answer you should refer to at least one religion. [12 marks]
(a) 1. Prayer (1). 2. Fasting (1). 3. Repentance (1).
(b) Muslims believe shirk, giving Allah partners, is the most serious sin (1), because the Qur'an says Allah does not forgive it but forgives anything less for whoever he wills (1). Muslims also believe sin is not passed down from Adam (1), which means every child is born without sin, on the fitrah (1).
(c) Muslims believe people do wrong because they are tempted. Iblis refused Allah's command out of pride and promised to lead humans astray. But he can only whisper, so each person is still responsible.
Muslims also believe people do wrong through ghaflah, or heedlessness. This means that a person who forgets Allah is watching finds it easier to cheat or lie.
Finally, ignorance leads to wrong. Muslims call Arabia before Islam jahiliyyah, because people lived without Allah's guidance.
(d) Plan. For: the Qur'an says humans were created weak; Muslims believe Iblis tempts until the Day of Judgement; a hadith says a person with one valley of gold would want a second; some non-religious people say selfishness is part of evolved human nature.
Against: Muslims believe people are born on the fitrah, not sinful; tawbah, prayer, fasting and zakah train the nafs; the Qur'an says Allah forgives all sins; humanists say education and fair laws reduce greed.
Possible conclusion: judge each point as you go, then pick a side. For example: I partly agree. The pull towards greed stays for life, but each person can master it with effort and Allah's mercy, so 'never' is too strong.
In part (d), test the word 'never'. Ask whether it is true of a single person, and then whether it is true of the whole human race.