The Sin of Shirk.

[Joshua Patrick]

"Surely those who believe, and those who are Jews, and the Christians, and the Sabians -- whoever believes in God and the Last Day and does good, they shall have their reward from their Lord. And there will be no fear for them, nor shall they grieve" (2:62, 5:69, and many other verses).

"...and nearest among them in love to the believers(muslims) will you find those who say, 'We are Christians,' because amongst these are men devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world, and they are not arrogant" (5:82).

"O you who believe! Be helpers of God -- as Jesus the son of Mary said to the Disciples, 'Who will be my helpers in (the work of) God?' Said the disciples, 'We are God's helpers!' Then a portion of the Children of Israel believed, and a portion disbelieved. But We gave power to those who believed, against their enemies, and they became the ones that prevailed" (61:14).

From this passage it claims Jews and Christians shall be saved?

Although my problem is with Christianity. Since according to Islam, Christians practice the sin of Shrk.

Shirk (Arabic: شرك‎) or polytheism means to consider anyone god other than the God, Allah. Shirk is also associating partners with him, giving his characteristics to others beside him, or not believing in his characteristics

- From my best friend Wiki

But since Christians believe in the blessed Trinity, hence commiting the sin of shirk according to Islam, so we are not saved because because this sin is unforgivable.

Yet it also says that we shall be saved?

[Murad]

Yes; In Islam Shirk is one of the greatest sins; and it is unforgivable if you die believing in multiple entitys of God.

This topic is a bit tricky when it comes to christianity; because we see christians being "unintentional" polythiests. There is something called "Tawhid" in Islam; it means the most perfectness;oneness;wholeness/unity of God that cannot be divided(because of his perfectness)

Here is a quote from Ali; the 4th Caliph of Islam & cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad(pbuh):

To know God is to know his oneness. To say that God is one has four meanings: two of them are false and two are correct. As for the two meaning that are false, one is that a person should say "God is one" and be thinking of number and counting. This is false because that which has no second cannot enter into the category of number. Do you not see that those who say that God is a third of a trinity fall into this infidelity? Another meaning is to say, "So-and-So is one of his people," namely, a species of this genus or a member of this species. This meaning is also false when applied to God, because it implies likening something to God, whereas God is above all likeness. As to the two meaning that are correct when applied to God, one is that it should be said that "God is one" in the sense that there is no likeness to him among things. Another is to say that "God is one" in the sense that there is no multiplicity or division conceivable in Him, neither outwardly, nor in the mind, nor in the imagination. God alone possesses such a unity.

That sums up the Islamic view of God.

Regarding the faith of Christians(in Islam); it would be wrong of me to give you a clear cut answer; because there isnt any. Though Islam doesn't see Christianity as the 'truth'; it sees some of the Christians as noble people dedicated to learning.

There is from among them(Christians) a party on the right course, but many of them follow a course that is evil" (5:66).

There is no 'Salvation or Atonement' in Islam; just to clear that up. 'Divine Judgement' is what decides whether a man is righteous(in piety) or not.

[Joshua Patrick]

Allah forgiveth not that partners should be set up with Him; but He forgiveth anything else, to whom He pleaseth; to set up partners with Allah is to devise a sin most heinous indeed. -- Sura 4:48

Allah forgiveth not (the sin of) joining other gods with Him; but He forgiveth whom He pleaseth other sins than this: one who joins other gods with Allah, Hath strayed far, far away (from the right). -- Sura 4:116

Clearly indicates that the Sin of Shirk cannot be forgiven (Repenting or not, still no forgiveness)


You could probably say forgiveness of Shirk if doing it in ignorance from this passage it says;

"Allah accepts the repentance of those who do evil
in ignorance and repent soon afterwards. To them will
Allah turn in mercy. Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom"
Sura 4:17

But following passage contradicts..

... Yet they [the Israelites] worshipped the calf even after Clear Signs had come to them; even so We forgave them; and gave Moses manifest proofs of authority. -- Sura 4:153 [/b]

[Murad]

It is not a contradiction; he does not forgive shirk that is done purposely.

But if its done out of ignorance; and without knowledge; then he accepts your repentance.

[Joshua Patrick]

It is not a contradiction; he does not forgive shirk that is done purposely.

Yet they [the Israelites] worshipped the calf even after Clear Signs had come to them; even so We forgave them; and gave Moses manifest proofs of authority. -- Sura 4:153

The Israelites worshipped the calf, even after clear signs had come to them, yet he forgave.

Did not the Israelites worship the calf purposely?

[Murad]

It is not a contradiction; he does not forgive shirk that is done purposely.

Yet they [the Israelites] worshipped the calf even after Clear Signs had come to them; even so We forgave them; and gave Moses manifest proofs of authority. -- Sura 4:153

The Israelites worshipped the calf, even after clear signs had come to them, yet he forgave.

Did not the Israelites worship the calf purposely?

The Israelites were idolators out of ignorance; the same way the tribes of arabia were idolators out of ignorance; even after they rejected the miracles of Muhammad.
The only way you can purposely shirk; is when you acknowledge the existence of one God(of Abraham); but yet attribute pictures or numbers to him.

[Joshua Patrick]

The Israelites were idolators out of ignorance...

Yet they [the Israelites] worshipped the calf even after Clear Signs[/b] had come to them; even so We forgave them; and gave Moses manifest proofs of authority. -- Sura 4:153


Sura 4:153 is saying the Israelites were not commiting Shirk out of ignorance.

[Murad]

The Israelites were idolators out of ignorance...

Yet they [the Israelites] worshipped the calf even after Clear Signs[/b] had come to them; even so We forgave them; and gave Moses manifest proofs of authority. -- Sura 4:153


Sura 4:153 is saying the Israelites were not commiting Shirk out of ignorance.

Joshua you gotta read it in context in order to understand the messege:

[4:150] Those who disbelieve in GOD and His messengers, and seek to make distinction among GOD and His messengers, and say, "We believe in some and reject some," and wish to follow a path in between;

[4:151] these are the real disbelievers. We have prepared for the disbelievers a shameful retribution.

[4:152] As for those who believe in GOD and His messengers, and make no distinction among them, He will grant them their recompense. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
Lessons From Israel

[4:153] The people of the scripture challenge you to bring down to them a book from the sky! They have asked Moses for more than that, saying, "Show us GOD, physically." Consequently, the lightning struck them, as a consequence of their audacity. Additionally, they worshipped the calf, after all the miracles they had seen. Yet, we pardoned all this. We supported Moses with profound miracles.

[4:154] And we raised Mount Sinai above them, as we took their covenant.

As you can clearly see; the miracles & signs from God were ignored/overlooked/not believed; ignorance among the israelites was evident. The same ignorance that made them reject the signs of the Messiah(Jesus Christ).

But, God being the most merciful forgave them.