like the Bible, shows the situation of mankind changing
completely after Adam’s sin: on the face of it, Adam and
Eve were not restored to a state of grace.
- Muhammad taught that ‘‘every human is a sinner by
nature, and the best among sinners are those who repent.’’ If
every human being is a sinner by nature, did Allah create
Adam’s offspring as sinners or was there some kind of Fall?
Some verses of the Koran seem to denigrate Allah
Himself by stating that man’s imperfection comes from how
he was created: ‘‘Indeed, man was created impatient’’ (Sura
70:19). Either Allah did hasty work in creating man, or He
instilled a native defect.[12]
- Why was Muhammad a sinner?
Abu Huraira said, ‘‘I heard Allah’s Apostle [Muhammad] saying, ‘There is
none born among the offspring of Adam, but Satan touches it. A child therefore
cries loudly at the time of birth because of the touch of Satan, except Mary and
her child.’ ’’ Then Abu Huraira recited: ‘‘And I seek refuge with You for her
and for her offspring from the outcast Satan ( [Sura] 3.36).’’[13]
This implies that Muhammad himself, the apex and seal
of the prophets, was a sinner, for according to Islamic
teaching only Mary and Jesus were exempt from the touch
of Satan at birth. But why would Allah allow Satan to touch
Muhammad and all other human beings? This notion only
makes sense in light of the Christian understanding of the
Fall. Muhammad also said, ‘‘Satan circulates in the body of
Adam’s offspring as his blood circulates in it.’’[14]
The fact that Muslims believe that Mary and Jesus were