Issue of Salvation in Christianity: A Study in the Perspective of Islamic Ethics

The doctrine of salvation is considered as a central pillar in Christian’s belief, in which underlying most of the fundamental teachings in Christianity such as the doctrines of original sin, redemption and Crucifixion. The notion of salvation – in Christianity and other religions that have faith in it - is stemmed from the belief that evil is a vital issue in this universe, whence it develops view and perception towards man and universe, and the belief that religion came to safe and free man from the evil. The doctrine of salvation in Christian faith, is the saving of the soul from sins and its consequences in general and original sin in particular, and is made possible by the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ by crucifixion. The original sin is attributed to the Lord of Evil and it had transmitted this universe into evil, and change the nature of man, who is born free from sin into evil. Conversely, the religion of Islam views that man is originally good and is born in the state of “fitrah”, innocent and free from sin. Islam differentiates between the idea of “Fitrah”, the source of good behaviour and “Gharizah”, the instinct which arise together with human soul and leads mankind to bad moral conduct whenever it is misled or deviated. It is believed that the original sin committed by Adam due to this deviation. Based on this understanding, Islam enjoin man for self-purification in order for him to succeed in the hereafter