A Debate of Dignity: Islam’s Controversial Hadith vs. the Sinless Christ

By Dr. Maxwell Shimba

For heaven’s sake — what kind of teaching is this?

Let’s look closely at a shocking narration from Sahih al-Bukhari 6807, one of Islam’s most authoritative hadith collections. It reads:

Narrated Sahl bin Sa'd:
The Prophet (Muhammad) said, “Whoever can guarantee (the chastity of) what is between his jaws (i.e. his tongue) and what is between his legs (i.e. his private parts), I guarantee him Paradise.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari 6807)

Now, pause and reflect: is this the foundation for eternal life — control over tongue and private parts? How tragic that an entire religious promise of Paradise can be reduced to carnal restraint and silence. Worse, this has historically been used to suppress, shame, and control women’s bodies within strict, male-dominated systems.

Why should women’s dignity be a transactional key to a man’s paradise? Is this religion or control in disguise? While the Islamic tradition has continually placed undue emphasis on female modesty as a measure of male piety, this narration reveals a concerning mindset — one deeply rooted in legalistic, performance-based religion.

Meanwhile, Jesus Christ stands in total contrast.

The Bible teaches that salvation isn’t earned by physical restraint or legalistic rituals but is a gift of grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). Jesus, the only sinless man to walk the earth (1 Peter 2:22), never spoke of paradise as a reward for restraining private parts. Instead, He called people to purity of heart, compassion, and spiritual rebirth.

Why is this important? Because if Jesus were not sinless, there would be no hope of salvation for humanity. Adam and Eve’s disobedience in Eden (Genesis 3) brought sin into the world, but it was the sinless Jesus who offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for sin (2 Corinthians 5:21).

The Bible records:

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
(Hebrews 4:15)

While some religious systems promise paradise based on controlling desires, Jesus offers eternal life based on a transformed heart and a living relationship with God.

Final Word

No faith should ever diminish a woman’s worth or reduce divine reward to control over fleshly impulses. Christ uplifted women, valued them, healed them, spoke to them publicly, and first revealed His resurrection to them (John 20:16-18). In His kingdom, there is neither male nor female — all are one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28).

This is the eternal dignity and purity of the Gospel, which no hadith or human tradition can replace.

I weep for those still enslaved by doctrines of fleshly control and invite them to know the liberating, sinless Savior: Jesus Christ.

Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute

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