In Islamic theology, a noteworthy hadith recorded in Sahih Muslim (Hadith no. 2749) narrates from Abu Ayyub Khalid bin Zaid (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) reportedly said:
"If you did not commit sins, Allah would replace you with people who would commit sins and then seek His forgiveness, so that He could forgive them."
This statement raises profound theological questions regarding the nature of God in Islam, the purpose of sin in human life, and the relationship between divine mercy and human failure. From a Christian theological perspective, this narration appears to imply a deity whose mercy is actualized and perpetuated through the continued moral failure of His creation. It suggests a transactional dynamic where sin is, in some sense, necessary for the manifestation of divine forgiveness.
Such a notion stands in sharp contrast with the biblical portrayal of God's holiness and human sanctification. In the New Testament, particularly in Romans 6:1–2, the Apostle Paul firmly addresses a similar issue:
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”
Here, Paul repudiates any suggestion that sin should be tolerated or perpetuated for the purpose of magnifying divine grace. In Pauline theology, the redemptive work of Christ delivers believers from both the penalty and dominion of sin. Grace is not a license to persist in wrongdoing, but a transformative power that enables believers to live in righteousness.
The Problem of Divine Mercy Dependent on Sin
From a classical theistic perspective, the idea that God would create people to sin so He might forgive them presents serious theological difficulties. It implies a deity whose mercy is reactive rather than essential to His immutable nature. In Christian doctrine, God’s mercy is an inherent attribute of His being (Exodus 34:6-7), not contingent upon the moral failure of His creatures. The forgiveness extended through Christ’s atonement is a redemptive response to human sin, but it does not necessitate the continuous presence of sin to validate God's merciful character.
Furthermore, classical Christian theology, as formulated by Augustine, Aquinas, and others, affirms that while God permits sin within the framework of human free will, He neither causes sin nor requires it to manifest His attributes. To suggest otherwise, as the hadith seems to do, would risk aligning the divine will with the perpetuation of moral evil — a notion that borders on theological fatalism.
The Satanic Parallel: The Role of the Tempter
Theologically, one could argue that the logic of this hadith resembles the role traditionally ascribed to Satan in both biblical and Qur'anic narratives — namely, to entice humanity into sin. In Christian theology, Satan is depicted as the tempter (Matthew 4:3), whose purpose is to alienate humanity from God through sin. The notion of a deity who would actively will the creation of sinners for the purpose of exercising forgiveness appears incompatible with the biblical depiction of a holy God who abhors sin (Habakkuk 1:13) and desires the sanctification of His people (1 Thessalonians 4:3).
Conclusion
In summary, this hadith, when juxtaposed with the biblical testimony, reveals a fundamental theological divergence between Islamic and Christian conceptions of divine holiness, mercy, and the purpose of human moral agency. Where Christianity emphasizes deliverance from sin through the transformative power of grace, Islam, at least as represented in this narration, appears to accommodate a cyclical relationship between sin and forgiveness, potentially undermining the finality and efficacy of divine grace.
From a Christian apologetic standpoint, such a portrayal might be interpreted as compromising the moral transcendence of God and inadvertently attributing to Him a role closer to that of the tempter — a role universally condemned in biblical theology. This distinction underscores the importance of a coherent and morally consistent doctrine of God in religious thought.
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