Page:The young Moslem looks at life (1937).djvu/98

 84 The Koran does speak of the evil that men do, and the punishment which will be meted out to them. They are threatened with divine justice if they do not repent and turn from their evil ways; and they are promised rewards for doing good. Sin is specified there as consisting of disobedience to the commandments of God, of refusal to follow the teaching of the Prophet.

Many Moslems appear to ignore the inner significance of sin as a spiritual disease. The Koran, the Traditions and the Moslem creeds take a mild attitude toward sinners. Among the mystics rather than among the ordinary Moslems is found that sense of incompleteness that we call the sense of sin. The Moslem believes that God has endowed him with sufficient power in himself to keep divine laws. In experience he finds that this is true; the requirements are not too difficult. He feels no need for a power beyond himself to enable him to achieve a sense of righteousness according to the Law. He is conscious that he needs the mercy of God, but Mohammed will intercede for him and he needs no other savior. He obeys the law, and avoids doing those things which the law calls sin. This sounds simple and satisfying, but is it an adequate view of man's relation to God? Does it actually meet the realities of life?

Does the Moslem have the last word on this subject of sin and human responsibility? Is the task of walking in the straight path of life as easy as all that? If so, then no wonder Moslems are satisfied.