the beginning, against all that we are accustomed to call the flesh, but is not in itself sinful by the loss of an original righteousness through the fall of the first parents of the race. It is even doubtful whether the Qur'an regards the flesh as truly pertaining to man's nature, or as being simply something belonging to the physical body as a living organism, the seat of all those qualities and tendencies against which man has to struggle.

But, however this may be, the Qur'an nowhere teaches that in Adam mankind fell; it nowhere recognizes that man is born under sin. He becomes a sinner only when, following in the footsteps of his first parents, he, as an individual, acts contrary to the commands of God.

How greatly; this view of the nature of man affects other doctrines such as those of sin, and salvation, appears clearly when these are studied in the light of the teaching of the Qur'an.

CHAPTER III

THE PURPOSE OF THE CREATION OF
MAN AND HIS RELATION TO GOD
AND HIS WILL

As a starting-point from which we may commence our study of the teaching of the Qur'an concerning the divine purpose underlying the creation of man, let us take the following passage: 'We created not the heavens and the earth, and that which is between them, by way of sport' [Suratu'l-Anbiya' (xxi) 16. Compare Suras xliv. 38; xxxviii. 26; iii. 188].

In the creation of the world God was guided by His omniscient wisdom, and had a purpose in what He did. The creation of the world was no mere whim, no idle thought; but the working of a divine plan which had existed from all eternity. This conception is one which underlies the whole teaching of the Qur'an on man and his responsibility to God. All that preceded the creation of man was but a preparation for the final accomplishment of this purpose which was achieved in his creation. Man is no chance product evolved in the process of creation — a by-product of the activity of the divine omniscience. The Creator, from the beginning, knew the end towards which He was working, and in His wisdom, created man adapted to the end