Short answer
No. The Bible's own prophets say that each person answers for his own sin. The Law of Moses says that fathers shall not die for children, nor children for fathers. Ezekiel wrote that the son shall not bear the father's sin. Jesus said every man will be rewarded according to his works. When Moses offered himself to make atonement for his people, God (﷾) said He would blot out the one who had sinned. No court calls it justice to punish an innocent man instead of the guilty. Islam's answer is the same: no bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another (Qur'an 6:164 and 53:38). Adam and his wife asked forgiveness for their own sin, and God (﷾) forgave them.
Full explanation
The Law and the Prophets: each for his own sin
The Law of Moses forbids putting children to death for their fathers, or fathers for their children. Jeremiah says every one shall die for his own sin. Ezekiel says the soul that sins shall die, and the son shall not bear the sin of the father. Jesus said he will reward every man according to his works.
“The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.”
“But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.”
“The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.”
“For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.”
| Who | The words |
|---|---|
| The Law of Moses | “every man shall be put to death for his own sin” |
| Jeremiah | “every one shall die for his own iniquity” |
| Ezekiel | “The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father” |
| Jesus | “he shall reward every man according to his works” |
| The Qur'an | “no bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another” |
When Moses offered himself for his people's sin, God (﷾) answered that He would blot out the one who had sinned.
God (﷾) did not accept a substitute
After the golden calf Moses went up to make atonement for the people. He asked God (﷾) to forgive them, and if not, to blot him out of His book. God (﷾) did not take up the offer. He answered that whoever had sinned against Him, him He would blot out.
“And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the Lord; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin.”
“Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.”
Forgiveness without sacrifice, in Jesus' own words
In Jesus' parable of the lost son, the father sees his son coming home. He runs to him, kisses him, and forgives him at once. No one is punished in the son's place. In another parable the tax collector only beats his breast and says, "God be merciful to me a sinner". He goes home justified, made right with God (﷾). No sacrifice is mentioned. Nineveh was spared because "they turned from their evil way". Jesus twice quoted the prophet Hosea: "I will have mercy, and not sacrifice." Some say these people were forgiven in advance because of the cross to come. Neither Jonah nor Jesus says so. Each gives his own reason: they turned, and he humbled himself. Islam has an animal sacrifice too, at Eid al-Adha and in the Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca. The Qur'an says what it is for: "It is not their meat nor their blood, that reaches Allah: it is your piety that reaches Him." The animals are made subject to people "that ye may glorify Allah for His Guidance to you".
“And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”
“And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”
“And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.”
“But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
“For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.”
“Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;”
“It is not their meat nor their blood, that reaches Allah: it is your piety that reaches Him: He has thus made them subject to you, that ye may glorify Allah for His Guidance to you and proclaim the good news to all who do right.”
God (﷾) stopped the sacrifice of a son
When Abraham was ready to offer his son, God (﷾) stopped his hand. The Law calls the burning of sons and daughters to other gods an abomination that God (﷾) hates. The Law never commands a man to be put to death for another man's sin. It forbids it. The Qur'an tells the story too. It calls the command "obviously a trial", and says God (﷾) ransomed the son "with a momentous sacrifice". The son had done no wrong, so no one's sin was carried and no one was punished. The trial of Abraham's obedience was over.
“And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.”
“Thou shalt not do so unto the Lord thy God: for every abomination to the Lord, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.”
“The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.”
“So when they had both submitted their wills (to Allah), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead (for sacrifice), We called out to him "O Abraham! "Thou hast already fulfilled the vision!" - thus indeed do We reward those who do right. For this was obviously a trial- And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice:”
Justice and a willing victim
Suppose a court punished an innocent volunteer and let the guilty man walk free. No one would call it justice. It would add one wrong to another. A willing substitute does not change this. Moses was willing, and God (﷾) did not accept his offer. Christians reply that a court must also not let the guilty go free. But God (﷾) is not a court under someone else's law. The law is His. Through Ezekiel He says that the wicked man who turns from all his sins shall live. None of them shall be mentioned to him. The one who turns is no longer the wicked man.
“Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.”
“The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.”
“But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.”
“Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.”
What a loving parent does
Picture a parent whose child keeps misbehaving and hurting himself and others. A loving parent does not punish the innocent brother or the other parent in his place. He deals with each child for what that child has done. The Bible's prophets describe God (﷾) the same way: the one who turns from his sins is forgiven, and each answers for his own sin.
“The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.”
“But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.”
Owning your own sin
In the Bible's story of the garden, the man blames the woman and the woman blames the serpent. In the Qur'an, Adam and his wife blame no one. Together they say that they have wronged their own souls, and they ask their Lord for forgiveness. Jesus told each follower to take up his own cross.
“And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.”
“They said: "Our Lord! We have wronged our own souls: If thou forgive us not and bestow not upon us Thy Mercy, we shall certainly be lost."”
“And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.”
What Christians believe
Christians believe that Jesus, who was without sin, died in the place of sinners, and that his blood justifies those who believe. They read Isaiah's servant, wounded for our transgressions, as a prophecy of this. They quote Jesus saying he came to give his life a ransom for many, and that he laid his life down of himself.
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
“For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
“No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.”
“Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”
What the Qur'an says
The Qur'an says in several places that no bearer of burdens can bear another's burden, even a close relative. Adam asked forgiveness for his own sin, and God (﷾) turned to him in mercy, so no sin passed to his children. On the Day of Judgement intercession avails only by God's (﷾) leave. It is a plea for mercy; no one is punished in another's place.
“Say: "Shall I seek for (my) Cherisher other than Allah, when He is the Cherisher of all things (that exist)? Every soul draws the meed of its acts on none but itself: no bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another. Your goal in the end is towards Allah: He will tell you the truth of the things wherein ye disputed."”
“Nor can a bearer of burdens bear another's burdens if one heavily laden should call another to (bear) his load. Not the least portion of it can be carried (by the other). Even though he be nearly related. Thou canst but admonish such as fear their Lord unseen and establish regular Prayer. And whoever purifies himself does so for the benefit of his own soul; and the destination (of all) is to Allah.”
“Namely, that no bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another;”
“Then learnt Adam from his Lord words of inspiration, and his Lord Turned towards him; for He is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful.”
“Allah! There is no god but He,-the Living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permitteth? He knoweth what (appeareth to His creatures as) before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of His knowledge except as He willeth. His Throne doth extend over the heavens and the earth, and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them for He is the Most High, the Supreme (in glory).”
“On that Day shall no intercession avail except for those for whom permission has been granted by (Allah) Most Gracious and whose word is acceptable to Him.”
Verse by verse
Mark 10:45 — Gospel of Mark, chapter 10, verse 45
“For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Cited for
Jesus gave his life as a ransom, paying the price of other people's sins.
The response
Moses, a prophet, offered himself for his people's sin. God (﷾) did not accept. He said: "Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book." The Law says each person dies for his own sin.
Where it lands — God (﷾) did not accept a willing substitute, and the Law forbids one.
Hebrews 9:22 — Epistle to the Hebrews, chapter 9, verse 22
“And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”
Cited for
Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness, so a blood sacrifice for sin is required.
The response
The Law of Moses forgave sin with no blood at all. A man too poor for a lamb or birds brought fine flour for a sin offering, a tenth of an ephah (a measure of grain). Of it the Law says, "and it shall be forgiven him". The Prophets say God (﷾) forgives the one who turns from his sins, and Jesus quoted Hosea: "I will have mercy, and not sacrifice."
Where it lands — The Law itself forgave sin with a handful of flour, so blood was never the only way.
John 10:18 — Gospel of John, chapter 10, verse 18
“No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.”
Cited for
Jesus laid down his life of his own will, so no injustice was done to him.
The response
Moses also offered himself willingly for his people, and God (﷾) did not accept. A willing victim does not make it just to punish the innocent instead of the guilty. God (﷾) did not refuse Moses because Moses was a sinner. He said nothing about Moses at all. He gave a rule: whoever has sinned is the one He blots out. And the first three Gospels show Jesus himself praying to be spared: "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me."
Where it lands — God (﷾) did not accept a willing substitute when Moses offered himself.
Sahih Muslim 2767b — Kitab al-Tawba (The Book of Repentance), hadith 2767b
Abu Burda reports from his father that the Prophet (ﷺ) said no Muslim dies without Allah putting a Jew or a Christian into the Fire in his place.
Cited for
Islam has its own substitution: a hadith says Allah puts a Jew or a Christian into the Fire in each Muslim's place.
The response
The Prophet (ﷺ) taught that every person has a place in Paradise and a place in the Fire. The one who dies in disbelief enters the Fire for his own disbelief and sins, and takes the seat the believer would have had. Al-Nawawi was a scholar of hadith of the 13th century. He explains that they enter it for what they did themselves, not for the Muslims' sins.
Where it lands — In Islam no one is punished for another person's sin; each takes his own seat.
Isaiah 53:5 — Nevi'im, Yeshayahu, chapter 53, verse 5
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
Cited for
Isaiah foretold a servant wounded for the transgressions of others.
The response
Jeremiah and Ezekiel, whose books stand beside Isaiah, say plainly that each person dies for his own sin. A reading of Isaiah that breaks that rule sets prophet against prophet.
Where it lands — The Prophets' plain rule is that each soul bears its own sin.
Perspectives
Mainstream Christian
All have sinned, and sin must be punished. In love, the sinless Son of God took that punishment on himself, so that those who believe are forgiven.
Christians read Isaiah 53:5 as foretelling a servant wounded for the sins of others.
Rebuttal
Grant that Isaiah's servant is wounded "for our transgressions". A reading that makes him die in sinners' place breaks the rule Jeremiah and Ezekiel state plainly: each dies for his own sin.
Mark reports Jesus saying he came to give his life a ransom for many.
Rebuttal
Grant that Mark reports the saying. But the Law says each person dies for his own sin, and God (﷾) did not accept Moses' offer to take his people's place. In the first three Gospels Jesus himself prays that the cup might pass from him.
The Islamic perspective
Every soul answers for its own deeds. God (﷾) forgives the one who repents, and He punishes no one for another's sin. This is what the Law, the Prophets and Jesus taught, and what the Qur'an confirms.
The Law of Moses forbids putting anyone to death for another's sin.
Jeremiah and Ezekiel teach that each person dies for his own sin. The son does not bear the father's sin.
Jesus said every man will be rewarded according to his works.
When Moses offered himself to atone for the people, God (﷾) answered that He would blot out whoever had sinned.
The Law of Moses forgave a poor man's sin with an offering of flour, with no blood at all.
In Jesus' parables the prodigal son and the tax collector are forgiven. There is no sacrifice, and no one is punished in their place.
Punishing an innocent person in place of the guilty is not justice, even if the innocent person is willing.
God (﷾) stopped Abraham from sacrificing his son, and the Law calls human sacrifice an abomination.
A loving parent corrects each child for his own deeds. He does not punish an innocent child in the offender's place.
In Genesis the man blames the woman and the woman blames the serpent. In the Qur'an Adam and his wife blame no one and say they have wronged their own souls.
The Qur'an teaches that no bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another.
The Qur'an teaches that Adam and his wife owned their sin and God (﷾) forgave them. So no sin passed to their children.