معرفت ادیان (Ma`rifat Adyan)

This study adopts a comparative approach to investigate the concept of "expiation of sins" (takfīr al-kabāʾir)—a theological concept denoting the erasure and nullification of the deleterious effects of transgressions through righteous deeds. In Islamic theology, takfīr is a concept rooted in scriptural texts that emphasizes the role of devotional acts and ethical commitment in eliminating the consequences of sin. Accordingly, good deeds (ḥasanāt) can, under certain conditions, bring about the remission of evil deeds (sayyiʾāt). Correspondingly, in Christian theology, although the terminology of takfīr in its Islamic sense is not employed, concepts such as "redemption" (fidā), "salvation" (najāt), and "atonement" (kaffāra) occupy a central position. These doctrines rest upon the presupposition that Christ's death on the cross is the cause of divine forgiveness and the sole means of deliverance from the consequences of original sin and individual transgressions. The present study, employing a descriptive-analytical method, undertakes a comparison of these two paradigms. The findings indicate that while in Christian theology the human role in the process of salvation is marginalized, Islamic theology, by emphasizing individual agency and responsibility, delineates a dynamic mechanism for forgiveness. Consequently, the necessity of rethinking Christian perspectives and the superiority of the Islamic model in establishing a nexus between human free will and divine forgiveness will be emphasized.