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From: azhar@cs.duke.edu (Salman Azhar)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam
Subject: Re: some questions...
Message-ID: <1991May29.144851.26150@wpi.WPI.EDU>
Date: 29 May 91 14:48:51 GMT
References: <1991May22.121307.2906@wpi.WPI.EDU> <1991May24.151002.12135@wpi.WPI.EDU>
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In article <1991May24.151002.12135@wpi.WPI.EDU> paydarfa@cs.unc.edu (Yousef Paydarfar) writes:
>In Islam, you can be forgiven for your sins if you sincerely ask for 
>repentence.  Allah will forgive you for your sins as long as you do not 
>commit the same sin later on.  Also, before commiting a sin you can say to 
>yourself "I'm going to commit such and such a sin, and then ask God to 
>forgive me." 

	   According to my understanding, forgiveness is entirely God's
(Allah's) decision, and we cannot anticipate, or predict whom He will
forgive and who He will not. The sincerity of repentence, and the
dedication of the repenter is also his judgement. And, verily He is
the best of judges.

	   I strongly contend your final sentence, i.e 
>"I'm going to commit such and such a sin, and then ask God to forgive me."

I don't think it works quite this way. In some interpretations of
Islam, one is allowed to commit certain excesses under the banner of
necessity. However, there haev been long-standing debates among
scholars about what can be classified as necessity. I believe that
Islam leaves the final decision to the discerning individual.

Salman [learn, research, teach] Azhar

-- 
For, Believers are those who, when God is mentioned, feel a tremor in
their hearts. And, when they hear His signs rehearsed, find their
faith strengthened. And, put all their trust in their Lord. 
	-Spoils of War (8:2)