The concept of sin according to St. Augustine (430 A.D) and Al-Ghazali (1111 A.D) :a comparative analysis

Abstract

The objective of this study is to analyze the concept of sin according to the perspectives of two different prominent scholars, namely Augustine and al-Ghazali. This concept is really important to both scholars as they emphasize the concept and some related issues in most of their works. Both of them justify sin as the factor that keeps human beings separated from God and His love. As the two of them stress the consequences that can be inflicted from sin, they also highlight the importance of liberating oneself from sin. Despite that, there is dissimilarity that made them totally different to each other. In understanding the relationship between man and sin, Augustine believes that human beings are sinful, whereas al-Ghazali maintains that humans are born pure and free from any corruption. So, based on these variations this study has found that there are several similarities as well as differences are found between the two scholars in perceive the concept of sin.