"Therefore, in the Islamic view, human beings are no more "fallen" than they are "saved". Because they are not "fallen", they have no need of a saviour. But because they are not "saved" either, they need to do good works - and do them ethically - which alone will earn them the desired "salvation", one must be in a predicament beyond the hope of ever escaping it. But men and women are not in that predicament. Humans are not ethically powerless They are not helpless puppets capable of neither good nor evil. They are capable of both. To "save" themselves by deeds and works is their pride and glory. To miss the chance and all the opportunities by is pitiable neglect; to miss the calling deliberately and to do evil is to earn punishment, to deserve damnation."