fitra

The initially sound and Muslim nature that characterizes humans at birth.

The Prophet is reported to have said:  "Every infant is born according to the fitra; then his parents make him a Jew or a Christian or a Magian."  It is therefore believed that human nature is basically sound and Muslim at birth, but that it may become corrupted thereafter.  Some Muslims have held that the fitra is only an innate capacity to choose belief or unbelief.