Shi'a: Infallibility of the Prophets

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The Shias Belief on.... The Infallibility of the Prophets References: The Holy Quran

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What is Infallibility? Infallibility, or Isma ((َﻋﺼﻤِْﺔ) is defined as “a spiritual grace of Allah to a person which enables him to abstain from sins by his own free will”. A person who has been given this grace of God is called Masum (َُْﻣﻌﺼﻮمٌْ) This power of Isma does not make the masum person incapable of committing sins. Rather, he refrains from sins and mistakes by his power and will.

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Sunnis Belief Lying and Infidelity (kufr) All Sunnis believe: Prophets could not tell a lie, both intentionally nor by mistake. They could not be infidel before or after the declaration of their prophethood Other sins intentionally: All Sunnis believe: Prophets could not commit other sins intentionally

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Major Sins unintentionally: Majority believe prophets could commit such sins. Minority says this is not possible. Minor sins: Majority believe that minor sins could be committed, though not such minor sins would disgrace them in the eyes of the public. Sunnis Belief

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Shia Ithna-Ashariyyah Belief All the prophets are infallible. Infallibility means purity from all sins, both major and minor ones, and from mistakes and forgetfulness. Comparison and Summary... Majority of Sunnis believe that the prophets could not commit intentional sins, but could commit sins by mistake (excluding lying and infidelity) Whilst Shias hold the view that the prophets could not commit sins, both intentionally nor by mistake. Note: The accusation of ‘Shirk’ labelled on the Shi’a belief of Infallibility is completely baseless. Shias believe that Allah (SWT) has blessed the prophets and Imams with the attribute of Infallibility, and not that they have obtained this status themselves. Secondly the idea of the Infallibility of the prophets being limited to the revelation of Islam is also baseless as it is impossible to determine exactly what the Prophet’s own actions/words are, and what has come from Allah (SWT).

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Quranic ayats regarding... Obedience towards the Prophets وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا لِيُطَاعَ بِإِذْنِ اللَّـهِ “We did not send any prophet, except so that he may be obeyed by the will of Allah.” (4:64) It is not the duty of the followers to check every word and action of the prophets and decide whether to obey or not. يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّـهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ“ O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger...” (4:59) The imperative form has been used here (and at least ten other verses) to order the followers to obey the prophets and messengers. ...مَّن يُطِعِ الرَّسُولَ فَقَدْ أَطَاعَ اللَّهَ “And whoever obeys the Messenger has actually obeyed Allah.” (4:80)

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وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانتَهُوا ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّه “And whatever the Apostle gives you, accept it, and from whatever he forbids you, keep back, and be careful of (your duty to) Allah;” (59:7) This shows an unconditional obedience to the prophets. It does not say to obey them in so and so circumstance, and not to listen in so and so circumstance. وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ ﴿٣﴾ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَىٰ ﴿٤﴾ Nor does he (the prophet) speak out of desire. It is naught but revelation that is revealed. (53:4-5) This shows that the Prophet’s Speech does not come from himself, but actually comes from Allah (SWT)

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Quranic ayats regarding... Disobedience towards certain people فَلَا تُطِعِ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ ﴿٨﴾ وَلَا تُطِعْ كُلَّ حَلَّافٍ مَّهِينٍ ﴿١٠﴾ مَّنَّاعٍ لِّلْخَيْرِ مُعْتَدٍ أَثِيمٍ ﴿١٢﴾ “So do not obey those who accuse you of lying...& do not obey any mean swearer...forbidder of good, one who steps beyond the limits, a sinner.” (68:8-12) فَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تُطِعْ مِنْهُمْ آثِمًا أَوْ كَفُورًا ﴿٢٤﴾ “And do not obey among them a sinner or an ungrateful person.” (76:24) وَلَا تُطِيعُوا أَمْرَ الْمُسْرِفِينَ ﴿١٥١﴾ “And do not obey the command of the prodigals...” (26:151) PRODIGAL: a recklessly extravagant consumer All these forbid the followers from following sinners, and other types of people.

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Points revealed from The Holy Quran... Prophets are to obeyed unconditionally Sinners and wrongdoers are not to be obeyed Therefore, the only logical conclusion is that the prophets are NOT in the categories of the sinners or the wrong doers. Allah (SWT) has blessed us with Akhl, and is Just. If you do consider the Sunni’s point of view regarding the Prophets making mistakes and sins you are in the wrong whether you obey them or not. 1) If you obey them and commit a sin, you will disobey Allah (SWT) who has told us not to commit sins. 2) If we disobeyed the prophet and refused to commit the sin, then we will still be disobeying Allah (SWT) who has told us to obey the prophets and messengers unconditionally.

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Argument in relation to the Quranic verses that give an impression that the prophets committed sins Preface of explanation... 2 Types of verses are shown in the Quran: Clear (Mukamat) Allegorical (mutashabihat) هُوَ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ مِنْهُ آيَاتٌ مُّحْكَمَاتٌ هُنَّ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ وَأُخَرُ مُتَشَابِهَاتٌ ۖ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ زَيْغٌ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَابَهَ مِنْهُ ابْتِغَاءَ الْفِتْنَةِ وَابْتِغَاءَ تَأْوِيلِهِ ۗ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُ إِلَّا اللَّـهُ ۗ وَالرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ يَقُولُونَ آمَنَّا بِهِ كُلٌّ مِّنْ عِندِ رَبِّنَا ۗ وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّا أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ ﴿٧﴾ He it is Who has revealed the Book to you; some of its verses are decisive, they are the basis of the Book, and others are allegorical; then as for those in whose hearts there is perversity they follow the part of it which is allegorical, seeking to mislead and seeking to give it (their own) interpretation. but none knows its interpretation except Allah, and those who are firmly rooted in knowledge say: We believe in it, it is all from our Lord; and none do mind except those having understanding. (3:7)

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How do we interpret those allegorical verses? Who are those ”Firmly rooted in knowledge” Those verses should be interpreted: In the light of the mukamat verses Through the teachings of the Imam of Ahlul bayt The people who are ‘firmly rooted in knowledge are the Ahlul Bayt (AS) “I am leaving two precious things among you (for guidance): The Book of Allah and my Ahlul Bayt”

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The consequent parts will show the specific cases of the following Prophets as mentioned in the Quran, and how their interpretation maintains the belief of Infallibility. Prophet Adam (AS) Prophet Ibrahim (AS) Prophet Musa (AS) Prophet Yunus (AS) Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) All the information in the parts in this presentation has been taken from the following book: The Infallibility of the Prophets in the Holy Quran By Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi The production of this presentation is to illustrate the main points, and to portray the Shi’a Beliefs for those who were not able to read the book (for whatever reason)