D&D Theology's "Ask About Islam" Thread Mk. IV

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate

May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon His Messenger Muhammad, his folk, companions, and followers.

It is from obligatory Islamic belief that the Prophets were trustworthy and preserved from sin.

The classical definition of amana (trustworthiness), which relates to `isma (being preserved from sin) is:

“Allah Most High preserving the Prophets from falling into that which has been prohibited,” as explained by the commentators of the Jawhara. [Tattan/Kaylani, `Awn al-Murid `ala Jawharat al-Tawhid, 2.727; also: Bajuri, Tuhfat al-Murid]

Another definition of trustworthiness was given by the great 20th Century Hanafi scholar from Hama (Syria), Shaykh Muhammad al-Hamid in his work Rudud `ala Abatil [297, as quoted in the above text],

“It is a trait that Allah creates in His servant through which they are disposed to doing the good and that prevents them from the bad.”

The Proof for the Sinlessness of Prophets

Allah Most High has commanded us in the Qur’an to follow the Prophets in numerous verses that are decisive (qat`i) in their indication–such as, “These are the ones whom Allah has guided, so follow their guidance.” [Qur'an, Surat al-An`am: 90]

And Allah Most High has informed us that He only commands the good, and made it clear that He does not command the wrong or sinful.

Thus, it would be absurd for Allah to command us to unconditionally follow the Prophets and to take them as absolute exemplars if they were given to sin–for this would entail us fulfilling command of Allah through something that entails committing sin.
Qur’anic Correction of Prophets

When Allah corrects the Prophets in the Qur’an, this correcting is because they exercised their judgment, but their judgment–though good, sound, and not an act of ‘disobeying’ the Divine Command–was not ultimately the optimal course of action that Allah wished from them.

Thus, Adam (peace be upon him) ate from the tree not out of ‘disobedience’ of the Divine Command but because either he didn’t think that this fell under the prohibition; or out of unawareness; or because he believed the words of the Devil, for Adam didn’t conceive of anyone in Paradise lying. Allah corrected him immediately; and made him leave Paradise to manifest the honor of moral responsibility that He had in fact created Adam and his offspring for in the first place.

Thus, the ‘descent’ of Adam and Eve (Allah bless them and give them peace) from Paradise was in fact a ‘raising’ in rank and an ultimate honor. They sought Allah’s forgiveness because of their awe of the Divine, and because of the inherent sense of shortcoming and humility that the best of creation have when they consider what is due to Allah Most High–absolutely everything.

Similarly, in every instance in which Allah Most High corrects the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in the Qur’an, our Beloved Messenger had acted in a sound and noble manner–it is simply a case that Allah Most High wished another yet higher course of action. This manifests Allah’s divine concern (`inaya) for His Beloved (Allah bless him and give him peace), and is a lesson for all humanity to be humble before the Divine.

[See: Bajuri, Tuhfat al-Murid; Tattan/Kaylani, `Awn al-Murid; Qari/Qadi Iyad, Sharh al-Shifa; Kashmiri, Fayd al-Bari `ala Sahih al-Bukhari; Farhari/Taftazani, al-Nibras `ala Sharh al-`Aqa'id al-Nasafiyya]

And Allah alone gives success.
Wassalam,
Faraz Rabbani

I pray that you are in the best of health and faith, insha’Allah.

Yes, Ibn Kathir did include these supplications of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). However, this does not negate his (Allah bless him and give him peace) infallibility or that of the other Messengers (Allah bless them and give them all peace).
The definition of trustworthiness (amana) is: “Allah’s protection of the inward and outward of the Prophets from committing something prohibited, even if only disliked, and even during their childhood. And this is termed `isma (being preserved from sin).” [al-Dardir, Sharh al-Kharida al-Bahiyya]

The belief of Ahl al-Sunna is that the Prophets (Allah bless them and give them all peace) are protected from major and minor sins, before and after prophethood.

The Traditions of the Prophet’s (Allah bless him and give him peace) Asking for Forgiveness

There are many traditions (hadith) which contain supplications of the Holy Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) in which he asks Allah for forgiveness; likewise, we have numerous traditions in which he (Allah bless him and give him peace) tells us of his constant repentance to his Lord.

For example, Abu Huraira related that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “By Allah, I ask forgiveness of Allah and I turn in repentance to Him more than seventy times a day.” [Bukhari]

Ibn `Allan states, “Herein is a motivation for the community (umma) to repent and seek forgiveness because he (Allah bless him and give him peace), despite being Divinely protected from sin and the best of creation, was repentant and sought forgiveness seventy times daily. And his (Allah bless him and give him peace) seeking forgiveness was not from sin, rather it was from his considering himself (Allah bless him and give him peace) deficient in his slavehood in relation to that which the Divine Presence demanded.” [Ibn `Allan, Dalil al-Falihin] And he (Allah bless him and give him peace) considered a sin anything that could potentially distract him from complete and perfect presence with the Divine.

As for the report mentioned by Ibn Kathir in his Tafsir, it too is found in Bukhari’s Sahih wherein it is related that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) used to say, “O Lord, forgive me my errors and ignorance and my prodigality in my affair and what You know best of me in it. O Allah, forgive me what I do in jest and what I do seriously my errors, and what I do intentionally. All of that is with me.”

Here Imam Munawi, author of the brilliant Fayd al-Qadir Sharh Jami` al-Saghir, comments: “i.e. ‘All of that is possible (i.e. present), so forgive me for it.’ He said this out of humility, or intending it for that which happened forgetfully or unintentionally, or before prophethood, or simply to set a precedent for his community.”

The Verse Commanding to Seek Forgiveness

Allah Most High says, “So [Prophet], bear in mind that there is no god but God, and ask forgiveness for your sins and for the sins of believing men and women. God knows whenever any of you move, and whenever any of you stay still.” [47.19]

Abu al-Su`ud Effendi was one of the Grand Muftis of the Ottoman Empire, and a master exegete of the Qur’an producing one of the finest works in the field, Irshad al-`Aql al-Salim ila Mazaya al-Kitab al-Karim. At the relevant part of the verse above, he comments that this was perhaps from that which was sub-optimal for the Holy Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), and that Allah referred to it as a “sin” in view of his exalted rank. How could it be otherwise when the good deeds of the righteous (abrar) are sins of those brought near (muqarrabin)!

Biqa`i mentioned that because the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) was continually rising in degrees to higher stations, the previous, lower station in relation to the higher station was akin to a sin with respect to him. And others have said that his seeking forgiveness was simply to establish a sunna for his community as he (Allah bless him and give him peace) was free and exalted from sin. [Biqa`i, Nazm al-Durar fi Tanasub al-Ayat wa al-Suwar; al-Suyuti/al-Mahlli, Tafsir al-Jalalayn]

May Allah give us the tawfiq to show due veneration to our Holy Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), and all of the Prophets and Messengers (Allah bless them and give them all peace), and recognize their exalted rank as perfected slaves of Allah.

See also: How do We Understand the Sinlessness of Prophets in Light of Their Reprimand in the Qur’an? and: How Are the Prophets Protected from Error and Sin? and: Are the Prophets Protected from Sin?

And Allah alone gives success.
Wassalam,
Tabraze Azam

Please could you provide Quran verses explaining why you believe this, much thanks.