Friday, April 17, 2015

INFALLIBILITY OF THE PROPHETS AND THE PURE IMAMS

Allah, the Wise, had sent the Prophets to guide the humanity towards piety; advise them to do virtuous deeds and abstain from committing vices and sins. They had to first practice what they preach. There is a difference between infallibility and incapacity. The prophets and the Pure Imams could commit sin but they did not do so.
Infallibility of the Prophets and the Pure Imams is the cardinal principle of the Shiite Islam. However, other Muslims believe that the prophets did not commit any sin while delivering the message but in their personal lives they made mistakes. If for a moment, it is agreed that a prophet commit a sin, then a strange situation will arise. It would be necessary to obey and disobey at the same time, because Allah says in Surah al-Imran Ayah 31: “(Muhammad), tell them, “If you love Allah, follow me. Allah will love you and forgive your sins. Allah is All-Forgiving and All-Merciful.”  When it has been proved for the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.), it must be true for all other prophets because Allah does not discriminate between His Messengers. On the other hand, it is not allowed to follow a sinner in his sinful activities.
In order to achieve salvation in this world and the Hereafter, Allah is directing the humanity to obey Him, His Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) and the (Qualified) leaders as mentioned in Surah al-Nisa Ayah 59: “Believers, obey Allah, His Messenger, and your (Qualified) leaders. If you have faith in Allah and the Day of Judgment, refer to Allah and His Messenger concerning matters in which you differ…”
In Surah al-Baqarah Ayah 44, Allah says: “Would you order people to do good deeds and forget to do them yourselves even though you read the Book? Why do you not think?” When Shaitan said: “By God, I will make your people to follow the wrong path except your Mukhlus believers.” Allah said: “The people who will follow you, will be unbelievers. The righteous people will always follow My Apostle and their orders.”
When a man commits a sin, he follows his desires not obeying his Creator’s commands and is misguided and the Prophets are guided by Allah as stated in Surah al-Zumar Ayah 37: “Who can mislead one whom Allah has guided? Is Allah not Majestic and capable to exact retribution? Surah al-Najm Ayah 1-5: “By the star, when descending (in space), your companion (Muhammad) is not in error nor has he deviated. He does not speak out of his own desires. It (whatever he says) is a revelation which has been revealed to him. The Great Mighty One taught him.” The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.)’s infallibility is confirmed by the Divine Ayah Tatheer in Surah al-Ahzab Ayah 33: “O People of the house, Allah wants to remove all kinds of uncleanness from you and to purify you thoroughly.” This Ayah refers to the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) including the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.).
 Allah provided guidance to the Prophets as mentioned in Surah Sad Ayahs 45 to 47: “(Muhammad), recall our servants Ibrahim, Ishaque, and Yaqub all of whom possessed virtuous hands (power) and clear visions. We gave them this pure distinction because of their continual remembrance of the Day of Judgment. In our eyes they were of the chosen, virtuous people.” Similarly, He is clearly directing the people to follow the Messenger as in Surah al-Imran Ayah 31: “(Muhammad), tell them, “If you love Allah, follow me. Allah will love you and forgive your sins. Allah is All-Forgiving and All-Merciful.”
Allah is inviting people that if they want to be successful then obey Allah and His Messenger as in Surah al-Nur Ayah 52: “Those who obey Allah and His Messenger, who are humble before Allah, and who have fear of Him, certainly, be successful.”
Al-Shaykh al-Tusi (r.a.) said: “Infallibility is necessary for a Prophet so that surety in him is attained and the purpose of creation is fulfilled.”Moreover, if a Prophet is not infallible, he will make mistakes and people will not trust him or his message. The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) established his “Trustworthiness” and “Truthfulness” for 40 years in Makkah among the Polytheists before formally invited them towards Islam.
Whatever is stated above for the Prophets holds good for the Pure Imams of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.)

Information obtained from:

The Glorious Qur’an, Faith & Reason by Ayatollah Mahdi Hadavi Tehrani

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