INFALLIBILITY OF THE PROPHETS AND THE IMAMS

Infallibility does not mean a person cannot sin or he is incapable of sinning. Infallible means they can sin but do not sin. It is the fundamental ingredient of Shia faith that all the Prophets and the divinely appointed Imams were infallible.

Generally people get distracted and say that Prophet Adam committed a sin when he disobeyed Allah and ate from the tree in the Paradise when Allah had advised him not to go near the tree. This act of Prophet Adam was not a sin because; in the Paradise there was no Shariya, secondly Allah’s orders are of two types; one is recommended command and the other is prohibitive command. Prohibitive commands are regulated by the shariyah. So Prophet Adam’s act was not prohibitive hence it was not a sin. Moreover, Allah planned the creation of Prophet Adam as a khalifa. Will he create His khalifah who will commit sin? As for his supplication using the word ”Ighfirli” the word is not always used for forgiveness but another usage is for protection because the Shaytan swear by Allah and advised him to eat from the tree, hence Prophet Adam believed him. After the warning from Allah he sought His protection from Shaytan. Similarly, Prophet Musa (a.s.) tried to save his Shia from his enemy and as he pushed the man he fell down and died. It was not a culpable homicide after planning to kill anyone.

On the same lines, the people who do not believe in the infallibility of Prophets and the Imams put forward an Ayah 1 to 3 of Surah al-Fath which says: “We have granted to you, (Muhammad), a manifest victory so that Allah will redeem the sins (which the pagans think you have committed against them) in the past or (you will commit) in the future. He will complete His favors to you, guide you to the right path, and grant you a majestic triumph.” The victory here refers to the “Treaty at Hudaybia”. There is no link between the victory and the alleged forgiveness of the Infallible Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.). Here “Istighfar” means the protection granted against all the evils intended against him, in the past as well as in future. Purity of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) and his Infallible Progeny was guaranteed in the Ayah of Purity, Surah al-Ah’zab Ayah 33 which reads as: “Verily, Allah intends but to keep off from you (every kind of) of uncleanness O the People of the House, and to purify you (with) a through purification.” When this Ayah was revealed, the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) had gathered Imam Ali (a.s.), Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.), Imam Hasan (a.s.) and Imam Husayn (a.s.) under his Cloak as narrated in Hadees-e-Kisa.

Similarly, Allah does not command His creatures to obey the sinful leaders as evident from Surah al-Nisa Ayah 59 says: “Believers, obey Allah, His Messenger and the “Ulil Amr” – qualified leader.” On the other hand Allah says in Surah Insan Ayah 24: “So wait patiently for the Command of your Lord and do not yield to any sinful or disbelieving person among them (people).” It naturally concludes that the “Ulil Amr” should be sinless or infallible person.  In my article “Who is Ulil Amr” it has been discussed thoroughly that Imam Ali (a.s.) is the “Ulil Amr”

Lastly, at the time of his demise, the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) reminded the Muslims about the Glorious Qur’an and his Pure Progeny (a.s.) called Hadees-e-Thaqalayn” saying: “I am leaving behind two precious things; the Book of Allah and my Ahlul Bayt . So long as you uphold both of them, you will never be mislead after me.” Although, in a few books it was reported that the phrase used was “the Book of Allah and my Sunnah” but few Sunni scholars have denied the integrity of the narrators.

A man asked Imam Ali, Zain al-Abidin (a.s.); “How can we follow you because you cannot commit any sin?” the Imam replied: “We can commit sins but will not do it.” The Imam asked him: “Go naked on the road can you do it?” he replied: “No” Imam asked: “Why not?” The man replied: “People are watching” The Imam replied: “We Ahlul Bayt also do not commit sins because Allah is watching us.”

The greatest argument about the infallibility has been provided by Shaytan in Surah al-Hijr Ayah 39 to 40: Iblis said: “Lord, because you have caused me to go stray, I shall make earthly things attractive to the people and mislead all of them except Your sincere servants.” Shaytan was fully aware of the infallible personalities.

Sources used:

The Glorious Qur’an (English Translation) by Ayatollah Agha H.M.M.Pooya

The Glorious Qur’an (English Translation) by Muhammad Sarwar