Month: October 2024

SHIA MUSLIMS BELIEVE THAT PROPHETS ARE ABSOLUTELY INFALLIBLE

Prophets can sin but chose not to as they know the reality of sin

Prophets make themselves immune from sins and mistakes at all times

Prophets do not sin unintentionally or intentionally

Prophets do not sin all their life

Prophets do not sin whether performing Prophetic duties or in personal lives

Prophets do not sin because then God will not trust them with the message

Prophets do not sin otherwise people will lose trust in them

In Ziarat Waritha we say for Imam Hussain (a): Peace be upon you, O inheritor of Adam (a) the choice of Allah

 

Chapter 2 (Baqarah) verses 35-36

“We said, “O Adam, dwell with your wife in the garden and eat from it as many as you wish; but do not approach this tree, otherwise you will become one of the zalimeen” (2:35)

“But the Shaitan made them both fall from it, and caused them to depart from that (state) in which they were; and We said: Get forth, some of you being the enemies of others, and there is for you in the earth an abode and a provision for a time” (2:36)

 

Chapter 20 (Ta Ha) verses 116-126

And [remember] when We said to the angels, “Prostrate before Adam,” all of them prostrated except Iblis who refused and was haughty.

Therefore, We said, “O Adam! this [Shaytan] is an enemy to you and your wife. So do not let him expel you from the Garden, otherwise you will be uncomfortable (تشقى): in it [i.e., the Garden] you shall neither be hungry nor naked, and you shall neither be thirsty therein nor struck by the sun’s rays.”

But the Shaytan instilled temptation to him by saying, “O Adam! Shall I guide you to the tree of immortality and a kingdom which will not decline?” When [they] both ate of that tree, their private parts became manifest to them and both of them started to cover themselves with the leaves of the Garden.

Adam disobeyed (عَصى ) his Lord, and so he erred (غوى). Then his Lord chose him, and then He turned to him and guided him.

[Then] Allah said [to Shaytan and Adam], “You both get down from this [Garden}, some of you being the enemies of the other. [On the earth], a guidance will certainly come to you from Me, and then whosoever follows My guidance, he shall not go astray nor will he be unhappy. But whosoever turns away from My reminder, then he shall surely have a wretched life and we shall resurrect him blind.”

 

Some proofs that Prophet Adam’s act was not a sin or a mistake:

A while ago God asked all inhabitants of the heaven to prostate before Adam. That shows his status

An action can be regarded as good or bad depending on the situation that leads to it. Not all bad actions result in a punishment

There was no concept of sin or reward at the time of this act in that place

Gods instruction was a recommendation not an order

The result of the action was not punishment but Adam and Eve losing their right to stay in Paradise for longer

Shaitan has accepted that he can’t mislead the devoted people of God

Adam was meant to be sent to earth anyway, if this was a punishment then after forgiveness he should have gone back

The word “Zalim” has four meanings: (a) to put something in a wrong place; (b) to oppress; (c) to make haste; and (d) to come to harm.

Adam repented because the act committed was not according to his status as a Prophet

Adam repented as he got inspired by Shaitan and chose the wrong option

This event happened when there were no other humans in the world apart from Adam and Eve and Adam realised straight away

The order given to Adam in Heaven is not same as the orders given to human beings in this world—it is disobedience of the orders given on this earth that constitutes sin

The word غَوَى means “he erred”. But this does not necessarily mean sin. It can easily be applied to at-tarku ‘l-awla which is possible for a prophet to do

The word عصیانis used for sin as well as acting outside the boundary of recommendation

This paradise was not the same one which is meant for people to live in forever in return of their good deeds

The tree was not a usual tree but a tree of jealously. Adam felt he has the highest status. He was told by God that in his progeny there are higher status people than him and he went close

This looks like a sin as expectations from Adam was higher than the act

 

2 examples to explain further:

If someone slaughters the chicken and neglects the saying of “bismillah,” then has he committed a sin? No, he has not committed a sin nor is he liable for a punishment for not saying the “bismillah” at that time. However, he will lose the right to eat that chicken; that chicken cannot be eaten by a Muslim.

A person comes to his doctor complaining of cough. The doctor advises his patient to drink a certain medicine, a cough syrup. Now if the patient ignores that advice, then he is not committing a sin or a crime; but he will surely suffer the consequence — his illness will be prolonged and his health might deteriorate.

 

References:

Tafsir Namoona: Ayatullah Nasir Makarim Shirazi

Faith and Reason: Ayatullah Mahdi Hadavi Tehrani

he Infallibility of the Prophets in the Qur’an: Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi