Are Prophets "Infallible"?
Can We Pray to Saints?
What About Graves?
A non-Muslim journalist wrote some nice things about Islam in an article quoting from an imam in Canada.
However, Imam Dr. Usama Al-Atar provides the following commentary: One of the fundamental beliefs of Muslims is the infallibility of all prophets*, which includes them not committing any sin, mistake or any wrong doing of any sort. When prophets pray for forgiveness, it is not because of any sins they committed, but rather for feeling the shortcoming of not doing enough to worship God the way He is worthy of being worshiped).
*emphasis added
This is what a brother from our mosque had to say about the part of "infalibility" of prophets as well as the sufi masters and saints.
And it surprised us to compare these two points of view and we think it is important for all of us to discuss this issue. After all, that is what our projects are all about - bringing true Islam to the English speaking world.
(Read to the end and please make good comments for us to share with the whole world)
I wanted write something about what we noticed in your article from the Imam concerning infallibility. This is something commonly quoted amongst Muslims, and this is an error, at least partially.
Subject of
"Infallibility" in Islam
"Infallibility" in Islam
Clearly in Islam, only Allah and His angels are infallible, and that is because the angels have not choice in the matter, except to obey Allah.
Humans have been given free choice in their matters and are all capable of making sins and mistakes.
Humans have been given free choice in their matters and are all capable of making sins and mistakes.
This is one of the very first things taught in presenting true Islam. However over the centuries a number of mulanas (clerics) have come up with this idea that Jesus, Muhammad, Abraham, Moses and all the prophets (peace be upon them all), are without any mistakes and no sins. This idea of infallibility was due to a number of circumstances related to both cultural and traditional backgrounds in various areas and philosophical understandings (misunderstandings?).
We find in the Quran, several places showing mistakes that prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, had made and these were used to teach all of us lessons about the topics. Not the least of which, is the subject of not changing or adding to or taking anything away from the religion itself.
Read in surah At-Tahreem (chapter 66) right in the very beginning, it deals with the subject of prophet, peace be upon him, saying that eating honey (asel in Arabic) was haram (forbidden) and this was due to his wife playing a trick on him. Allah corrected him and told him not to make something forbidden that Allah did not make forbidden. A very good lesson for all of us, no doubt.
However, this flies in the face of "infallibility" due to a number of issues here. If he doesn't make mistakes, then how did his wife trick him?
And why was he being corrected if he didn't make a mistake?
Another surah (chapter) called Abasa (He frowned), Allah chastises prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, for frowning and turning away from a blind man who interrupted him while he was trying to get some non-believers to listen to him concerning beliefs in Islam. Allah was very clear in giving us the example of not turning our backs on the new Muslims, even in favor of trying to get others to join Islam.
In several hadeeth, the prophet, peace be upon him, told us he, himself was asking for forgiveness more than 70 times a day.
And before anyone can say this was just because he didn't feel he made enough worship, let's consider a very famous narration coming to us from his wife, who found him standing in the night praying until his ankles were swollen up. She said (what means in English):
And before anyone can say this was just because he didn't feel he made enough worship, let's consider a very famous narration coming to us from his wife, who found him standing in the night praying until his ankles were swollen up. She said (what means in English):
"O prophet of Allah, why do you stand praying like this all the night, when Allah has forgiven all of your sins, past and present?"
He replied, "Shouldn't I be grateful".
He did not say, "I don't have any sins. I am just doing more worship".
Another famous narration deals with the Day of Judgment.
This one tells us the people will be resurrected and standing all together in one place and the sun will be brought close overhead. The heat will be unbearable and after time, the people while go to our father, Adam, peace be upon him. And they will ask him to go to Allah and ask Him to start the Judgment Day. Adam, peace be upon him, will say, "Your Lord is angry today as He has never been angry before, nor will he ever be this angry again. I have my own sins. Go to Abraham, peace be upon him."
And the people will go to Abraham, peace be upon him, and he will say the same thing and refer them on to Moses, peace be upon him, and he will say the same thing and so on, until they come to Jesus, peace be upon him. He will not mention having any sins and will then refer them on to Muhammad, peace be upon him, who will also not mention having any sins. He will then go in front of Allah and put his head on the ground and supplicate as Allah Wills saying what Allah will have him say... (and so on to the end).
The point here is most clear, the only ones not mentioning their sins were the two who were still alive with this narration took place.
No where in Islam do have a list of sins from Jesus, peace be upon him. But this is not because he was without mistakes. Rather, it is because he is coming back in the Last Days and it would not be fair for the entire world to know of his errors and mistakes. This is something Allah would never do to any of His prophets, peace be upon all of them.
Some of the mullahs (clerics) use the infallibility concept to promote saint and grave worship (something forbidden in pure Islam).
There are some Muslims today who believe in the idea of infallibility of the prophets, peace be upon all of them and even of certain "saints" or "Sufi Masters".
They say these men are so close to God, and we have sins and these men are like the prophets in that they are "infallible". But this cannot be substantiated in Islam. They often use this idea to promote actually going to such people or to their graves and asking from them, for the things they want.
In Islam whoever asks or prays to someone for their needs, would be committing a major sin.
The Quran is very clear about this topic. And for sure none of the children of Adam are without sin.
The Quran is very clear about this topic. And for sure none of the children of Adam are without sin.
Thank you for your article and sharing it with us.
If there was any good in what I have said, it is from Allah and all the mistakes are from myself. Truly, none of us are without sin.
Sincerely, Your brother in humanity,
Abdullah bin Adam
Servant of God, son of Adam - (aren't we all?)
Servant of God, son of Adam - (aren't we all?)
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