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Dr. Shaykh Abdul-Rahmaan al-Luwaihiq

The question of the Prophets committing any type of sin is a controversial issue. Many scholars prefer to avoid it as there is not much clear evidence for either view. However, all scholars agreed that the Prophets commit no mistakes with respect to communicating to their people what God revealed to them. Similarly, they are agreed that Prophets do not commit grave sins. But they differ on the question of whether Prophet may commit a small sin sometime. Ibn Taimiyyah wrote,

‘The view that the Prophets do not commit grave sins and that they may commit small sins is the view of most scholars of Islam and most of their followers. One can say that this is the view of the majority of the theologians. Abu-l-Hasan al-Amidi has noted that this is the view of the majority of the Ash’ari theologians as well as the majority of the scholars of Quranic exegesis, hadith and fiqh. What has come down from the salaf, the imams, the companions, the successors and their succesors is not different from this view. (Ibn Taimiyyah, Majmu Fatawa Shaykh al-Islam, (Riyadh, 1398 A.H.), volume 4, page 310)

Qadi Ayad wrote in al-Shifa,

‘As for small sins, a group of the salaf as well as others uphold its possibility. This is also the view of Abu Ja’far al-Tabari and other scholars of fiqh, Hadith and scholastic theology… Another group refrained from saying anything positive on this issue. Rationally, it cannot be ruled out that they might commit small sins, but as for textual sources, there is nothing definitive either way. A third group of jurists and theologians uphold their absolute infallibility.’ (Qadi Ayad, al-Shifa fi Ta’rif Huquq al-Mustafa (Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyah), volume 2, page 144) See the introduction by Muhammad Abdul Haqq Ansari to Sharh al-Aqeedah al-Tahaawiyyah (Fairfax, VA: IIASA, forthcoming)-JZ)) [1]

Related article:

“Can Prophets Sin?”

Reference:

[1] Religious Extremism In The Lives Of Contemporary Muslims – [Translated by Jamaal al-Din M. Zarabozo], by Dr. Shaikh Abdul-Rahmaan al-Luwaihiq, page 273 – 274