There is an ayah in Quran and also a haidth in one of the Saheeain that Allah forgave all the past and future sins of Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh). Can you please explain this Aayah! What were these sins.? And please also explain the conditions on which Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) offered divorce to Sawda Bint Zama which was later reconcilled when she agreed to give her day to Aisha (ra).
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
1. There are many actions that we consider to be proper and righteous, whilst the pious servants of Allah Ta’ala consider them improper and sinful. This is due to their piety and closeness to Allah Ta’ala. Similarly, actions done by Rasulullah (Sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) were certainly proper and righteous. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) had not committed sins, neither major nor minor. However, due to his status and rank as a Prophet, he regarded some of his actions as improper and sinful, though in reality there were not so. It is these actions that Allah Ta’ala has forgiven. It is commonly quoted in the commentaries of Hadith: “Righteous actions of pious are misdeeds for the close servants of Allah”.
It is our Aqeeda (belief) that all Prophets of Allah Ta’ala are sinless and protected from major and minor sins. It is incorrect to hold the belief that a Prophet of Allah Ta’ala has committed a sin. Thus, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) has not committed any sin, neither major nor minor.
(ما تقدم من ذنبك وما تأخر) أي جميع ما فرط منك مما يصح أن يعاتب عليه ، وبما أن الأنبياء معصومون عن الذنوب الكبائر والصغائر ، فالمراد بالذنب هنا :فعل ما هو خلاف الاولي والافضل بالنسبة لمقام الانبياء ، فهو من قبيل : حسنات الابرار سيئات المقربين أو أن المراد ما هو ذنب في نظره العالي ، وان لم يكن في الواقع كذلك. (التفسير المنير، 13/474، دار الفكر)
2. It is understood from Sunan Abi Dawood and other books of Hadith that Sawda Bint Zam’a (Radiyallaahu anha) grew old and she feared that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) would issue her a divorce. This was purely her fear. Her desire was to stay in the marriage of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) and be resurrected on the day of Qiyamah with him and her co-wives (Al-Azwāj al-Mutahharāt). Rasulullah (Sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) maintained her in his marriage till his demise.
قالت عائشة يا ابن أختى كان رسول الله -صلى الله عليه وسلم- لا يفضل بعضنا على بعض فى القسم من مكثه عندنا وكان قل يوم إلا وهو يطوف علينا جميعا فيدنو من كل امرأة من غير مسيس حتى يبلغ إلى التى هو يومها فيبيت عندها ولقد قالت سودة بنت زمعة حين أسنت وفرقت أن يفارقها رسول الله -صلى الله عليه وسلم- يا رسول الله يومى لعائشة. فقبل ذلك رسول الله -صلى الله عليه وسلم- منها (ابو داود)
And Allah knows best
Wassalamu Alaikum
Ml. Talha Desai,
Student Darul Iftaa
Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In’aamiyyah