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Did the Prophet Muhammad pbuh make mistakes?

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by DarulIftaBirmingham

Answered by:  Maulana Moinul Abu Hamza​

Question:

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah!

On what basis do Muslims believe that Muhammad was Allah’s most perfect creation, and he made no mistakes and committed no sins?


بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم


In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Answer:

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakaatuh,

There is a rational necessity as well as textual evidence. The rational aspect is that in order to believe that the revelation is from Allah Ta’ala, the chain from Allah Ta’ala to Jibreel, to Muhammad (peace be upon him) must be infallible. Otherwise, this can compromise the argument of those entrusted to take the message from Allah Ta’ala and carry it to mankind.

 

The second issue is that the strongest view on the infallibility of the Prophets is that they were infallible only in their conveyance and explanation of the message as messengers, but they could make mistakes as human beings. There is numerous evidence pointing to the fact that they are infallible in regards to being messengers:

 

Allah said (interpretation of the meaning):

“We shall make you recite (the Quran), so you (O Muhammad) shall not forget (it)” [al-A’la 87:7]

“It is for Us to collect it and to give you (O Muhammad) the ability to recite it (the Quran).

And when We have recited it to you [O Muhammad through Jibreel], then follow it (the Quran’s) recitation”

As for them making mistakes as human beings, we see that Muhammad (peace be upon him) was rebuked at a time in the Quran, which was not for a minor sin, nor a major sin but rather that out of two permissible things, the higher reward was no taken. This is like the beginning of Surah Abasa, when Allah Ta’ala teaches the Prophet (peace be upon him) that dealing with the poor man, or the blind man who asked him a question, was more rewardable than talking with the nobility of Makkah. It teaches us to not forget ‘the blind Muslim’ nor underestimate him. Of course, these matters in themselves have utility, as the Prophets were not only sent to show us perfection, but to show us how to repent due to our imperfections.

 

Only Allah Ta’ala knows best

Answered by Maulana Moinul Abu Hamza

Checked and approved by Ustadha Siddiqa al-Farsiyyah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

This answer was collected from DarulIftaBirmingham.co.uk, which is run under the supervision of Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah from the United Kingdom.

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