'Ismah (Infallibility/Innocence): Difference between revisions
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Infallibility, ‘Ismah (عِصْمَة) in Arabic, is the special cognitive state that keeps a person from committing sin and prevents any temptations. An | {{QualityScore|Lead=2|Structure=2|Content=2|Language=3|References=1}} | ||
Infallibility, ‘Ismah (عِصْمَة) in Arabic, is the special cognitive state that keeps a person from committing sin and prevents any temptations. An infallible person, or simply "infallible" (ma’sum معصوم in Arabic), is someone immune from any error and wrongdoing. Infallibles make no mistakes and are bestowed with the gift of knowledge from Allah himself. Shia Muslims believe that it is imperative for leaders chosen by Allah to be infallible, because their job is to guide humanity and convey the divine scripture to them. This means that every prophet from Adam to Muhammad is infallible. In addition to the prophets, members of Ahlulbayt (the family of the prophet) are also infallible. | |||
==The Concept of Infallibility== | ==The Concept of Infallibility== | ||
According to Muhammad Jawad Mughniyah (Al-Islam Wa Al-Aql), infallibity is the concept of having a pure soul by virtue of being chosen by Allah. | According to Muhammad Jawad Mughniyah (Al-Islam Wa Al-Aql), infallibity is the concept of having a pure soul by virtue of being chosen by Allah. | ||
12:53: "Nor do I absolve my own self (of blame): the (human) soul is certainly prone to evil, unless my Lord do bestow His Mercy: but surely my Lord is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful." | |||
Quran 12:53 states that Allah created the human soul and made the human soul susceptible to evil: "Nor do I absolve my own self (of blame): the (human) soul is certainly prone to evil, unless my Lord do bestow His Mercy: but surely my Lord is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful." In Islam, the relationship between the soul and the body is that of administration and control. The soul can incite evil. If the body commits evil, then it is a sin, and the person is fallible. However, Allah granted an exception for a select few. In their case, the soul does not incite evil, and infallibles never act upon it. | |||
==Infallibility of the Prophets== | ==Infallibility of the Prophets== | ||
Infallibles cannot be tempted by Satan. | Infallibles cannot be tempted by Satan. | ||
15:42: Indeed, My servants - no authority will you have over them, except those who follow you of the deviators. | 15:42: Indeed, My servants - no authority will you have over them, except those who follow you of the deviators. | ||
38:82-83: [ | 38:82-83: [Iblis] said, "By your might, I will surely mislead them all. Except, among them, Your chosen servants.” | ||
According to Sayed Moustafa Al-Qazwini, deviation or disobedience here is not taken literally. Instead, it means that the “chosen servants” | |||
According to Sayed Moustafa Al-Qazwini, deviation or disobedience here is not taken literally. Instead, it means that the “chosen servants” Iblis is referring to are those incapable of being misled and committing sins. | |||
The Quran also instructs its followers to believe the word of the messengers and that obeying them is synonymous with obeying Allah ({{Quran|4|80}}, {{Quran|3|32}}, {{Quran|5|92}}, {{Quran|3|132}}, {{Quran|4|59}}). This is taken as further proof of the infallibility of the prophets. | |||
{{Quote|Reynolds, Gabriel Said. <i>Allah: God in the Qur'an (pp. 61-62).</i> Yale University Press. Kindle Edition.|An interesting feature found in Q 26 (but not in the other Suras that relate punishment stories) is a refrain in which the prophet demands that his people obey him. Time and again the prophets in Q 26 warn, “Be wary of Allah and obey me!” (Noah, vv. 108, 110; Hud, vv. 126, 131; Salih, vv. 144, 150; Lot, v. 163; Shu‘ayb, v. 179). The point of this refrain is clear: the prophet is the representative of God on earth. Just as Muslims are to obey God, they are also to obey the prophet. One can understand why later Islamic tradition developed the doctrine that the prophets are all infallible. If they are to be obeyed, they must be fully trustworthy, they must be perfect.}} | |||
==Infallibility of Ahlulbayt== | ==Infallibility of Ahlulbayt== | ||
The Quran has special verses to discuss the purity and infallibility of Ahlulbayt (The Prophet’s Household) | The Quran has special verses to discuss the purity and infallibility of Ahlulbayt (The Prophet’s Household), specifically the Infallible Five: Mohammad, Ali, Fatema, Al-Hasan, and Al-Hussain. | ||
In 33:33, the Qur'an mentions: | In 33:33, the Qur'an mentions: | ||
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==The Fourteen Masooms== | ==The Fourteen Masooms== | ||
Shia believe that in addition to Ahlulbayt, the remaining | Shia Muslims believe that in addition to Ahlulbayt, the remaining nine Imams from Imam Hussain’s lineage are all infallible. They are: | ||
Ali Ibn Al-Hussain (Known as Zain Al-Abideen) | Ali Ibn Al-Hussain (Known as Zain Al-Abideen) | ||
Mohammad Ibn Ali (Known as Al-Baqer) | Mohammad Ibn Ali (Known as Al-Baqer) | ||
Latest revision as of 05:17, 1 December 2025
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Infallibility, ‘Ismah (عِصْمَة) in Arabic, is the special cognitive state that keeps a person from committing sin and prevents any temptations. An infallible person, or simply "infallible" (ma’sum معصوم in Arabic), is someone immune from any error and wrongdoing. Infallibles make no mistakes and are bestowed with the gift of knowledge from Allah himself. Shia Muslims believe that it is imperative for leaders chosen by Allah to be infallible, because their job is to guide humanity and convey the divine scripture to them. This means that every prophet from Adam to Muhammad is infallible. In addition to the prophets, members of Ahlulbayt (the family of the prophet) are also infallible.
The Concept of Infallibility
According to Muhammad Jawad Mughniyah (Al-Islam Wa Al-Aql), infallibity is the concept of having a pure soul by virtue of being chosen by Allah.
Quran 12:53 states that Allah created the human soul and made the human soul susceptible to evil: "Nor do I absolve my own self (of blame): the (human) soul is certainly prone to evil, unless my Lord do bestow His Mercy: but surely my Lord is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful." In Islam, the relationship between the soul and the body is that of administration and control. The soul can incite evil. If the body commits evil, then it is a sin, and the person is fallible. However, Allah granted an exception for a select few. In their case, the soul does not incite evil, and infallibles never act upon it.
Infallibility of the Prophets
Infallibles cannot be tempted by Satan. 15:42: Indeed, My servants - no authority will you have over them, except those who follow you of the deviators. 38:82-83: [Iblis] said, "By your might, I will surely mislead them all. Except, among them, Your chosen servants.”
According to Sayed Moustafa Al-Qazwini, deviation or disobedience here is not taken literally. Instead, it means that the “chosen servants” Iblis is referring to are those incapable of being misled and committing sins.
The Quran also instructs its followers to believe the word of the messengers and that obeying them is synonymous with obeying Allah (Quran 4:80, Quran 3:32, Quran 5:92, Quran 3:132, Quran 4:59). This is taken as further proof of the infallibility of the prophets.
Infallibility of Ahlulbayt
The Quran has special verses to discuss the purity and infallibility of Ahlulbayt (The Prophet’s Household), specifically the Infallible Five: Mohammad, Ali, Fatema, Al-Hasan, and Al-Hussain.
In 33:33, the Qur'an mentions: Allah intends only to remove from you the impurity [of sin], O people of the [Prophet's] household, and to purify you with [extensive] purification.
The Fourteen Masooms
Shia Muslims believe that in addition to Ahlulbayt, the remaining nine Imams from Imam Hussain’s lineage are all infallible. They are: Ali Ibn Al-Hussain (Known as Zain Al-Abideen) Mohammad Ibn Ali (Known as Al-Baqer) Ja’far Ibn Mohammad (Known as Al-Sadeq) Mousa Ibn Ja’far (Known as Al-Kadhem) Ali Ibn Mousa (Known as Al-Riza) Mohammad ibn Ali (Known as Al-Jawad) Ali Ibn Mohammad (Known as Al-Hadi) Al-Hasan Ibn Ali (Known as Al-Askari) Mohammad Ibn Al-Hasan (Known as Al-Mahdi Al-Montazar, or “The Awaited Messiah”)