The infallibility of the Prophets - [Ismat ul-anmbiya]

Another distinguishing feature of the Prophets of Allah is that they were all infallible and perfect human beings. The Arabic word to express this unique quality is, Ismat, meaning, immunity from committing a sin or making a mistake. Thus, every action of the Prophet is always accurately correct and can not be questioned for verification.

Quran has ascertained that prophets never do anything out of their own desire or under any pressure. They always strictly follow Allah’s Commandments, whether they do anything in private or in public.

“He does not speak out of his own desire.” (53:3)

Another strong proof of infallibility of the Prophet is that Allah Taala has asked all mankind to follow the footsteps of the Holy Prophet (sws) without any reservation. This Divine command in itself is a valid proof that His prophets always do the right things, and there is no chance of any kind of error.

“Say: if you do love Allah, follow me. Allah will love you.” (3:31) Thus, from the Quran and also by common sense, the Prophet is totally free from all kinds of indecencies and human errors.

What is a difference between Prophet and a common man.

In physical appearance, all prophets (Nabis, Rasuls and Imams) were like common human beings. They all have the same body as we have, same needs as we have, i.e., they used to eat food, they used to drink water, they used to sleep and rest, they married, they had children, they died after certain age etc. But despite these many common characteristics, all Prophets were highly elevated souls with special signs and extraordinary characters. Quran has described this unique combination of similarity and difference of the Prophet’s personality.

“Say: I am only a man like you, (but) it is revealed unto me that your God is but one God.” (18:110)

From this verse of the Holy Quran, we can infer two important facts of their personality.

• That in general physical appearance, Prophet is not different from common human beings, but he is wholly like them.

• But with all this bodily resemblance, he also receives Divine revelations. This additional and exceptional quality of the Prophet, i.e., capability of communicating with God (there is no god but Allah Taala), which no ordinary human being can do, makes him indescribably higher than all human beings. This difference is beyond any imagination.

This exceptional quality of the prophet, i.e., prominently like a common man but remarkably different from man, is not a mystery or unusual. We can explain it rationally and scientifically with the following few examples.