Only the Ambiya’ (Prophets) are Infallible

The testimony of the Noble Qur’an in favour of the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum of true faith and glad tidings of mercy and happiness from Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala does not mean that they were sinless or free from fault and slip ups; they were neither angels nor prophets! Rather, some of the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum did err, however they did not persist on it. Instead, they would hasten towards seeking forgiveness and repenting to Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala, so this does not impair on the reality of their Iman nor on the glad tidings of mercy and happiness from Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala. The Noble Qur’an has recorded some incidents and the forgiveness and mercy of Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala in favour of the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum.

Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala says regarding accepting ransom from the captives of Badr :

لَّوْلَا كِتَابٌ مِّنَ اللهِ سَبَقَ لَمَسَّكُمْ فِيْمَا أَخَذْتُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيْمٌ

If not for a decree from Allah that preceded, you would have been touched for what you took by a great punishment.^[1]

The decree from Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala in favour of the participants of Badr of His forgiveness had passed, which was a barrier for them being taken to task in this situation.

Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala says regarding the participants of Uhud:

وَلَقَدْ صَدَقَكُمُ اللهُ وَعْدَهُ إِذْ تَحُسُّوْنَهُمْ بِإِذْنِهِ حَتّىٰ إِذَا فَشِلْتُمْ وَتَنَازَعْتُمْ فِيْ الْأَمْرِ وَعَصَيْتُمْ مِّنْ بَعْدِ مَا أَرَاكُمْ مَّا تُحِبُّوْنَ مِنْكُمْ مَّنْ يُرِيْدُ الدُّنْيَا وَمِنْكُمْ مَّنْ يُرِيْدُ الْآخِرَةَ ثُمَّ صَرَفَكُمْ عَنْهُمْ لِيَبْتَلِيَكُمْ وَلَقَدْ عَفَا عَنْكُمْ وَاللهُ ذُوْ فَضْلٍ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ

And Allah had certainly fulfilled His promise to you when you were killing them [i.e., the enemy] by His permission until [the time] when you lost courage and fell to disputing about the order and disobeyed after He had shown you that which you love. Among you are some who desire this world, and among you are some who desire the Hereafter. Then He turned you back from them [defeated] that He might test you. And He has already forgiven you, and Allah is the possessor of bounty for the believers.^[2]

After the verse indicates to what had occurred of faint heartedness, dispute, and intending the spoils of war, it mentions the forgiveness of Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala in their favour. The verse ends by mentioning that this was a blessing from Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala on account of their Iman in Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala and His Rasul salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam:

وَاللهُ ذُوْ فَضْلٍ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ

Allah is the possessor of bounty for the believers.

Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala specifically says regarding those who turned back on that day (at Uhud):

إِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ تَوَلَّوْا مِنْكُمْ يَوْمَ الْتَقَى الْجَمْعَانِ إِنَّمَا اسْتَزَلَّهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ بِبَعْضِ مَا كَسَبُوْا وَلَقَدْ عَفَا اللهُ عَنْهُمْ إِنَّ اللهَ غَفُوْرٌ حَلِيْمٌ

Indeed, those of you who turned back on the day the two armies met – it was Shaitan who caused them to slip because of some [blame] they had earned. But Allah has already forgiven them. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Forbearing.^[3]

This is a clear verse announcing their forgiveness for turning back on that day.

Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala says:

لَّقَدْ تَّابَ اللهُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ وَالْمُهَاجِرِيْنَ وَالْأَنصَارِ الَّذِيْنَ اتَّبَعُوْهُ فِيْ سَاعَةِ الْعُسْرَةِ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا كَادَ يَزِيْغُ قُلُوْبُ فَرِيْقٍ مِّنْهُمْ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ إِنَّهُ بِهِمْ رَءُوْفٌ رَّحِيْمٌ وَعَلَى الثَّلَاثَةِ الَّذِيْنَ خُلِّفُوْا حَتّىٰ إِذَا ضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الْأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ وَضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ أَنفُسُهُمْ وَظَنُّوْا أَنْ لَّا مَلْجَأَ مِنَ اللهِ إِلَّا إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَتُوْبُوْا إِنَّ اللهَ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيْمُ

Allah has already forgiven the Prophet and the Muhajirin and the Ansar who followed him in the hour of difficulty after the hearts of a party of them had almost inclined [to doubt], and then He forgave them. Indeed, He was to them Kind and Merciful. And [He also forgave] the three who were left alone [i.e., boycotted, regretting their error] to the point that the earth closed in on them in spite of its vastness and their souls confined [i.e., anguished] them and they were certain that there is no refuge from Allah except in Him. Then He turned to them so they could repent. Indeed, Allah is the Accepting of Repentance, the Merciful.^[4]

This verse was revealed regarding the Battle of Tabuk. The Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum came out despite the unproductive crop that year, the extreme heat, and the scarcity of provisions and water. The situation became so dire that they felt like their necks were going to fall off due to the severe thirst they endured. Some were on the verge of turning aside from the truth due to the severity and difficulty. Through the blessings of the supplication of the Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala showered His mercy on them, and the rain began pouring down, so they drank and quenched their thirst. Thereafter Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala forgave them, which the verse confirms in the beginning and towards the end. The mercy of Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala was extended to include the forgiveness of the three Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum who remained behind. Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was anticipating the acceptance of their repentance. Then Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala pronounced their forgiveness. Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala pardoned all those who came out for this expedition whose number reached around 30 000 as recorded in the books of history.

Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala says:

وَآخَرُوْنَ اعْتَرَفُوْا بِذُنُوْبِهِمْ خَلَطُوْا عَمَلًا صَالِحًا وَآخَرَ سَيِّئًا عَسَى اللهُ أَنْ يَتُوْبَ عَلَيْهِمْ إِنَّ اللهَ غَفُوْرٌ رَّحِيْمٌ

And [there are] others who have acknowledged their sins. They had mixed [i.e., polluted] a righteous deed with another that was bad. Perhaps Allah will turn to them in forgiveness. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.^[5]

The majority opinion is that this verse was revealed regarding those Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum who stayed back on the occasion of the Battle of Tabuk, who tied themselves to the poles in the Masjid and took an oath that they will not free themselves until the Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam comes and frees them and is pleased with them. The Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam did not untie them until revelation came; when verses were revealed, he released them and absolved them of their mistake.

Another opinion is that this verse was revealed specifically regarding Sayyidina Abu Lubabah radiya Llahu ‘anhu and his matter with the Banu Qurayzah when they asked him regarding what decision was made by Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala and His Rasul salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam concerning them, after which he gestured to his throat indicating that if they had to attack, they will be killed. Sayyidina Abu Lubabah radiya Llahu ‘anhu regretted his action and tied himself to a pole in the Masjid and remained there until Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala forgave him.

The point that is being expounded is that Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala forgave them for their errors in judgement. Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala says:

عَسَى اللهُ أَنْ يَتُوْبَ عَلَيْهِمْ

Perhaps Allah will turn to them in forgiveness.

Words expressing “hope” when used in the speech of Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala give the meaning of definite occurrence.

NEXT⇒ The Position of the Believers regarding the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum

[1] Surah al Anfal: 68.

[2] Surah Al ‘Imran: 152.

[3] Surah Al ‘Imran: 155.

[4] Surah al Tawbah: 117-118.

[5] Surah al Tawbah: 102.

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