Innocence of Prophets

Only those people are chosen as prophets who are able to shield themselves from the lures of their inner-self as well as those of Satan, guard themselves against sin and are the righteous and pious among their people. In Surah Anam, after enumerating many prophets, it is saidالصَّالِحِيْن (6: 85) كُلٌّ مِّن (all of them were among the righteous, (6:85)):

وَاذْكُرْ عِبَادَنَا إبْرَاهِيْمَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ أُوْلِي الْأَيْدِيْ وَالْأَبْصَارِ إِنَّا أَخْلَصْنَاهُم بِخَالِصَةٍ ذِكْرَى الدَّارِ وَإِنَّهُمْ عِنْدَنَا لَمِنَ الْمُصْطَفَيْنَ الْأَخْيَارِ وَاذْكُرْ إِسْمَاعِيْلَ وَالْيَسَعَ وَذَا الْكِفْلِ وَكُلٌّ مِّنْ الْأَخْيَارِ (٣٨: ٤٥-٤٨)

And remember Our servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: men of might and vision. We chose them for a special mission: reminding [people] about the Hereafter and with Us are counted among the best and the most righteous of men. And also remember Ishmael, Elisha, and Dhu al-Kifl. [We chose all of them] and all of these were the best of men. (38:45-48)

Because of exercising care and showing piety, the Almighty also protects them. It is clearly evident from what ensued between the Prophet Joseph (sws) and the royal ladies of Egypt that even before being designated as a prophet if a situation arises in which it becomes difficult for him to shield himself, the Almighty does so with His special burhan. This burhan is the divine spark which is found in every human being. However, according to a divine law, in people who duly honour it and accept its guidance in the vicissitude of life it becomes stronger and brighter and in all delicate circumstances glitters and sparkles even more to light up the darkness that might come before the eyes. The result is that they are able to persevere on what is right:

وَلَقَدْ هَمَّتْ بِهِ وَهَمَّ بِهَا لَوْلا أَن رَّأَى بُرْهَانَ رَبِّهِ كَذَلِكَ لِنَصْرِفَ عَنْهُ السُّوءَ وَالْفَحْشَاء إِنَّهُ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا الْمُخْلَصِينَ (٢٤:١٢)

And that woman had advanced to him and Joseph too would have advanced to her had he not seen a sign from his Lord. Thus did We do in order to keep away evil and wantonness from him. Indeed, he was from among Our chosen servants. (12:24)

The blemish of Adam (sws) mentioned in the Quran should not become a source of misunderstanding for any one. No doubt, the Quran has used the word isyan (disobedience) for it; however, the Almighty has clarified in the Quran itself that the reason for this blemish was forgetfulness. It is apparent from this that the act of disobedience did not result from succumbing to base desires nor did he do it wilfully. It is evident from the Quran that when Satan swore many times before him and assured him that he was his well-wisher and made him believe that he would become eternal by eating the fruit of the very tree that has been forbidden to him, he was enticed by Satan’s lures and being overcome with emotions ended up disobeying his Lord. However, he never insisted on his lapse and became very ashamed and repented before God Who graciously forgave him and blessed him with prophethood:

وَلَقَدْ عَهِدْنَا إِلَى آدَمَ مِن قَبْلُ فَنَسِيَ وَلَمْ نَجِدْ لَهُ عَزْمًا وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ أَبَى فَقُلْنَا يَا آدَمُ إِنَّ هَذَا عَدُوٌّ لَّكَ وَلِزَوْجِكَ فَلَا يُخْرِجَنَّكُمَا مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ فَتَشْقَى إِنَّ لَكَ أَلَّا تَجُوعَ فِيهَا وَلَا تَعْرَى وَأَنَّكَ لَا تَظْمَأُ فِيهَا وَلَا تَضْحَى فَوَسْوَسَ إِلَيْهِ الشَّيْطَانُ قَالَ يَا آدَمُ هَلْ أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى شَجَرَةِ الْخُلْدِ وَمُلْكٍ لَّا يَبْلَى فَأَكَلَا مِنْهَا فَبَدَتْ لَهُمَا سَوْآتُهُمَا وَطَفِقَا يَخْصِفَانِ عَلَيْهِمَا مِن وَرَقِ الْجَنَّةِ وَعَصَى آدَمُ رَبَّهُ فَغَوَى ثُمَّ اجْتَبَاهُ رَبُّهُ فَتَابَ عَلَيْهِ وَهَدَى (٢٠: ١١٥-١٢٢)

And before this We bound Adam in a directive but he forgot, and We found him lacking in determination. And remember when We said to the angels: “Prostrate yourselves before Adam.” They all prostrated themselves except Satan, who refused. At this, We said to Adam: “He is an enemy to you and to your wife. Let him not turn you both out of Paradise and you end up deprived. Here you shall neither be afflicted with hunger nor remain naked; neither shall thirst bother you nor the scorching heat.” But Satan enticed him saying: “Adam, shall I not lead you to the tree of immortality and an imperishable kingdom?” At last, both of them ate of its fruit so that their private parts became evident to them and they began to cover themselves with the leaves of the garden [in which they lived]. Thus did Adam disobey his Lord and strayed from the right path. Then his Lord chose him, accepted his repentance and blessed him with guidance. (20:115-122)

No different was the case of Moses (sws). He never killed anyone deliberately. It was a mere co-incidence that he, while helping an oppressed person, had to encounter the arrogant oppressor in a brawl. Moses (sws) punched him in self-defence. Unfortunately, the strike was enough to kill him:

وَدَخَلَ الْمَدِيْنَةَ عَلَى حِيْنِ غَفْلَةٍ مِّنْ أَهْلِهَا فَوَجَدَ فِيْهَا رَجُلَيْنِ يَقْتَتِلَانِ هَذَا مِنْ شِيْعَتِهِ وَهَذَا مِنْ عَدُوِّهِ فَاسْتَغَاثَهُ الَّذِيْ مِنْ شِيْعَتِهِ عَلَى الَّذِي مِنْ عَدُوِّهِ فَوَكَزَهُ مُوْسَى فَقَضَى عَلَيْهِ قَالَ هَذَا مِنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ إِنَّهُ عَدُوٌّ مُّضِلٌّ مُّبِيْنٌ قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّيْ ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِيْ فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَغَفَرَ لَهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْمُ (٢٨: ١٥-١٦)

And [one day] he entered the city at a time when none of its people noticed him and found two men engaged in a fight; one of them was from his own people and the other belonged to his enemies. Then the person who belonged to his people asked for Moses’ help against his enemy. So Moses struck him with his fist and killed him. [Seeing this,] Moses said: “This is the work of Satan; he is indeed an open enemy who leads [people] astray.” [Then] Moses prayed: “Lord! I have wronged by soul; forgive me.” Consequently, the Almighty forgave him. Indeed, He is the Most Forgiving, the Ever Merciful. (28:15-16)

Imam Amin Ahsan Islahi writes:

Neither did Moses (sws) intend to kill the coptic nor did he imagine that such a situation would arise. When, absolutely inadvertently, this situation arose, he immediately felt guilt on his folly and repented before his Lord expressing the fact that he had wronged his soul and that he be forgiven for this. Since this folly was an inadvertent act and he immediately sought repentance after it, the Almighty forgave him and he was divinely communicated this forgiveness also. God is Forgiving and Merciful.[1]

These incidents in the lives of Adam (sws) and Moses (sws) took place before they were called to prophethood. According to the Quran, once they are given this position, prophets constantly remain under the protection and supervision of the angels. The Almighty deputes guardians over them from all sides. Every single thing that emanates from them is under scrutiny and God keeps track whether they have accurately delivered His messages in their original form. After such an arrangement, obviously the smallest of blemishes on their part stands safeguarded:

إِلَّا مَنِ ارْتَضَى مِن رَّسُولٍ فَإِنَّهُ يَسْلُكُ مِن بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ رَصَدًا لِيَعْلَمَ أَن قَدْ أَبْلَغُوا رِسَالَاتِ رَبِّهِمْ وَأَحَاطَ بِمَا لَدَيْهِمْ وَأَحْصَى كُلَّ شَيْءٍ عَدَدًا (٧٢: ٢٧-٢٨)

As for those whom He chooses as His Prophets [they can say nothing of their own] because He guards them from behind and from the front that He may know if they have delivered the messages of their Lord; and He surrounds whatever is around them and keeps count of all their things. (72:27-28)

(Javed Ahmed Ghamidi)

(Translated by Dr. Shehzad Saleem)

___________________________

[1] Amin Ahsan Islahi, Tadabbur-i Quran, 2nd ed., vol. 5 (Lahore: Faran Foundation, 1986), 663