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Infallibility of the Prophets and Imams
Hayat Al-Qulub Vol. 1,
By: Allamah Muhammad Baqir Al-Majlisi
We must know that Imamite scholars (May Allah be pleased with them) are unanimous as regards the infallibility of Prophet’s successors and Imams. These divine personages are granted immunity from minor sins. They do not commit any sin, knowingly, unknowingly nor in forgetfulness; neither before their appointment as Prophets nor afterwards; neither in childhood nor in old age. No scholar has disagreed on this except Ibn Babawayh and Shaykh Abu-Muhammad bin al-Husayn bin al-Walid. They believe that the Almighty due to hidden wisdom lets them commit some oversights in some matters that are not related with Prophethood.
Although according to majority of traditions and consensus, the belief in infallibility of Prophets is a cardinal principal of Imamite faith. It is rather a necessity of faith according to Shiite religion. A large number of books have been compiled to support this belief based on reason and holy texts. Many of the traditions regarding the infallibility of Prophets will be quoted in our discussion on Imamate (Vol. 3). However, we present a few traditions that shall suffice for our discussion.
1) Firstly, the Prophets are sent to people with the intention that people obey them and act upon the divine prohibitions and commands. Hence, if Allah does not make them infallible it would not serve the purpose and it does not befit a Wise one to do something vain. The Prophets are sent with a message for the people to act righteously and to abstain from evil. So, the Prophets first have to practice what they preach to others. How else could their exhortations be effective. This can be illustrated by the example of some preachers and prayer leaders.
In case people find them lacking in high morals and having weakness to minor detestable acts, they do not follow them. So what would happen if these leaders commit sins like adultery, murder and drinking etc? The majority sect allows that a Prophet or his legatee can commit some minor sins. Some eight to ten sins are included in this. Even these people are of the opinion that a person who commits sins like omitting the Prayers and fasting, sexual perversion, listening to songs and useless games is not worthy of the rulership of Muslim community and caliphate. No sane person can condone such types of vices in a person assigned to this important post.
2) Secondly if a Prophet commits a sin, a queer situation will occur. It would be necessary to obey and disobey him at the same time because Allah the Almighty has said, “Say: If you love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you your faults, and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.” (3:31)
When this has been proved for our Prophet it must be true for all the other Prophets too because Allah does not discriminate between them. On the other hand, it is not allowed to follow a sinner in his sinful activities.
3) If the Prophet commits a sin, it would be incumbent to restrain him and exert him to goodness on the basis of the Amr bil Ma’roof and Nahy a’nil Munkar (enjoining good and forbidding evil). On the other hand, it is wrong to prevent a Prophet from doing anything because it is assumed that he does everything with Allah’s permission. Allah says in Qur’an, “Obey Allah and the apostle, but if they turn back, then surely Allah does not love the unbelievers and for this Allah has cursed such people.”
4) Allah says in Qur’an, “O you who believe! If an evil-doer comes to you with a report, look careful into it, lest you harm a people in ignorance, then be sorry for what you have done.” (49:6)
5) Allah has further stated, “And thus we have made you a medium (just) nation that you may be the bearer of witness to the people and (that) the apostle may be a bearer of the witness to you; and we did not make that which you would have to be the kiblah but that we might distinguish him who follows the apostle from him who turns back upon his heels, and this was surely hard except for those whom Allah has guided aright; and Allah was not going to make your faith to be fruitless; most surely Allah is Affectionate, merciful to the people.” (2:143)
6) Regarding the curse and wrath Allah says, “And whoever disobeys Allah and His apostle and goes beyond His limits, He will cause him to enter fire to abide in it, and he shall have an abasing chastisement.” (4:14)
If any apostle (God forbid) commits a wrong then he has disobeyed Allah and due to disobedience, he will have a disgraceful chastisement. Allah has declared, “And who is most unjust than he who forgoes a lie against Allah? These shall be brought before their Lord, and the witness shall say, these are they who lied against their Lord. Now surely the curse of Allah is on the unjust.” (11:18)
7) Allah declares in Qur’an regarding people who asked others to believe and obey Allah but they themselves did not, “
What! Do you enjoin men to be good and neglect your own souls while you read the book; have you then no sense?” (2:44)
To include the Prophet in this matter is wrong. And in the verse of Qur’an,
8) When Satan said, “By God, I will make your people to follow the wrong path except your good believers.” Allah said, “The people who will follow you, will be unbelievers. The righteous people will always follow My apostle and their orders.”
9) It is mentioned that a sinner is unjust and the post of Prophethood can never be given to an unjust person. Allah says, “My covenant does not include the unjust…” (2:124)
There are countless such arguments that can be quoted to prove the necessity of Prophets’ infallibility however, it is beyond the scope of this book. For detailed discussion, refer to hayat al-Qulub Volume 3.
According to reliable sources Imam al-Ridha wrote to Al-Madman (the `Abbasid caliph) the articles of Imamiyah faith. He wrote that Allah does not make incumbent for the people the obedience of a person who misguides to the wrong path. He does not appoint them as leaders of His creatures when he knows that they would deny Him and His commands, and follow Satan instead of obeying His orders. Imam al-Ridha regularly presented his arguments in the gatherings of scholars in Al-Ma’mun’s court in defense of Prophets’ and Imams’ infallibility. The scholars of opposing sects were left spell bound by his arguments
In an authentic report Imam Ja‘far as-Sadiq described the principles of faith to Amash. Therein he also mentioned that the Prophet and his descendants do not commit sins as they are infallible and pure and the book of Sulaym bin Qays quotes Imam ‘Ali that Allah has ordered obedience of Ulil-Amr (those vested with authority) because they are infallible and they do not command the people for sinful acts.
Imam Muhammad al-Baqir is quoted regarding the explanation of Qur’anic verse (2:124), “My covenant does not include the unjust.” “A fool cannot be a leader of pious.”
The consensus of Muslims is that no omission and forgetfulness can occur by the Prophets as far as the missionary work is concerned. But Sunnis believe that Prophets can commit mistakes in matters of worship and worldly affairs. However, Shi‘ah scholars are opposed to this. According to Shi‘ah, Prophets and Imams are absolutely free of errors. According to other traditions, we come to know that doubts regarding their infallibility are not based on consensus. Most of the traditions that mention their mistakes are quoted due to dissimulation. Moreover, a vast number of intellectual and textual proofs support the infallibility of Prophets.
Suppose a Prophet were to omit prayer by mistake, forget to fast in the month of Ramadhan, drink wine and mistakenly commit adultery, would anybody rely on him. There are many traditions to prove the infallibility of Prophets but here we have just discussed the matter in brief. For details, refer to the book The Life and Religion of Muhammad.
Merits and Virtues of Prophets and their Successors
It is reported that Prophet Muhammad said, “When we the Prophets sleep, our eyes sleep but our hearts do not, and just as we see in front we can see behind.”
In another tradition Imam Musa bin Ja‘far is reported to have said that Allah did not send any unintelligent Prophet but sent the wise and intelligent Prophets for the guidance. Some Prophets were more intelligent than others. Allah did not make Sulayman and Dawud His representatives until He tested their intellects. Sulayman became the divine vicegerent at the age of 13 years. For forty years, he ruled as a king and was a Prophet as well. Prophet Dhu’l-Qarnayn assumed the divine office at the age of 12 years and ruled for 30 years.
Imam Ja‘far as-Sadiq has stated that the mosque of Sahlah (in al-Kufah) is the residence of Prophet Idris and he was doing tailoring work in the house. Prophet Ibrahim passed by this mosque to Yemen for the battle of ‘Amaliqah. Prophet Dawud also passed by this way for the battle of Jalut (Goliath). There is a green stone in the mosque on which the sign of each Prophet is engraved and they have taken the dust from below the stone. That place is the revelation of Prophet al-Khidhr.
Imam ‘Ali said, “Seventy Prophets offered prayer in the mosque of al-Kufah and their seventy successors also prayed, and I am the one of them.”
Imam Muhammad al-Baqir has stated that one thousand and seventy Prophets have prayed in the mosque of al-Kufah. The staff of Prophet Musa, a creeper of pumpkin and the divine ring of Prophet Sulayman are kept in this mosque. It is the same place where the oven of Prophet Nuh flared up. Prophet Nuh’s ark was constructed here and many Prophets are buried in this place.
According to a reliable tradition people asked Imam Ja‘far as-Sadiq to explain the verse, “O apostles! Eat of the good things and do good; surely I know what you do.” (23:51)
Imam explained, eating of good things means earn and spend in permissible way.
Another tradition states that a person came to Imam Ja‘far as-Sadiq and prayed to Allah for his livelihood. Imam said, “Ah! You are seeker of the strength of the Prophet. Ask Allah for the livelihood that will protect you from divine chastisement in the Resurrection Day.” Then Imam recited the above verse.
According to reliable sources Abu-Sa‘id has stated that he heard Prophet Muhammad say to Imam ‘Ali, “O ‘Ali! Allah did not send any Prophet but ordered him of your love and Wilayah whether he liked it or not.”
Imam Zayn al-‘abidin has narrated that Allah created the bodies and hearts from fine dust and the hearts of the believers are also created from the same dust. There are many traditions that the bodies of believers are created from a dust inferior to this.
Imam al-Ridha has stated that Allah has created the Prophets with cool temperaments.
Imam Ja‘far as-Sadiq has stated that Allah had given the Prophethood to Prophet Muhammad two thousand years before the other Prophets in the state of spiritual existence. Prophet Muhammad invited them towards Allah’s worship and belief. He promised them Paradise for this and warned that those who do not believe in Allah will be the dwellers of Hell.
According to other traditions, Imam Ja‘far as-Sadiq has stated that people asked Prophet Muhammad the reason of his excellence and superiority over other Prophets though he was the last of them. Prophet Muhammad said, “this is because I am the first person to believe in My Lord. Allah took promise from the other Prophets, made them witnesses of their souls and said, ‘Am I not your Lord?’ They all said, ‘Yes.’ I preceded all those who believed in Allah.
It is also mentioned in many traditions that at that time Allah took the oath of fealty from all the Prophets in that ethereal world regarding His lordship, Muhammad’s Prophethood and the Imamate of ‘Ali and the Holy Imams. Then Allah took their oath regarding belief in the Messenger of Allah and to help ‘Ali during the time of Raj‘ah. (The return before the Resurrection Day).
According to an authentic tradition, Prophet Muhammad stated that Allah did not take the soul of any of His Prophets until he had ordered them to nominate their nearest relative as their legatee and I was also commanded similarly. I asked Allah whom I should nominate and He revealed to me, “Nominate your cousin ‘Ali Ibn Abi-Talib, whose name I have mentioned in the previous divine Books and stated that he is your successor. I have also obtained the oath of fealty for My Lordship, your Prophethood and Imamate and Wilayah of ‘Ali ibn Abi-Talib from all the creatures and Prophets.
A tradition of Imam Ja‘far as-Sadiq mentions that Allah preferred agriculture and goat-herding as occupations for His apostles. In another tradition, Imam has stated that Allah never sent his apostle but has ordered him to be a shepherd. In this way, He trained them for guiding the people.
Another tradition quoted from the Prophet says that some Prophets used to suffer from hunger and die in that state, some suffered from thirst and died and some did not have clothes to cover themselves and died. Some suffered from disease and pain and died. Sometimes a Prophet used to come to his people and command them to obey Allah while he did not possess any strength. The people did not even allow him to complete his sentence. They did not pay any heed to his words and killed him at once. Allah involves His creatures in difficulties in proportion to their ability and their closeness to Him.
According to another tradition, Prophet Muhammad has remarked that Allah has not sent any apostle but with a pleasant voice.
Imam al-Ridha says that keeping oneself pure and fragranced, having sufficient relationships with women and keeping a lot of wives are the attributes of Prophets.
Imam Ja‘far as-Sadiq has said that the last meal of the apostles was after the Night Prayer.
Imam al-Ridha has said, “Each apostle prayed for barley as their diet and blessed it. Barley removes pain and disease from whichever stomach it enters. It is the diet of apostles and righteous people. Allah preferred barley for His apostles and nothing else.”
Imam Ja‘far as-Sadiq has narrated that parched barley meal is the diet of the Prophets or the Messengers.
According to a good tradition, meat and curd constitute the curry of Prophets. Another tradition says that vinegar and olive is the diet of Prophets. Imam ‘Ali has mentioned the same thing.
Imam Ja‘far as-Sadiq has narrated that brushing teeth is the practice of Prophets.
In another tradition, Imam says that Allah appointed the livelihood of Prophets in farming and dairy so that they do not feel averse to rain.
In a trustworthy tradition, Imam Ja‘far as-Sadiq said, “Allah has not commissioned His Prophets but there is an excellent fragrance in their body. In another hadith, he says that good smell is the practice of the messengers. Imam ‘Ali has stated that sweet smelling perspiration is a virtue of the Prophets.”
Imam Ja‘far as-Sadiq mentions that Allah bestowed three things to the Prophets: sweet fragrance, copulation with women and brushing teeth.
In another tradition, Musa bin Ja‘far has stated, “Allah has not sent any Prophet and Wasi (legatee) but that they were generous and philanthropists.”
Imam Muhammad al-Baqir has stated that seven hundred Prophets have performed prayer in the mosque of Khaif, which is in Mina. It is a fact that the vicinity of Rukn, the Black Stone (of the holy Ka‘bah) and Maqam Ibrahim is the area of burial of many Prophets. Prophet Adam’s grave is in the sanctuaries of Allah.
Imam Ja‘far as-Sadiq has stated that seventy Prophets who died due to hunger, thirst and penury are buried between the Rukn al-Yamani and the Black Stone.
Reliable sources have mentioned that a person said to Imam Ja‘far as-Sadiq, “I feel disgusted to pray in the mosque of Sunnis.” Imam said, “Do not be disgusted to pray, because each mosque is built on the grave of a Prophet or his descendants who were martyred, and a few drops of their blood fell on this ground, and Allah wanted the people to remember him at this place. So perform your obligatory, supererogatory, settled and all your prayers in this place.”
A hadith says that when Zakariyya was martyred, the angels arrived and gave him the last bath and performed the prayers for three days for him and then he was buried. Similarly, when a Prophet dies, his body does not decompose. The angels perform the prayers for three days and then he is buried.
Prophet Muhammad is quoted in some hadiths as saying, “Allah has made our flesh unlawful to the earth and forbade it to consume any part of our body.”
An authentic tradition of Imam Ja‘far as-Sadiq says, “A Prophet or an Imam does not remain on the earth land for more than three days. His bones, his whole body and his soul are carried to the heavens by angels. When the followers go to his grave, the angels carry the salutations of the followers to the Prophet in the heavens. Whether they are recited near the tomb or far from it.”[10]
According to reliable sources from Imam Ja‘far as-Sadiq, he said, “On Friday nights we have a marvelous affair.” The people asked, “what that was?” Imam replied, “On every Friday eve, Allah allows the souls of His apostles and the souls of the good people among you, who are alive, to go to the heavens and reach to the Holy Throne. The souls circumambulate seven times and perform two Rak‘ah (units) prayers at each corner of the Holy Throne. Then they return to the physical body before daybreak. The Prophets and their successors derive much pleasure from this and their knowledge increases.”
In another tradition, Imam Muhammad al-Baqir states that Prophet Muhammad said, “Our souls and the souls of our successors remain present near the Holy Throne until daybreak and then returns to their body with an increase in their knowledge.”
Prophet Muhammad has stated that Allah has bestowed three good qualities on His apostles and no one else except my followers. “First, whenever Allah sent His apostle He revealed to him to struggle in his religion and he shall not face any straitened circumstances. The same is bestowed on my community, where Allah says that there is no difficulty in religion. Secondly, Allah had instructed all His Prophets to pray to him in case he is faced with adverse conditions and that Allah will answer his prayers. The same command is issued for the people of this community: ‘Ask Me that I may bestow.’ Thirdly, Allah made every apostle a witness on his people appointed my community a witness on all the creatures. Allah says that Muhammad is a witness upon you and you are witness upon the world.”
According to a reliable hadith of Imam Ja‘far as-Sadiq a Jew came to the Prophet and asked and glared at him in anger. The Prophet inquired, “O Jew! What do you want? The Jew asked, “Who is better, you or Prophet Musa bin ‘Imran, upon whom the Almighty sent Torah, held conversation with him, granted him the Staff, split the sea and provided a cloud to shade him?” Prophet Muhammad said, “It is detestable for a person to praise himself but it is incumbent upon me to inform you. When Prophet Adam took false step, he repented for it in the following words: O Allah, forgive by Muhammad and the family of Muhammad” and Allah forgave him.
When Prophet Nuh boarded the ark, he thought he would be drowned. He prayed to Allah for the sake of Muhammad and the family of Muhammad to save him from the storm, so Allah saved him. When Prophet Ibrahim was thrown into the fire, he invocated Allah for the sake of Muhammad and the family of Muhammad. Allah cooled the fire and kept him safe.
When Prophet Musa cast down his staff, he was afraid and he prayed to Allah for the sake of Muhammad and the family of Muhammad make me overcome my fear. Allah told him not to fear, “You have an elevated status.” O, Jew! If Musa had been present in my time and had no faith in me and my Prophethood his own Prophethood would not have benefited him. O Jew! Al-Mahdi is from my progeny when he would reappear, Prophet ‘Isa Ibn Maryam would descend for his assistance and perform prayers behind him.”
Imam Muhammad al-Baqir has stated that the knowledge that descended on Prophet Adam did not go back. No learned person dies leaving his knowledge in vain, because knowledge is bequeathed to his legates and the earth is never devoid of a learned personality. When he dies, his knowledge is inherited by another who is learned or more.
Many authentic traditions mention that there is no Proof of Allah like the doctor of religion whose community is in need of some knowledge that he does not have or that he cannot speak the language of the people.
Many traditions have indicated that the murderer of a Prophet or their children is of illegitimate birth.
Imam Ja‘far as-Sadiq has stated in an authentic tradition that no sin is deadlier than murder of a Prophet or Imam, demolishing the Ka‘bah or committing adultery.
Imam Musa al-Kadhim stated that Allah created the Prophets and their successors on a Friday and took the covenant from them on the same day.
Imam Muhammad al-Baqir has stated that Allah has created His Apostles and Imams on five auspicious souls etc.
According to another tradition, we come to know that Archangel Gabriel descends upon the Prophets and the Holy Spirit[11] always remains with them and their successors. He teaches them knowledge and befriends them on behalf of the Almighty.
Imam ‘Ali has stated regarding the verse of Holy Qur’an, “And the foremost are the foremost, these are they who are drawn high (to Allah),” (56:10-11)
they are the Prophets of Allah whether sent with a new Shari‘ah or not.
Imam Ja‘far as-Sadiq has stated that Allah’s Great names consist of seventy three letters, Allah bestowed twenty five to Prophet Adam, twenty five to Prophet Nuh, eight to Prophet Ibrahim, four to Prophet Musa, two to ‘Isa. With only these two letters ‘Isa was able to bring the dead to life and to cure lepers. Allah bestowed Prophet Muhammad seventy-two letters and retained one letter with Himself. In another tradition it is mentioned that Allah bestowed six letters to Prophet Ibrahim and eight to Prophet Nuh.
According to reliable sources, Prophet Muhammad has stated that there are three types of Tinah (clay) (1) Tinah of Prophets (2) Tinah of believers and (3) Tinah of Nasibis (enemies of the Ahl al-Bayt). The believers are like the Prophets but the Prophets’ Tinah is of a better quality. They are having high station and honor. The believers are created from the fruits of this Tinah (which is like wet sticky clay.) Therefore, Allah never separated their Shi‘ah from them. Enemies of Ahl al-Bayt are created from dirty, black and offensive smelling Tinah.
Imam al-Ridha has stated that, “When Prophet Nuh was about to drown, he prayed to Allah to save him and he was saved. When Prophet Ibrahim was thrown into the fire, he prayed to Allah by reciting the names of the Holy Five, so Allah saved him from the fire. When Prophet Musa cast his staff on the water by reciting our names and prayed, so Allah split the sea and made a passage for him. When Jews decided to murder ‘Isa, he prayed to Allah for the sake of the Holy Five. Allah saved him from them and raised him to the heavens.”
Imam Ja‘far as-Sadiq stated that when Imam al-Qa’im will reappear, the Prophet will raise the flag and nine thousand three hundred and thirteen angels will arrive to help. They are the same angels who were in the Prophet Nuh’s ark and they were also with Prophet Ibrahim when he was cast into the fire. They will be the same angels who were with Prophet Musa when the water of Nile split and they were also with ‘Isa when he was raised on the heavens.
Another tradition quotes the strength of angels as thirteen thousand three hundred and thirteen.
From the reliable reports, Imam ‘Ali stated that the difficulties of the Prophet are more severe than all the people. After them are their successors’ difficulties and then a righteous person has to face the difficulties.
Imam ‘Ali mentioned in the sermon of al-Qasiyah which is his famous sermons that “Praise be to Allah who wears the apparel of Honor and Dignity and has chosen them for Himself instead of for His creation. He has made them inaccessible and unlawful for others. He has selected them for His own great self, and has hurled a curse on him who contests with Him concerning them. Then He put His angels on trial concerning these attributes in order to distinguish those who are modest from those who are vain. Therefore, Allah, who is aware of whatever is hidden in the hearts and whatever lies behind the unseen said, “Verily I am about to create man from clay, and when I have completed and have breathed into him of My spirit, then fall ye prostrating in obeisance unto him. And did fall prostrating in obeisance the angels all together, save Iblis...” (38:71-74)
His vanity stood in his way. Consequently, he felt proud over Adam by virtue of his creation and boasted over him on account of his origin. Thus, this enemy of Allah is the leader of those who boast and the forerunner of the vain. It is he who laid the foundation of factionalism, quarreled with Allah about the robe of greatness, put on the dress of haughtiness and took off the covering of humility. Do you not see how Allah made him low on account of his vanity and humiliated him for his feigning to be high? He discarded him in this world and provided for him burning fire in the next world. If Allah had wanted to create Adam from a light whose glare would have dazzled the eyes, whose handsomeness would have amazed the wits and whose smell would have caught the breath, He could have done so; and if He had done so, people would have bowed to him in humility and the trial of the angels through him would have become easier.
But Allah, the Glorified, tries His creatures by means of those things whose real nature they do not know in order to distinguish (good and bad) for them through the trial, and to remove vanity from them and keep them and keep them aloof from pride and self-admiration. You should take a lesson from what Allah did with Satan; namely, He nullified his great acts and extensive efforts on account of the vanity of one moment, although Satan had worshipped Allah for six thousand years—whether by the reckoning of this world or of the next world is not known. Who now can remain safe from Allah after Satan by committing a similar disobedience? None at all. Allah, the Glorified, cannot let a human being enter Paradise if he does the same thing for which Allah turned out from it an angel. His command for the inhabitants in the sky and of the earth is the same. There is no friendship between Allah and any individual out of His creation so as to give him license for an undesirable thing, which He has held unlawful for all the worlds.
Therefore, you should fear lest Satan infects you with his disease, or leads you astray through his call, or marches on you with his horsemen and footmen, because, by my life, he has put the arrow in the bow for you, has stretched the bow strongly, and has aimed at you from a nearby position, and He (Satan) said, “My Lord! Because Thou hast left me to stray, certainly will I adorn unto them the path of error, and certainly will I cause them all to go astray.” (15:39)
Although he (Satan) had said so only by guessing about the unknown future and by wrong conjecturing, yet the sons of vanity, the brothers of haughtiness and the horsemen of pride and intolerance proved him to be true, so much so that when disobedient persons from among you bowed before him, and his greed about you gained strength; and what was a hidden secret turned into a clear fact, he spread his full control over you and marched with his forces towards you…
Certainly, if Allah were to allow anyone to indulge in pride, He would have allowed it to his selected Prophets and vicegerents. But Allah, the Sublime, disliked vanity for them and liked humbleness for them.
Therefore, they laid their cheeks on the ground, smeared their faces with dust, bent themselves down for the believers and remained humble people. Allah tried them with hunger, afflicted them with difficulty, tested them with fear, and upset them with troubles. Therefore, do not regard wealth and progeny the criterion for Allah’s pleasure and displeasure, as you are not aware of the chances of mischief and trials during richness and power as Allah, the Glorified the Sublime, has said, “What! Think they that what We aid them with of wealth and children; We are hastening unto them the good things? Nay! they (only) perceive not.” (23:55-56)
Certainly, Allah the Glorified tries His creatures who are vain about themselves through His beloved persons who are humble in their eyes.
When Musa son of ‘Imran went to Pharaoh along with his brother Harun wearing (coarse) shirts of wool and holding sticks in their hands, they guaranteed him retention of his country and continuity of his honor if he submitted; but he said, “Do you not wonder at these two men guaranteeing me the continuity of my honor and the retention of my country although you see their poverty and lowliness. Otherwise, why do they not have gold bangles on their wrists?” He said so feeling proud of his gold and collected possessions, and considering wool and its cloth as nothing.
When Allah, the Glorified, deputed His Prophets, if He had wished to open for them treasures and mines of gold and (surround them with) planted gardens and to collect around them birds of the skies and beasts of the earth, He could have done so. If He had done so then there would have been no trial, nor recompense and no tidings (about the affairs of the next world). Those who accepted (His message) could not be given the recompense falling due after trial and the believers could not deserve the reward for good acts, and all these words would not have retained their meanings. But Allah, the Glorified, makes His Prophets firm in their determination and gives them weakness of appearance as seen from the eyes, along with contentment that fills the hearts and eyes resulting from care freeness, and with want that pains the eyes and ears.
If the Prophets possessed authority that could not be assaulted, or honor that could not be damaged or domain towards which the necks of people would turn and the saddles of mounts could be set, it would have been very easy for people to seek lessons and quite difficult to feel vanity. They would have then accepted belief out of fear felt by them or inclination attracting them, and the intention of them all would have been the same, although their actions would have been different. Therefore, Allah, the Glorified decided that people should follow His Prophets, acknowledge His books, remain humble before His face, obey His command and accept His obedience with sincerity in which there should not be an iota of anything else; and as the trial and tribulation would be stiffer the reward and recompense too should be larger.
Notes:
[10] Detail of salutations is mentioned in traditions. More details shall be provided in the book of Imamate, Volume 3.
[11] The higher-most Angel
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