Most Muslims believe that all of the prophets were sinless. Prophets enjoyed an isma, a protection against sin. Unfortunately this doctrine is not based on the Quran or on any Hadith. In fact, the Quran and the Hadith clearly teach that all of the prophets sinned except Isa Al-Masih. They all needed to repent and ask for forgiveness from Allah.
How Did the Idea of “Sinless Prophets” Start?
If the belief that prophets are sinless is not taught in the Quran, then where does this teaching come from? The first place it is found is in a creed known as the Fiqh Akbar II. It states: “All the Prophets are exempt from sins, both light and grave, from unbelief and sordid deeds. Yet stumbling and mistakes may happen on their part” (Wensinck, The Muslim Creed, 192).
“Sins” were down-graded to “mistakes.” Those “mistakes” became more and more watered down until they were nonexistent. Some Muslim scholars even translate the surahs in the Quran that talk about the prophets sinning as “mistakes” instead of “sins.”
“Sinful Prophets” Could Not Have Received Allah’s Revelation
As time went on, this doctrine became more developed. This was a result of other Muslim beliefs. One belief is the doctrine of revelation in Islam. It states that the Quran was given word-for-word to the prophets from an intermediary angel. Therefore, the prophets must have been sinless because how could they be trusted with God’s perfect revelation otherwise? The problem with this is that the teaching cannot be traced back to Muhammad in any way.
What Does the Quran Teach About the Prophets?
The Quran clearly teaches that the prophets sinned and asked for forgiveness. Moses killed an Egyptian, and afterward prayed, “Lord, I have wronged myself. Forgive me” (Qs 28:16). Abraham also sinned and asked for forgiveness, saying, “It is He whom I expect to forgive my sins on the Day of Judgment” (Qs 26:82).
The Quran also teaches that Adam sinned by eating the forbidden fruit and was cast out of the garden because of it (Qs 2:35-36). Noah and Jonah also sinned and prayed to ask forgiveness (Qs 11:47; 21:87).
According to the Quran, even Muhammad needed forgiveness! Qs 47:19 says, “Know that God is the only Lord. Ask forgiveness for your sins . . .” This is found in other surahs as well. “That Allah may forgive you your sins of the past and the future . . .” (Qs 48:2).
Both The Bible and the Quran Say – “Only Isa Al-Masih Is Sinless!”
The only prophet in Islam who did not sin was Isa Al-Masih. Many surahs support this belief. When the angels told Mary she would carry and give birth to Isa Al-Masih, they told her she would have “a holy son” (Qs 19:19). Qs 3:36 states that Isa was protected from Satan, i.e., He was sinless.
The Bible also teaches that Isa Al-Masih had no sin. “For we . . . have a high priest [Isa Al-Masih] . . . who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).
The Sinlessness of Isa Al-Masih Makes Our Salvation Possible
Isa Al-Masih had to be sinless in order to be the sacrifice for our sin. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (II Corinthians 5:21). Our sin is what keeps us from being able to know Allah fully. So Isa suffered for our sin when He died. This makes it possible for us to have a relationship with Allah.
[We invite you to visit us at https://www.isaandislam.com/way-of-salvation to learn more about God’s gift of Salvation. God loves you and waits to hear from you. Jesus clearly said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (Injil, John 14:6). For a deeper understanding of Jesus we suggest you subscribe to “Isa, Islam, and Al-Fatiha” at this link.]
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Why do Muslims view the prophets as sinless when the Quran doesn’t say this?
Why was Isa the only prophet in the Quran who was sinless?
How can we have a relationship with God when we are sinners?
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jasmin says
29 October 2012 at 11:01 pm`
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khalid says
5 February 2013 at 6:15 pm`
Our prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) will come at the day of resurrection with no sins. Allah blamed him for only a few very minor mistakes and forgave him.
The Quran says, “By the star when it descends, Your companion [Muhammad] has not strayed, nor has he erred, Nor does he speak from [his own] inclination. It is not but a revelation revealed,Taught to him by one intense in strength” (53:2-5).
Qs 94:2 says, “And We removed from you your burden.”
jasmin says
16 May 2013 at 5:55 pm~
Khalid,
This is a verse in the Quran that we as Christians would disagree with. The Injil very clearly states that the only one who is without sin is Isa Al-Masih. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
It also states that He is the One who will come at the end of time, and no one else.
muslim says
28 January 2014 at 4:46 pm`
John 7:1-10:
“‘After this, Jesus went around in Galilee.He did not want to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him.But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near, Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea,so that your disciples there may see the works you do.No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret.Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.”For even his own brothers did not believe in him.Therefore Jesus told them, “My time is not yet here; for you any time will do.The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil.You go to the festival. I am not going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come.” After he had said this, he stayed in Galilee.However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret.”‘
Did Jesus lie?
Stefan says
3 February 2014 at 8:17 pm`
Dear Muslim,
No – Isa did not lie:
1. He did not join his brothers, but stayed back in Galilee (according to Jewish custom you go as a family to the festival of shelters).
2. When He went to Jerusalem the festival was already half over (John 7, 14: When the festival was about half over, Jesus went into the temple and started teaching.) In a Jewish festival you needed to be there from beginning)
3. He did not attend the festivities, but went straight in the tempel to teach (see above).
4, Even the Jews were looking for Him, but He was not to be found under the shelters (During the festival the Jewish leaders looked for Jesus and asked, “Where is He?”).
So, dear friend, do you think Him to be a liar?
John 7,12: The crowds even got into an argument about him. Some were saying, “Jesus is a good man,” while others were saying, “He is lying to everyone.”
As a “true” Muslim – what do you say?
jasmin says
17 July 2014 at 9:52 pmDear Friends: We highly value all comments on our website. Yet we do have some guidelines:
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Rizwan says
17 November 2015 at 5:21 pm‘
Hi, I read your this article about the sins of prophets. I found it very clear, specially your English is easy and understandable. Your this article is very helpful for me. Keep doing good work. Allah blesses you more. Amen
aila says
28 November 2015 at 11:22 pm~
Dear Rizwan,
We are glad that this article is beneficial for you!
Blessings.