The Prophets and Their 'Isma — Necessary and Impossible Attributes

We describe the prophets of Allah with attributes that befit them and free them (*tanzih*) from anything that does not. These matters are *qat'iyyat* — definitive, not subject to doubt.

The eight necessary qualities (wajib):

1. Sidq (truthfulness). It is impossible for them to lie in any form. Lying is speech contrary to reality. If a single lie were possible from a prophet, it would open the door to lies about religion itself — and the entire religion would collapse. This contradicts Allah being *al-Hakim* (the All-Wise): if He were to choose messengers who lie, He would not be wise — and that is impossible. Our Prophet ﷺ was known among the Quraysh as *al-Sadiq al-Amin* — "the Truthful, the Trustworthy" — *before* prophethood.

2. Amana (trustworthiness). Required of every prophet. Its opposite is *khiyana* (treachery), which is of three kinds: treachery of words (giving bad advice), of actions (consuming what was entrusted), of states (pretending to be trustworthy when one is not).

3. Fatana (intelligence). Because Allah sent them to deliver the message and establish the proof against the disbelievers. Its opposite is *balada* (dullness/stupidity) — which is impossible for them. A prophet must be sharp-minded to establish the proof — as Ibrahim did when he debated Nimrod.

4. Fasaha (eloquence). They speak well; there is no defect in their tongue. The Prophet Musa had an effect under his tongue from childhood (the coal-in-the-mouth incident), which affected his cadence — not his letters (he did not swap letters). At the time of revelation he prayed: *'My Lord, expand my chest, ease my task, untie the knot from my tongue, that they may understand my speech'* (Taha 20:25-28). And Allah removed that effect. He spoke calmly and deliberately — like an ambassador of a state, let alone a prophet of Allah. No defect in his eloquence.

5. Tabligh (delivery of the message). They conceal nothing of what they were commanded to convey. *'Convey what has been sent down to you from your Lord'* (al-Ma'ida 5:67).

6. Shaja'a (courage). Its opposite is *jubn* (cowardice). Fear is of two kinds: weakness of heart (impossible for prophets) and natural fear (like recoiling from a snake — part of human nature, not a defect). Musa fled when an army attacked — this is natural fear, not cowardice. Our Prophet ﷺ was the bravest of all people — the Companions would shelter behind him when the battle grew fierce.

7-8. 'Isma from disbelief, major sins, and base/lowly minor sins. The prophets are infallible from: kufr (before and after prophethood — doubt in Allah takes one out of the religion), all major sins, and base minor sins (like stealing a glance with desire, or stealing a grape).

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The impossible attributes (the opposites of the necessary):

1. Lying (*kadhib*) — if lying were possible for them, Allah would not be *al-Hakim*, since He is the one who chose them. 2. Treachery (*khiyana*) — in all its forms. 3. Stupidity (*balada*) — a prophet must be intelligent to establish the proof. 4. Defect of tongue (*'iyy*) — inability to express or articulate. 5. Concealment of the message (*kitman al-balagh*) — hiding what they were ordered to convey. 6. Cowardice (*jubn*) — weakness of heart, NOT natural fear. 7. Baseness (*razala*) — the morals of the lowly: stealing a lustful glance at a woman, stealing a grape. The intent of zina is also *razala*. 8. Foolishness (*safaha*) — acting contrary to wisdom, using ugly speech. Whoever claims that the Prophet 'Isa was "moody" has described him with *safaha* — and this is impossible.

Likewise, slips of the tongue (*sabq al-lisan*) never occur to prophets — not in religious matters nor worldly ones. The man who lost his camel in the desert and then found it again — from overwhelming joy he said: "O Allah, You are my slave and I am your Lord" — meaning to say the opposite. This happens to ordinary people, but it never happens to prophets.

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Defending the prophets (classical responses to common doubts):

**A. Ibrahim's three *tawriyas* (true allusions):** It is impermissible to say Ibrahim lied — these were three truthful *tawriyas*: - First: When he took his wife Sara to a land ruled by a tyrant king who would seize beautiful women unless they were with a brother, he said she was his "sister" — meaning his sister *in religion*, to protect her. - Second: His people worshipped idols and held festivals for them. When they invited him, he said: *'I am sick'* (al-Saffat 37:89) — meaning sick at heart from seeing their *shirk*. - Third: He broke the idols and hung the axe on the largest one, then said: *'Rather, the largest of them did this — so ask them, if they speak'* (al-Anbiya 21:63) — a conditional statement: IF they speak, then ask them. And they never speak.

B. Ibrahim did not doubt his Lord: Some ignorant people claim Ibrahim doubted Allah when he said about the star, the moon, and the sun: "This is my lord." This is gross ignorance. His statement was *istifham inkari* — a rhetorical denial ("Is THIS my lord?!"), used to establish the proof against his people. Whoever says Ibrahim doubted Allah's existence is ignorant of the station of the prophets.

**C. Yusuf's *hamm*:** Yusuf's *hamm* was not the intent of zina — the intent of zina is *razala* (baseness) that does not befit a prophet. He intended to push her away, and he did not push her from the front so that no accusation could be made against him (that he scratched or struck her).

D. Ayyub's trial: Ayyub was tested for eighteen years — he lost his wealth and his children, then Allah healed him and restored his provision. The claim that worms came out of him, or that he picked up a worm and told it "eat" — this is fabricated and has no basis. Disfiguring illnesses are impossible for the prophets.

E. The name Lut: Lut is a non-Arab (*'ajami*) word. You cannot derive a non-Arab word from an Arabic root. There is no connection between his name and the vile act of his people.

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Their immunity from Satan, sihr, and disfiguring illness:

- Satan cannot enter the prophets — they are protected from his whispering. - Sihr (magic) does not affect the prophets — everything occurs only by Allah's will. Even if all of humankind and jinn gathered to harm you with something Allah did not decree, they could not. - Disfiguring illnesses are impossible for them: - Leprosy (*judham*) — produces a foul smell and repels people — impossible for prophets. - Worms — impossible. - Vitiligo (*baras*) — only changes skin color without smell or disfigurement — some scholars say this is permissible for prophets because it does not repel. - Slips of the tongue do not occur to them — not in religious nor worldly speech.

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All the prophets are upon the religion of Islam. *'Indeed, the religion with Allah is Islam'* (Al 'Imran 3:19). The Prophet ﷺ said: *"The prophets are paternal half-brothers; their religion is one, and their mothers are different."*