Moreover...

Moreover, the previous world (in which Adam and Eve lived) was not a world of responsibilities, because there were no religions sent by God. In addition, the second quoted verse -i.e. Sād:42- points to the sufferings and problems made by Satan with relation to the Prophet Job (a), and does not indicate any opposition on behalf of that great man towards God’s orders and prohibitions. Furthermore, the third quoted verse -i.e.

al-Hajj:52- refers to the disturbances Satan made for all the prophets, and the problems he made in the way of the fulfilment of their duties with relation to guiding people. However, Almighty God will eventually destroy Satan’s tricks and strengthen His True religion. Attributing forgetfulness and rebelliousness to Adam (a) In chapter ‘TāHa’ verses 112 and 115 of the Holy Qur’an, rebellion and forgetfulness have both been attributed to the Prophet Adam (a).

How are these characteristics in agreement with infallibility? The answer to this question can be understood from our previous discussions, which explain that ‘rebellion’ and ‘forgetfulness’ have not been in relation to Adam’s essential responsibilities.

Attributing lies to some of the prophets (a) In the holy Qur’an, some prophets have been introduced as telling lies, for example Abraham (a) is quoted as saying the following, whilst he was not sick: “and he said, ‘Indeed I am sick!’” (al-Ssāffāt:89) Abraham (a) was also quoted as saying the following, when he himself had destroyed the idols: “He said,’Rather it was this biggest of them who did it!” (al-Anbiyā’:63). Also in Chapter Yūsuf it states: “Then a herald shouted: ‘O [men of the] caravan!

You are indeed thieves!’” (Yūsuf:70), while Joseph’s brothers had not stolen anything. The response to this is, that such sentences, according to some narrations (riwāyāt) are saying one thing and meaning something else (Touriyah), and have been expressed for the sake of something more important. It can be concluded from some verses that they were preceded by an inspiration from God. For instance, in Joseph’s (a) story, the Holy Qur’an states: “Thus did We plan for the sake of Yusuf”.

Therefore, such lies are not in contrast with infallibility. Moses’ (a) murdering of a Qobti In the story of Moses (a), we are told that he killed a Qobti person, who was quarrelling with a member of the Banī-Israel, and then he fled from Egypt.