ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Prophethood Ismat Meaning of Ismat ‘ Ismat ’ literally means 'Protection ' In Shia terminology it means ‘A special Grace ( Lutf ) of Allah to a person which enables the said person to abstain from sins by his own free will.' Such a person is called 'Maasum.’ This Lutf (grace) does not make the Maasum person incapable of committing sin. He refrains from sins and mistakes by his own power and will.

Here is an example which will make its meaning clear: It is within the power of any person to go naked on the streets. (And, for that matter, in many 'civilized' countries women practise the 'art' of discarding all their clothes in packed halls!). But have you ever thought of doing so? No. Why? Because it is far below your dignity to behave like it. Mind it, you do not say that it is 'impossible' for you to do so. Surely, it is within your power, but you will never even imagine of doing so. Why?

Because you think that such foolishness would tarnish your honour in your society. Similarly, though a Maasum person (Prophet or Imam) has the ability to commit sin, but he never even imagines of doing so, because it is far below his dignity to stoop to the sins and mistakes According to the Shia Ithna-asheri belief all Prophets and imams were Maasum, i.e., sinless and infallible; they could commit no sin— neither a capital sin nor a minor one; neither intentionally nor inadvertently; and this applies from the beginning of their lives up to their last breath.

So far as the Sunnis are concerned, they admit that the prophets could not tell a lie, neither intentionally nor by mistake, and they could not be Kafir whether before or after the declaration of the prophethood. As about other sins, their opinion is widely divided. Most of them say that the prophets could not commit other sins intentionally.

About committing capital sins unintentionally the majority says that it was possible, a minority holding that it was not possible about minor sins, they say that it was possible for the prophets to commit minor sins, though they could not commit such minor sins which would have degraded them in the people's eyes, like stealing a loaf of bread. Thus it is clear that the Sunnis have no clear idea about the Ismat of the prophets. Why Ismat?

Logical Reason What are our reasons to believe that all prophets were Masum (Sinless)? The reason is very simple: God sent the prophets to lead their people onto right path.