The Scriptures
make it very clear that ALL have sinned and fallen short of God's standard of
perfection. The Bible says: "They
have all turned aside. They have together become unprofitable. There is none
who does good, no, not one” (Romans 3:12). There has only ever been One man, Jesus Christ, who has lived perfectly without sin.
Every other human being has been a sinner in the sight of God and has failed to
please God fully.
So
what of the prophets and their character and actions?
However pious the prophets were, they were still just men. They, too, failed
and sinned and therefore needed God's forgiveness. Muslims often point out
that the Old Testament must be corrupted because it has the prophets sinning,
and ‘everyone knows that prophets become immune to sin when they are called by
Allah.’
But that does not match up with the testimony of the Qur’an. The Qur’an shows
that all the prophets sinned, except for Jesus. Let me give a few examples (I
am quoting from Abdullah Yusuf Ali’s Translation of the Qur’an):
Adam: Surah Ta Ha 20:121:
"thus
did Adam disobey his Lord, and allow himself to be seduced."
Muslim scholars have agreed
that disobedience is one of the major sins, on the evidence of S. The Jinn
72:23: "whoso disobeyeth Allah and his
messenger, lo! his is fire of
hell, wherein such dwell forever."
Jonah: Surah Who Set Ranks 37:139-142: “So also was Jonah among
those sent (by Us). When he ran away (like a slave
from captivity) to the ship (fully) laden, He (agreed to) cast lots, and he was
condemned: Then the big Fish did swallow him, and he had done acts worthy of
blame."
Abraham: Surah The Poets 26:82
records Abraham saying: "And who, I hope, will forgive me my faults on the day of Judgment."
Surah Abraham 14:41: " O our Lord! cover (us) with Thy Forgiveness - me, my parents, and (all)
Believers, on the Day that the Reckoning will be established!."
Moses: Surah The Story 28:16:
"
He (Moses) prayed: "O my Lord! I
have indeed wronged my soul! Do Thou then forgive me!"
Surah The Heights 7:151
"
Moses prayed: ‘O my Lord! forgive me and my brother! admit us to Thy mercy! for Thou art
the Most Merciful of those who show mercy!’"
Noah: Surah Noah 71:28: "O my Lord!
Forgive me, my parents..."
Surah Hud 11:46,
47, “Noah said: "O my Lord! I do seek refuge with Thee, lest
I ask Thee for that of which I have no knowledge. And unless thou forgive me
and have Mercy on me, I should indeed be lost!"
David: Surah Sad 38:24: " David said: ‘He
has undoubtedly wronged thee in demanding thy (single) ewe to be added to his
(flock of) ewes: truly many are the partners (in business) who wrong each
other: Not so do those who believe and work deeds of righteousness, and how few
are they?’...and David gathered that We had tried him:
he asked forgiveness of his Lord, fell down, bowing (in prostration), and
turned (to Allah in repentance)."
Solomon: Surah Sad 38:34-35:
" And We did try Solomon: We placed on his throne
a body (without life); but he did turn (to Us in true devotion). He said, ‘O my
Lord! Forgive me, and grant me a kingdom which, (it may be), suits not another
after me: for Thou art the Grantor of Bounties (without measure).’”
What about Muhammad? Surah
Muhammad 47:19 has Allah telling Muhammad to repent for his sin: “Know, therefore,
that there is no god but Allah, and ask forgiveness for thy fault (sin) and for the men and women who
believe.” The Arabic is singular: You, Muhammad, repent for your OWN sins. It
CANNOT mean that he needs to somehow repent for his people's sins. Arabic
grammar does not permit it.
Only Christ was pure and
free from sin. Therefore only he can be our Saviour.