Q: An aalim was trying to emphasise how Allah is free of faults. He said "If you look at Sahaaba, you will find some fault. If you look at Ambiyaa, you will find some fault. But Allah is faultless".
Is it permissible for him to say that there were faults in Ambiyaa?
A: The creation cannot be compared to Allah Ta'ala in any way. Allah Ta'ala is the creator and is free of all limitations, and the creation is created with limitations. When we say that Allah Ta'ala is faultless and the creation has faults, we mean that Allah Ta'ala does not have any limitation and the creation is created with limitations, e.g. man can only see to a certain point and not beyond that. Similarly, man can only use his bodily faculties (e.g. walking, carrying, etc.) to a certain point and not beyond that. As far as Allah Ta'ala is concerned, Allah Ta'ala does not have any limitations. Hence, it is not correct for one to compare the creation (whether Ambiyaa or Sahaabah) to Allah Ta'ala.
It is our belief, the belief of the Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaa'ah, that the Ambiyaa (alayhimus salaam) are ma'soom and the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) are mahfooz. Ma'soom means that the Ambiyaa (alayhimus salaam) were divinely protected by Allah Ta'ala from committing sins. Hence, they never committed any major or minor sins throughout their lives and they were totally pure from all types of wrongs and evils. Mahfooz means that the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) were divinely protected by Allah Ta'ala from being misled. Hence, if they had fallen into any sin, then they were granted the tawfeeq to immediately repent from this sin, turn to Allah Ta'ala and reform their lives.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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