1. Why must the Prophets be Ma‘sūm?
TheWiseandMercifulGodsenttheprophetssothathumansocietymay
recognisetherightwayasopposedtotheprecipitousway,andmaybe
abletostrideuptothehighestpeaksoftruepride,perfectionandlaud-
able virtues, and stay on that way.
Withthesameintention,GodalsomadeHisprophetsandmessengers
immunefromeverykindofsinanderror,and,inoneword,madethem
“infallible”(ma‘sūm),sothattheymaybeabletoleadmankindtowards
God without any error or mistake.
Itisobviousthatthe verysamereasonwhichpromptedthe needfor
prophethoodalsorequiresthattheprophetsbeimmaculateandimmune
fromall kindsof sin,impurity,errorandfault.Since the aimandpur-
poseof sending prophets is to lead society towardsGod’s commands,
thisaimistobesecuredthroughtheinfallibilityoftheprophets,foritis
clearthattodothingswhicharerepulsiveorindecent,tosin,andalsoto
beasourceoferrorandfaultisareasonforpeopletobeaversetoand
divertedfrom thesethings, andthusthe aim, which wastheguidance
and teaching of society, would be lost.
Ofcourse,weknow thatnowise persondoesthingsagainsthisaim,
andthathetakesregardforwhatiseffectualin attainingandreaching
hisaim.Forexample,someonewhowantsanumberofdistinguishedin-
dividualsto takepartinacelebrationinhishonourknowsthatnoone
withoutaninvitationcanhonourablyattend.He willneversendan in-
vitationtosomeonewhoisaversetohim,ratherhewilltrytosendhis
invitationsinsuchawaythattheywillallbeaccepted,and,ifhedoesn't
dothis,hisworkwillnothavebeenprudentandwise,anditwillbere-
garded as having been unseemly and unbecoming.
TheMercifulandWiseGodalsotakesaccountofwhatbasicallyinter-
feres with the guidance and education of society, and does not want
peopletodependonandfollowthewillofcapriciousandimpuremen,
andsoto endupfarfrom,andbe deprivedof theirtruedevelopment.
Therefore,Hehassentimmaculateprophetssothattheguidanceandin-
struction of society may be in the best possible way.