Was Muhammad sinless?
Certainly not according to the Bible, as there has only been one sinless Man Who has ever walked the earth.
The Quran acknowledges that Muhammad was a sinner:
Surah 4:105-107 (Sahih International)
Indeed, We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth so you may judge between the people by that which Allah has shown you. And do not be for the deceitful an advocate.
And seek forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is ever Forgiving and Merciful.
And do not argue on behalf of those who deceive themselves. Indeed, Allah loves not one who is a habitually sinful deceiver.
Surah 9:43
May Allah pardon you, [O Muhammad]; why did you give them permission [to remain behind]? [You should not have] until it was evident to you who were truthful and you knew [who were] the liars.
Surah 40:55
So be patient, [O Muhammad]. Indeed, the promise of Allah is truth. And ask forgiveness for your sin and exalt [ Allah ] with praise of your Lord in the evening and the morning.
Surah 47:19
So know, [O Muhammad], that there is no deity except Allah and ask forgiveness for your sin and for the believing men and believing women. And Allah knows of your movement and your resting place.
Surah 48:1-2
Indeed, We have given you, [O Muhammad], a clear conquest
That Allah may forgive for you what preceded of your sin and what will follow and complete His favor upon you and guide you to a straight path
Surah 74:1-6
O you who covers himself [with a garment],
Arise and warn
And your Lord glorify
And your clothing purify
And uncleanliness avoid
And do not confer favor to acquire more
Surah 110:3
Then exalt [Him] with praise of your Lord and ask forgiveness of Him. Indeed, He is ever Accepting of repentance.
The Tafsirs agree. Here is what they say about 48:1-2,
* تفسير Tafsir al-Jalalayn
{ لِّيَغْفِرَ لَكَ ٱللَّهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِن ذَنبِكَ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ وَيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُ عَلَيْكَ وَيَهْدِيَكَ صِرَاطاً مُّسْتَقِيماً }
that God may forgive you, by virtue of your struggle, what is past of your sin and what is to come, of it,
* تفسير Tanwîr al-Miqbâs min Tafsîr Ibn ‘Abbâs
{ لِّيَغْفِرَ لَكَ ٱللَّهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِن ذَنبِكَ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ وَيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُ عَلَيْكَ وَيَهْدِيَكَ صِرَاطاً مُّسْتَقِيماً }
(That Allah may forgive thee of thy sin that which is past) before the revelation came to you (and that which is to come) and that which is after the revelation and until you die
* تفسير Asbab Al-Nuzul by Al-Wahidi
{ إِنَّا فَتَحْنَا لَكَ فَتْحاً مُّبِيناً }
The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, was aggrieved by what they said, and Allah, glorious and majestic is He, revealed (Lo! We have given thee (O Muhammad) a signal victory that Allah may forgive thee of thy sin that which is past and that which is to come…) [48:1-2]”.
The only sinless Man Who has ever walked the earth is Jesus. Italics and text in brackets mine:
"The angel replied to her:
'The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore, the holy One to be born
will be called the Son of God.'" Luke 1:35
"Who among you can convict Me of sin? If I tell the truth, why don’t you believe Me?" John 8:46
"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin." Hebrews 4:15
"For [Jesus] is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens." Hebrews 7:26
"For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow, sprinkling those who are defiled, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of the Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to serve the living God?" Hebrews 9:13-14
"For you were called to this,
because Christ also suffered for you,
leaving you an example,
so that you should follow in His steps.
He did not commit sin,
and no deceit was found in His mouth..." 1 Peter 2:21-22
"You know that He was revealed so that He might take away sins, and there is no sin in Him." 1 John 3:5
There is only One Who is worthy of worship!
See also:
http://www.answering-islam.org/Responses/Osama/sinless_jesus.htm
Certainly not according to the Bible, as there has only been one sinless Man Who has ever walked the earth.
The Quran acknowledges that Muhammad was a sinner:
Surah 4:105-107 (Sahih International)
Indeed, We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth so you may judge between the people by that which Allah has shown you. And do not be for the deceitful an advocate.
And seek forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is ever Forgiving and Merciful.
And do not argue on behalf of those who deceive themselves. Indeed, Allah loves not one who is a habitually sinful deceiver.
Surah 9:43
May Allah pardon you, [O Muhammad]; why did you give them permission [to remain behind]? [You should not have] until it was evident to you who were truthful and you knew [who were] the liars.
Surah 40:55
So be patient, [O Muhammad]. Indeed, the promise of Allah is truth. And ask forgiveness for your sin and exalt [ Allah ] with praise of your Lord in the evening and the morning.
Surah 47:19
So know, [O Muhammad], that there is no deity except Allah and ask forgiveness for your sin and for the believing men and believing women. And Allah knows of your movement and your resting place.
Surah 48:1-2
Indeed, We have given you, [O Muhammad], a clear conquest
That Allah may forgive for you what preceded of your sin and what will follow and complete His favor upon you and guide you to a straight path
Surah 74:1-6
O you who covers himself [with a garment],
Arise and warn
And your Lord glorify
And your clothing purify
And uncleanliness avoid
And do not confer favor to acquire more
Surah 110:3
Then exalt [Him] with praise of your Lord and ask forgiveness of Him. Indeed, He is ever Accepting of repentance.
The Tafsirs agree. Here is what they say about 48:1-2,
* تفسير Tafsir al-Jalalayn
{ لِّيَغْفِرَ لَكَ ٱللَّهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِن ذَنبِكَ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ وَيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُ عَلَيْكَ وَيَهْدِيَكَ صِرَاطاً مُّسْتَقِيماً }
that God may forgive you, by virtue of your struggle, what is past of your sin and what is to come, of it,
* تفسير Tanwîr al-Miqbâs min Tafsîr Ibn ‘Abbâs
{ لِّيَغْفِرَ لَكَ ٱللَّهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِن ذَنبِكَ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ وَيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُ عَلَيْكَ وَيَهْدِيَكَ صِرَاطاً مُّسْتَقِيماً }
(That Allah may forgive thee of thy sin that which is past) before the revelation came to you (and that which is to come) and that which is after the revelation and until you die
* تفسير Asbab Al-Nuzul by Al-Wahidi
{ إِنَّا فَتَحْنَا لَكَ فَتْحاً مُّبِيناً }
The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, was aggrieved by what they said, and Allah, glorious and majestic is He, revealed (Lo! We have given thee (O Muhammad) a signal victory that Allah may forgive thee of thy sin that which is past and that which is to come…) [48:1-2]”.
The only sinless Man Who has ever walked the earth is Jesus. Italics and text in brackets mine:
"The angel replied to her:
'The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore, the holy One to be born
will be called the Son of God.'" Luke 1:35
"Who among you can convict Me of sin? If I tell the truth, why don’t you believe Me?" John 8:46
"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin." Hebrews 4:15
"For [Jesus] is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens." Hebrews 7:26
"For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow, sprinkling those who are defiled, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of the Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to serve the living God?" Hebrews 9:13-14
"For you were called to this,
because Christ also suffered for you,
leaving you an example,
so that you should follow in His steps.
He did not commit sin,
and no deceit was found in His mouth..." 1 Peter 2:21-22
"You know that He was revealed so that He might take away sins, and there is no sin in Him." 1 John 3:5
There is only One Who is worthy of worship!
See also:
http://www.answering-islam.org/Responses/Osama/sinless_jesus.htm
Comments
I love that the Islamic faith also believes in the Virgin Birth, in Mary’s immaculate Conception, and/or the sinlessness of Mary and Jesus as well as in their preservation from original sin as the new and renewed Adam and Eve. I think that is a beautiful unity among the faiths! 💗
“…And I have named her Mary (Maryam), and commend her and her offspring to your protection from Satan, the outcast.” (Quran 3:36)
God indeed accepted this supplication of hers, and He gave Mary and her soon to come child, Jesus, a special trait - given to none before nor after; neither of them were afflicted by the touch of Satan upon birth. The Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, said:
“None are born except that Satan touches them upon their birth, due to which it comes out screaming from its touch, except Mary and her son (Jesus).” (Ahmed)
Of course the major difference is in the Christian belief in the deity of Christ versus the Islamic belief that he was a great prophet but not God incarnate.