Barelwi Belief: Prophets are not Sinless Prior to Becoming Prophets

 

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

The Barelwis accuse other Muslim sects who acknowledge the humanity of the Prophets of disrespect for their sanctity and exalted status. This is why it is so ironic that the Barelwis should themselves assert that Prophets are not necessarily Ma’sum (innocent and sinless) prior to their receiving Nubuwwah (prophethood).

 

The Barelwi scholar and exegete, Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan Naeemi, says concerning the brothers of the Prophet Joseph (peace be upon them):

 

جن علما‍‌ئ نے تمام بھا‌‎ئیوں کو نبی مانا ہے وہ کہتے ہیں کہ پیغمبر کفر و شرک سے تو ہمیشہ معصوم ہوتے ہیں لیکن گناہ سے نبوت کے بعد معصوم ہوتے ہیں نہ کہ پہلے اور یہ حضرات اس وقت نبی نہ تھے بعد میں بنے کیونکہ یہ ارادہ سخت گناہ ہے۔

 

“Those scholars who accepted all these brothers to be prophets say Prophets are always free from infidelity and polytheism, but they are free of sin after prophethood, not prior to it. Thus, these brothers at that point in time were not prophets, they became prophets afterwards. This intention of theirs is one of severe sin.”

 

Reference: Tafsir Nur-ul-Irfan; Sura 12:9

 

 

 

It should be noted here that the Barelwi mulla has contradicted the folk belief of his own maslak that a Prophet does not become a Prophet, but is a Prophet from the moment he is born. For example, the Barelwis claim that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was always a Prophet. He did not become a Prophet at the age of 40 when the Angel Gabriel came to him in the Cave of Hira as ordinary Muslims believe; but rather that was the point in time when his Prophethood was announced or manifested.