 And what about the respected scholars, elders, brothers and sisters? Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala states in the holy Quran, in chapter 33, al-Ahzab verse 33, إِنَّ مَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهِ الْيُدْهِ بَعَنْكُمْ الْرِجْسَ أَهْلَ الْبَيتْ وَيَطَاهِرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرَا Insha'Allah the verse in question, in reference to the topic for tonight, we'll be discussing is the concept and the faculty of infallibility. And this is of the utmost importance, especially within the school of thought, which is أهل البيت. Now as we know this specific aspect of the school of thought of أهل البيت, which we believe in whereas other schools of thought that do not. One of which is عدالة, that Allah is just in all that He does. Another is إمامة, that we believe that after the Prophet of Islam, there are people to safeguard the message of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. And we believe that is one of the pillars of our religion. And another aspect in which we believe in, and other schools of thought do not, is the aspect of infallibility. Whereas we come forth with the idea stating that no matter any of Allah's representatives of earth, whether they'd be an Imam or a Prophet appointed by Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, we believe there is an aspect of infallibility that goes hand in hand with them being a messenger or a protector of a message sent by Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Now first idea is that we want to look at is the idea and concept of being a role model. The second of which we want to look at the aspect within the Holy Qur'an of how is it that we can prove there is an idea which is infallibility. What different Qur'anic verses can we find that will prove the idea and the concept of infallibility to our imams and our prophets? And on the third level let's look at logical explanations in which we can elaborate on the aspect of infallibility so that we may get a more close and heartfelt understanding of the level of these individuals. So in sha Allah to start the topic off for tonight, please help me in reciting the salawat The aspect of role models is one of the most important especially in a western society and especially in the 21st century. And a question may be raised as to why is there so much significance on the aspect of role models. Now the first significance someone might come and ask is that if I follow in a footsteps of someone, let's say for example and I've given this example many aspects, if we were to look at and look at our youth, the first question when we look up and tell them who do you look up to? When we say to our youth who do you look up to? The main answers that we get back are particular soccer superstars such as Ronaldo and Messi. When you look at an actual fact they follow them in such a level that they know week in week out what's happening, whether they be injured, how long their injury is going to be for, who they have next in fixtures to play. And I see many smiles in the crowd saying yes that's us. But the reality is that when we have role models as such as we look up to, yes they may be very amazing sportsmen. However we've come to a level in which not only do we take the amazing aspect of their sportmanship or their particular let's say skills within that particular sport and their high ranking abilities. We've also tried to take anything else that they do within our lives. Whereas many people would look at Ronaldo and let's say Messi as an example and say that they live lives in such a manner. So it's okay for me to have such and such lifestyle. They go towards such and such areas. It's okay for me because they're my role model to go to such and such areas. Where the reality is that these areas that people are going towards and these aspects that people are listening to and following in their footsteps may be that which the Imam Sahib al-Asr al-Zaman will look down upon. And that's where the danger lies. And I'm giving this as an example of soccer superstars. However many other aspects come into place and that's why the School of Thought of Ahl al-Bait tries to instill the idea that makes sure that you handpick your role models very carefully. Because and this is the difference when we believe in infallibility. This is the main reason we believe in infallibility or one of the main reasons is that if we follow someone that's imperfect we have the idea in the back of our mind. We're following someone that's imperfect in the first place. Why is it that I have to be of the utmost perfection myself? And that's why we raise the question when other schools of thought believe that the Prophet or the prophets that preceded our Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam were infallible. They have the idea saying that yes they made mistakes. The School of Thought of Islam comes and says no how can a leader that Allah has hand chosen have any mistakes? And that's something we need to look at inshallah during the duration of this lecture to say and to analyze how we can prove the infallibility of our messengers and our Imams. So the first that we want to look at because we've listened to the importance of choosing role models carefully. Other people, they've lowered the rank of the Prophet of Islam and Iyadubillah to elevate other people in history. But we're not going to get into that topic tonight inshallah. It's a topic for the later nights in Muharram that we're going to look at it in more depth inshallah. But tonight the first verse that I've chosen and that's a verse in question is the main aspect and the pivotal location of this particular dialogue. But before it, I want to go to the origin of history. When Iblis talks, when Allah swt has Iblis bowed down to Adam. There's a verse that comes into question chapter 38 and the verse is 83. When we look at the context when shaitan talks to Allah swt and put this in the bracket in the back of our mind. He says and look at the eloquence of the Arabic grammar here. To tell you the difference between two separate entities by differentiating them with a fatha or a kasra. That's how significant and precise the language is. The Arabic language. One fatha can refer to an entirely different aspect of people. A kasra associates them with someone totally different. Shaitan when he talks to Allah swt he says I will divert. When he tells him let me go and try to divert all of Bani Adam. He says let me. He says I will divert each and every individual that you've created except. And this is the word that he uses. People might say we look at it nowadays. A muqlas if we want to look at it in our modern day is someone that's sincere in his actions. That's with a kasra. If you say muqlis it means someone that has sincerity to that which he does. An action that he does or something that he preaches is sincere in that which he does. When a fatha comes into question and look at any translation. It says the people that Allah has handpicked. Muqlas means divinely guarded by Allah swt. So Iblis is saying what? On the first level. Before we had anything to do with let's say religion in prophets after prophets after prophets. Iblis knew back then in the creation of Adam. He says I will divert all of them from your path except the ones that are divinely guarded. And that's hand in hand. That's the concept itself of infallibility. Because someone may come and ask a question, hold on. We are following these people. Yes they are our prophets. Yes they are our imams. At the end of the day are they human? Are they not human? We say yes they're human without a shadow of doubt. It says but they're infallible. Whenever we say a story about Imam Ali alaihi wa sallam or the prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam or anyone that we say a story about that's an infallible. The first argument that comes up. Well they're infallible say you did. They were I'm with what are you trying to compare me with? The reality is Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala didn't choose an angel to be a messenger. He chose a human to tell you that you can achieve this rank. You can't achieve prophethood but in a moral stance in an ethical perspective in a religious viewpoints you can reach that perfection. And we look at people that went to these perfection levels that went prophets went imams but followed in the footsteps of the imams and they achieved that morality. They achieved that religiosity. They achieved the height of ethics by following in their footsteps. And that's why we have the examples that we do from the holy Quran and the teachings of our prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam. Imam Zayn al-Abideen a person comes to him and he says the same question that we raise. You're infallible. You can't sin. Why do we follow you? He says no no no no no no. You've got the entire context of infallibility wrong. He says how explain it to me. He says it's not that we cannot sin. We can. We're humans as well. The same things that you might find pleasuring. The same things that you might sin in. We're accustomed. We can. He says then what's the difference? He says we won't. He says explain to me further. I don't understand. So he gives him a beautiful explanation. He says can you or can you not go out in the streets unclothed? Naked as we say. Can you or can't you? The man says well of course I can. He closes you go into the street. Then he raises the question but would you? He says no I wouldn't. I have something that's called shame. Embarrassment. What are the people going to say? What kind of negative aspects will it have? What kind of backlash will it have on my reputation? Why would I do such a thing? Imam replies by saying well we know what we are doing. Our actions and their positive and negative outcomes. Therefore when Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala states that this is halal, this is haram, this is makruh mustahab we know why. Because of the knowledge that we have been given. The deciphering of the holy Quran knowing why this is and why this isn't. And that's a level in which we don't even look at we don't have to look at the infallibles to reach. When we look at the companions of Ali ibn Abi Talib that have that rank when we look at Salman al-Muhammadi having that rank Malik al-Ashtar having that rank Meqdad, Abadar they had these ranks in which they can decipher knowing why this is good, why this is bad how can it have a negative incantation on one soul, on one spirituality on one ethics and morality therefore they stay away from that which may displease Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala at the end of the day if we look at it at a basic level it's not harming Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala nor is it gaining him any reward at the end of the day when Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says stay away from A and go towards B it's for our own salvation when you stay away from haram because it has a negative impact whether we see that negative impact or we do not Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala knows this he is the creator whether we pray or don't pray it doesn't affect us it affects us in the long run we need salvation Allah doesn't need our worship we want to be of the people that will be raised to assist Imam Sahib al-Asri al-Zaman and when Allah has given us this pathway to follow how many of us actually tread on the exact same footsteps as our imams teach us that's what we need to gain from Muharram this year infallibility number two the aspect I want you on to talk about is when we look at Hadith al-Kisa and we got to remember Hadith al-Kisa is not only mentioned in our articles not just mentioned in our books it's more so mentioned in the brothers books rather than ours when we have other people narrating and he puts under it that which he has chosen Fatima as Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala tells to Jibra'il when he asks him who is under the Kisa he says and that's when we read in Hadith al-Kisa Jibra'il comes down with a message from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala what does he say? he says Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala sends his salams and then he begins to mention one after the other of what he would not have created if it was not for you five that are under the Kisa then he says the verse in question look at the aspect Allah wants to remove all impurities and purify you a thorough purification Allah is guarding you Allah has handpicked you for his message Allah has chosen you as a representative and a role model that best goes hand in hand with his message when we look at infallibility that's when we look at and that's the irony when we look at the dua'ahs of our imams and we find that the imams time and time again they have istighfar istighfar istighfar we read dua'ah kumail we read dua'ah abu hamza thumali look at the humbleness of the words of the imams some people raise the question why do they keep saying istighfar allah the prophet was on his tippitos as we like to say saying istighfar allah every night and his wife comes to him and she asks him why is it do you have any sins she goes no but shall I not be thankful to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala other narration come forth and state that saying istighfar allah is not saying that I am apologizing for that which I have done no on the contrary it's saying that oh Allah I want you to safeguard me from any sins that I will be committing a source of protection when you say istighfar allah it's a source of protection when the imams would say istighfar allah and teach that to us is to tell us that yes you can have a small rank or an idea of this infallibility being guarded from sinning there is aspect that we can do that we may have been overlooking when we find when looking at Salah we find a narration that comes and states it safeguards you from that which is impure therefore there is an aspect of infallibility there meaning guarded from that which is impure so there are many ranks that we can look at in infallibility but the idea is that we want to actually prove it to first and foremost ourselves that we can defend it in the aspect saying that the prophets were infallible the imams were infallible so on the first level the prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam when mentioned in the Quran he does not talk of his own accord rather he says that which Allah has granted to him to say now everything the prophet does is perfection let's look at this aspect because it's very very important and many of us have overlooked this aspect the prophet not only is his vocals perfection not only is what he says from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala not his own accord but every movement that he does is also perfection how? the prophet and I've said this on many events but look at the perfection of the movements of the prophet of Islam he has a narration which he says and he mentions he uses these two fingers let's look at these he doesn't use any other fingers he uses these two fingers he says he says me and the person that sponsors an orphan are like these two in paradise if you look at these two fingers one is longer than the other isn't it one is at a different position than the other so saying that's yes they'll be in heaven they might be my neighbors they don't have the same rank there's differences between these two fingers therefore there's differences between me and the person that's sponsors an orphan but we are close nonetheless how does you look at the Ahlul Bayt in the aspect of infallibility when he mentions the Ahlul Bayt on many occasions he uses these two fingers the same fingers on either hand meaning that just like this finger is the reflection of this finger when he mentions make sure you hold on to two weighty things the Quran and my Ahlul Bayt my Ahlul Bayt my Ahlul Bayt and he puts these two fingers together meaning what? meaning just like the Quran doesn't have any faults and is guarded when Allah SWT says we are the ones that have brought this message and we protect it in the Holy Quran just like that when we look at the reflection of the Quran when the Prophet says these two hold on to these two mirror images reflections the exact same it means that just like the Quran is infallible that the Ahlul Bayt are also divinely guarded and infallible and I think that needs a salawat so the idea of infallibility let's look at it from a logical perspective Allah SWT a perfect omnipotent being he sends the Quran which is his book a perfect book so we have Allah perfection the book that he reveals also perfection now the means in which he chooses to reveal this book if it has a fault if the Prophet of Islam has a fault if any messenger has a fault can you imagine when the Prophet comes and says you know what Allah SWT says do not lie what if the Prophet is not perfect and he lies does it does not make the Prophet a hypocrite if he says don't lie and he lies don't steal and he steals don't do such and such bad act he goes and does it therefore it's illogical to think outside the parameters in which saying that the Quran that is being taught by the Prophet the application taught by the Prophet that the Prophet himself is fallible makes mistakes why because it would make him a hypocrite doesn't it and it's saying that Allah doesn't know how to choose his messengers doesn't it therefore if Allah has chosen this person to be our role model and he's imperfect how do we strive to become perfect that's why Allah SWT on the tongue of the Prophet says I have been brought and I have been revealed to perfect the mannerisms of mankind because it's the height of mannerisms the heights of morality and many people are attributed within history to achieve great ranks without a doubt we as the followers of Ahlul Bayt are to achieve high ranks when Abadar goes towards the Prophet of Islam and he asks him and this is the question we have to ask ourselves first and foremost he goes why is it that there are ranks amongst the Sahaba why why is Salman known as Salman al-Muhammadi because you've attributed him to yourself Salman minna Ahlul Bayt doesn't he say that how is it that you can reach this rank other people you don't look at in history because they have I don't know if you want to call it the rubbish of history but other people let's see how they act towards the Prophet and how Salman al-Muhammadi will act so the Prophet of Islam tells Abadar he says go outside and you will see exactly how to achieve that particular rank so he goes outside he says Ali ibn Abi Talib walking and after he's walking Salam alaykum as-salam he walks past behind him Salman al-Muhammadi is walking very little bit awkwardly as Ali ibn Abi Talib passes Abadar he says Salman Salam alaykum as-salam he looks at him swaying he says what are you doing Salman look at the beauty that we need to learn from Salman al-Muhammadi and apply it to our lives look at the beauty Salman says look at the floor he looks he says what do you see he says I see foot prints of Ali ibn Abi Talib he says what do you think I'm doing he says I'm not sure he says you see wherever Ali puts his left foot he says yes he says I want to put my left foot he says where you see Ali put his right foot he says yes I want to make sure I want to put my right foot he gives us a lesson that's saying what if you want to achieve the rank of Salman you want to do as Salman does when Salman says to us and teaches us that the only way you can follow the Ahl al-Bait is to follow their teachings and in their footsteps wherever they place their left you place your left wherever they say place your right foot you press your right foot and that's why when we find that they're infallible it's not like trying to question that which someone says other than the infallible having something that doesn't sound quite right when the infallibles come forth with a statement it's eloquence upon eloquence go and open Najil Balaqa go and look at the Ahadith of our Prophet go and read the dua that's the one aspect that differentiates our school of thought read the dua look at the words of the Imams when talking towards Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala humbleness upon humbleness these are people that have never even thought about going against Allah not even thought about a sin that they want to commit ever that's our role models and we challenge every nation and every religion to bring forth any example like that that we have any other religion will say that their profits are fallible they attribute particular aspects of sins towards their prophets go and open their books but we say no we have the best role models because they are infallible they have never done a mistake and they are handpicked by Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala now taking this into account there is a certain rank that we can achieve yes can someone achieve that rank and go down also yes how? we have an example by the person the name of Barsisat famous name Jewish Rabbi this person was attributed saying as soon as he would make a dua Allah would grant him that dua how is it that this person high ranking came down let's have a look because the whispers of shaitaan are intense and when no one there to help you on the right path let's see what happens and we're going to talk about the whispering and Jinn in two nights inshallah on Sunday and when you discover it in a more of a deep aspect inshallah Barsisat once there was a king the princess fell sick so they found left right and center no one could cure her they told the king that there's a particular Rabbi that his dua is mustajab whenever he raises his hands Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala grants him that which he wishes so he takes her two brothers take that girl which was the princess towards the Rabbi can you cure her he says leave me I don't want anything to do with the king he says no no no I will pay you a grand sum he says not a problem let me just make dua and you can take it no no no leave her overnight he says not a problem he makes dua after he makes dua after he makes dua she's cured brothers are not there she's still there shaitan comes you're a high-ranking person people look up to you it is a beautiful girl Allah gives us an example of Zulaikha in the Quran and how Yusuf overcame it so Bersi said he's the whispers whispers whispers of shaitan and shaitan tells him you know what you're a high-ranking scholar no one will believe her even if she says anything against you any commits an atrocious act let's leave it at that then the shaitan comes again but when you start when the why does the Quran say do not fall or do not follow the footsteps of satan however small it may be or however big do not follow them why? because one will lead to another until it becomes an avalanche now you've committed the sin what's gonna happen when she tells her brothers you have to kill her so he's thinking to himself alright I've got to kill this person he goes and kills her shaitan comes again what do I do now shaitan he's saying to him well you have to bury her you can't tell her that well I've killed your sister so he buries her what do I tell the brothers well you have to lie one after another one after another so he realizes I'm not sure I cured her when the brothers came I cured her and she went I'm not sure where she went so days upon days they're outside looking for this particular sister of theirs days upon days then the shaitan comes to them because shaitan doesn't want someone to get away with something so he comes he says you know what I know that this person has killed your sister and he's buried her in the back of that monastery so they dig up the monastery they find the bones of your sister they take that person a person in which had a high rank in which Allah would allow his dua'at to be mustajab imagine what rank that would be brothers and sisters but how quick it can fall he goes to the hanga Allah has prosecuted life and death shaitan comes again you think he leaves you alone shaitan comes again he says you know what he says what he says I'll take you out of this I'll help you he says well I have a rope hanging on my neck how is it that you're going to help me he says just bow to me he says I will divert them all except al-Mukhlasin the divinely guided so he says I can't bow my heads on a rope what do I do he says just with your eyelids lower them that's a bow he lowers his eyelids the rope hangs in and he says that one's going to help I've got one giving us an example that's what does not matter how much we learn brothers and sisters doesn't matter how much we know how much we preach and that's why I speak to myself first and foremost do not let a particular act give you arrogance shaitaan prayed more than any of us if not all of us combined when we have a hadith saying 6000 years narration says he prayed and prostrated to Allah others say that he prostrated one prostration for 6000 saying what that make sure he prayed much much more than any of us one act lowered him down which was arrogance make sure that however much that we follow the footsteps of Ahlul Bayt it does not make us arrogant it does not make us think that ourselves higher than we are look at the dua'ahs of our imams look at how our imams supplicated our infallible supplicated towards Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala and you will know how we should look at ourselves and how we should talk to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala and that's the aspect of infallibility logically proven through the Quran proven and in a role model perspective also proven and there are many more if someone was to look deeper into the Quran and deeper when the prophet of Islam takes the hand of Ali ibn Abi Talib and says to the people whomever I have he is master Ali is his master to be a master that has more of an authority of someone than themselves how much does he have to be divinely guided let's think about that and that's why when people question and I end on this note when people question how is it that Imam Hussein could do and perform that which he performed on the Tint of Muharram miracle after miracle and when we look at miracles doesn't have to be something that is amazing in a matter that you know what you've split the moon no, a miracle of etiquette miracle of a manner in which he reacted and acted and sacrificed and when you look at that you find yourself there's no way any other person would be able to do that except that he knows that he was divinely guided when Charles Dickens says about Imam Hussein he says if Hussein was chasing worldly means then I am flabbergasted in the matter that's why is it that he took with him and alongside him his woman and his children then he says it only stands to reason then when Hussein went he went solely to please his creator which was Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala so when we learn more about how Imam Hussein acted on the Tent of Muharram the salvation he gave towards his enemies the aspect in which he was crying because they were going towards the hell because of his death we begin to realize this is a person that had ethics, morality knowledge much higher than that of a normal human only of that that a person that is divinely guided that knows Allah and what he has allowed to happen and want it as a sacrifice and we end on this note brothers and sisters and I've gone over time and I apologize but inshallah we've gained an aspect in which we can learn number one that there is an rank that we must achieve there is a rank in which we will have to follow the footsteps to achieve but let not that rank that we achieve lower us with particular acts that corrupt the heart such as arrogance inshallah we pray to Allah that he allows us this particular rank and allows us or allows to show us that path in which we can follow Surah Al-Mubarakat Al-Fatiha