Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 2 of 2

'Ali ibn Abi Tilib 363
[O Muhammad]: 'I find not in that which has been revealed to me
anything forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it, unless it
be Mayfah [a dead animal] or blood poured forth [by slaughtering or
the like], or the flesh of swine [pork]; for that surely, is impure or
impious [unlawful] meat...') (Qur'an 6: 145) and (Intoxicants [all
kinds of alcoholic drinks], and gambling, and Al-AnsLib [stone altars
for sacrifices to idols, etc.], and Al-AzlZm [arrows for seeking luck or
decision] are an abomination [rijs] of ShaytLin's [Satan's]
handiwork$ (Qur'an 5: 90). There is no proof that the Qur'an uses the
word rijs to refer to sin in a general sense, such that removing rijs
would imply infallibility."388
Purification from rijs is not an affirmation of infallibility for
anyone. Just as the word rijs does not refer to a man's sins or errors in
ijtihid ((reasoning and deriving rulings) and instead refers to dirt,
stench and impurities - both tangible and intangible, so too the word
purification does not imply infallibility. Allah (&)wants to purify all
the believers, not just the members of the Prophet's household, even
though Ah1 al-Bayt are the most entitled and most deserving of
purification among people. Allah (&) says in His Book about the
Companionsof the Messenger of Allah (@): (Allah does not want to
place you in difficulty, but He wants to purify you, and to complete
His Favour to you$ (Qur'an 5: 6).
Allah (%) also says: (Take Sadaqah [alms1 from their wealth
in order to purify them and sanctify them with itB (Qur'an 9: 103).
QTruly, Allah loves those who turn unto Him in repentance and loves
those who purify themselves.) (Qur'an 2: 222)
Just as Allah (s) tells us that He wants to purify the members
of the Prophet's household (Ah1 al-Bayt), He also tells us that He
wants to purify the believers. If the fact that Allah (&) wants to