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What is the Story of Futrus? How is it Consistent with the Infallibility of Angels?

Posted by Abbas Mir on March 08, 2015 | Views: 3190 | Ratings: 757


Although angels are infallible, they are not machines. They have free will and they make their own decisions. Thus they are prone to go against advisory commands. Infallibility, on this level, only guards against direct commands but not advisory ones. Hence the story of the angel Futrus. The Hadeeth is this: "When Imam Hussain (A) was born, Gabriel was ordered to come down to earth with 1000 angels to congratulate the Prophet (S) from Allah (SWT) and from himself. When he came down he passed by an island in the sea which had an angel named FItis (or Futrus) who was one of the carriers of the throne. Futrus was sent by Allah (SWT) to do something and he was slow so his wing was broken and he was thrown to the Island. He worshipped Allah (SWT) there 700 years until the birth of Imam Hussain (A). He told Gabriel "where are you heading?" Gabriel said: "Allah (SWT) has gifted Mohammad (S) with a gift and I am going there to congratulate him for Allah (SWT) and for myself. Futrus told Gabriel: "carry me with you, maybe Mohammad (S) will pray for me", so he carried him. When Gabriel enter to the Prophet (S) and congratulated him, he told him about the situation of Futrus. The Prophet (S) said: "rub yourself on this infant and go back to your place". He rubbed himself against the baby and was able to go back. Then he told the Prophet (S): "your people will kill him but I owe it to him that anytime someone visits him, I will tell him; anytime someone says salam to him, i'll convey that salam and anytime someone prays on him, I'll convey that prayer". And he went back to his place. (Alamali, 138) Also the story was narrated in (Misbah Almutahajid, Basa'ir Aldarajat, Kamil Alziyarat, Rodat Alwa'idheen, Dala'il Alimamah, Almanaqib, Alkhara'ij Wal Jara'ih, Mustatrafat Alsara'ir, and Bihar Alanwar).

 
Some reject this hadeeth based on the apparent contradiction it holds to the verse "Guarding it are stern and powerful angels who never disobey GOD; they do whatever they are commanded to do.". (66:6). Either angels are infallible or they are not. If they are, as the verse says then this story could not have happened. If they are not then that contradicts the Quran. However, there is a way to combine the two. Angels are infallible, meaning they do not commit sins and they do not disobey direct commands. What Futrus did was that he delayed the command, meaning he did not preform it as well as he should have. What happened to him was a consequence of his action, not a separate punishment from Allah. If i tell you "do not go outside you will get wet" and you go outside, what will happen? you will get wet. Is that a punishment that I gave? or is that just the consequence of not following my advice? Compare that to "if you go outside I will hurt you", here if you go outside and I do hurt you, it is a separate act of punishment from my part, and not a natural consequence to your action. One way to understand the "mistakes" of the angels and sometimes some of the prophets is through this.