be valid, in that case, for the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) to say, “There is no prophet after me.”

It is also reported from him in the Sunan collections that he said:

“The scholars are the heirs of the prophets. The prophets left neither a dirham nor a dinar as an inheritance; they left only knowledge. Whoever acquires it has acquired an abundant share.”

Thus, the highest standing that scholars of this nation—whether imams or others—can attain is to be heirs of prophets.

Moreover, it is established by authentic texts and consensus that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said to al-Siddīq concerning a dream he had interpreted, “You were right in some respects and mistaken in others.” Al-Siddīq also said, “Obey me as long as I obey Allah. If I disobey Allah, you owe me no obedience.”

Once, when he became angry with a man, Abū Burdah said to him, “Let me strike off his head.” He asked, “Would you have done so?” He replied, “Yes.” He then said, “No one after the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) has that right.”

For this reason, the imams agreed that whoever insults a prophet is to be executed, whereas someone who insults anyone other than a prophet is not to be executed for just any insult; rather, distinctions must be made. Someone who accuses the Prophet’s mother of unchastity is to be executed, whether Muslim or disbeliever, because he has impugned the Prophet’s lineage. But if he accuses a woman other than the Prophet’s mother (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), whose innocence is not known, he is not to be executed.

Similarly, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb acknowledged such fallibility in himself on various occasions. He would retract many statements when it became clear to him that the truth was contrary to what he had said. He would ask the Companions about aspects of the Sunnah so that he could learn them from them. On various occasions he would say, “By Allah, ‘Umar does not know whether he has reached the truth or missed it.” He would also say, “A woman was right, and a man was mistaken.” Nevertheless, it is established in