reflects on them that they are unsound and amount to distorting words from their proper places. One example is their interpretation of His words:

“ so that Allah may forgive your past and future sins.”

They claim that the past sin is Adam’s sin, while the future sin is that of Muhammad’s community. This interpretation is plainly false, as several considerations demonstrate:

(First)
Allah had already accepted Adam’s repentance before he descended to earth, long before the year of al-Hudaybiyyah, in which Allah revealed this surah. Allah Most High says:

“Adam disobeyed his Lord and went astray.”

“Then his Lord chose him, accepted his repentance, and guided him.”

He also says:

“Then Adam received words from his Lord, and He accepted his repentance. Indeed, He is the Accepter of repentance, the Most Merciful.”

It is also mentioned that he said:

“Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers.”

Second:
It may be said: According to your own position, Adam himself is among the cases at issue. Those who dispute this hold that he has no need for his sin to be forgiven, since he too is a prophet. Whoever maintains that the prophets committed no sin says this of Adam, Muhammad, and the other prophets alike.

The third consideration:
Allah does not attribute a sin to someone who has not committed it, for He is the One who says:

“No bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another.”

It is therefore impossible to attribute to Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, the sin of Adam, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, or that of his community or anyone else. Allah Most High has said:

“He is responsible only for what he has been charged with, and you are responsible for what you have been charged with.”

Allah Most High also says:

“So fight in the cause of Allah; you are responsible only for yourself.”

Were this permissible, it would also be permissible