I heard a Muslim scholar saying that the Messenger (peace be upon him) made mistakes. Is this correct? I have heard also that Imam Malik said: "The views we think may be accepted or rejected, except for what the occupant of this grave (i.e. the Prophet, peace be upon him) says." Some people claim that the Hadith of the fly is not authentic. What is the classification of this Hadith?
All Muslim scholars unanimously agreed that the prophets (peace be upon them) especially Muhammad (peace be upon him) are infallible and protected from error in that which they conveyed from Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He). Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says:
By the star when it goes down (or vanishes). Your companion (Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ) has neither gone astray nor has erred. Nor does he speak of (his own) desire. It is only a Revelation revealed. He has been taught (this Qur'ân) by one mighty in power [Jibrîl (Gabriel)]
Our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is infallible in all that he conveyed from Allah, in word and deed and in what he approved of. There is no dispute on this point among the scholars. The majority of Muslim scholars also viewed that the prophets were protected from major sins but not from minor sins. With regard to minor sins, these might have been committed by them. However, if they committed such actions, they were not left to persist, rather, Allah (Exalted be He) pointed that out to them and they hastened to repent. As for worldly matters, the prophets might have committed error in such matters, then Allah (Exalted be He) pointed that out to them, as was the case with the Prophet (peace be upon him) when passing by a group pollinating the palm trees
the Prophet said: "Perhaps if you do not do it, that will be better." They did not do it, and the harvest failed. They told him about that. He said: "I only said that out of guessing and you have better knowledge (of a technical skill) in the affairs of your life. But regarding what I tell you about Allah (may He be Glorified and Exalted), I do not lie about Allah." (Narrated by Muslim in his Sahih).Thus, the Prophet (peace be upon him) clarified that people know best about the affairs of their world; they know how to pollinate palm trees, how to sow, and how to harvest.
With regard to that which the prophets conveyed from Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He), they were infallible and protected from error. Concerning the claim that the Prophet (peace be upon him) committed sins, this is a false claim. This matter should be discussed in detail as we mentioned above. As for the statement of Imam Malik (may Allah be merciful with him): "The views we think may be accepted or rejected except for what the occupant of this grave (i.e. the Prophet (peace be upon him))" says; this is a correct statement that gained the scholars' acceptance. Imam Malik (may Allah be merciful with him) was one of the best Muslim scholars. He was Imam of Dar AlHijra (Madinah) at his time i.e. the second Hijra century. This statement attributed to him is correct and has gained the scholars' acceptance because every scholar can refute the views of other scholars who can refute his views in return. However, the Messenger (peace be upon him) said nothing but truth. Thus, his sayings cannot be refuted. The Prophet (peace be upon him) was truthful in all that he conveyed from Allah (Exalted be He), all that he confirmed, all that he ordered, and all that he called for.
As for the Hadith of the flies, it is a Sahih (authentic) Hadithnarrated by AlBukhari in his Sahih.The Prophet (peace be upon him) confirmed it, saying: If a house fly falls in the drink of anyone of you, he should dip it (in the drink) and then take it out, for one of its wings has a disease and the other has the cure for the disease. There are proofs for it cited in a Hadith narrated by Abu Sa`id Al Khudri and a Hadith narrated by Anas Ibn Malik. They all are authentic and gain acceptance of the Ummah. Whoever raises doubts regarding their authenticity is mistaken, ignorant, and his view can not be taken for granted. Whoever claims that this matter has to do with the affairs of this world, in accordance with this Hadith: You have better knowledge (of a technical skill) in the affairs of your life, is mistaken because the Messenger (peace be upon him) confirmed this and built on it a Shar`i ruling. The Prophet (peace be upon him) did not say "I think", rather he confirmed and gave an order, which involves a binding legislation by the Prophet (peace be upon him) because he said: If a house fly falls in the drink of anyone of you, he should dip it (in the drink) and then take it out, for one of its wings has a disease and the other has the cure for the disease. This is an order and legislation given by the Messenger (peace be upon him) to the Ummah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) does not speak out of [his own] inclination. It is only a revelation revealed.
May Allah grant us success!