To what extent is the claim of the writer Shahab Ahmed in his book "Ibn Taymiyyah and the Satanic Verses" accurate, that the infallibility of the Prophet (peace be upon him) necessitates his not persisting in error, rather than his never committing it at all, and that the Prophet himself uttered the words of the Gharaniq (satanic verses) which were then abrogated? And what is your guidance regarding Ibn Taymiyyah's acceptance of the Mursal hadith in Tafsir and his citation of Imam Ahmad's saying: "Three sciences have no isnad (chain of transmission)," and in another narration, "no basis: Tafsir, Maghazi (military expeditions), and Malahim (apocalyptic battles)"?

The summary of what Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah held regarding the infallibility of prophets is that they are infallible in conveying messages and informing about Allah, by the consensus of the Ummah. They are also infallible from major sins but not from minor ones. Thus, minor sins may be committed by them, but they are not condoned; rather, they repent from them with sincere repentance that elevates them to a higher rank than they were previously. This is the view of the majority of Muslim scholars.

Shaykh al-Islam favored the view that the Prophet, peace be upon him, uttered words in the story of the Gharaniq (cranes) that Allah rectified and clarified for him. Then Allah abrogated and nullified that, and there was no harm in it; rather, it was proof of his truthfulness and trustworthiness. He also held that Murasal (reports with a missing link in the chain of narration) narrations, if their chains of transmission are numerous and free from collusion, are definitively authentic. This is the view of Imam al-Shafi'i.

It is not permissible to disparage Shaykh al-Islam or diminish his status, as what he held was not unique to him; rather, in this, he followed many imams among the Salaf and later generations. These are matters of ijtihad (independent reasoning) in which it is not permissible to criticize those who differ.

As for Imam Ahmad's saying: "Three types of books have no basis: Tafsir (exegesis), Malahim (epics/great battles), and Maghazi (military expeditions)," it is interpreted to mean that most of what is in them is not authentic, or it refers to specific, unreliable books. And Allah knows best.