A Study of Moses’ Request to See God and the Issue of his Infallibility

The request to see God is one of the theological paradoxes mentioned in the life story of Prophet Moses (a) that apparently opposes his infallibility. The verse 143 of the chapter A’rāf is one of the places this story is narrated. The opponents of infallibility suggest that Moses knew God is not physical or visible, nor occupies a place, so why did he have such a request? The answer is that he made a mistake by asking so. Therefore, it negates his being an infallible. On the other hand, Hadiths as well as the views of the exegetes of the Qur’ān and theologians believe that Moses spoke out on behalf of his people and it wasn’t his real request.