Was the Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him) given a choice or was he compelled, and could he have disobeyed Allah or fallen short, and what is the meaning of his infallibility?

We advise you to occupy yourself with knowledge that leads to action and to be wary of pursuing doubts. Humans are given free will in their religious obligations. Prophets are infallible from major sins and in conveying the message, while minor sins may occur from them, but they are not condoned for them and they repent from them. Scholars differed regarding the infallibility of those other than prophets. The correct view is that it is rationally permissible for Allah to protect some righteous people and render them infallible from sins, but this has not been proven for anyone after the prophets. Al-Mubarakpuri stated that infallibility is obligatory for prophets and angels, and permissible for others, but the proper etiquette is to ask for preservation. Ibn Taymiyyah held that saints are not infallible, and that everyone's words can be accepted or rejected except for the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him.