A discussion of those who deny prophethood in the Encyclopedia of Prophethood within the theological tradition of the Twelver Shi'a

Abstract

In our research entitled “A discussion of those who deny prophethood in the Encyclopedia of Prophethood within the theological tradition of the Twelver Shi'a” we attempted to present the opinion of Shi‘i Imami scholars as mentioned in The Encyclopedia of Prophethood in the Imami Theological Heritage، and to clarify the points of agreement and difference between them and the Sunnis and the Mu‘tazilites. In this research، we addressed the issue of denying prophethood by first explaining the purpose of sending the messengers، and then discussing the deniers of prophethood secondly.  Some groups (such as the Brahmins) held the view of sufficiency of reason in perceiving benefits and harms، and the lack of need for revelation. However، the Islamic schools proved with evidence that prophethood is a necessity required by divine wisdom to complete the guidance of the servants and to remove their excuse. The Imamis see that the wisdom behind sending the messengers is a manifestation of divine grace، because reason alone perceives good and evil but does not perceive the details; thus revelation came clarifying the details and the legal rulings. The Sunnis also affirmed that the essential purpose of sending the messengers is to unify worship for Allah and to clarify thelegal rulings which reason is unable to know. As for the Mu‘tazilites، they considered prophethood a grace that is obligatory، which brings the servants closer to obedience and by which moral responsibility becomes valid. They also responded to the Brahmins’ claim regarding the sufficiency of reason by stating that revelation does not contradict reason but rather completes it and explains what is general in it. They also clarified that considering some acts of worship as objectionable resulted from deficiency of understanding and not from a real contradiction with reason.

 In conclusion، prophethood is considered a fundamental pillar for the purpose of moral responsibility، since the system of guidance cannot be established by relying on reason alone.