Prophethood: Difference between revisions

According to the Qur'an, prophethood is a divine selection of certain people to whom divine teachings are revealed in order to guide people to the path of perfection and happiness.<ref>Parcham, "Guftugū-yi  si dīn-i ilāhī", p. 112.</ref> The belief in prophethood is an essential element of Islam as well as other divine religions.<ref>Rabbānī Gulpāygānī, ''Dar Āmadī bi Shīʿa shināsī'', p. 195.</ref> The word, "nubuwwa" (Arabic: {{ia|نبوّة}}) and its cognates in Arabic have been used to mean different things, such as giving news<ref>Ibn Manẓūr, ''Lisān al-ʿarab'', vol. 1, p. 162.</ref>, heights<ref>Ṭurayḥī, ''Majmaʿ al-baḥrayn'', vol. 1, p. 405.</ref>, going out of a place, a clear path, and a secret voice.

a "rasul" (Arabic: {{ia|رسول}}, divine messenger): while every "rasul" is also a "nabi", not all "nabis" are "rasuls". A "rasul" receives revelations in both waking and sleeping times, but a "nabi" only receives them while dreaming. Moreover, a revelation to a "rasul" is more transcendent than the one to a "nabi", since a revelation to a "rasul" is delivered by [[Jabra'il]], while a revelation to a "nabi" is delivered by other angels or by an [[inspiration]] to the heart or through a true dream. However, some people take "rasul" and "nabi" to be synonymous.

The necessity of prophethood has been emphasized by the Qur'an, hadiths from the [[Infallibles (a)]], as well as theological texts. Reasons for its necessity include giving an ultimatum to people, as an essential need of human beings, and their need for a community.

The Qur'an has emphasized the necessity of prophethood due to the human needs, including their need for [[justice]], purification, and learning. This is explained by the fact that human beings cannot realize justice in their communities on their own and without guidance by prophets, since the realization of justice in all aspects of life requires the clarification of its various instances by the prophets. Moreover, it requires that a justice-based law guarantees the rights of all people in all aspects. It also requires a just, fair enforcer who is not under the influence of his psychological desires and personal needs. Since all these conditions require prophethood, they are considered as reasons for its necessity. Prophethood is also considered as a preliminary for other human needs, such as education and training.

The necessity of prophethood has been expressed in hadiths in different ways. In reply to a question, [[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]] referred to the impossibility of a direct relation between [[God]] and people and considered the prophets to be messengers who should be among people to let them know about divine commands and prohibitions. In another hadith, [[Imam 'Ali (a)]] considered the reasons for prophethood to include the confirmation of the human intellect, revival of [[fitra]] (human initial nature), prevention of ignorance, as well as reminding divine blessings.

In [[Islamic mysticism]], [[philosophy]], and [[kalam]]: in the Islamic philosophy, the necessity of prophethood has been explained in mundane, this-worldly terms. They take prophethood to be necessary because human beings are social and civil creatures, and a social life requires prophets. In Islamic theology or kalam, the necessity of prophethood is explained, ''inter alia'', by the [[Principle of Kindness]] (Qa'ida al-Lutf). According to this principle, since God is required to help His servants to obey Him and to avoid [[sin]]s, He is required to send prophets. In Islamic mysticism, the necessity of prophethood is explained in terms of a heavenly outlook according to which the existence of a [[Perfect Man]] (al-Insan al-Kamil) is necessary, and thus, prophethood is necessary. In other words, Muslims mystics take the prophet to be a complete manifestation of the [[Greatest Name]] (al-Ism al-A'zam) of God, and thus, maintain that the presence of such a person is necessary.