Prophecy (Shia Islam)
In Islam, prophecy (Arabic: نبوة, nubuwwah) is the principle that God has appointed exemplary individuals, i.e. prophets and messengers to communicate His guidance to humanity. This is one of the five principles of the Twelver Principles of Religion.
According to Henry Corbin, the oldest traditions that form the basis of Islamic prophetology come from the teachings of the Shia Imams, and Shia milieu was propitious for the rise, study and development of this scholastic field.He holds that "divine science" is not an ordinary science, impossible to communicate in the conventional manner, except by a prophet. The circumstances of this communication is the object of Islamic prophetology. According to the Ayatollah Ja'far Sobhani, prophets are the medium for the flow of Divine grace to humans who have been sent down by God since first humans had deserved it until the time of Muhammad prophet of Islam. For guidance of servants of God, prophets should possess some qualities:Wahy (God's word is delivered by his chosen individuals – known as Messengers prophets – to mankind), Ismah (moral infallibility) and Miracle.
In the Quran, both "prophet" (نبي, nabī) and "messenger" (رسول, rasūl) is used to refer to those with God-inspired ministry. There are differences between a prophet and a messenger. The Twelver scholar Sa'id Akhtar Rizvi stated that a "messenger" (rasūl) brings a new religious law, while those who don't are called a "prophet" (nabī).
According to Henry Corbin, the oldest traditions that form the basis of Islamic prophetology come from the teachings of the Shia Imams, and Shia milieu was propitious for the rise, study and development of this scholastic field.Henry Corbin holds that "divine science" is not an ordinary science, impossible to communicate in the conventional manner, except by a prophet. The circumstances of this communication is the object of Islamic prophetology. According to the view of Ayatollah Ja'far Sobhani, the wise God has appointed prominent individuals to guide humans. They have been chosen to deliver massages of God to human. Prophets are the medium for the flow of Divine grace to humans who have been sent down by God since first humans had deserved it until the time of Muhammad prophet of Islam. Since creation of humanity is the act of a wise God it follows a purpose, and considering that humans, in addition to animalistic instincts, possess intellect, this purpose has to be reasonable. On the other hand, human intellect is a necessary means of his evolution, but is not sufficient. Imperfection of human intellect is evidenced in constant controversies over economic, ethical, family and other issues in his life etc. that have resulted in conflicting philosophies. Based on these contemplations, a sound mind rules that consistent with Divine wisdom, leaders and teachers have to be inspired to teach humans the correct way of life.
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