The necessity of prophethood from the Islamic theological...

The necessity of prophethood from the Islamic theological perspective Scholastic theology or theology [ ‘ilm al-kalām or kalām ], which is one of the important branches of Islamic sciences, has a long precedence. Scholastic theologians or theologians [ mutakallimīn ] are those who expound religious beliefs and defend them against the misgivings and doubts expressed by others. Sometimes, these misgivings and doubts originate from outside the Islamic world.

For example, whenever the principle of the existence of God or monotheism [ tawḥīd ] was under attack, all Muslim theologians would come forward to defend it. However, there have also been times when doubts or misgivings were expressed by Muslims against the beliefs of fellow Muslims, and this has led to the emergence of different groups of theologians. In addition, theologians have also differed about the methods of defending their religious beliefs.

Some of them such as the Mu‘tazilites [ Mu‘tazilah ] preferred the rational method while others such as the Ash‘arites [ Ashā‘irah ] did not much incline to rational theorization.

In terms of method, the Shī‘ah[^2] theology has many similarities to that of the Mu‘tazilites but has fundamental differences with it with regard to the beliefs being defended.[^3] In this section, we shall use the arguments advanced by a great Shī‘ah theologian, Sayyid Murtaḍā.[^4] Through use of their intellect, human beings know that some things are good while others are bad, and to know this, they are in no need of revelation [ wahī ].

Without citing any basis from revelation, we know that justice, honesty and trustworthiness are good and that injustice and violation of the rights of others are bad.[^5] Human beings not only understand the goodness of justice and gratitude for the kindness and benevolence of others but also consider themselves bound to observe justice and express gratitude towards others.

In other words, the intellect is not only aware that justice is good but also knows that one must behave according to justice and not oppose it. Perception of the necessity and expediency of doing an action does not necessarily mean perception of its goodness and wholesomeness. Theologians have discussed at length the rational perception of duties (rational obligation).

The emphasis on the importance of intellect in perceiving what is good or bad and identifying responsibility shows the high station of the intellect in the life of humankind.