Reza Ghaseminejad; Mohammad Moradi; Mehdi Nosratian Ahour; Seyyed Amir Sakhvatian
Abstract
The infallibility (ʿiṣmah) of the prophets is a foundational and highly influential topic in Islamic theology. Its nature and scope have long been a matter of disagreement among ...
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The infallibility (ʿiṣmah) of the prophets is a foundational and highly influential topic in Islamic theology. Its nature and scope have long been a matter of disagreement among scholars and followers of various Islamic schools. For this reason, numerous works have been written on the subject by theologians and Qurʾānic commentators over time, presenting a variety of perspectives. However, the fundamental question is whether these works have been organized according to a methodical and coherent approach. Employing a descriptive‑analytical method and drawing on multiple library sources, this research focuses on a core approach in exegetical studies - namely, theological‑exegetical principles - in order to critically evaluate these works. The findings indicate that Qurʾānic writings on prophetic infallibility face several theological‑exegetical criticisms, including: sectarian interpretation of texts, lack of comprehensiveness in comparative analyses, excessive reliance on esoteric interpretation (Taʾwīl) and philosophical reasoning, neglect of discontinuous and non‑textual contextual evidence, over‑reliance on general rational proofs, or conversely, neglect of rational arguments in favor of mere adherence to the literal exteriors of verses.
