Nubuwwa
Definition
Nubuwwa is the doctrine of prophethood — Allah's selection of specific human beings to receive divine revelation and convey it to humanity. Al-Ghazali defends the rational necessity and the historical reality of prophethood, arguing that human reason alone cannot arrive at the detailed moral and spiritual guidance that life requires. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the seal of all prophets, and his example — preserved in the Sunna — is the living commentary on the revealed scripture. Accepting his authority in all matters, great and small, is part of complete iman.
As understood in the classical tradition of Imam al-Ghazali and the scholars of his school.
How the scholars use Nubuwwa.
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"He was neither exceedingly tall nor notably short. Abu Nu'aym included this narration in "Dala'il al-Nubuwwa" from the words of Aisha. In the Sahihayn from the narration of Al-Bara’, it is mentioned that his hair reached his earlobes. Abu Dawood and Al-Tirmidhi, who deemed it good, and Ibn Majah narrated from Umm Hani’ that he arrived in Mecca with four braids."
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 20: The Book of the Prophetic Character
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"The past does not return to me, and none of the remaining ones are left behind. I realize that I have no choice, where the people have gone, I too must go. This account was narrated by the scholar al-Bayhaqi in his book Dalail al-Nubuwwa. It was also compiled by our teacher Abu Muhammad Abdullah ibn Jafar ibn Darstawayh in the news of Qus."
— Ibn Kathir, Volume 2 — From the Israelite Prophets to Pre-Islamic Arabia
Appears in
1 book in the library
Hear the term in context.
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