A critical look at intellectual thinkers’ approach to the question of “seal of the prophethood”

The present article is aimed at examining the doctrine of “seal of the prophethood”. To this purpose, initially different approaches to this issue are discussed and then intellectual thinkers’ approach is critically elucidated in this area. Motahhari’s point of view is taken as the benchmark since it gives a comprehensive analysis of the issue. The doctrine of “seal of the prophethood” is examined critically from the perspectives of intellectual thinkers such as Muhammad Iqbal, Shariati, Soroush. Next, numerous rational and revealed arguments are employed to scrutinize these perspectives. It is concluded that such approaches are destined to fail in authentic Islamic culture due to their objection to the necessity of religion, the exact religious texts, and Islamic rationalism. In the end, a number of misconceptions about the question of seal of the prophethood are mentioned and relevant responses are presented from various angles.