Analyzing the Necessity of Prophthood Based on the Social Process of Knowledge

Prophethood and revelation are among the pillars of divine religions. There must inevitably be a messenger between the creation and the Creator, a messenger that can carry the message of God for the guidance and awareness of human beings. However, some have questioned the necessity of prophethood, calling it nonsensical, unnecessary, or at most only desirable. Presenting rational reasons, some great theologians have spoken of the necessity of prophethood. On the other hand, some deist philosophers have stated a special reason based on man's natural civilization and his need for social law to guarantee a better life. Considering the arguments of philosophers and theologians and the issue of the sociality of knowledge in modern epistemology, the necessity of prophethood can be dealt with in two new ways: First, in the process of social life, human beings need to rely on others in knowledge and take their beliefs directly from others (simple and conscious state). Second, human beings are naturally influenced by social and cultural structures that may change their beliefs in the meantime (complex and unconscious state). According to each of these two cases, in order not to be subject to epistemological deviations and in order to acquire sincere beliefs about religious truths, ordinary human beings need a divine messenger referred to as "prophet". The scope and variety of the sayings of the prophets depends on the foundation chosen in the scope of Shari'a.