Revelation as Epistemic Reference Leading to Perfection

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Allah, Almighty, created humans, and endowed them with a set of powers and tools, providing them with various forms of guidance to assist them in the task of building the world, in accordance with their role as its vicegerents, and to secure what they need for their journey of self-fulfillment, for which they were created. Among these forms of guidance is divine revelation, which emanates from the truth, and is inherently free from error and deviation.

This guidance is one that doubt cannot tarnish, illusions cannot mix with, and no error can exist into it. This is due to two reasons: first, it is from Allah, Almighty; and second, divine grace necessitates that humanity be provided with a stable knowledge they can rely on, trust in its authenticity, and receive with both reason and heart, in a state of conviction and contentment.

It is the guidance, through which humanity recognizes its Lord, and from which it knows his way of life and worship. To this guidance, one directs the thoughts and efforts, and purifies the intentions and deeds. Beyond this guidance, no higher guidance exists. It is like the light, that no light follows, and the wisdom that time's passage and the changing days cannot diminish. It remains vibrant and flourishing in intellects and psyches, firmly established in the peaks of evidence and proof. Its allure captivates the stars and planets, and it gently reaches those who seek it, like a fruit on a nearby branch, or a flower for those with refined taste and pure hearts. Those hearts condescend disputes and animosities, turning toward the vast signs of the universe to the Creator, without looking back at anything else. This guidance encompasses all good and virtues, full of sincerity and perfection. If there were any possibility of error in it, humanity would require a higher knowledge, but error cannot be in it. Its source is Allah, Almighty, the one who has it is the Holy Spirit, and its recipient is the infallible, truthful and trustworthy Prophet.

In this context, religious texts and rational evidence confirm that all prophets and messengers, headed by the final and best, our Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), are infallible from everything that conflicts with the mission of the preaching and guidance. They do not make mistakes, forget, distort, neglect, or conceal. Allah, Almighty said: {Allah chooses from the angels messengers and from the people. Indeed, Allah is Hearing and Seeing.}[Al-Hajj, verse 75]. Allah, Almighty also said: {By the star when it descends * Your companion [Mohammad] has not strayed, nor has he erred * Nor does he speak from inclination * It is not but a revelation revealed * Taught to him by one intense in strength}[Al-Najm, verses: 1-5]. 

Revelation does not negate the function of the mind, nor does it diminish its value. Instead, religious texts consider the mind as an inner messenger, appointed by Allah, Almighty, as the basis for moral responsibility. Quran extensively speaks about the positive role of the mind, and its necessity for faith. There is not a single verse in Quran without an encouragement, and a clear call to use the mind, activate its role, and engage in thoughtful reflection on both the psyche and the universe to arrive at the ultimate truth and solidify it in the mind. The Quran calls for reflection and contemplation in all aspects of life and existence, so that the rational person may reach firm and certain belief in Allah, acknowledging His oneness, and that He has no partners. Moreover, everything that comes to us through the messengers and prophets is just, true, and honest. The need for revelation can even be seen as a logical necessity, based on the principle of divine kindness.

Whatever the matter, the revelation is linked to two matters:

*The first: the prophetic psyche is distinctive from other psyches in its ability to receive the revelation. The connection of revelation to the prophetic psyche, and its role, is something that scholars, who adhere to basic rational principles and its accepted truths, have not denied. However, some have gone as far as to consider revelation as a product of the human psyche. The truth is that the prophetic psyche's role and distinction cannot be denied; otherwise, the concepts of divine selection and preference would hold no meaning. However, the superiority and distinction of the prophetic psyche are seen in its unparalleled capacity to receive revelation, not in its role as the creator of it. If the revelation were the product of the prophetic psyche, there would be no difference between Qur'an and the Prophetic Sunnah. Additionally, the revelation is broader than the revealed Book itself; not everything revealed is part of the Book, except what is explicitly stated in revelation as being part of the Book.

*The second: divine kindness. Analyzing the Qur'anic text with literary tools might seem like a common academic practice; if it doesn't add new knowledge, it doesn't detract from Qur'an. However, the very act of analyzing the Qur'anic text- using Western cognitive methods and applying hermeneutical techniques- provides the opportunity to establishing assumptions that contradict the foundations of Islamic belief. The infallibility of the Qur'anic text from distortion- while its role is a clear explanation of everything and its containing of absolute and eternal knowledge- are not only beliefs affirmed by the verses of the Qur'an, but also inevitable outcomes of belief in the principle of divine kindness. By this principle, Allah, Almighty, has decreed that He will provide guidance and send messengers, ensuring that human minds are not left wandering, swinging between whims and conventional relativity, without any reliable reference point, to which those in disagreement can turn.

All intellectual projects that sought to undermine the principles of Islamic governance, challenge the concept of the imamate, restrict the freedom of ethics, or deny the existence of the supernatural world, have all collided with the fixed conventional reference, within the Islamic knowledge system (Qur'an). At times, these projects attempted to strip the Qur'an of its effectiveness, by claiming that it was merely relative interpretations by the Prophet, constrained by a specific time and place. At other times, the projects divided it into Meccan and Medinan parts, or into the permanent and the changing. All of these attempts were made in order to escape

 what this Islamic system imposes, with the result being that 

their rejection of it ultimately undermines the entire foundation.

In any case, this issue of "E'tiqad" magazine addresses contemporary issues, and responds to the doubts raised about the revelation. It also explores the dimensions of this divine communication from various philosophical and epistemological perspectives, in a serious attempt to offer a comprehensive understanding of the revelation as a means of guidance and direction.

With the evolution of time, and the emergence of contemporary interpretations, it has become necessary to research again this fundamental concept to explore its nature, characteristics, and its impact on both the individual and society. Our present age is witnessing profound questions related to the nature of the revelation, and the extent to which 

personal and cultural experiences influence this divine communication. 

At the same time, there are attempts to understand the revelation 

within a modern philosophical and epistemological framework.

In this context, we present the article "Divine Revelation, Dialectic of Communication between Absolute, Finite", which addresses the nature of the relationship between Allah, Almighty, and humanity. The article sheds light on how knowledge is transferred from Allah, the Infinite Absolute, to humanity, the finite being. It discusses the philosophical questions, surrounding the descent of revelation, and how humans 

are able to understand its message. This is done through discussing 

the interaction between the Creator and the created. 

The article seeks to clarify the relationship between the Absolute and the finite, the complete and the incomplete, and how the revelation serves as the link that transmits wisdom and knowledge from Allah, Almighty, to humanity.

The article "Criticism of Soroush's Revelation Foundations" deals with the subject of the revelation from a contemporary epistemological perspective. It reviews the critical perspective presented by researchers Abdul Hussein Khosrowpanah and Mohammad Qomi, in analyzing Abdul Karim Soroush's perspective on the revelation, which were influenced by Western hermeneutic and linguistic theories. Soroush sees the revelation as a subjective experience of the Prophet that has two dimensions: the "imaged", which appears in the Quranic text, and the "unimaged", which represents the inner experience. The article systematically criticizes this argument, highlighting the weaknesses of Soroush’s theory, such as the vagueness of the argument, the confusion of topics, and his claims that lack evidence. The article also explains the influence of Western theories on Soroush's interpretation of the revelation as a linguistic text subject to subjective experience, and how these perspectives have raised wide debate among scholars.

The issue also includes the article "Satan, Prophet, Revelation: Analytical Deconstructive Study", which raises a sensitive question about the possibility of Satan’s interference in the revelation, and presents the difference between the divine revelation and the satanic revelation. The article relies on Quranic evidence that confirms the purity of divine revelation and its protection from any external interference. It also explains that the revelation represents a source of purity and knowledge, not affected by satanic forces, nor subject to confusion and distortion. This study provides opportunity for discussion on the importance of distinguishing between the pure revelation of Allah, and the whisperings of Satan, and sheds light on the meaning of the revelation in the Islamic religion as a tool of guidance, free from impurities, or non-divine interventions.

The article "Revelation as Special Perception beyond Senses, Mind" presents an analytical study of the nature of the revelation as a type of supersensory perception, and explains that it is not a human perception subject to mind or sense, but it is a kind of super-perception that is granted to the prophet directly from Allah, Almighty. The article also discusses the differences among revelation, inspiration, and reveal, explaining how revelation grants the prophet knowledge that ordinary humans cannot access through conventional epistemological methods. This study attempts to highlight the unique characteristics of the revelation, and how this limited human perception constitutes a means of conveying transcendent knowledge.

The issue also addresses the nature of the revelation and the distinction between it and human speech, through the article "Holy Quran: Divine Revelation, or Human Authorship!" which discusses the doubts raised about the source of the Holy Quran, and refutes the claims of Orientalists, who assert that Quran is a human product. The article reviews linguistic and epistemological evidence, proving that Quran is a divine revelation, characterized by transcendent eloquence, free from human influence. The aim of this article is to affirm that Qur'an is the pure word of Allah, transmitted by the Prophet without alteration or modification.

The perspective of Sayyid Mohammad Baqir al-Hakim, regarding the revelation, is addressed in an article that tackles the suspicion of "psychological revelation," a notion put forward by some Orientalists, who attempted to portray the revelation as a psychological experience of the Prophet. The article explains that Sayyid al-Hakim approaches the revelation from both a rational and deeply spiritual perspective, defending the concept of revelation as a divine, objective connection, independent from the subjective reflections of the Prophet. This confirms that revelation is a true connection that transcends any psychological experience.

We hope that this issue of “Etiqad” magazine will be a call to further research and analysis on the subject of the revelation. We call on academic institutions, universities and seminaries to intensify studies in this field, given its importance in understanding the Islamic religion, and responding to the doubts raised about its foundations, including the revelation. The revelation is the backbone upon which the Islamic doctrine stands. Studying it carefully means gaining a deeper understanding of the divine message, and its interaction with humanity throughout the ages. 

Finally, we hope that this issue will provide a valuable intellectual contribution that enriches the reader's mind, and encourages reflection on the sacred relationship between the Creator and the created, as manifested in the great message of the revelation.

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Eitiqad magazine, for theological studies and philosophy of religion, is a peer-reviewed quarterly magazine, issued by the “Baratha Center for Studies and Research” in Beirut and Bagdad. It is concerned with studies related to theology, beliefs, and philosophy of religion. It aims to implement criticism in issues related to these fields, and to establish them from a rational and Islamic standpoint.
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