An Analysis of the Critiques of Ṣūfī Beliefs on Prophethood and Messengership

صوفیاء کے عقیدہ نبوت و رسالت پر ناقدین ِتصوف کے نقد کا جائزہ

Abstract

The doctrines of prophethood and messengership occupy a pivotal place in Islamic theology, shaping the core of Muslim belief and intellectual reflection. Within this discourse, Ṣūfī thought elaborated distinctive interpretations of the nature, functions, and spiritual dimensions of prophethood and messengership, articulated through symbolic, metaphysical, and experiential frameworks. While these perspectives enriched the spiritual and mystical heritage of Islam, they simultaneously became a focus of criticism from opponents of Ṣūfīsm, who contended that certain mystical formulations risked compromising theological orthodoxy or obscuring doctrinal clarity. This article undertakes a critical examination of these debates by analyzing both the epistemological and metaphysical foundations of Sufi conceptions and the principal objections raised by their critics. The study seeks to provide a balanced scholarly evaluation of this controversy, tracing its implications for Islamic theology, mysticism, and the broader discourse on orthodoxy and heterodoxy within Muslim intellectual history.