MOHAMMED HASHIRU

MPHIL PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION

SAKARYA UNIVERSITY, TURKEY
CLASSICAL PHILOSOPHICAL TEXTS
Dr. KEMAL BATAK

IBN SINAS VIEW ON PROPHETHOOD

ABSTRACT: In the medieval ages Ibn Sinas works contributed a lot in the

advancement of philosophy. As part of his contribution to the theosophy, Ibn

Sina wrote a lot including the doctrine of prophecy and Aristotelian teaching.
In that work Avicenna gives a philosophical analysis of different aspects of
prophethood. Sheikh A Rais as he was called presents a creditable account
of the phenomenon of prophethood which could be seen in his few works. He
explains into details the prophets ability to obtain and understand the truth.
His work on this phenomenon makes it easier to understand the doctrine of
prophethood and how those messengers of Allah differ from ordinary beings.

Introduction
Ibn Sina also known as Avicenna in the Western world was a Persian, a very known
and one of the influential Islamic astute of all time. About 240 out of 450 written
treatises on various subjects are present today. Out of the 250 available treatises
150 are on philosophy alone. His Canon of medicine work is a very useful work in
medicine even today. His contribution cuts across fields such physics, mathematics,
geology, astronomy, psychology, logic, Islamic philosophy, alchemy and some
economics.
His creation of corpus of works made his era a very favourable one. It was the time
which is commonly known as Islams Golden Age. In that age Islamic intellectuals
were committed to studying, commenting and developing Greco-Roman texts.
Avicenna worked extensively in the fields of philosophy, theology, (Kalam) and Fiqh.
By the 12th century, Avicenna school of thought was considered as the leading
school of Islamic Philosophy. It was so because his school of thought was able to
bring together the Aristotelianism and Neo-Platonism along with Kalam (scholastic
theology). Muslim scholars after translating Greek works will make their own

explanation that throws more light on the subject matter. For instance Inbn Sina was
reported to have credited Al Farabis notes on the famous Organum by Aristotles
as the main source for his understanding of the subject matter categorical. The
Muslim scholars came up with their own fresh insights. No one can overlook their
contribution regarding new advances in the area of religio-philosophical thought.
Muslim Philosophers successfully close the gap between religion and philosophy
prophet hood as a subject of discussion and understanding cannot be traced in
history of Greek Philosophy. The Greeks would rather discuss the gods than talk
about prophethood . Christians did not see the need to discuss it either. It was
rather the Muslim philosophers who got themselves busy with the subject matter.
The doctrine of prophecy is absolutely an Islamic notion. Muslim philosophers took
up this conception for the first time in the history of philosophy.
Prophecy