Pluriel

University platform for research on Islam

Initiated by
the Federation
of European
Catholic
Universities

Supported by
the International
Federation
of Catholic
Universities

Publisher : Geuthner - Paris

French

2018
428

The sealing of prophethood in Islam

The notion of khatm al-nubuwwa, as the end of prophethood, has emerged as a fundamental theological doctrine in Islam. From the death of Muḥammad in 632, it was at the heart of multiple controversies relating to prophethood, the Qur’an, sainthood, excommunication and, more generally, the Prophet’s legacy.

Drawing on Islamic sources, in particular exegesis, the ḥadīth, but also historiography and philology, this study highlights the issues at stake in these controversies and submits for analysis, through the little-known texts of nine Muslim thinkers, the evolution and reinterpretations of this doctrine from the first centuries of Islam to the present day. Meticulous, instructive and accessible, this study will contribute to opening new perspectives on contemporary Islam.

La notion de khatm al-nubuwwa, en tant que fin de la prophétie, s’est imposée comme une doctrine théologique fondamentale en Islam. Dès la mort de Muḥammad en 632, elle fut au cœur de multiples controverses relatives à la prophétie, au Coran, à la sainteté, à l’excommunication et, plus globalement, à l’héritage du Prophète.

S’appuyant sur les sources islamiques, en particulier l’exégèse, le ḥadīth, mais aussi l’historiographie et la philologie, cette étude met en lumière les enjeux de ces controverses et soumet à l’analyse, à travers les textes peu fréquentés de neuf penseurs musulmans, l’évolution et les réinterprétations de cette doctrine depuis les premiers siècles de l’Islam et jusqu’à nos jours. Minutieuse, instructive et accessible, cette étude contribuera à ouvrir de nouvelles perspectives d’approches de l’Islam contemporain.

–> Lire la recension de cet ouvrage par Emmanuel Pisani : https://journals.openedition.org/mideo/6232

إنّ مفهوم ختم النبوّة، الذي يعني نهاية النبوة، قد برز كإحدى العقائد الدينيّة أساسيّة في الإسلام. ومنذ وفاة محمد في العام 632، أصبح هذا المفهوم من المفاهيم المتعدّدة المثيرة للجدل والمتعلّقة بالنبوّة، وبالقرآن، والقداسة، والكفر، وبصورة أشمل، إرث النبي.

تسلّط هذه الدراسة الضوء، استنادًا إلى المصادر الإسلاميّة، لا سيّما التفسيرات، والحديث، وأعمال المؤرّخين، وعلم اللّغة، على التحدّيات التي تواجهها هذه المسائل المثيرة للجدل، وتعرض للتحليل تطوّر هذا العقيدة وإعادة تفسيرها منذ العصور الأولى للإسلام حتى يومنا هذا، وذلك من خلال نصوص تابعة لتسعة مفكّرين مسلمين لا يتمّ في العادة الرجوع إليها بشكل كبير. وتساهم هذه الدراسة، كونها دقيقة وتعليميّة ومتاحة، في فتح أفق جديدة في نُهج الإسلام المعاصر.

Resources related to Prophetic Tradition

publication

Is God a Lawgiver? Christian and Muslim Perspectives on Ius divinum

  • Timo Güzelmansur
  • Tobias Specker

Law that invokes divine appointment or other religious justifications is repeatedly the focus of general attention in Germany. Beyond the concrete religious legal provisions, there is a reflection ...

publication

The sealing of prophethood in Islam

  • Youssouf Sangare

The notion of khatm al-nubuwwa, as the end of prophethood, has emerged as a fundamental theological doctrine in Islam. From the death of Muḥammad in 632, it was at the heart of multiple controversi...

publication

Prophetess – Virgin – Mother. Mary in the Koran

  • Muna Tatari
  • Klaus von Stosch

Mary - Bridge Figure between Christianity and Islam An entire sura bears her name. She is the only woman the Koran mentions by name - more often than Muhammad or Jesus. Until today, the esteem i...

article

The Khatim an-Nabiyyin (The Seal of the Prophets) and Its Inclusive Abrahamic Perspective: Muhammad and ‘Isa ibn Maryam in Dialogue

  • Marco Demichelis

Abstract “Muhammad is not the father of any one of your men; he is God’s messenger and the Seal of the Prophets: God knows everything.” (33:40). The deconstruction of the concept of “the Seal of...

article

Joseph in the Qur’ān, a prophetic narrative. Incidents and specific language

  • Antonio Cuciniello

Abstract The object of the essay is prophecy in the Qur’ān, through the stories of the prophets and the language they use. Specifically, the Qur’ānic narrative and Joseph’s speeches have been syst...

article

The birth of the prophet Muhammad : thematic and literary approach to traditional texts

  • Samir Arbache

Original title : "La naissance du prophète Muhammad - Approche thématique et littéraire des textes traditionnels" Abstract Our approach of the texts surrounding the birth and childhood of the...

publication

The other prophet: Jesus in the Quran

  • Klaus von Stosch
  • Mouhanad Khorchide

Jesus is considered in Islam as one of the most important prophets, and in the Koran as a divine sign. Yet his place in Islam is not the same as in Christianity. In their unique book, Mouhanad Khor...

article

Ashura in sunnite mirrors, confused borders between joy and sadness

  • Adnane Mokrani

SUMMARY: This article analyzes the Sunnite views of ‘Āshūrā’ and the assassination/martyrdom of al–Ḥusayn, the grandson of the Prophet Muḥammad. It is not an exhaustive work; it is rather selective...