Sociological Arguments about Prophethood

By: Allamah Tabatabai
Mankind was but one people; so Allah sent the prophets as bearers of good tidings and as warners, and He sent down with them the book with the truth, so that it might judge between the people in that in which they had differed. And none differed about it but the very people who were given it, after clear signs had come to them, revolting among themselves; whereupon Allah guided, by His will, those who believed to the truth about which they differed. And Allah guides whom He pleases to the straight path. (2:213)
Author: Verse 2:213 explains why religion was promulgated and mankind obliged to follow it, and why differences occurred in it.
Question: It may be accepted that human wisdom cannot act independently in all situations concerning an individual or a nation. But nature always progresses towards its good, and also society, which is based on nature, follows it and moves towards the good of its individual members, and finally acquires an ideal form which ensures the happiness of all its members. This principle is called the effect of the environment. Conflicting faculties and powers, after action and reaction, ultimately create a noble society, befitting human life. History and experience show that all societies are always in search of their perfection; they aspire for the common weal and are progressing towards a felicity and happiness which are the final ambition of every man. some societies like Switzerland, have already attained that goal, while others are on the way, and may be near to, or farther away from it.
Answer: Nobody can deny that nature always strives to attain perfection and happiness; and that society, which is based on nature, is also like that. But it should be remembered that its desired perfection and bliss is not real perfection and bliss. What nature possesses at the moment are the instincts of love and fear, not intellect. But it is the intellect, which is the foundation of real perfection and bliss. Even the evidence offered in the question shows this fact. The perfection and happiness found in some countries and desired by others is only material perfection and the happiness of the body. But man is not body only; he is made of both body and soul. The body’s perfection is not man’s perfection. The body dies while the spirit lives forever. Perfecting only one side and neglecting the other (and that also the one which is to last forever) is not perfection at all.
Historical and sociological evidence strengthens our view that society, by trial and error, can only progress towards material perfection and physical happiness. If any society wants to lead its members to the perfection of the total being, then it cannot do so without prophetic help and divine guidance.
Question: If it is true that the prophetic call has a connection with divine creative guidance which leads everything to its goal of perfection, then it must have a clear and existing influence on human societies. We see that not only man but everything is naturally guided to the matters of its advantage and benefit without fail. If the prophetic call had been guidance like that, it would have been influential in all human societies and man would not have been able to ignore it, just as he is unable to ignore other natural calls. But we know that it is not so. So how can it be called a true reformation when it is not accepted by societies? So, the theory that the prophetic mission is necessary to remove the differences in society and life is just a theory, which cannot be proved by facts.
Answer: First:
a. The effects of the religious call are there for every one to see and appreciate. Only an obstinate contender can deny it. Since its foundation and appearance, it has trained thousands and thousands leading them to bliss, and has condemned several times more to perdition and unhappiness – depending on their acceptance or rejection, submission or arrogance and belief or disbelief. Such an effective thing cannot be said to have had no effect.
b. Some societies have from time to time been established based on religion, and they have shown what may be achieved by following this path.
c. The world is still alive; the human species is not yet extinct. It is possible that one of these days human society will turn into a virtuous society founded on religion – a society which will guarantee the true happiness of man, and real excellence of character and morality. It will be a day when none shall be worshipped except Allah, and justice and virtue shall be the norm of the day. Such a magnificent effect cannot be ignored or belittled.
Second: Sociology, Psychology and moral science prove that our actions have a dual relationship with our characteristics: they come into being because of psychological factors, and they in their turn have an influence on psychological factors. The actions are the effects of soul and psyche; and they effect the psyche in its characteristics. It is this principle, which has given birth to two principles: the principle that man is influenced in his character and morals by society; and the principle that he inherits many characteristics from his forefathers. In short, these actions increase their scope horizontally through the environment, and continue from generation to generation vertically through heredity.
Now, it is known that the divinely appointed prophetic mission has remained with human societies since the dawn of humanity, not only in historical, but even in pre-historical, days. Nobody can deny that such a mission, such a call, must have deeply effected the man’s social characteristics and high morals. This religious call must have influenced man’s psyche very deeply, even if he does not believe in that call.
We would be justified in asserting that all the good qualities of present-day nations and societies are the effects of prophethood and religion, which they have acquired through heredity or the environment. Religion, since its inception, has been accepted and followed by many great societies and groups. And do not forget that religion is the only institution, which calls man to the true faith, to noble character, justice and common welfare. Whatever good traits are found today in nations (however little they may be) are the residue of the effects of religion and its results.
Societies can be managed in any of three ways – there is no fourth alternative. First is the system of tyranny. It turns human beings into slaves of the tyrant (or tyrants) in all aspects of their lives. Second is the system based on civil laws. These laws control overt actions only; they do not touch other aspects of the human personality, like character and ethics. Third is religion which controls and rules over the whole being – beliefs, ethics and actions – and calls to keep all of them on right path, with truth and virtue.
It is clear from the above that if there is any good in this world or any happiness and bliss for man, it must be attributed to religion and its effects, because no other system aspires to give any guidance to these matters.
Look for further proof, at the nations that have built their societies on materialism and have neglected religion and morality. They soon lost the virtue, love, mercy and purity of heart and forgot all probity and ethical excellence. It all happened while they were following the dictates of nature. Had nature, per se, been enough, and had those characteristics not been a legacy of religion inherited from the ancients, they would not have lost those noble virtues.
History says that the Christians during and after the wars of the Crusades adopted important points of Islamic law and acted upon them. Now they have advanced, while the Muslims, who did not follow their own religion, have been left behind.
To make a long story short, heredity and environment have let the spirit of religion permeate human society, as they do with other things. Therefore, it is wrong to say that religion has had no impact on humanity.