The rational and metaphysical notions of prophethood and the Prophet Muhammad in the thought of Said Nursi and Muhammad Iqbal

The theological notion of Prophethood (nubuwwa) and the Prophet Muḥammad has been subjected to an intense theoretical enquiry since the Enlightenment. The emphasis on rational thought and reason (ʿaql) was prevalent in this period. While some scholars focused on tradition (naql), a number of others focused on reason (ʿaql). Said Nursi and Muhammad Iqbal engaged both ʿaql and naql in their prophetologies, orientating more towards reason (‘aql). This thesis argues that the prophetologies of the modernist Muslims were lacking the balance of the metaphysical with that of the rational. In contrast, Said Nursi and Muhammad Iqbal retained this balance in their prophetologies by including the metaphysical aspects of prophethood. Through a textual analysis of the major writings of Said Nursi and Muhammad Iqbal, this thesis explores two unique responses to this theological dilemma in the modern era, and highlights the similarities and differences of their prophetologies in contrast to their modernist contemporaries.