Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi on Burhani Argument for the Necessity of Prophecy (Some Challenges and Possible Solutions)

In the Sadrean epistemological framework, indubitable knowledge is acquired through burhāni (apodictic) arguments. Thus a categorization of existing instances of knowledge requires a re-evaluation of respective arguments supporting them. In twelver rational theology, no doctrine seems to be as important as the necessity of prophethood which has traditionally been invoked to support a variety of distinct positions. To prove the doctrine, Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi (d. 2021) proposed a version of the argument from Divine wisdom and claimed it to be a burhān (proof). This paper attempts to critically evaluate and establish whether the argument in question is indeed a burhān as per the definition and criteria of burhān laid down by Mesbah Yazdi himself in his epistemological discussions. Attempting to fulfil the criteria, each premise of the argument was demonstrated to have logically been followed from first category self-evident and or wijdāni propositions (intuitive data). This entailed refuting several objections posed against the argument. With the criteria of a burhān met and solutions to the challenges offered, the argument was found to be a burhān. Finally, the purport of the argument's conclusion was delineated. The finding of this paper will influence contemporary debates on the philosophy of religion concerning the nature of revelation and religious language amongst others.