POSLANSTVO I VILAJET U TESAVVUFSKOJ MISLI: TEOLOŠKI ASPEKTI I HISTORIJSKI RAZVOJ
PROPHETHOOD AND WILĀYA IN SUFI THOUGHT: THEOLOGICAL DIMENSIONS AND HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT

Summary/Abstract: Prophethood (nubuwwa) and wilāya occupy an important place in Islamic theology and, at the same time, constitute particularly delicate areas of theological inquiry, especially within the Sufi tradition. The historical development of Islamic thought shows that different understandings of these two concepts interacted, producing complex and at times controversial discussions that, in particular historical settings, contributed to deepening disagreements among Muslims. This study examines the principal stages in the development of Sufi thought, beginning with the early period of zuhd, continuing through its increasingly intensive engagement with ʿilm al-kalām, and culminating in its encounter and gradual rapprochement with philosophical thought. Particular attention is given to major representatives of these stages to determine how they understood prophethood and how their reflections on this issue changed as Sufism developed into a distinct scholarly discipline. The analysis indicates that the understanding of prophethood in the dominant Sunni Sufi tradition, notwithstanding certain exceptions among individual scholars, does not fundamentally depart from the basic principles of Sunni theology. Despite different methodological approaches and later metaphysical interpretations, prophethood remains the highest form of divine election, while wilāya is discussed within boundaries that do not call into question the normative and theological primacy of prophethood.

• Details
• Contents