Critique of the Theory of the Disciples Being Prophets

ʿAllāma Ṭabāṭabāʾī, based on the verse “And when I inspired the Disciples, [saying], ‘Have faith in Me and My messenger,’ they said, ‘We have faith. Bear witness that we are muslims’”,(496) considers the disciples to be recipients of divine revelation and among the prophets. Since the title of revelation is not exclusive to the prophets (a.s.), and Mary (a.s.), the mother of Moses (a.s.), and others also received revelation, such a claim cannot be made definitively.(497)

Perhaps what is meant by “inspiration” here is the “existential permission for accepting the truth” for believing, because in believing, in addition to legislative permission which everyone is permitted and obligated to have, existential permission is also necessary: “No soul may have faith except by God’s permission, and He lays defilement on those who do not apply reason.”(498) Permission in this verse refers to existential permission, otherwise God has given legislative permission to everyone, and this existential permission is realized through inspiration and revelation, which creates inclination and similar effects: “by the soul and Him who fashioned it, and inspired it with [discernment between] its virtues and vices.”(499)

Furthermore, the Qur’an’s discourse about the disciples is incompatible with their prophethood: “When the Disciples said, ‘O Jesus son of Mary! Can your Lord send down to us a table from the sky?’ Said he, ‘Be wary of God, should you be faithful.’ They said, ‘We desire to eat from it, and our hearts will be at rest: we shall know that you have told us the truth, and we shall be among the witnesses to it.’ … God said, ‘I will indeed send it down to you. But should any of you disbelieve after this, I will indeed punish him with a punishment such as I do not punish anyone in all creation’.”(500) The disciples suggested to Jesus (a.s.): Can your Lord send down prepared food for us? Jesus Christ (a.s.) said: If you are believers, fear God and abandon such a suggestion! They said: Besides eating food, we want our hearts to be at peace and also to witness the miracle and signs, so that your truthfulness becomes clear to us.

If the disciples were prophets, they would never have spoken thus and would not have made their belief conditional upon the miracle and divine favor of Christ.