Prophetic Knowledge: Certainty Over Imitation
One must not fall into the error of supposing that the Prophets received revelation through mere imitation. Such a notion is fundamentally flawed, for imitation is not knowledge, whether the source be a mortal man or an angel.
The Prophets are truly knowers of God, His signs, His Sovereignty, His divine books, His messengers, and the reality of the Last Day.
This profound connection is not a matter of copying or surmise, but rather a witnessing by the heart and an inward conversation rooted in insight and absolute certainty. As the Quran reminds us in Surah Al-Anbiya, "There does not come to them any new reminder from their Lord but they listen to it as they play around," highlighting the tragic contrast between the Prophets' deep spiritual engagement and the heedlessness of those who reject truth.
The Prophets' understanding is a direct, divinely granted certainty that transcends the limitations of human imitation.
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اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ، وَبَلِّغْ بِإِيمَانِي أَكْمَلَ الْإِيمَانِ، وَاجْعَلْ يَقِينِي أَفْضَلَ الْيَقِينِ، وَانْتَهِ بِنِيَّتِي إِلَى أَحْسَنِ النِّيَّاتِ، وَبِعَمَلِي إِلَى أَحْسَنِ الْأَعْمَالِ
O God, bless Muhammad and his Household, cause my faith to reach the most perfect faith, make my certainty the most excellent certainty, and take my intention to the best of intentions and my works to the best of works!
— Sahifa Sajjadiyyah, Prayer 20: His Supplication on Noble Moral Traits and Acts Pleasing to God, Verse 2