Revelation and Dream: Critical examination of the Theory of Apostolic Dreams

Contemporary religious study has been interesting for many intellectuals including Dr. Soroush. In the course of his speculations he passed different stages. The first stage was his theoretical extraction and expansion of Sharia which continued in terms of expansion of prophetic experience. In his first theory he deemed religious knowledge as human, historical and relative. In the second theory, however, he extended it to the very nature of religion which in his view is historical and subject to change. In his new theory labelled by him as “Muhammad as narrator of Apostolic Dreams” he has taken one more step backward and in contrast with traditional beliefs he claimed to have opened a new window in understanding the process of revelation which in his view occurred altogether in dream and vision. He restricted the role of Prophet to narration and description of what he has seen in dreams and that is why he suggested interpretation-oriented understanding of revelation rather than literalism or traditional exegetical approaches developed in the history of Islamic sciences. In formulating and supporting his theory Dr. Soroush has arranged the argument in six premises. This article is an attempt to examine and criticize them undermining his argument which in eyes of the authors lacks any force and cogency