Prophethood in Pre-Islamic Religions

This research paper, titled "Prophethood in Pre-Islamic Religions," explores how the Judeo-Christian Bible drew upon the concept of prophethood through the lens of ancient religions. The signifi-cance of this study lies in its attempt to uncover the historical truth of prophethood in human civilisa-tion: Was its origin rooted in magic and sorcery within ancient cultures, or did it arise from multiple sources? This inquiry led us to divide the subject into two main sections, each comprising two subsec-tions. The conclusions presented in the final section suggest that the earliest forms of prophethood emerged within the civilisations that flourished along the Nile Valley and in Mesopotamia, particularly following the Babylonian exile of the Jews from Palestine to Iraq. By employing descriptive and analyti-cal methodologies, this study sheds light on the early conception of prophethood in human history and examines the cultural influences of Greek, Persian, and Indian traditions. It becomes evident that pagan elements markedly influenced the Bible—both in its Jewish and Christian versions, known as the Old and New Testaments.