Prioritizing Reason over Revelation
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Fatwa No. ( 20966 )
Q: What is your response to the methodology of the theologians (mutakallimun) who prioritize reason over revelation ?
A : The function of reason regarding what has come in the Shari'ah, whether in the Book or the Sunnah, is to understand it and submit to it. No one is established in Islam except by that. Many texts have come that obligate following the Book and the Sunnah and warn against placing [one's opinion] before the hands of Allah and His Messenger with an opinion or suggestion that contradicts what has come in them. Allah the Exalted said:
The hand of Allah and His Messenger with an opinion or suggestion that contradicts what has come in them. Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Hujurat 49:1] And He the Exalted said: [Al-A'raf 7:3] And He the Majestic and Exalted said: [Ali 'Imran 3:31] And He the Mighty and Majestic said: [Al-An'am 6:153] And He the Majestic in His Majesty said: [An-Nisa 4:59] And He the Majestic and the Mighty said: [Al-Baqarah 2:170] , among other noble verses commanding the following of the revealed revelation from Allah the Exalted, and warning against following desires, and what
distorted minds dictate, deviating from the straight path. It is not permissible for any person to be deluded by his mind, no matter how much strength he is given in understanding or breadth in thinking, so that he makes his mind the principle and the texts of the Book and the Sunnah the branch. He accepts what agrees with his mind and takes it as his religion, and he denies or distorts from its place what contradicts it. Indeed, that is an accusation against the divine Shari'ah, a destruction of its foundations, and a demolition of its pillars. Minds vary, natures differ, thoughts are diverse, and people hardly agree on anything, except for what is of the sensory and necessary matters. If that is the case, then what is the mind that is made the principle, to which one returns in case of disagreement, and which is made the judge in understanding the texts of the Shari'ah? And how excellent is what the Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "Know that there is nothing in clear reason, nor in any correct transmission, that necessitates contradicting the Salafi path in the first place... Then those who contradict the Book and the Sunnah and the Salaf of the Ummah are in a crooked matter. Indeed, the one who denies the Vision claims that reason negates it, and that he is compelled to interpret it figuratively. And the one who negates that Allah has knowledge and power, and that His speech is not created, and the like of that, says: Reason negated that, so he was compelled to interpret it figuratively. Rather, the one who denies the reality of the resurrection of bodies and the real eating and drinking in Paradise claims that reason negated that and that he is compelled to interpret it figuratively. And the one who claims that Allah is not above the Throne claims that reason negated that and that he is compelled to interpret it figuratively.
And sufficient for you as evidence of the corruption of the saying of these people is that none of them has a consistent rule regarding what reason negates. Rather, some of them claim that reason permitted and obligated what another claims reason negated! I wish I knew by which reason the Book and the Sunnah are weighed. May Allah be pleased with the Imam Malik ibn Anas where he said: 'Do we leave what Jibril brought to Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) for the argumentation of these people whenever a man comes to us who is more eloquent in argument than another?'). And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Q: What is your response to the methodology of the theologians (mutakallimun) who prioritize reason over revelation ?
A : The function of reason regarding what has come in the Shari'ah, whether in the Book or the Sunnah, is to understand it and submit to it. No one is established in Islam except by that. Many texts have come that obligate following the Book and the Sunnah and warn against placing [one's opinion] before the hands of Allah and His Messenger with an opinion or suggestion that contradicts what has come in them. Allah the Exalted said:
The hand of Allah and His Messenger with an opinion or suggestion that contradicts what has come in them. Allah the Exalted said:
O you who have believed, do not put [yourselves] before Allah and His Messenger but fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is Hearing and Knowing.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لاَ تُقَدِّمُوا بَيْنَ يَدَيِ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌFollow, [O mankind], what has been revealed to you from your Lord and do not follow other than Him any allies. Little do you remember.
اتَّبِعُوا مَا أُنْـزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَلاَ تَتَّبِعُوا مِنْ دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ قَلِيلا مَا تَذَكَّرُونَSay, [O Muhammad], "If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins
قُلْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْAnd, [moreover], this is My path, which is straight, so follow it; and do not follow [other] ways, for you will be separated from His way. This has He instructed you that you may become righteous.
وَأَنَّ هَذَا صِرَاطِي مُسْتَقِيمًا فَاتَّبِعُوهُ وَلاَ تَتَّبِعُوا السُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَنْ سَبِيلِهِ ذَلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُمْ بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَAnd if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result.
فَإِنْ تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلاAnd when it is said to them, "Follow what Allah has revealed," they say, "Rather, we will follow that which we found our fathers doing." Even though their fathers understood nothing, nor were they guided?
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ اتَّبِعُوا مَا أَنْـزَلَ اللَّهُ قَالُوا بَلْ نَتَّبِعُ مَا أَلْفَيْنَا عَلَيْهِ آبَاءَنَا أَوَلَوْ كَانَ آبَاؤُهُمْ لاَ يَعْقِلُونَ شَيْئًا وَلاَ يَهْتَدُونَdistorted minds dictate, deviating from the straight path. It is not permissible for any person to be deluded by his mind, no matter how much strength he is given in understanding or breadth in thinking, so that he makes his mind the principle and the texts of the Book and the Sunnah the branch. He accepts what agrees with his mind and takes it as his religion, and he denies or distorts from its place what contradicts it. Indeed, that is an accusation against the divine Shari'ah, a destruction of its foundations, and a demolition of its pillars. Minds vary, natures differ, thoughts are diverse, and people hardly agree on anything, except for what is of the sensory and necessary matters. If that is the case, then what is the mind that is made the principle, to which one returns in case of disagreement, and which is made the judge in understanding the texts of the Shari'ah? And how excellent is what the Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "Know that there is nothing in clear reason, nor in any correct transmission, that necessitates contradicting the Salafi path in the first place... Then those who contradict the Book and the Sunnah and the Salaf of the Ummah are in a crooked matter. Indeed, the one who denies the Vision claims that reason negates it, and that he is compelled to interpret it figuratively. And the one who negates that Allah has knowledge and power, and that His speech is not created, and the like of that, says: Reason negated that, so he was compelled to interpret it figuratively. Rather, the one who denies the reality of the resurrection of bodies and the real eating and drinking in Paradise claims that reason negated that and that he is compelled to interpret it figuratively. And the one who claims that Allah is not above the Throne claims that reason negated that and that he is compelled to interpret it figuratively.
And sufficient for you as evidence of the corruption of the saying of these people is that none of them has a consistent rule regarding what reason negates. Rather, some of them claim that reason permitted and obligated what another claims reason negated! I wish I knew by which reason the Book and the Sunnah are weighed. May Allah be pleased with the Imam Malik ibn Anas where he said: 'Do we leave what Jibril brought to Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) for the argumentation of these people whenever a man comes to us who is more eloquent in argument than another?'). And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.