Ph.D. in Theology and Islamic Studies (Specialization: Islamic Philosophy and Theology); Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic Studies, Islamic Azad University, Malayer Branch, Hamedan.
Abstract
Examining the nature of the relationship between reason and revelation has long been a focal point for many thinkers, both within the Islamic world and beyond. Muslim scholars from various schools of thought—including philosophers, theologians, jurists, and mystics—have each endeavored to elucidate this relationship based on their own distinct principles and foundations. Some have prioritized reason and argumentation, relegating religion to the periphery, while others have upheld the primacy of revelation and religious teachings, portraying reason and its findings as inadequate. Amidst this, philosophers such as Al-Farabi and Ibn Sina sought to resolve the apparent conflict by emphasizing the harmony between philosophy and religion, though they faced serious criticism from theologians like Al-Ghazali. On the other hand, mystics, adopting a supra-rational perspective, have deemed discursive reason limited; yet, they have simultaneously acknowledged the value of illuminative and insightful reason as the "eye of the heart." Jurists, too, have addressed the role of reason in the derivation of religious rulings through two distinct schools of thought: the Akhbari (strictly text-oriented) and the Usuli (reason-accepting). The most prominent philosopher to make a concerted effort to articulate the interaction and harmony between *Hikmah* (philosophical wisdom) and *Shari'ah* (religious law) was Sadr al-Muta'allihin Shirazi (Mulla Sadra). By critiquing both extreme approaches—pure rationalism and strict textualism—Mulla Sadra established a novel system known as *Hikmah-ye Muta'aliyah* (Transcendent Theosophy), in which demonstration, spiritual intuition, and religious law converge. He deemed reason insufficient for complete understanding and regarded revelation as its complement; through the correct interpretation of religious texts, he presented truths such as the knowledge of God and the afterlife as transcending theoretical reason. His solution was revolutionary for his time, yet the emerging challenges concerning science and religion necessitate continuous re-examination.
Farahmand pouya,A . (2026). The Relationship Between Reason and Revelation from Mulla Sadra's Perspective. Religious culture approach, 9(New Course Number 13), 35-53.
MLA
Farahmand pouya,A . "The Relationship Between Reason and Revelation from Mulla Sadra's Perspective", Religious culture approach, 9, New Course Number 13, 2026, 35-53.
HARVARD
Farahmand pouya A. (2026). 'The Relationship Between Reason and Revelation from Mulla Sadra's Perspective', Religious culture approach, 9(New Course Number 13), pp. 35-53.
CHICAGO
A Farahmand pouya, "The Relationship Between Reason and Revelation from Mulla Sadra's Perspective," Religious culture approach, 9 New Course Number 13 (2026): 35-53,
VANCOUVER
Farahmand pouya A. The Relationship Between Reason and Revelation from Mulla Sadra's Perspective. Religious culture approach. 2026;9(New Course Number 13):35-53 (In Persian).