What is the meaning of ‘reason over revelation’?
In general, we can summarize the classical approach as ‘reason over revelation’. ‘Al aql alā an-naql, which means: The mind is given precedence over what has been revealed’. Reason and rationality is the way to approach things, which is not according to revelation. This was expressed a long time ago.
Over approximately 100 years after the time of the prophet Mohammed (ﷺ) a supra rationalist theological movement arose which was called the Mu'tazilites, Al Mu'tazilah. They promoted the same idea of ‘reason over revelation’. They attempted to logically explain theological concepts which were not in harmony with reason, according to them, and as a result they created turmoil in the Muslim world. However the Muslim world recovered and brushed them aside.
In our times, from the 20th century, this rational approach reared its head again. People are calling to reanalyze Islam. It is said that Islam is not good for our times and that we need to reassess it, to revive and to change in order to be able to survive in the 21st century and beyond. The idea of changing with time may sound very attractive. However, the fact of the matter is if Islam was really from Allah then it should be good for all times. There is a hadith wherein Jabir Bin 'Abdullah said:
“We were with the Prophet (ﷺ) and he drew a line (in the sand), then he drew two lines to its right and two to its left. Then he put his hand on the middle line and said: 'this is the path of Allah’. Then he recited the Verse:
وَأَنَّ هَـٰذَا صِرَاطِي مُسْتَقِيمًا فَاتَّبِعُوهُ ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا السُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَن سَبِيلِهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُم بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
"And verily, this (i.e. Allah’s Commandments) is my Straight Path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His Path. This He has ordained for you that you may become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious)
(Surah Al Annam, 6:153)
He (ﷺ) explained that the line in the middle was his path, leading to Allah. The other lines were deviations from the path with a devil’s head at each end calling people to it. [1] The path of the Prophet (ﷺ) is one path. It is the path which is good for his time as well as all times. It was a path which had its roots in the Quran, the word of Allah, which was based on human nature. Allah, the Almighty knew what would happen in human society, what changes would take place, and prescribed laws which would guide them until the last day, and therefore He sent His last messenger, Muhammad (ﷺ). The message was the last message and it was to be a source of guidance until the Day of Judgment. The issue of modernism basically calls Muslims today not to be precise and concerned about the legal aspects of Islam but to focus more on the devotional aspects, that is, the spirit of Islam.
Further reading on Mu’tazilites: http://kalamullah.com/sects00.html
Reference:
[1] Musnad Ahmad quoted in Ibn Kathīr, chapter:6, verse:153, vol.2, page.709
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