The Relationship Between Reason ('Aql) and Revelation (Wahy) in the Quran: A Research Review in the Context of Modern Intellectual Challenges

Abstract

This work describes an ultimate survey on the reciprocal connection between reason (aql) and revelation (wahy) in the perspective of the Quran which has a deep meaning within the context of the modern intellectual issues. The paper initially examines the linguistic and terminological meaning of the words reason and revelation, their usage in the Qur’an and their peculiar and complementary essence. It elucidates that the Quran invites reason to reason (taqqul), reason (tafakkur), and contemplate (tadabbur) placing the reason in a position of reason in the light of the signs of Allah and to know the revelation, though its power is limited in the issues of the unseen (ghayb), and revelation is the absolute authority in this matter. The classical Islamic thought, of theologians (mutakallimun), jurists (fuqah2), traditionists (muhaddith2), or the philosophical tradition, has expressed this relation in different ways, but all have concurred on the fact that revelation has sovereignty over reason and is its guide. The recent intellectual issues like Western rationalism, empiricism, the non-reality of metaphysics, secularism, and liberal understandings have cast far graver doubts on the authority, authenticity and sovereignty of revelation. The study dispels these objections based on the Quranic verses, rational arguments, and classical text and the study concludes that there is no actual opposition between reason and revelation; any apparent opposition is the weakness of human knowledge or a misunderstanding. The Quranic perspective is centered on putting reason under the service of revelation and to comprehend revelation under the guise of reason- a move that gives direction in the modern social, moral and academic problems. In the current era, this association gives morality to scientific inquiry, religion has been made active and given a harmonious structure through which intellectual education of the Muslim psyche has been trained. Going on the findings, it is suggested that the balanced relationship between reason and revelation be encouraged in curriculum and educational institutions, the media, and research institutions. The potential of the future of interdisciplinary research on this subject, especially in the areas of artificial intelligence, neuroscience, and digital ethics, is enormous.

Keywords: Reason, Revelation, Qur’an, Modern Intellectual Challenges, Rational Engagement, Knowledge & Certainty, Secularism, Islamic Thought, Harmony, Intellectual Training

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18404748