Revelation and Reason: The Islamic Perspective on Knowledge

  The Islamic perspective on knowledge is based on the belief that there are two main sources of knowledge: revelation and reason. Revelation is the direct communication from God to His prophets, who convey it to mankind through the scriptures and their teachings. Reason is the faculty that God has endowed human beings with to understand and interpret revelation, as well as to observe and analyze the natural world. Both sources are complementary and harmonious, and neither can be rejected or neglected.

How can you prove that revelation is true and not a human invention or a product of superstition? There are several ways to prove that revelation is true, such as its internal consistency, its external confirmation, its historical authenticity, its moral excellence, its intellectual superiority, its spiritual power, its practical relevance, its universal appeal, its miraculous nature, its fulfilled prophecies, its preserved text, its living tradition, its continuous guidance, its dynamic impact, its enduring legacy, and its ultimate goal.  These are objective criteria that can be examined and verified by anyone who is sincere and open-minded.

There are no irrational aspects of revelation. Revelation is rational in the sense that it does not contradict reason or evidence, but rather transcends them and provides us with higher truths that reason alone cannot attain. Revelation is also rational in the sense that it appeals to our reason and invites us to use it to understand and appreciate its message.

But how can you use reason to understand revelation when reason itself is based on sense perception? And how can you trust sense perception when it is often unreliable and deceptive? 

Sense perception is not the only basis of reason. Reason also includes intuition, which is a direct access to truth that does not depend on sense perception. Intuition is a gift from God that enables us to recognize His signs in ourselves and in the universe. Moreover, sense perception can be corrected and refined by reason and revelation, which provide us with more reliable and comprehensive sources of information.

But how can you apply reason to the moral world? How can you derive moral values from reason or revelation? How can you justify your moral obligations?

Moral values are derived from both reason and revelation. Reason enables us to recognize the basic moral values that are inherent in human nature, such as justice, benevolence, honesty, etc. Revelation provides us with more specific moral values that are revealed by God for our guidance and benefit. Moral obligations are justified by both reason and revelation. Reason enables us to understand the rationality and wisdom behind moral obligations. Revelation provides us with the authority and motivation for moral obligations.

Moral obligations do not contradict human freedom. Moral obligations are voluntary choices that human beings make in accordance with their nature and purpose. Human freedom is a gift from God that enables human beings to act according to their will, but also makes them accountable for their actions. Divine will and human will are not in conflict, but rather in harmony. Divine will is the ultimate source of human will. Human will is an expression and manifestation of divine will.

But how can you reconcile divine justice with human suffering? How can you accept both the divine mercy and the human misery? Human suffering is the means and opportunity of divine justice. Divine mercy is the complement and balance of divine justice. Human misery is the challenge and chance of divine mercy.