The Reason in Islam

The Reason in Islam

Is there a conflict between religion and mind? The atheists say “the mind is enough, so we do not need a religion”, and the fundamental conservative religious say: “We cannot use our mind in the religion”. So the question is that “Does the religion disqualify the mind? And does the mind disqualify the religion?”

The religion does not exempt the mind

The religion does not exempt the mind; because religion needs the mind to be understood. That is why Islam encourages people to use their reason to think.

God honored the humans with the reason. He preferred them over His other creatures by giving them this divine grace... the mind, as an intelligent tool for learning.

وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِي آدَمَ وَحَمَلْنَاهُمْ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ وَرَزَقْنَاهُم مِّنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَفَضَّلْنَاهُمْ عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٍ مِّمَّنْ خَلَقْنَا تَفْضِيلًا 

And We have certainly honored the children of Adam and carried them on the land and sea and provided for them of the good things and preferred them over much of what We have created, with [definite] preference. (17:70)

That is why he asked the angels to prostrate to Adam, and that is why the first verse in John’s Gospel was "In the beginning was the Word", and the first word that was revealed from the Quran was “Read”

اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ . خَلَقَ الْإِنسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ . اقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الْأَكْرَمُ . الَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ . عَلَّمَ الْإِنسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ

Read! In the name of your Lord who created. He created the human from a clot (of blood). Read! And your Lord is the most Generous. Who taught (writing) by the pen. He taught the human that which he did not know. No! (But) indeed, man transgresses all bounds. Because he sees himself self-sufficient. Indeed, to your Lord is the return. (96:1-5)

God praises those who use their minds to realize, think, contrive and reflect.

إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لَآيَاتٍ لِّأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ . الَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَٰذَا بَاطِلًا سُبْحَانَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding.

Who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], "Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire. (3:190-191)

يُؤْتِي الْحِكْمَةَ مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَمَن يُؤْتَ الْحِكْمَةَ فَقَدْ أُوتِيَ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا ۗ وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّا أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ

He gives wisdom to whom He wills, and whoever has been given wisdom has certainly been given much good. And none will remember except those of understanding. (2:269)

Also, the Quran exhort and demand us to use our minds to realize, think, contrive and reflect.

قُلِ انظُرُوا مَاذَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ وَمَا تُغْنِي الْآيَاتُ وَالنُّذُرُ عَن قَوْمٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ

Say, "Observe what is in the heavens and earth." But of no avail will be signs or warners to a people who do not believe. (10:101)

In contrast, the Quran disparages those who fail in using their minds.

أَوَلَمْ يَتَفَكَّرُوا فِي أَنفُسِهِم ۗ مَّا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَأَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۗ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ النَّاسِ بِلِقَاءِ رَبِّهِمْ لَكَافِرُونَ . أَوَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ كَانُوا أَشَدَّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً وَأَثَارُوا الْأَرْضَ وَعَمَرُوهَا أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا عَمَرُوهَا وَجَاءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ ۖ فَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيَظْلِمَهُمْ وَلَٰكِن كَانُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ

Do they not contemplate within themselves? Allah has not created the heavens and the earth and what is between them except in truth and for a specified term. And indeed, many of the people, in [the matter of] the meeting with their Lord, are disbelievers.

Have they not traveled through the earth and observed how was the end of those before them? They were greater than them in power, and they plowed the earth and built it up more than they have built it up, and their messengers came to them with clear evidences. And Allah would not ever have wronged them, but they were wronging themselves. (30:8-9)

Beside, Islam makes the mind the subject of the mandate, so that the discourse of legitimacy will only go to the sane, while there is no commission or responsibility for those who lose their mind.

رفع القلم عن ثلاثة عن النائم حتى يستيقظ وعن الصغير حتى يكبر وعن المجنون حتى يعقل أو يفيق

"The pen has been lifted from three: From the sleeper until he wakes up, from the minor until he grows up, and from the insane until he comes back to his senses or recovers." (Sunan an-Nasa'i 3432)

So, how can we use the mind to understand the religion? Can we use it to understand the Quran, explain its meanings, exegete its juristic rules, and interpret its senses, references, implications? Actually, God commanded us to do it. 

أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ ۚ وَلَوْ كَانَ مِنْ عِندِ غَيْرِ اللَّهِ لَوَجَدُوا فِيهِ اخْتِلَافًا كَثِيرًا 

Then do they not reflect upon the Qur'an? If it had been from [any] other than Allah , they would have found within it much contradiction. (4:82)

And that what old Muslims were confident enough to do before the Islamic civilization got frozen. The use of reason and mind to form an opinion-oriented explanation is one of two main methods to explain the meanings of the Quran. This method is not interpretation by mere opinion, which is prohibited

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Beware of narrating from me except what I taught you, for whoever lies about me on purpose, then let him take his seat in the Fire. And whoever says (something) about the Qur'an according to his (own) opinion, then let him take his seat in the Fire." (at-Tirmidhi. Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 2951)

So, opinions must be based on the main sources, such as using another portion of the Quran, or sayings of Prophet Muhammad or his companions. Also the Quran may be interpreted based on linguistic and historical sources, and it may be interpreted to preserve the general goals of the Islamic law, which are the preservation of religion, life, lineage, intellect or property. So, any interpretation that threatens these goals may be discarded or ruled otherwise in order to secure these goals. Its most distinctive feature is the inclusion of the opinions of the commentator, thus forming an objective view on Qur'anic verses.

Also, when we explain the meanings of Quran we need to take into account the cultural and social environment to which it has been revealed; or according to the scholars' own time. Universality of the Qur'an must make us not to confine verses to a single time interval, but rather interpret according to the needs of our time.

That is why Prophet Muhammad did not explain the whole Quran. He just explain some verses when his companions asked him. Since Prophet Muhammad did not fully explain the whole Quran, it leaves opening for some different interpretations, especially in new historical contexts. 

Yes, Prophet Muhammad he applied the Quran in his life, as an example for us to apply it in our life. But the problem is that our cultural and social life is different than his life, and that is why we need the reason. That is why the reason is one of the sources of the Islamic law. 

The mind does not exempt religion

On the other hand, the mind does not exempt on religion; because the religion is a standard controller inspector to protect the mind from delinquency.

Islam frees the mind, and removes all obstacles and barriers of the mind, whatever these barriers seduce the mind from within, or dominate the mind from outside. Some of these barriers seduce the mind from within when the mind follows an illusion because of the altruism of this illusion, and the love of the misguided people. It is problem of mind when a person follows his predecessor or his religious authority blindly. He disrupts and deactivates his mind to be on the traditions, customs and conventional ways of his fathers and grandfathers, or to submit to those who made him subject in the name of religion in a way that does not satisfy the mind or the religion,

Yes, we must be righteous with our Fathers, but being righteous is different than being misguided by them without any insight.  That is why the Ouran warned us of following our predecessor blindly:

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ اتَّبِعُوا مَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ قَالُوا بَلْ نَتَّبِعُ مَا أَلْفَيْنَا عَلَيْهِ آبَاءَنَا ۗ أَوَلَوْ كَانَ آبَاؤُهُمْ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَهْتَدُونَ

And 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? (2:170)

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ تَعَالَوْا إِلَىٰ مَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ وَإِلَى الرَّسُولِ قَالُوا حَسْبُنَا مَا وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهِ آبَاءَنَا ۚ أَوَلَوْ كَانَ آبَاؤُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَهْتَدُونَ

And when it is said to them, "Come to what Allah has revealed and to the Messenger," they say, "Sufficient for us is that upon which we found our fathers." Even though their fathers knew nothing, nor were they guided? (5:104)

وَإِذَا فَعَلُوا فَاحِشَةً قَالُوا وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهَا آبَاءَنَا وَاللَّهُ أَمَرَنَا بِهَا ۗ قُلْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَأْمُرُ بِالْفَحْشَاءِ ۖ أَتَقُولُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

And when they commit an immorality, they say, "We found our fathers doing it, and Allah has ordered us to do it." Say, "Indeed, Allah does not order immorality. Do you say about Allah that which you do not know?" (7:28)

وَاتْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ نَبَأَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ . إِذْ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِ مَا تَعْبُدُونَ . قَالُوا نَعْبُدُ أَصْنَامًا فَنَظَلُّ لَهَا عَاكِفِينَ . قَالَ هَلْ يَسْمَعُونَكُمْ إِذْ تَدْعُونَ . أَوْ يَنفَعُونَكُمْ أَوْ يَضُرُّونَ . قَالُوا بَلْ وَجَدْنَا آبَاءَنَا كَذَٰلِكَ يَفْعَلُونَ . قَالَ أَفَرَأَيْتُم مَّا كُنتُمْ تَعْبُدُونَ . أَنتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُمُ الْأَقْدَمُونَ . فَإِنَّهُمْ عَدُوٌّ لِّي إِلَّا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ . الَّذِي خَلَقَنِي فَهُوَ يَهْدِينِ

And recite to them the news of Abraham, when he said to his father and his people, "What do you worship?" They said, "We worship idols and remain to them devoted." He said, "Do they hear you when you supplicate? Or do they benefit you, or do they harm?" They said, "But we found our fathers doing thus." He said, "Then do you see what you have been worshipping,You and your ancient forefathers? Indeed, they are enemies to me, except the Lord of the worlds, Who created me, and He [it is who] guides me. (26:69-78)

إِنَّهُمْ أَلْفَوْا آبَاءَهُمْ ضَالِّينَ . فَهُمْ عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِمْ يُهْرَعُونَ

Indeed they found their fathers astray. So they hastened [to follow] in their footsteps. (37:69-70)

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّخِذُوا آبَاءَكُمْ وَإِخْوَانَكُمْ أَوْلِيَاءَ إِنِ اسْتَحَبُّوا الْكُفْرَ عَلَى الْإِيمَانِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّهُم مِّنكُمْ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ

O you who have believed, do not take your fathers or your brothers as allies if they have preferred disbelief over belief. And whoever does so among you - then it is those who are the wrongdoers. (9:23)

وَكَذَٰلِكَ مَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ فِي قَرْيَةٍ مِّن نَّذِيرٍ إِلَّا قَالَ مُتْرَفُوهَا إِنَّا وَجَدْنَا آبَاءَنَا عَلَىٰ أُمَّةٍ وَإِنَّا عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِم مُّقْتَدُونَ . قَالَ أَوَلَوْ جِئْتُكُم بِأَهْدَىٰ مِمَّا وَجَدتُّمْ عَلَيْهِ آبَاءَكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا إِنَّا بِمَا أُرْسِلْتُم بِهِ كَافِرُونَ

And similarly, We did not send before you any warner into a city except that its affluent said, "Indeed, we found our fathers upon a religion, and we are, in their footsteps, following." [Each warner] said, "Even if I brought you better guidance than that [religion] upon which you found your fathers?" They said, "Indeed we, in that with which you were sent, are disbelievers." (43:23-24)

Yes, we have to ask the people of the knowledge if we do not know, as the Quran advises us.

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًا نُّوحِي إِلَيْهِمْ ۚ فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِن كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

And We sent not before you except men to whom We revealed [Our message]. So ask the people of the message if you do not know. (16:43)

But the people of the knowledge, who do not get benefit from their knowledge, cannot benefit others. That is why Islam did not give any authority to the clerics on the consciences, or any ability to forbid, allow, condemn or forgive. Also, the Quran alerts us of the consequences of those who surrendered to their deceit.

اتَّخَذُوا أَحْبَارَهُمْ وَرُهْبَانَهُمْ أَرْبَابًا مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ وَالْمَسِيحَ ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا إِلَٰهًا وَاحِدًا ۖ لَّا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ سُبْحَانَهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ

They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah , and [also] the Messiah, the son of Mary. And they were not commanded except to worship one God; there is no deity except Him. Exalted is He above whatever they associate with Him. (9:31)

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ الْأَحْبَارِ وَالرُّهْبَانِ لَيَأْكُلُونَ أَمْوَالَ النَّاسِ بِالْبَاطِلِ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ۗ وَالَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ الذَّهَبَ وَالْفِضَّةَ وَلَا يُنفِقُونَهَا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَبَشِّرْهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ

O you who have believed, indeed many of the scholars and the monks devour the wealth of people unjustly and avert [them] from the way of Allah . And those who hoard gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah - give them tidings of a painful punishment. (9:34)

Also, Islam removes all obstacles and barriers that dominate the mind from outside, such as the alcohols and authoritarian rule. 

That is why everything that prevents the mind from performing its functions, such as alcohol and drugs, is forbidden in Islam, 

Due the fear of tyranny political leaders, people have often turned off their minds to blindly endorse what their leaders say. Islam encourages these people to resist this authoritarian rule. It is a place problem, not a problem of mind. So, Muslims are blamed for submission in their place if they are able to leave it to another place far from this authority.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ تَوَفَّاهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ ظَالِمِي أَنفُسِهِمْ قَالُوا فِيمَ كُنتُمْ ۖ قَالُوا كُنَّا مُسْتَضْعَفِينَ فِي الْأَرْضِ ۚ قَالُوا أَلَمْ تَكُنْ أَرْضُ اللَّهِ وَاسِعَةً فَتُهَاجِرُوا فِيهَا ۚ فَأُولَٰئِكَ مَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَسَاءَتْ مَصِيرًا

Indeed, those whom the angels take [in death] while wronging themselves - [the angels] will say, "In what [condition] were you?" They will say, "We were oppressed in the land." The angels will say, "Was not the earth of Allah spacious [enough] for you to emigrate therein?" For those, their refuge is Hell - and evil it is as a destination. (4:97)

The religion needs the mind		The mind needs the religion
To understand the meanings of the Quran	To exegete the juristic rules	The religion protects the mind from delinquency because of what
		seduce the mind from within		dominate the mind from outside
The use of reason and mind to form an opinion-oriented explanation is one of two main methods to explain the meanings of the Quran.	The reason is one of the sources of the Islamic law.	Following the predecessor.	Following the religious authority.	Alcohols and drugs.	Authoritarian rule.