Critical Analysis of the Function of Reason as a Source in the Interpretation of the Qurʾān According to Ibn ʿĀshūr

Authors : Seyed Mohammad Bagher Ebadi, Kavous Rouhibarandagh, Nahlah Gharawī Nāʼīnī, Kazem Ghazizadeh

Pages : 1007-1032

Doi:10.33227/auifd.1414952

View : 109 | Download : 172

Publication Date : 2025-11-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Although reason is acknowledged by all Muslims as a valid source, there are various views regarding its limits and functionalities. Some Shīʿī and Sunnī schools are known for their rationalist tendencies, while others are known for their anti-rationalist approaches. Numerous studies have examined the “function of reason in interpreting the Qurʾān,” yet none has explored this topic from the perspective of Muḥammad Ṭāhir Ibn ʿĀshūr (1879–1973). In his interpretation of the verses of the Qurʾān, he emphasizes the importance of reason as an epistemic source and employs various rational sciences—such as philosophy, theology, and other intellectual disciplines—in his exegetical analysis. Although some of his rational arguments in interpretation have been subject to criticism, he consistently upholds the criteria of rational goodness and badness when approaching Qurʾānic verses, and he avoids literal readings of scriptural descriptions such as the “hand of Allah” (yadullāh) or God’s “rising over the throne” (ʿarsh), opting instead for literary and figurative interpretations that align with rationalist perspectives. This study employs descriptive, analytical, and critical methods to examine the concept of reason both lexically and terminologically. It clarifies the distinction between instrumental and source reason and elucidates the notion of rational beauty and ugliness (al-ḥusn wa’l-qubḥ al-ʿaqlī), which lies at the center of the debate. As there is no fundamental disagreement regarding the use of instrumental reason, the study focuses on the application of source reason in Qurʾānic interpretation. Accordingly, special attention is given to the challenging issue of the divine attributes—one of the most significant points of tension between reason and ḥadīth. Ibn ʿĀshūr’s position is identified, compared, and critically evaluated alongside the views of the Ashʿarites and the Muʿtazilites.
Keywords : Aklın İşlevi, İbn ʿĀşūr, et-Taḥrīr ve’l-Tenvīr

ORIGINAL ARTICLE URL