Tajdeed

Philosophy – Why do we need Divine Revelation when we have reason?

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The Qur’an clearly opposes arrogance and reminds humanity that the cause of every beauty is actually from the Ultimate Creator. This includes intellect, knowledge, wisdom and morality. The Qur’an refutes the false conception of self-sufficiency by saying “he sees himself self-sufficient,” while it was God who “taught man what he did not know…by the pen” (Qur’an 96:4–7).

Although the Divine knowledge supersedes all, it is the Divine faculty of intellect and reason that perceives the Truths of reality. Naturally, the Qur’an praises the intellect and calls mankind to use the blessed faculty to its full potential. The Qur’an says, ‘Surely the worst of beasts in God’s sight are those that are deaf and dumb and do not reason’ (Q 8:22). The Qur’an is clear on one of the most important human faculties, therefore whoever attacks and undermines the intellect aims to destroy the quiddity of humanness.

It is evident that the human intellect is limited when perceiving metaphysical realities, yet the intellect needs to be utilised when striving to unravel the truths. One truth that the conscious and the intellect knows every well is the reality and existence of the Necessary Being. So, before accessing the Divine Revelation, the mind needs to first know the One God, and the human mind needs to test the claim of Divine Revelation and it needs to be intellectually convinced that the Revelation is actually the speech, decree and will of God.

In relation to this, the Qur’an says, ‘And when he (Abraham) saw the sun rising, he said, “This is my lord; this is greater.” But when it set, he said, “O my people, indeed I am free from what you associate with Allah. (Q 6:78). This passage demonstrates that the Prophet Ibrahim used his God given wisdom to prove the absurdity and evil of polytheism, paganism and idol worship.

In fact, this passage can be an allusion to the philosophical contingency argument because the Qur’an presents the Prophet Ibrahim proving the impossibility of the Ultimate Causer having any limitations and the verse also shows that limited things should never ever be worshipped.

The question is raised, if the human intellect and wisdom is this great and if the faculty of reason can access the important foundational truths of life, such as belief in the Oneness and Self-sufficiency of God, the acknowledgment of righteousness and the abhorrence of tyranny, then why does humanity need Divine Revelation?

One part of the answer to this philosophical question is within the question itself. The intellect can only apprehend some basic essential truths, the mind cannot contain all truths. It is apparent that the intellect cannot independently arrive at the intricate details of truths.

How would the intellect know for certain that there is an Afterlife, and if for example the human mind gave possibility to the truth of the Hereafter, how would it give certainty to the reality of the day of judgement and day of accountability? If for instance, the mind gave possibility to the existence of a Judgement Day, how would the intellect know for certain that the pleasures and punishments of the Hereafter will be finite or infinite? Thus, the Qur’an confidently declares ‘Say: Bring your proof if you are truthful’ (Q 2:111). Through this statement, the Qur’an imbeds the culture of knowledge, proof and evidence when taking positions and actions in life and to truly know about metaphysical concepts, we need Revelation.

Therefore, the points that are raised are valid and the intellect cannot independently know these things with certitude, instead they are all dubious and doubtful. In relation to speculation, the Qur’an says, ‘And if you obey most of those in the earth, they will lead you astray from Allah’s way; they follow but conjecture and they do but guess’ (Q 6:116).

These arguments all point to the fact that the human intellect undoubtedly depends on Divine Revelation and Messengers of God to truly and definitively know essential truths of life. The belief in the Hereafter is from the prerequisites of faith according to the Divine books and the acknowledgement of the Hereafter is such a vital concept that it completely changes the human perspective of life. Without Revelation, the most essential things in life will be speculative and this will give rise to a distant deistic god, which is far from the God of Revelation.

A Qur’anic passage that is linked to this idea is the verse which states ‘Mankind was one community and God sent (to them) prophets as bearers of good news and as warners and revealed to them the book with the truth that it may judge between mankind concerning that in which they differed’ (Q 2:213).

This verse shows that initially people were in agreement regarding the Truth, and then they disputed regarding truth and falsehood. As a result, Divine knowledge and prophets were sent to them again to destroy the conjectures of falsehood, and to establish the truth with proof and certainty. Apparently, one of the functions of Divine Revelation is to end quarrel regarding the foundations of life.

Another verse declares ‘Indeed, We, have inspired you as we have inspired Noah … Messengers of good news and a warning in order that mankind might have no argument against God after the Messenger’ (Q 4:163-165). In this verse, it shows us that one of the aims of Revelation is to establish the decisive proof upon the people. This is because prior to the establishment of Revelation, many important matters of Faith and Action become speculative because either they are metaphysical concepts which the mind cannot reach, or it is because the mind cannot grasp the intricate details of harm and benefit in particular actions.

Some examples are the consumption of pork, alcohol, drugs, the engagement in gambling, wearing the headscarf for modesty, the practice of circumcision, washing the private parts after using the bathroom and the practice of sexual intercourse between two consenting single parties etc.

Muslims are obliged to obey these Divine commandments because the right thing to do is to obey God, this is the straight way to truly connect with the Truth. Hence why the Qur’an mentions ‘I did not create jinn and humans except to worship Me’ (Q 51:56). How can one worship and obey the One True God, without knowing his will and commands?

Although the mind does acknowledge the benefits and harms of these Divine legislations, it cannot make them compulsory, lawful or unlawful with certainty without the command of Revelation. In life there are benefits in evil things and hardship in virtues, which makes things even more difficult. The Qur’an mentions ‘They ask you about wine (khamr) and gambling. Say, “In them is great sin and [yet, some] benefit for people. But their sin is greater than their benefit’ (Q 2:219).

It is as if the only things the mind know with certainty is that benefit is good, and that harm is evil. To conclude, in order to live a proper moral life in connection and obedience to the Ultimate Truth, the One true God, you need to have access to Divine Revelation. Hence why Revelation becomes a necessity not a supplement.

By Abul Hasan al-Gabikani al-Shadi al-Shaddadi al-Hadhabani -al-Kurdi