What is the reason for the objection of many Muslims to giving the Mu'tazilah great importance to reason as a source of knowledge and cognition?
Islam has elevated the status of the intellect and made it the locus of legal obligations, commanding reflection and contemplation. However, its role is limited to reflecting on texts and contemplating revelation, not controlling or judging them. This represents the moderation of Islam, as it neither abolishes the intellect nor makes it a judge over revelation. The Mu'tazilah went astray by exaggerating in their veneration of the intellect, preferring it over the texts of the , and using it in ways that exceeded its limits. The sound intellect does not contradict the authentic transmitted text, and the Sharia does not bring anything that is rationally impossible; rather, it may bring that which bewilders intellects. Thus, whatever contradicts a sound intellect is falsehood, and there is no falsehood in the Qur'an and .
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- 1963
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- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy