The Light of Wisdom: Reason and Revelation in Harmony

How Intellect and Divine Guidance Work Together to Unveil Truth

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Have you ever wondered about the role of reason in our search for truth? We use reason every day to navigate life, solve problems, and make sense of the world. It is through reason that we distinguish right from wrong, develop sciences, and build civilizations. But can reason alone lead us to ultimate truth? Or does it need something greater to guide it?

This question was deeply explored by Ibn Taymiyyah, a great scholar who argued that reason is essential but not self-sufficient. He explained that while reason is a prerequisite for acquiring knowledge and living a virtuous life, it cannot function properly without the light of revelation. He compared reason to the eye—it has the power to see, but it needs light to do so. Just as the eye is useless in complete darkness, reason alone is limited without divine guidance.

Ibn Taymiyyah warned against two extremes. On one side, there are those who rely entirely on reason and refuse to accept anything beyond what their intellect can grasp. They subject divine revelation to human logic, rejecting prophetic teachings if they do not fit within their limited rational framework. On the other side, there are those who abandon reason altogether, believing that true enlightenment comes only through mystical experiences, ecstasy, or spiritual intoxication. They claim that reason must be suppressed to reach higher states of being. Ibn Taymiyyah rejected both positions, emphasizing that true knowledge requires both reason and revelation working together.