How do reason and revelation relate in questions of creed?
2026-09-21
T43 · Ibn Taymiyyah
Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah
شيخ الإسلام أحمد بن تيمية
Selected explanation · Selected source passage(s) — fully translated
Selected passage describing four stages of rebuttal in a theological argument. It reports Ibn Taymiyyah’s criticism of his opponents’ proofs; the excerpt does not itself set out each proof. The English translates every displayed Arabic paragraph; this selection is not the complete surrounding work. Square brackets identify translator-supplied clarification.
النص العربي
المقتطف
فَيُبَيِّنُ أَرْبَعَ مَقَامَاتٍ: أَنَّ الْعَقْلَ لَا يُنَاقِضُهُ. ثُمَّ يُبَيِّنُ أَنَّ الْعَقْلَ يُوَافِقُهُ. وَيُبَيِّنُ أَنَّ عَقْلِيَّاتِهِمْ الَّتِي عَارَضُوا بِهَا النَّقْلَ بَاطِلَةٌ. وَيُبَيِّنُ أَيْضًا أَنَّ الْعَقْلَ الصَّرِيحَ يُخَالِفُهُمْ. ثُمَّ لَا يَكْفِي أَنَّ الْعَقْلَ يُبْطِلُ مَا عَارَضُوا بِهِ الرَّسُولَ بَلْ يُبَيِّنُ أَنَّ مَا جَعَلُوهُ دَلِيلًا عَلَى إثْبَاتِ الصَّانِعِ إنَّمَا يَدُلُّ عَلَى نَفْيِهِ.
English translation
English translation reviewed against the displayed Arabic by SalafAlSalih editorial preparation (AI-assisted); explanatory additions appear in square brackets or separate notes.
Selected explanation
He thus explains four points: that reason does not contradict it [revelation]; then that reason agrees with it; that the rational arguments with which they opposed transmitted revelation are invalid; and also that clear reason contradicts them. Nor is it sufficient [merely to show] that reason invalidates what they used to oppose the Messenger. Rather, he explains that what they made a proof for affirming the Maker actually points to His negation.
Source and editorial notes
Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā 16/443
مجموع الفتاوى
Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā
Arabic passage checked against the cited volume and printed page. English reviewed against every displayed Arabic paragraph on 14 October 2026.