Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
What do you say about one who rejects the texts of Qur’an and Sunnah and demands a rational proof instead?
The proof for a Muslim is the Qur’an and Hadith. Once a matter is established through Qur’an and Hadith, it is not permissible to demand a rational proof after that.
Reason (ʿaql) is subordinate to revelation (waḥy), not the other way around — because revelation was sent down by the One who created reason. Revelation is perfect, while reason is limited. Refuting the perfect with the imperfect is not intelligence.
✔ Hafiz al-Dhahabī رحمه الله (748 AH):
“If you see an innovating theologian saying: ‘Leave aside the Qur’an and the āḥād hadith, and bring the intellect,’ then know that he is Abū Jahl. And if you see a monist (waḥdat al-wujūd) Sufi saying: ‘Leave aside transmission and reason, and bring taste and ecstasy,’ then know that he is Iblīs, who has appeared in human form or has infused into him. If you are too weak to confront him, then flee. But if you are strong, wrestle him down, sit on his chest, recite Āyat al-Kursī upon him, and strangle him.”
(سير أعلام النبلاء: 4/472)
Conclusion:
Qur’an and Sunnah are the ultimate proofs in Islam. Demanding rational arguments against them is invalid and a path of misguidance. Reason is honored only when it submits to revelation, not when it challenges it.
◈ Question:
What do you say about one who rejects the texts of Qur’an and Sunnah and demands a rational proof instead?
◈ Answer:
The proof for a Muslim is the Qur’an and Hadith. Once a matter is established through Qur’an and Hadith, it is not permissible to demand a rational proof after that.
Reason (ʿaql) is subordinate to revelation (waḥy), not the other way around — because revelation was sent down by the One who created reason. Revelation is perfect, while reason is limited. Refuting the perfect with the imperfect is not intelligence.
❀ Statement of the Scholars
✔ Hafiz al-Dhahabī رحمه الله (748 AH):
“If you see an innovating theologian saying: ‘Leave aside the Qur’an and the āḥād hadith, and bring the intellect,’ then know that he is Abū Jahl. And if you see a monist (waḥdat al-wujūd) Sufi saying: ‘Leave aside transmission and reason, and bring taste and ecstasy,’ then know that he is Iblīs, who has appeared in human form or has infused into him. If you are too weak to confront him, then flee. But if you are strong, wrestle him down, sit on his chest, recite Āyat al-Kursī upon him, and strangle him.”
(سير أعلام النبلاء: 4/472)
Conclusion:Qur’an and Sunnah are the ultimate proofs in Islam. Demanding rational arguments against them is invalid and a path of misguidance. Reason is honored only when it submits to revelation, not when it challenges it.
