The Misunderstanding of "Against Reason": Differentiating Between the Impossible and the Improbable
In contemporary educated and secular liberal circles, the term "against reason" (خلافِ عقل) has gained such rapid popularity that religious and Shariah-based concepts are often dismissed outright under this label. This attitude reveals a lack of deep understanding and a tendency toward unnecessary questioning. Many individuals demand evidence for everything without comprehending the actual meaning and requirements of evidence.
It is essential first to understand the distinction between "محال" (impossible) and "مستبعد" (improbable or unusual):
Many people mistakenly conflate these two terms, assuming that what is against habit is also against reason. However, there is a clear distinction:
People often declare things as "against reason" simply because they do not fall within their personal experience or observation — such as the existence of jinn, angels, or even God. However, none of these concepts contradict reason; they may only be against habit, as they do not feature in daily human experiences. Confusing what is unusual with what is illogical is a major conceptual error — a mistake frequently made by the educated and secular class.
If someone claims that a man's height was one hundred feet, it may sound strange, but no rational argument can declare it impossible. It is unusual — not illogical.
Similarly, if someone talks about a future technology, such as flying cars, it may seem odd because it hasn't yet been invented, but it cannot be labeled as against reason since it is clearly possible.
❶ محال (Impossible): That which is logically impossible.
❷ مستبعد (Improbable): That which is unusual but possible.
❸ Failing to distinguish between the two is a major conceptual error.
❹ The educated class must understand this distinction to avoid rejecting every new or unfamiliar concept as "against reason."
In contemporary educated and secular liberal circles, the term "against reason" (خلافِ عقل) has gained such rapid popularity that religious and Shariah-based concepts are often dismissed outright under this label. This attitude reveals a lack of deep understanding and a tendency toward unnecessary questioning. Many individuals demand evidence for everything without comprehending the actual meaning and requirements of evidence.
❖ Difference Between
It is essential first to understand the distinction between "محال" (impossible) and "مستبعد" (improbable or unusual):
- محال (Impossible):
Refers to something that is inherently impossible according to reason — that which cannot possibly occur and for which intellect provides clear refutation. For instance, the coexistence of day and night at the same time is محال because the simultaneous presence of two opposites violates fundamental logical principles. - مستبعد (Improbable):
Refers to something that is unusual or against habitual norms — that which may not commonly occur but remains possible. For example, a man being one hundred feet tall is certainly against custom and unheard of, but it is incorrect to label it as against reason, because its occurrence is within the realm of possibility.
❖ Difference Between
Many people mistakenly conflate these two terms, assuming that what is against habit is also against reason. However, there is a clear distinction:
- Against Reason (خلافِ عقل):
Refers to something whose impossibility is backed by rational argument — such as saying "one is equal to two." This is logically invalid, and a clear rational objection exists against it. - Against Habit (خلافِ عادت):
Refers to something that seems strange or unfamiliar, but for which no logical objection can be raised against its possibility. For instance, when trains began operating without horses or oxen, or airplanes started flying through the air, these phenomena seemed bizarre at first — yet they were not against reason, since they were within the realm of possibility.
❖ Clarification
People often declare things as "against reason" simply because they do not fall within their personal experience or observation — such as the existence of jinn, angels, or even God. However, none of these concepts contradict reason; they may only be against habit, as they do not feature in daily human experiences. Confusing what is unusual with what is illogical is a major conceptual error — a mistake frequently made by the educated and secular class.
❖ Example
If someone claims that a man's height was one hundred feet, it may sound strange, but no rational argument can declare it impossible. It is unusual — not illogical.
Similarly, if someone talks about a future technology, such as flying cars, it may seem odd because it hasn't yet been invented, but it cannot be labeled as against reason since it is clearly possible.
✿ Summary
❶ محال (Impossible): That which is logically impossible.
❷ مستبعد (Improbable): That which is unusual but possible.
❸ Failing to distinguish between the two is a major conceptual error.
❹ The educated class must understand this distinction to avoid rejecting every new or unfamiliar concept as "against reason."
