A Methodological Exploration of Reason and Mysticism in Defining Divine Revelation: The Perspectives of Ibn Sīnā and Al-Ghazālī
Erdogan Ibrahim
Senarai: Journal of Islamic Heritage and Civilization May 5, 2025 DOI: 10.66236/senarai.2025.1.3.46-68 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Mysticism |
| Key points | Argues that Ibn Sīnā and Al-Ghazālī hold contrasting conceptions of divine revelation: Ibn Sīnā frames it as a metaphysical, intellect-centered process mediated by the Active Intellect, while Al-Ghazālī frames it as a mystical divine encounter beyond reason, occurring through divine volition alone. The article contends that comparing these approaches illuminates the evolution of revelation in Islamic theology and philosophy. |
Abstract
This article delves into the contrasting conceptions of divine revelation as articulated by two significant figures in Islamic thought, Ibn Sīnā and Al-Ghazālī, within the framework of metaphysical and epistemological processes. Ibn Sīnā views divine revelation as a metaphysical process situated at the apex of intellect. He posits it as an abstract reflection of divine knowledge conveyed to the prophet's imaginative faculty through the Active Intellect, a process philosophically grounded in the maturation of human intellectual capacity. Conversely, Al-Ghazālī understands divine revelation as a mystical experience, a divine encounter that surpasses the boundaries of human reason. For Al-Ghazālī, divine revelation manifests as an expression of God's speech, occurring solely through divine volition and inherently resistant to full rational comprehension. His Sufi-oriented perspective considers divine revelation integral to spiritual development. Through a comparative analysis of these two thinkers' understandings of divine revelation and metaphysics examining the points of convergence and divergence between Ibn Sīnā's rational approach and Al-Ghazālī's intuitive and inspirational Sufi approach this study offers an in-depth exploration of the evolution of the concept of divine revelation within Islamic theology and philosophy, underscoring the distinct contributions of each thinker to this intellectual tradition.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on mysticism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The mystical mind: probing the biology of religious experience | 2000 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Religious and Mystical Experiences as Artifacts of Temporal Lobe Function: A General Hypothesis | 1983 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| The Problem of Pure Consciousness: Mysticism and Philosophy | 1993 | Edited collection of essays | |
| Irreducible Mind: Toward a Psychology for the 21st Century | 2020 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mysticism and schizophrenia: A phenomenological exploration of the structure of consciousness in the schizophrenia spectrum disorders. | 2016 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |