Role of Aql

12.2 Role of Aql

To some, the subject of the role of intellect in Islam seems quite bizarre. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness about lslam yields such an understanding. Through researching the Quran and the life of the Prophet (saaw) it is apparent that much emphasis was placed on this subject by the revelation. It is natural for the revelation to address this subject because, in order to formulate a specific behavior, the individual’s way of thinking must be addressed. When the revelation addressed this crucial issue it did so in such an effective manner that it took only one Ayah for the entire society to abstain from alcohol.

Prophet Muhammad (saaw) not only clarified matters of law to the people that dealt with their actions but also directed their intellect and clarified its limitation.

This is evident when the sun eclipsed during the time of the Prophet (saaw) on the same day that his (saaw) son Ibrahim died. When people suggested that the sun eclipsed

because of the Prophet’s (saaw) son’s death, he (saaw) told them that the sun and the moon are signs from Allah (swt). They do not eclipse for someone’s death or birth; therefore there is no relationship between the two events.

This method of directing of the intellect and sound principles of reason were at work when the Prophet (saaw) cleared the misunderstanding of a group of people when they said that rain occurs due to the influence of the star, telling them that the Lord of the star, Allah (swt), causes the rain to occur. These are just two of the many examples addressing the role of the intellect.

Having understood that Islam directed the people’s intellect, the next question which arises is what exactly is the position of the intellect in Islam?

In Islam, the role played by the intellect is a very significant one. The intellect is used to understand and accept the Islamic Aqeedah (doctrine) and is the only acceptable method to enter Islam. Islam compels the use of the intellect to believe in Allah (swt) and forbids imitation (Taqleed) in Aqeedah. There is no concept of blind faith as it occurs in Christianity and other religions.

Islam provides rational evidences to prove the existence and the One-ness of Allah (swt), the Prophethood of Mohammed (saaw), and that the Quran is the word of Allah (swt). Thus the foundation of Islam is built upon conviction through the intellect. Through this sound proof, the intellect and the heart are satisfied and are devoid of any blind faith and superstitions.

Since the authenticity of the Quran and Prophethood of Muhammad (saaw) is built upon the intellect, the belief in beings such as the angels and Jinns, or descriptions of heaven

and hell are based upon the authenticity of the Quran and the Prophethood of Mohammed (saaw).

Once the Aqeedah of Islam is arrived at intellectually, the intellect then plays a different role. It plays a role of only understanding the issue and the revelation and then applying the revelation to the issue. The intellect uses the revelation as a source to derive rulings on any issue, from Wudhu (ablution) to the foreign policy of the Islamic State.

It is important to realize that the intellect cannot be used to conjure up a reason for a ruling, unless the reason is mentioned in the text. Claiming a reason for any ruling implies that we can comprehend what Allah (swt) intended for that ruling, which is impossible. For example, we cannot use the intellect to infer a reason for why we perform Wudhu. The intellect would probably lead one to assume that it is for the sake of personal hygiene.

However, if water is not accessible then we are supposed to do Tayamum (a series of actions requiring one to wipe themselves with dust). If the reasoning behind Wudhu is

cleanliness, then why would Allah (swt) order us to wipe ourselves with dust if water is inaccessible?

The proper use of the intellect can be seen in the actions of the Sahabah (raa). During the battle of Badr the Prophet (saaw) had stationed the army at a certain location. Khabab bin ai-Mundthir (ra) inquired from the Prophet (saaw) whether his (saaw)’s decision was based on the revelation or a tactical decision?

Prophet (saaw) replied by saying that it was a tactical decision. Upon this Khabab bin al- Mundthir said that the location was a wrong one. From this incident we can see that the Sahabah (raa) recognized the fine line between the revelation and the intellect. They never used their thinking to pass judgments on the revelation.

In other ideologies the intellect plays a role which it cannot fulfill. In Western democracies, intellect is given the unlimited role of organizing mans’ life; however, it is

subject to biases, disparity, differences, contra-dictions, and the influence of the environment (lobbyists). Consequently, man-made systems suffer from these same biases, disparity, differences, contradictions, and influence. Whereas the intellect in Islam is used not to legislate laws but to understand the revelation and to apply it.

With regard to the intellect, Muslims need to have the same awareness of the fine line between revelation and AqI that Khabab bin al-Mundthir(ra) had. Unfortunately,

Muslims have begun to exercise their intellect to pass judgments on the rulings given to us by Allah (swt), e.g. Salat is good exercise, Fasting is good for the body, etc. Furthermore, in some cases Muslims have started to prefer the ruling of man- made laws to those of the Creator of the Universe, Allah (swt).