A Methodological Exploration of Reason and Mysticism in Defining Divine Revelation: The Perspectives of Ibn Sīnā and Al-Ghazālī
Eksplorasi Metodologis tentang Akal dan Mistisisme dalam Mendefinisikan Wahyu Ilahi: Perspektif Ibn Sīnā dan Al-Ghazālī
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66236/senarai.2025.1.3.46-68Keywords:
theology, divine revelation, metaphysics, Ibn Sînâ , Avicenna, Al-GhazâlîAbstract
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.
Downloads
References
Ashbrook, James Bruce. 1984. Neurotheology: The working brain and the work of theology. Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science 19: 331–50. [CrossRef]
Bulut, I˙smail. 2022. The Scientific Justification of Revelation. Eskiyeni 47: 605–38. [CrossRef]
Corbin, Henry. 2013. I˙slam Felsefe Tarihi (Bas¸langıçtan I˙bn Rüs¸d’ün Ölümüne). I˙stanbul: I˙letis¸im Yayınları.
Cunningham, Paul Francis. 2011. Are religious experiences really localized within the brain? The promise, challenges, and prospects of neurotheology. The Journal of Mind and Behavior 32: 223–49.
Davidson, Herbert A. 1992. Alfarabi, Avicenna, and Averroes, on Intellect. New York: Oxford University Press. Descartes, Rene. 2008. Meditations on First Philosophy. New York and London: Cambridge University Press
Fowler, J. 1988. The Enlightenment and faith development theory. Journal of Empirical Theology 1: 29–42. [CrossRef] Frank, Richard M. 1994. Al-Ghazali and the Ash‘arite School. Durham: Duke University Press.
Ghaza¯l¯ı, Abu Hamîd. 1980. Deliverance from Error (al-Munqidh min al-Dalâl). Boston: American University Of Beirut. Ghaza¯l¯ı, Abu Hamid. 1993. Ihya Ulum-id-Din. Karachi: Darul Ishaat.
Ghaza¯l¯ı, Abu Hamid. 2000. The Incoherence of the Philosophers. Utah: Brigham Young University Press. Ghaza¯l¯ı, Abu Hâmid. 2004. Al-I˙ktisâd fi’l-I˙’tikâd. Beyrut: Dâru’l-Kütübi’l-I˙lmiyye.
Ghaza¯l¯ı, Abu Hamid. 2006. Mecmûatu Resâili’l-Gazâlî (er-Risaletü’l-Ledüniyye). Kahire: el-Mektebetu’d-Tevfîk. îyye. Griffel, Frank. 2009. Al-Ghazali’s Philosophical Theology. New York: Oxford University Press.
Gutas, Dimitri. 2014. Avicenna and the Aristotelian Tradition. Edited by H. Daiber and A. Akasoy. Leiden and Boston: Brill. I˙bn Bâcceh. 1983. Resâil Felsefiyye. Jordan and Amman: Dâru’s-Sekâfe.
I˙bn Sinâ. 1926. Mecmû’atu Tis’i Resâil fî’l-Hikmeti ve’t-Tabî’iyyât (Risâle fî I˙sbâti’n-Nübüvvât). 2. bs. Kahire: Dâru’l-Arab.
I˙bn Sinâ. 2005. Kitâbu’s¸-S¸ ifâ (The Metaphysics of The Healing). Provo: Brigham Young University Press.
Inati, Shams. 2014. Ibn Sina’s Remarks and Admonitions: Physics and Metaphysics. New York: Columbia University Press.
Jackson, Susan. 2002. On the Boundaries of Theological Tolerance in Islam: Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali’s Faysal al-Tafriqa. New York: Oxford University Press.
James, William. 1985. The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature. New York: Penguin Books.
King, Rolfe. 2008. Obstacles to Divine Revelation: God and the Reorientation of Human Reason. London and New York: Continuum. Kohlberg, Lawrence. 1971. Stages of Moral Development as a Basis for Moral Education. Cambridge: Center for Moral Education, Harvard University.
Newberg, Andrew B. 2018. Neurotheology: How Science Can Enlighten Us About Spirituality. New York: Columbia University Press. Piaget, Jean. 1929. The Child’s Conception of the World. London: Routledge.
Rahman, Fazlul. 1958. Prophecy in Islam: Philosophy and Orthodoxy. London: Allen & Unwin.
Shaffer, David R. 1996. Developmental Psychology: Childhood and Adolescence. Belmont: Thomson Brooks/Cole Publishing Co.
Steven, T. Katz. 1978. Language, Epistemology and Mysticism. In Mysticism and Philosophical Analysis. Edited by Steven T. Katz. New York: Oxford University Press.
Watt, W. Montgomery. 1996. The Faith and Practice of Al-Ghaza¯l¯ı. New Delhi: Kitab Bhavan
Downloads
Published
Versions
- 2026-05-22 (2)
- 2025-05-05 (1)
Issue
Section
Citation Check
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Islamic Heritage and Civilization
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Author Declaration, Copyright, and Licensing
By submitting a manuscript to Senarai: Journal of Islamic Heritage and Civilization, authors confirm that the submission is original, has not been published previously, and is not under consideration by another journal or publisher. The corresponding author confirms that all co-authors have approved the manuscript and agree to its submission. Authors are responsible for obtaining any required institutional approvals and permissions for the use of copyrighted third-party materials.
Authors retain copyright of their work without restriction. By accepting publication, authors grant the journal the right of first publication.
Articles published in Volume 1, Issue 1 through Volume 1, Issue 3 are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) license.
Beginning with Volume 1, Issue 4 and for all subsequent issues, articles are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) license. Under this license, users may copy, distribute, and adapt the work for non-commercial purposes, provided that appropriate credit is given and derivative works are licensed under the same terms.
Authors may deposit, share, and disseminate the published version of their articles through institutional repositories, personal websites, and academic networks, provided that the original publication in Senarai: Journal of Islamic Heritage and Civilization is properly acknowledged.
Detailed information regarding copyright ownership, licensing conditions, and reuse rights is available in the journal’s Copyright Policy.
How to Cite
License & Open Access Agreement
This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) and adheres to the principles of the Budapest Open Access Initiative (BOAI). Unless otherwise specified, please review the journal's open access policy. By clicking “Agree”, you acknowledge and accept these terms.
