Journal of Imamiyyah Studies

Journal of Imamiyyah Studies

The Role of Intellect in Knowing God from the Perspective of Nahj al-Balaghah

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Tahereh Javadniya 1
Mostafa Jafar Tayyari 2
Mohammad Hasan nadem 3
1 PhD Student in Shiite Studies, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Theology, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran
3 Associate Professor, Department of Theology, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran
10.22034/jis.2021.219769.1475
Abstract
Intellect is one of the most important sources of knowledge. Various schools of thought throughout history have put forward different views on intellect. In Nahj al-Balaghah, which is one of the reliable sources among the Shiites, the role of intellect in acquiring religious knowledge is expressed. In this article, the role of intellect in knowing God from the perspective of Nahj al-Balaghah is examined. First, we deal with the concept of intellect and its definition, and then we examine its position and value in Nahj al-Balaghah. In the following, we will examine the extent of the intellect's ability to know God, which includes rational arguments for the existence of God. In the end, we will explore the limitations of the intellect and its inability to surround God's existence. The result of the research is that although the inability of the intellect to surround God's existence is discussed in Nahj al-Balaghah, rational arguments for the existence of God are also made therein.
Keywords
Intellect
Source of Knowledge
Cognition of God
Nahj al-Balaghah
References
The Holy Quran. 2014. Translated & Interpreted by Mohammad Sadegh Sadeghi Tehrani, Qom: Danesh (Science), Third Edition.
Nahj al-Balaghah. 2013. Translate & Explained by Mohammad Dashti, Mashhad Astan Ghods Razawi. [in Farsi]
Ali Akbarzadeh, Hamed; Mohammad Rezayi, Mohammad. 2015. "Naghsh Aghl dar Marefat Dini wa Kasti-hay An (The Role of Intellect in Religious Knowledge and Its Shortcomings)". In: Religious Anthropology, yr. 11, no. 32, pp. 29-48. [in Farsi]
Amedi, Abd al-Wahed ibn Mohammad. 1990. Ghorar al-Hekam wa Dorar al-Kalem (Exalted Aphorisms and Pearls of Speech), Qom: Al-Alamy Foundation for Publications, Second Edition, vol. 2. [in Arabic]
Ashari, Ali. 1980. Resalah Estehsan al-Khoz fi Elm al-Kalam, Heydar Abad: Sharaf al-Din Mohammad. [in Arabic]
Bahrani, Meytham ibn Ali. 1984. Sharh Nahj al-Balaghah, n.p: Book Publishing Office, vol. 3. [in Arabic]
Barghi, Ahmad ibn Mohammad. 1993. Al-Mahasen (The Virtues), Beirut: Islamic Books Institute, vol. 1. [in Arabic]
Hoseyni Shirazi, Mohammad. n.d. Tozih Nahj al-Balaghah (Explanation of Nahj al-Balaghah), Tehran: Shiite Heritage Institute. [in Farsi]
Ibn Babewayh Qomi (Sadugh), Mohammad ibn Ali. 1996. Man la Yahzaroh al-Faghih (The One Who Doesn’t Have Access to a Jurist), Edited by Ali Akbar Ghaffari, Tehran: Sadugh, Second Edition. [in Arabic]
Ibn Dorayd, Mohammad ibn Hasan. 1988. Al-Eshteghagh (Derivation), n.p: n.pub, vol. 2. [in Arabic]
Ibn Fares, Ahmad. 1984. Mojam Maghayis al-Loghah (Dictionary of Comparative Language), Researched by Abd al-Salam Mohammad Harun, Qom: Islamic Dignitaries Library, vol. 4. [in Arabic]
Ibn Manzur, Mohammad ibn Mokarram. 1988. Lesan al-Arab (Language of Arabs), Beirut: Sader Institute, vol. 9. [in Arabic]
Ibn Sideh, Abu al-Hasan. 2000. Al-Mohkam wa al-Mohit al-Azam, Researched by Abd al-Hamid al-Hendawi, Beirut: Scientific Books Institute, vol. 1. [in Arabic]
Javadi Amoli, Abdollah. 1984. Hekmat Nazari wa Amali dar Nahj al-Balaghah (Theoretical and Practical Wisdom in Nahj al-Balaghah), Qom: Islamic Publications Affiliated with Qom Seminary Teachers Association. [in Farsi]
Javadi Amoli, Abdollah. n.d. Tabyin Barahin Ethbat Wojud Khoda (Explanation of the Arguments for the Existence of God), Qom: Esra. [in Farsi]
Javadi, Mohsen. 1997. Dar Amadi bar Khodashenasi Falsafi (An Introduction to Philosophical Theology), Qom: Deputy of Professors and Islamic Teaching Courses, First Edition. [in Farsi]
Johari, Esmail ibn Hammad. 1957. Al-Sehah: Taj al-Loghah wa Sehah al-Arabiyah, Researched by Ahmad Abd al-Ghafur Attar, Beirut: Institute of Knowledge for Millions, vol. 5. [in Arabic]
Khansari (Agha Jamal), Mohammad Hoseyn. 1995. Sharh Ghorar al-Hekam wa Dorar al-Kalem (Explanation of the Book Exalted Aphorisms and Pearls of Speech), Edited by Mir Jalal al-Din Hoseyni Ormawi, Tehran: University of Tehran, Fourth Edition, vol. 1. [in Arabic]
Makarem Shirazi, Naser. 2008. Bargozideh Tafsir Nemuneh (Excerpts from the Book Model Interpretation), Tehran: Islamic Books Institute. [in Farsi]
Makarem Shirazi, Naser. 2008. Payam Emam Amir al-Momenin (AS): Sharh Tazeh wa Jame‘i bar Nahj al-Balghah (Message of Imam Amir al-Momenin (AS): A New and Comprehensive Explanation of Nahj al-Balaghah), Tehran: Islamic Books Institute, vol. 1 & 8. [in Farsi]
Mohammad Rezayi, Mohammad. 2004. Khoda az Negah Emam Ali (AS) (God from the Point of View of Imam Ali (AS)), First Edition. [in Farsi]
Musawi, Seyyed Abbas. 1957. Sharh Nahj al-Balaghah (Explanation of Nahj al-Balaghah), Beirut: The Noble Prophet Institute, Bright Way Institute., vol. 1.
Sadr al-Din Shirazi, Mohammad. 1985. Mafatih al-Ghayb (The Keys of the Unseen), Edited by Mohammad Khajawi, Tehran: Institute of Cultural Studies and Research. [in Arabic]
Safi, Lotfollah, Mohammad. 2007. Elahiyat dar Nahj al-Balaghah (Theology in Nahj al-Balaghah), Qom: Book Garden. [in Farsi]
Saidi Mehr, Mohammad. 1999. Amuzesh Kalam Eslami (Teaching Islamic Theology), Qom: Taha Cultural Institute. [in Farsi]
Tabatabayi, Mohammad Hoseyn. 2005. Al-Mizan fi Tafsir al-Qoran (The Yardstick of the Interpretation of the Quran), Beirut: Al-Alamy Foundation for Publications, Third Edition, vol. 2. [in Arabic]
Tabatabayi, Mohammad Hoseyn. 2006. Tarjomah Tafsir al-Mizan (Translation of the Commentary of al-Mizan), Qom: Islamic Publications Office of Qom Seminary Teachers Association, vol. 19. [in Farsi]
Tabatabayi, Mohammad Kazem. 2015. Mantegh Fahm Hadith (The Logic of Understanding Narrations), Qom: Imam Khomeyni Educational and Research Institute. [in Farsi]