The Role of Reason in the Epistemological System of the Holy Qur’an from the Perspective of Allameh Tabataba’i with Emphasis on Tafsir al-Mizan

Abstract

This study examines the role of reason in the epistemological system of the Holy Qur’an from the perspective of Allameh Tabataba’i, with a particular focus on Tafsir al-Mizan. The research seeks to investigate the position of reason within the conceptual structure of the Qur’an and its connection with concepts such as guidance, morality, faith, and knowledge. The Holy Qur’an, as the Word of God and the revealed scripture of Islam, repeatedly calls upon humankind to engage in rational reflection, contemplation, remembrance, and deliberation. Relying on the philosophical foundations of Transcendent Wisdom (al-hikmah al-muta‘aliyah) and adopting a comprehensive Qur’anic perspective, Allameh Tabataba’i regards reason not merely as an instrument for understanding religion but as a necessary condition for receiving the divine message of revelation. From his standpoint, reason is an internal instrument for the discovery of truth and a complement to divine revelation. Using a descriptive–analytical method, the present article explores this view and examines both its strengths and challenges. The findings of the study indicate that Allameh Tabataba’i’s approach represents a synthesis of philosophical reason and Qur’anic reason, which, in an integrated framework, leads to the unity of reason and revelation. At the same time, criticisms have been raised regarding the difficulty of the language and the dominance of philosophical terminology in his works. This article aims to present an analytical and precise portrayal of rationalism in the Qur’an, centered on Tafsir al-Mizan.