The Status of the Reason in Sayyid Murtada's Views with an Emphasis on Tanzih ol-Anbiya' and Jomal al-'Ilm wa al-'Amal

Sayyid Murtada is among the great Imamiyyah scholars and he was an expert in all the intellectual and tradition-based sciences at his own age. He was outstanding in literature, skills, theology and interpretation. Through a study of Tanzih ol-Anbiya' and Jomal al-'Ilm wa al-'Amal, this article clarifies the position of the reason in his opinions.

The study of the discussion approach taken by Sayyid Murtada and his views and opinions in these two books implies the specific position of the reason for him. In his view, “reflecting” and “thinking” about the religious knowledge is necessary for every obliged individual. He reflects on and interprets the text of the Qur’an through reasoning, and believes that reasoning has priority over any traditions, whether they are sound, well-known, strong or weak.

Sayyid Murtada considers the reason not only as a tool for understanding the religious knowledge, but also as a knowledge source in the religion; and in the absence of the Qur’anic source, widely transmitted conducts and consensus, he appeals to the reason. Of course for him, the point that the reason is a resource does not mean that it can be appealed to independently; it is used as far as it does not run against the religious regulations and the behavior of the infallible prophet and imams. In the case of contradiction, religious regulations have priority.

                    Keywords: Sayyid Murtada, reason, text of the Qur’an, Tanzih ol-Anbia’, Jomal al-‘Ilm wa al-‘Amal