Evaluation of Sayyid Aḥmad Khān Hindī’s Views About the Reduction of Doctrinal Domains of Religion

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Quran and Hadith Sciences, Faculty of Theology, College of Farabi, University of Tehran. Corresponding author

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic Theology, Shahid Raja’i Campus, Farhangian University, Urmia

Abstract

With the advent and development of Humanism in the West, human societies have increasingly moved away from religious values, and this has led to the reduction of religion domains. In this regard, Sayyid Aḥmad Khān Hindī imitated the West and for the first time in the Islamic world suggested the reduction of the doctrinal domains of religion. Relying on his Mu‘tazila roots,  he only acknowledges the general principles of monotheism, prophethood, and resurrection, and does not believe in the details of these principles that are provided in the Qur’ān and sunna. As Sayyid Aḥmad Khān’s views have led to some challenges in the Islamic scientific circles, especially the scientific community of Iran, the article at hand aims to analyze and criticize his views using a descriptive-analytical approach and intra-religious and inter-religious methods. Based on the analyses made, his viewpoints can be examined in five directions: allegorical nature of Adam’s (a) story and its elements such as angels and Devil; susceptibility of prophets to making mistakes in ordinary issues and personal viewpoints, especially in relation to social issues; consideration of intellectual and experiential bases for revelations that were made onto prophets; consideration of prophets’ miracles as normal acts; and consideration of Paradise and Hell as incomprehensible.

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