Giving precedence to reason over religious texts

Q: What is your reply to philosophers who give reason preference over religious texts?

A: The function of reason with regard to the Noble Qur'an and the Prophetic Sunnah is to understand and accept them. Reason has no role in religion except for this. There are a lot of religious texts that make it obligatory for Muslims to follow the Noble Qur'an and the Prophetic Sunnah. Also, such texts warn Muslims against (Part No. 1; Page No. 26) offering any opinions or suggestions that may oppose what is mentioned in the Qur'an and the Prophetic Sunnah. Allah (Exalted be He) says, O you who believe! Make not (a decision) in advance before Allâh and His Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم), and fear Allâh. Verily! Allâh is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. He (Glorified be He) says, [Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) to these idolaters (pagan Arabs) of your folk:] Follow what has been sent down unto you from your Lord (the Qur’ân and Prophet Muhammad’s Sunnah), and follow not any Auliyâ’ (protectors and helpers who order you to associate partners in worship with Allâh), besides Him (Allâh). Little do you remember! Also, Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says, Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم to mankind): "If you (really) love Allâh then follow me (i.e. accept Islâmic Monotheism, follow the Qur’ân and the Sunnah), Allâh will love you and forgive you your sins. He (Glorified and Exalted be He) says, "And verily, this (i.e. Allâh’s Commandments mentioned in the above two Verses 151 and 152) is My Straight Path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His Path. This He has ordained for you that you may become Al-Muttaqûn (the pious - see V.2:2)." Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) also says, (And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allâh and His Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم), if you believe in Allâh and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination. He (Exalted be He) says, When it is said to them: "Follow what Allâh has sent down." They say: "Nay! We shall follow what we found our fathers following." (Would they do that!) even though their fathers did not understand anything nor were they guided? There are other Qur'anic Ayahs that order Muslims to follow the revelation sent down from Allah (Exalted be He) and warn against following one's personal desires (Part No. 1; Page No. 27) and all that is dictated by such reason deviating from the right path.Thus, it is not permissible for a person to be fooled by his reason whatever comprehensive understanding and thought he might have; that he takes his reason as a fundamental and the transmitted texts of the Qur'an and the Sunnah as a branch, accepting what is in agreement with reason and rejecting or distorting all that is in disagreement with it. This implies an accusation of the Divine Shari`ah (Law). Also, it undermines the fundamentals and pillars of the Shari`ah, as there are different reasons, natures, and thoughts, and people hardly agree on anything with the exception of necessities and the things that are perceptible through the senses. If the reality is as mentioned, which of all these reasons can be adopted as a fundamental to which people refer when differing on a case and to understand the transmitted texts of the Shari`ah?What a wise opinion was said by Shaykh-ul-Islam, Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah be Merciful to him), "People should know that nothing related to direct reason or the authentic transmitted texts makes it obligatory to oppose the method of the Salaf (righteous predecessors). Those who oppose the Qur'an and the Prophetic Sunnah and the Salaf of this Ummah (nation based on one creed) are in a confused state in which they can not differentiate between right and wrong. Anyone who denies Ru'yah (seeing Allah), claims that reason regards such an act as impossible. Thus, he needs to have another Ta'wil (allegorical interpretation) for the word "Ru'yah". Also, those who regard it as impossible for Allah (Exalted be He) to have Knowledge and Might and to have uncreated speech, say that reason regards such matters as impossible, so they resort to Ta'wil. Moreover, those who deny the resurrection of bodies and real eating and drinking in Paradise claim that reason regards such matters as impossible, so they resort to Ta'wil. Also, those who claim that Allah (Exalted be He) is not seated on the Throne, claim that reason regards it as impossible, thus, they resort to Ta'wil. (Part No. 1; Page No. 28) The evidence on the corruption of opinions offered by those people is that none of them has a fixed rule regarding what is considered impossible by reason. Some of them claim that reason regards as permissible or obligatory what is regarded as impossible by others. So, which of these can be adopted in terms of considering the Qur'an and the Prophetic Sunnah? As said by Imam Malik ibn Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), "How foolish we are to abandon what is revealed to Muhammad (peace be upon him) through Jibril (Gabriel) (peace be upon him) when a person excels others in argument comes to us!"May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.