Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• Raham Sharaf ¹
• Morteza Hoseinzadeh ²

¹ Associate Professor of Philosophy, University of Zanjan

² Assistant Professor of Philosophy, University of Zanjan

Abstract

This research presents a comparative study of Søren Kierkegaard (from the Christian tradition) and Nasir al-Din al-Tusi (from the Islamic tradition) regarding the classical problem of the relationship between reason and faith. Kierkegaard, emphasizing the paradoxical and personal nature of faith and introducing concepts such as the "leap of faith" and the "teleological suspension of the ethical," defines faith as a realm beyond and sometimes in conflict with reason. From his perspective, genuine faith necessitates the acceptance of paradox (e.g., the Incarnation) and a transcendence of the boundaries of rationality. In contrast, Nasir al-Din al-Tusi, relying on the Islamic philosophical-theological tradition, emphasizes the intrinsic compatibility and harmony between sound reason (`aql) and explicit revelation (naql), considering a unified truth as the product of the collaboration between these two epistemological sources.



Using an analytical-comparative method, this study demonstrates that these fundamental differences stem from theological foundations (paradox in Christianity versus the unity of truth in Islam), philosophical anthropology (emphasis on individuality and choice versus emphasis on the harmony of human faculties), and the social role of religion. Furthermore, critiques can be leveled against the one-sidedness of each approach; including Kierkegaard's susceptibility to specific Christian doctrines and a relative neglect of the rational dimensions of faith, and the potential for al-Tusi's reason-based interpretation to marginalize the existential and personal experience of the believer. Consequently, this research argues that the perspectives of these two thinkers not only represent two major intellectual traditions but can also complement each other to provide a more comprehensive and dynamic understanding of the complex dialectical relationship between reason and faith—an understanding crucial for addressing the challenges of faith in the contemporary world

Keywords

• Reason
• Faith
• Sø؛ ren Kierkegaard
• Nasir al-Din al-Tusi
• Leap of Faith