Reason and Revelation

Reason are like Eyes and Revelation are the Light. Both working together in applying God's Will in our everyday life. Revelation without reason are like walking in broad daylight but blindfolded while reason without revelation are like walking in the dark with the eyes wide open. The possibility of falling into the drain is certain. Both revelation and reasoning are equally important, one cannot do without the other.


In search of certainty and authenticity of God's Revelation. The best understanding of it's meaning and maximum certainty of its authentication will help us appreciate the Wisdom and proper application behind each revelation.

Authenticity itself is insufficient for Truth, correct understanding and knowledge of the meaning (al-dilalah) of the revelation are equally important.

Qati' literally means Authenticated, Unambiguous, Definitive, Certain. While Zanni means Speculative, Ambiguous or Uncertain, Al Tsubut means the authenticity of it's narration (isnad) while al-dilalah means the texts has more than one meaning.

According to the Islamic Scholars, there are 4 categories of authentication in certainty (credibility) of the meaning and implication of revelation from the Quran and Hadith:

1) Qat'i al-tsubut and Qati al Dilalah - Authenticated and Certain in it's meaning.

- Issues related to Aqidah without which a person cannot be a believer must be proven through this type of text e.g. belief in Allah (tauhid), Angels, Holy Scriptures, Prophets, Afterlife, Pre-destiny and Pre Destination, etc.

Acts that are proven through the this type of text are classified as
fardh/wajib (obligatory), unless proven otherwise. Examples of this type: solat, zakah, hajj, fasting etc. Prohibitions that are proven through this type of text are classified as Haram (prohibited) and major sins, unless proven otherwise.

Examples: killing of innocents, robbery, lying, slandering, adultery, alcohol consumption etc.

2) Qati al-tsubut and Zanni al- Dilalah - Authenticated but not Certain in it's meaning.

- All verses of the Quran is Authentic because it's from a Mutawatir source but not all of the verses in the Quran are certain in meaning and they are ambiguous in its implication and explanation. For example:

"As for the thief, the male and the female, amputate their hands in recompense for what they committed as a deterrent from Allah..."(QS 5:38)

The instruction from this verse is to amputate the hands of the thief. But it did not specified who qualifies as a thief, i e: is the person who instruct another person to steal is consider a thief?

Is taking Rm1 from the pocket of our siblings consider a thief? And this verse did not say to amputate the left hand or right hand or both hands.

3) Zanni al tsubut and Qati al Dilalah - Not Authenticate but Certain in it's meaning.

Hadith that are not categorized as mutawatir like hadith ghorib, hadith aziz and hadith masyhur in the hadith ahad category are deem as Zanni al tsubut (not authenticated, speculative).

Some of hadith ahad which has unambiguous and certain in it's meaning are deem as Qati al Dilalah.

4) Zanni al tsubut and Zanni al Dilalah - Not Authenticate and not Certain in it's meaning.

- Hadith Ahad with shaky foundation (isnad) and speculative or more than one meaning or explanation are considered as Zanni al Dilalah and Zanni al- Dilalah - Not Authenticate and not Certain in it's meaning.

A hadith ahad does not create conviction about its contents even if the reporter is reliable; there is the chances of forgetting, misunderstanding or unintended misquotation on the part of the truthful, reliable reporter.

However, in spite of being a zanni source, 'khabar wahid thiqah' is considered by most of the Islamic Scholars, namely the mujtahids consider it as a valid source for the shari'ah laws because the shari'ah itself has approved it.

Surah al-Hujuraat, verse 49 (QS 6:49) says that if a single report (khabar wahid) comes from an unreliable (fasiq) reporter, then it should not be accepted without further verification.

The impli­cation of this verse is that if a single report comes from a reliable (thiqah) reporter, then accept it without any need for further verification.

Therefore, the mujtahids accept the single hadith (hadith ahad) narrated by a reliable reporter as a source for shari'ah laws because the Qur'an has implicitly approved it.


For example:

Photography - There's a hadith saying "The people who will receive the severest punishment from Allah will be the picture makers." (Narrated by Muslim). There's another hadith that says "Whoever makes a picture in this world will be asked to put life into it on the Day of Resurrection, but he will not be able to do so." (Narrated by Bukhari).


Scholars have different opinions on the word 'picture'(tasweer). Some scholars says it's syirik(association of partners with Allah) for people who make Tasweer(photography, painting, carving images or statues) for the sake of worship. Tasweer was forbidden precisely for the reason that it was a means leading to syirik.


Other scholars says photography are like mirror image and it does not fall under this category. Even some of the scholars who once opposed to photography under the pretext that it was a form of syirik has changed their position on it - as they allowed for their own pictures to be taken for passports, drivers' licenses and published in newspapers. They even allowed for videotaping in lectures and presentations. The change in their view of photography is based on their assessment of the role of photography.


Status of Hadith: - Sahih but Hadith Ahad(less than 3 narrators)
Authenticity and meaning: - Zanni al tsubut and Zanni al-dilalah (unauthentic and uncertain meaning)


When a hadits have more than one meaning, scholars bound to have khilaf(difference of opinions). Therefore, stay cool and keep calm if you are presented with an opinion different from yours. Be wise and choose to agree to disagree in matters like these in order to achieve the bigger maqasid(objective and purpose) in Islam, that's Unity in the Ummah.


Unity can only be achieved if Muslims get away from unnecessary disputes among themselves and stop fueling a feud within the muslim community. Allah says: “ And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah, and be not divided among yourselves”(QS 3:103). Another verse in the Quran says: “fall into no disputes, lest ye lose heart and your power depart.”(QS 8:46)


Wallahu'alam