Introduction. Contemporary Arabic Thought is often being associated with the special attention to the problem of rationality. Unfortunately, nowadays many of Muslim intellectuals became to follow way of secularism and idea that religion has nothing to do with the pure reason which is the field of science. Others still claim for the returning to the beginnings of Medieval Islamic Philosophy where some visible harmony between the faith and reason was presented. And the third group supports radical ideas and believes that reason is something which is beyond the true goals of God-given law (shari’ah).
In contrast to these groups, the mediate way between all the extremities is presented in the writings of Ustadh Abdessalam Yassine, who always argues for the return to the primary sources of Islam – that is, the Glorious Qur’an and the Prophetic Sunnah.
The idea of “reason” reflected in the Glorious Qur’an by the means of verbs like ‘aqala(“The Cow”: 73), tafakkara (“The Cattle”: 50), ‘alama (“The Repentance”: 93), nouns like ulu l-albab (“The Crowds”: 9) zu hijr (“The Dawn”: 4) and some other words. In the history of Qur’anic Studies in Islam (’ilm at-tafsir) some interpreters made these verses as a starting point of Islamic sciences, imaging the Qur’anic idea of contemplation on the miracles of creation in order to prove the existence of God. Usthadh Abdessalam Yassine, continuing this line of Qur’anic rationality in his works like “Trial of Muslim’s Mind” (Mihnah al-‘Aql al-Muslim, 1995), “The Prophetic Method” (al-Manhaj an-Nabawwi, 1982), “Islam and Modernity” (al-Islam wa l-Hadathah, 2000), “The Council and the Democracy” (Ash-Shura wa d-Dimuqratiyyah, 2003), enters this idea into the social, political and economical context.
Main goal of our study is to explore the meaning of rationality in the works of Ustadh Abdessalam Yassine as the result of his significant contemplations on the verses of the Qur’an. The first aim is to study the concept of reason in the mentioned works of Ustadh Abdessalam Yassine and its relation to the concepts Qur’an. The second aim is to study the social and political benefits of these concepts for the modern Islamic civilization in the way of future reform. Finally, our study is going to show the outstanding significance of Ustadh Abdessalam Yassine in contemporary Islamic thought. The reception of his method in proving the importance of reason from Qur’anic viewpoint seems to be one of the most convincing ideas for the development of Islamic world.
The article consists of six parts. The first part, “Secular challenges to the Qur’an and minhaj an-nabawwi” includes critique of some contemporary views on the Glorious Qur’an which are challenging for the Islamic tradition. The second part, “The Concept of Mind in Ustadh Abdessalam Yassine’s writings”, gives a clear analysis of Abdessalam Yassine’s views on al-‘aql, “the mind” as a response to the Western secularism. The third part, “Abdessalam Yassine’s interpretation of some verses of the Qur’an” explores his proofs and arguments, derived from the Glorious Qur’an. The fourth part, “The descriptive and reflective images of the world in the thought of Abdessalam Yassine”, is dedicated to the perspectives of science in Islam. The fifth part, “The meaning of life in the age of reason”, provides a vision of Abdessalam Yassine on the main problem of modern civilizations. The six part, “Building a harmony between the faith and the reason: project of Abdessalam Yassine” shows the necessity of following the Qur’an and the Prophetic Method to achieve the highest results in building the future for Islam. Finally, conclusions presents some observances concerning the main points of Abdessalam Yassine’s centrality of the Qur’an.
Ustadh Abdessalam Yassine is one of the most influential contemporary Islamic thinkers, who are both original and traditional at once: original from the viewpoint of reforms, and traditional from the perspective of the Qur’an and Sunnah. Nowadays, his speeches, letters and lectures became more and more popular – especially, after the Arab Spring.
The problem of rationality, the Qur’an and Islam in general received a high attention and in-depth observance in the scope of Ustadh Abdessalam Yassine’s thought.
The first point, argued in our study, is that the Prophetic Method contains not only the ideas, but the clear mechanisms of how to make them a real phenomenon of life. The Qur’anic concept of reason (‘aql) plays here a very important role. Only the mind of believer can ask and formulate the questions correctly, finding the solutions in the Qur’an and Sunnah.
The second point, is that in his contemplation on Qur’anic ayats Ustadh Abdessalam Yassine uses the tools of both analytical and thematical commentaries to the Qur’an. His understanding of the Holy Book combines both traditional and contemporary methods of exegetics.
The third point, which has been proved in our study, is the importance of difference between the reflective and descriptive vision of the world. Thus, Islamic mind must understood the processes (how) in reality, and not only substances or reasons alone (why).
The fourth point is related to the vision of Islam and science in thought of Ustadh Abdessalam Yassine. In his writings, faith and reason are combined in accordance with the Glorious Qur’an and the Prophetic Sunnah. This provides a good opportunity for the future development of Islamic sciences.
The fifth point is that Abdessalam Yassine show the main problem of contemporary civilization. That is, the fault in the perceiving of the sense of life. He tries to make this issue interesting for so many people as possible; this is the only way to accept the very Qur’anic truth and to make our future in accordance with the Prophetic Method.
Glory to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessings upon His last Prophet and His noble family.