The Meaning and Basis of Rationalism Adopted by Mutazilites in Their Interpretation of the Quran

Mu''tazilite thinkers use a rational approach to understanding religious texts and interpreting Quranic verses. Using a «descriptive-analytical method»، the present paper investigates the meaning and basis of rationalism adopted by Mu''tazilite in their interpretation of the Quran. «Mu''tazilite rationalism is that intellect priority over other proofs comes first in interpreting the Quran and that the soundness of Shari''ah statements and understanding of their purpose requires intellectual proofs. Accordingly، Mu''tazilites reject literalism in understanding religious texts and the Quran، and emphasize on the central role of intellect and intellectual objects of perception in the interpretation of the Quran. They regard the human nature of conventions and their position in language and recognizing the attributes of divine unity and justice as a condition for understanding the speaker''s perception of religious knowledge. The bases of Mu''tazilite rationalism in interpretation include temporality of the Quran، interpretability of the Quran، instructive and emphatic nature of Quranic statements about divine unity and justice and conformity between the judgment of intellect and Quranic assertions.