A Logical Analysis of ‘Alī’s Theological Arguments in Nahj al-Balāgha

In Nahj al-Balāgha, Imām ‘Alī particularly considered knowledge of God and how it is acquired. In his view, it is impossible to grasp the core of God’s essence and attributes. However, one might know God through knowledge by presence as well as knowledge by acquisition of His attributes, although such knowledge varies with different abilities and dispositions of people. Knowledge by presence is occasioned by one’s innate nature or fiṭra, and knowledge by acquisition is facilitated by proofs such as arguments from motion, incipience, and fine-tuning as well as teleological and causal arguments. In the present paper, we overview and analyze statements by Amīr al-Mu’minīn ‘Alī concerning issues of theology, uncovering their ordinary logical forms. The Imam has presented arguments for the existence of God that help his audience to arrive at the conclusion just by understanding the premises. Such a method might reveal the crucial place of reason and innate understanding in knowledge of God in Imām ‘Alī’s words, and can pave the path for novel research about Nahj al-Balāgha. The research shows that arguments for God as presented in Nahj al-Balāgha are both cogent in their contents and firm in their logical forms.