theory of innate nature, Ṭabāṭabā’ī, supporters of the theory, critics of the theory.

An innovative idea propounded by Ṭabāṭabā’ī concerning the theory of fiṭra (innate nature) is the extension of its functions to Islamic theology, sociology, and epistemology. His students later theorized about the issue in supportive and critical camps: some have admitted the requirements of innate nature besides reason, trying to develop the foundations and consequences of the theory of innate nature, while others adopted a critical approach, reducing innate nature to reason, and thus, ignoring the theory. Supporters include Muṭahharī, Javādī Āmulī, Miṣbāḥ Yazdī, and Ja‘far Subḥānī. They have contributed to the literature with a delineation of the concept of “innate nature,” its different kinds, ways of proving the theory, refinement of the subject-matter of innate nature, human beings have double innate natures, and negation of human essential misery. On the contrary, “fiṭra” is sometimes interpreted as a Qur’anic term for thought and reason, and sometimes as people’s innate tendency to the sacred, which is substantiated by some Western psychologists of religion accepted by some contemporary Shiite intellectuals. Inaccuracy of these critical conceptions is attested by a history study of the background of the theory of innate nature in the Islamic tradition.