A Criticism of Allameh Tabataba'i's Exegetic View about the Methods of Calling to Religion in the Verse 125 of Nahl

To explain and prove religious maaref and theological beliefs, one can argue in several ways. These methods are also described in the Holy Quran. One of the important verses that explains the ways of reasoning about divine knowledge and calling to the Lord is the verse 125 of Nahl: "Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good advice and dispute with them in a manner that is best. Indeed your Lord knows best those who stray from His way, and He knows best those who are guided". In this article, using the method of descriptive analysis, Allameh Tabatabai's view on the mentioned verse is discussed. In this honorable verse, three methods of calling to religion and proving the truth of divine teachings are mentioned, which are: wisdom, good preaching and good argument. According to Allameh Tabataba'i, among the methods of reasoning, wisdom is exclusively compatible with argument, just as preaching is compatible with speech and argument with argument. In addition, according to his opinion, the requirement, although it is the dominant purpose of the argument, but it is not the permanent purpose. Therefore, an analogy may be controversial, but not for the purpose of obligation. It seems that wisdom applies to all types of rational reasoning; of course, on the assumption that it is accepted that it is permissible to use fallacies in theological arguments, and that good preaching is true for all types of rational reasoning other than demonstration. In the same way, "jadilhum" is suitable for controversy and, of course, the requirement is inside the nature of controversy.