Reason as the Source of Knowledge in Nahj al-Balagha

Reason is one of the key sources of knowledge in Islam, discussed in Nahj al-balāgha alongside other epistemological sources such as experience, intuition, and revelation, defining the scope and limits of human understanding. The present study explores how reason is described as a source of knowledge from ʿAlī’s perspective in Nahj al-balāgha. The objective is to classify, analyze, and delineate the boundaries of reason based on ʿAlī’s teachings in this text. The findings indicate that ʿAlī considers reason a crucial source of knowledge but acknowledges its limitations. In various statements, he warns against engaging in matters such as divine decree and predestination, the essence of God, and His names and attributes, as reason is incapable of grasping them and may lead to misguidance. While recognizing reason as an epistemic source, ʿAlī presents revelation as the highest and ultimate source of knowledge in areas beyond the reach of human intellect. This study follows a descriptive-analytical approach and employs a library-based research method.