The list of rationalist Shia scholars and proponents of the higher rational sciences is extensive, spanning from prominent companions of the Imams (peace be upon them) to contemporary thinkers.
“Among them are Hisham ibn al-Hakam, Jabir ibn Hayyan, Abu Yusuf al-Kindi, the Banu Nawbakht (such as al-Fadl ibn Abi Sahl ibn Nawbakht and al-Hasan ibn Musa al-Nawbakhti), Al-Farabi, Abu Zayd al-Balkhi, Abu Bakr al-Razi, al-Hamdani al-San’ani, Miskawayh, Al-Biruni, Qutb al-Din al-Razi, Jalal al-Din al-Dawani, Ghiyath al-Din al-Kashani, Fayd al-Kashani, Abd al-Razzaq al-Lahiji [1], and others.”
Abu Yusuf al-Kindi [2] was the first person to formulate a logical proof against infinite regress and the notion of the infinite (al-latanahi). He presented this argument in his treatises Al-Falsafa al-Ula (First Philosophy) and Risalatuhu ila Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Khurasani fi Idah Tanahi al-Aalam (His Letter to Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Khurasani on Clarifying the Finitude of the Universe).
Hisham ibn al-Hakam interpreted motion as falling under the category of action (fi’l), rest as the absence of action, and motion as belonging to the category of location/position (ayn). Similarly, most philosophers categorize motion under ayn. Abu Talib Abdallah ibn al-Jilani al-Isfahani (d. 1127 AH) authored a treatise on motion, as motion (al-haraka) is a deeply philosophical subject.
The giants of Shia philosophy are not limited to these figures alone. Examining the biographical records and biographical dictionaries (tarajim) of prominent figures in Shia philosophy sheds light on many important points:
- Ibn Sina (Avicenna): Author of Al-Shifa (The Book of Healing), which covers logic, natural philosophy, theology (metaphysics), and mathematics. In certain passages, he points to his theological and political stance: “The succession [of the Prophet] by explicit designation (nass) is more correct, for this does not lead to factionalism, turmoil, and disagreement.” [3] That is, the succession of the Holy Prophet (PBUH & HP) was determined by his own explicit designation—rather than a small gathering at Saqifah—and this approach prevents division and conflict.
His other major work is Al-Isharat wa’l-Tanbihat (Pointers and Reminders), which covers logic, natural philosophy, and theology, and is widely considered his finest and most definitive philosophical work.
- Khwaja Nasir al-Din Tusi
- Shaykh Kamal al-Din Maytham ibn Ali ibn Maytham al-Bahrani: Widely known for his commentary on Nahj al-Balagha. Another of his published works is Qawa’id al-Maram fi ‘Ilm al-Kalam.
- Allamah al-Hilli: Author of Al-Jawhar al-Nadid fi Sharh Mantiq al-Tajrid, Kashf al-Murad fi ‘Ilm al-Kalam, and other valuable, enduring works in logic, theology, philosophy, and nearly every branch of Islamic sciences.
- Qutb al-Din al-Razi: A student of Allamah al-Hilli and the teacher of the First Martyr (al-Shahid al-Awwal). He authored Sharh al-Matali’ fi al-Mantiq and Al-Muhakamat bayna al-Alimayn al-Razi wa Nasir al-Din al-Tusi.
- Fadil al-Miqdad: Author of Nahj al-Mustarshidin fi ‘Ilm al-Kalam.
- Shaykh Baha’ al-Din al-Amili (Shaykh Baha’i)
- Sayyid Muhammad Baqir Damad: Commonly known as Mir Damad, and the teacher of Sadr al-Mutallihin al-Shirazi (Mulla Sadra).
This intellectual tradition continues to thrive among Shia scholars to this day, and Shiism is perhaps the only school of thought that robustly champions reason and argumentation while holding an unwavering belief in them. Reason is a divine proof that serves as a guiding light for humanity. The emphasis of the martyred leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, has likewise always been on reinforcing rationalism and adhering firmly to reasoning and logical proof alongside religious standards and criteria.
[1] Shaykh Abdallah Ne’mah, Fلاسفہ الشیعه (The Philosophers of Shia), p. 31.
[2] Died 260 AH.
[3] Ibn Sina, Al-Shifa, Theology Section, Vol. 2, p. 564, in the chapter on Prophethood.
