The Concept of Divine Revelation According to Ibn Sînâ and Al-Ghazālī
A Comparative Analysis
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 3324001 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Ibrahim Halil Erdoğan (0000-0002-8081-1895, Akdeniz University, corresponding author), Sema Eryücel (0000-0001-5583-8204, Akdeniz University) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Volume | 15 |
| Issue | 11 |
| Pages | 1383 |
| Publication date | 2024-11-14 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Religions (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2077-1444 • E-ISSN: 2077-1444 |
| Publisher | MDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT) |
| DOI | 10.3390/rel15111383 |
| OpenAlex | W4404376645 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 8 |
This article examines the conceptions of divine revelation held by two prominent figures in Islamic thought, Ibn Sīnā and Al-Ghazālī, through a comparative lens within the context of metaphysical and epistemological processes. Ibn Sīnā views divine revelation as a metaphysical process occurring at the highest level of intellect. According to him, divine revelation is an abstract reflection of divine knowledge transmitted to the prophet's imaginative faculty through the Active Intellect. This process, explained within a philosophical framework, is grounded in the development of human intellectual capacity. In contrast, Ghazālī defines divine revelation as a mystical experience and considers it a divine encounter beyond the limits of human reason. For Ghazālī, divine revelation manifests as an expression of God's attribute of speech and occurs solely by divine will. Moreover, this experience cannot be fully comprehended by reason. Ghazālī's approach, imbued with Sufi depth, regards divine revelation as an integral part of spiritual growth. This article explores the fundamental similarities and differences between these two thinkers' understandings of divine revelation and metaphysics. By analyzing how Ibn Sīnā's reason-based approach intersects and diverges from Ghazālī's intuition and inspiration-based Sufi approach, this study provides an in-depth examination of how the concept of divine revelation has been shaped within Islamic theology and philosophy, highlighting the contributions of both thinkers to the discourse on divine revelation
Epistemology · Revelation · Theology · Families in Therapy and Culture · Islamic Studies and History · Islamic Thought and Society Studies · Philosophy
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |