Papers by Muhammet Saygı
Ilahiyat Studies
This paper aims to explore the complex relationship between intellect, knowledge, and free will i... more This paper aims to explore the complex relationship between intellect, knowledge, and free will in the context of religious faith “fides” or “īmān”. The paper focuses on the perspectives of two prominent theologians, Thomas Aquinas and Abū al-Muʿīn Nasafī, from the Middle Ages. The study begins by examining the aforementioned theologians’ notions about the nature and fundamental aspects of religious faith. It then explores the specific roles assigned by Aquinas and Nasafī to intellect, knowledge, and free will in the act of faith. The final section of the article presents a comparative analysis of their perspectives, highlighting the similarities, differences, and potential tensions between their positions. The findings of this study suggest that Aquinas’ argument, which asserts that grounding faith in knowledge or evidence undermines human free will, may have certain problematic aspects. According to him, one necessarily assents to the proposition at hand if there is conclusive evi...
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darulfunun ilahiyat
The purpose of this paper is to reveal the prevailing Christian interpretation of religious faith... more The purpose of this paper is to reveal the prevailing Christian interpretation of religious faith during the medieval period, using Augustine’s and Aquinas’ corpora as primary sources. This study is distinct in that it explores the reasoning behind why an act of faith by a Christian is regarded as morally praiseworthy. To this end, the paper begins with a preliminary investigation into the nature of faith as understood by these two thinkers. Following that, the question of whether reason should precede or follow faith will be scrutinised in a theoretical sense. The study will also explore the impact on human free will of God’s intervention in the act of faith, and whether faith can be considered an act of man or of God. The study will also consider whether it is possible to reconcile these perspectives or avoid conflicts between them. The findings of this study show that, according to the Christian interpretation, conclusive reasons cannot be used to justify religious faith, as they undermine or eliminate human free will. If evidence were to exist, it would no longer be a matter of free choice for an individual to believe but rather a matter of necessity. For faith to be considered morally praiseworthy, it must be caused by one’s own free will, not by conclusive evidence.
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Papers, Cilt:21 Sayı1, 2023 by Muhammet Saygı
KADER, 2023
This article aims to investigate the rational arguments presented by Abū al-Muʿīn al-Nasafī for j... more This article aims to investigate the rational arguments presented by Abū al-Muʿīn al-Nasafī for justifying prophecy as a significant phenomenon in human history. The study begins by analysing al-Nasafī’s definition of prophecy, followed by examining its linguistic, philosophical, and theological implications. The possibility and necessity of prophethood are explored from two distinct perspectives: natural reason and divine wisdom. In terms of natural reason (ʿaql), prophethood falls under the category of possibilities (mumkināt), which implies that its existence is not impossible according to reason. When it comes to the divine wisdom of God, prophethood is considered a necessity (wājib), as it would be inconceivable for God to abandon humanity without guidance in the realm of existence. The author presents numerous arguments supporting both categories. For instance, several factors justify the rationale behind the institution of prophecy, such as the limitations of the human mind in acquiring knowledge, the need to express religious knowledge with clarity and precision, and the significance of preserving this knowledge for future generations. Al-Nasafī argues that prophetic reality provides the most plausible explanation for our body of knowledge in various fields such as astronomy, more precisely “science or knowledge of the stars” (al-ʿilm bi al-nujūm), and medical science held by humanity. Moreover, essential skills and crafts passed down from generation to generation, such as farming and dressmaking, that are essential for human survival, can only be attributed to prophetic reality. Al-Nasafī also maintains that the institution of prophecy is the exclusive factor that can adequately explain the presence of various languages throughout the world. According to him, the first human language was taught by a prophet, and all subsequent languages are derived from this original language. The second part of the paper centres on al-Nasafī’s criteria for validating the authenticity of a prophetic assertion. In al-Nasafī’s view, miracles constitute the most critical means by which an individual claiming prophethood can demonstrate their claim. Following, the paper highlights al-Nasafī’s differentiation between magic tricks or illusions executed by skilled magicians and miracles performed by prophets. Although magicians can manipulate and fool their audience using sleight of hand, the allure and mystique surrounding their illusions start to fade away once the causes or mechanics of those illusions become apparent. Conversely, as miracles are investigated and pondered over, they become increasingly precise and powerful. Lastly, as per al-Nasafī, merely having an intellectual understanding or belief in God alone is inadequate to achieve the happiness promised by the religion. Only through the institution of prophethood, one can comprehend the meaning (ḥikma) of our existence or life on Earth and acquire the benefits that pertain to both this world and the afterlife. By offering a thorough analysis of the concept of prophecy and al-Nasafī’s rational arguments in support of it, this paper aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the notion of prophecy and its rational justifications in Islamic thought.
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Papers by Muhammet Saygı
Papers, Cilt:21 Sayı1, 2023 by Muhammet Saygı