REASON AND REVELATION ACCORDING TO NURCHOLIS MADJID AND IBN SINA

Abstract

This research aims to understand the meaning of reason according to Nurcholis Madjid by using the epistemological scheme of Ibn Sina's Peripatetic philosophy. The problem studied is the definition of reason and its limitations from the point of view of Nurcholis Madjid. The research method used is a literature study with the type of character thought study. Data analysis was carried out by descriptive and heuristic methods.This study shows two things. First, the definition of reason according to Nurcholis Madjid is the activity of thinking. Second, Nurcholis argues that because humans were created by Allah to be caliphs on earth, Allah provides means to humans in the form of intellect. However, since reason is limited to universal things, man is also given guidance from Allah through His messenger, which is revelation.The limitations of reason lie in the realm of science, while in the realm of man's knowledge of God, man must return to revelation. Therefore, reason is said to be limited because it cannot understand God. This view, when viewed based on the epistemology of Ibn Sina's Peripatetic, shows two things. First, the definition of reason according to Nurcholis Madjid is quite adequate, because reason is a part of the typical human soul, which is not possessed by the souls of plants and animals. Second, because Ibn Sina uses the term reason not limited to humans alone, in the humanitarian aspect, Nurcholis' argument is quite adequate. However, in the aspect of divinity, Nurcholis's argument is inadequate, because Allah in Ibn Sina's view is the first intellect, which in the beginning has the activity of thinking, that is, thinking of Himself, which then gives birth to the second intellect. Thus, the limits of reason, according to Nurcholis Madjid, are considered inadequate only in the divine aspect in the epistemology of Peripatetic philosophy.