In Islam Reason is the basis of Faith.

Islam completely negates the modern and the most popular idea -- advocated by the thinkers of the European Enlightened period -- that faith is not based on reason and therefore faith should be separated from reason. The Quran, on the other hand, places a paramount emphasis on reason in shaping a faith.

The Book is full of verses that allude that the faculty of reason is a gift from God by virtue of which a person can sense truth. The ability to reason is part of “fitra” or true ‘nature’ of a human being which also consists of the spiritual and intuitive abilities that can discern right from wrong and can sense Truth in disposing affairs of life in the right way.

The essence or definition religion for mankind is laid down in sura ar-Rum, verse 30 [30:30] that following the dictate of “fitra” is the One ever true religion [dinul Hanifa] for humanity. By laying down this non-denominational, non-doctrinal, and universal definition of religion for mankind the Quran places a paramount emphasis on reason in shaping faith. The doom or complete failure comes from not using the faculty of reason [aql]: 2:170, 5:58, 7:37 etc. and it is the vilest or unacceptable thing in the sight of God [8-22], hell is assigned for those who do not use reason [67:10] and they are worse than cattle or animals [25:44]. [Please see these and other verses under the title “Not using REASON and intellect lead to ruin”.

On the other hand the importance of applying reason in pursuing the right path and achieving piety is established in the verses listed in the section called “applying Reason [aql] paramount, Miracles undermined”.

By virtue of the empowerment of humans with the faculty of reason God gives them the freedom of choice and hold them accountable before God on the Day of Judgment. Therefore the doctrine of freedom of religion is established by proclaiming “ la iqra ha fiddin” [2:256]. This verse emphatically and unequivocally asserts that there must not be any coercion, manipulation or compulsion in the matters of faith. A mind by virtue of its ability to reason and the spiritual and intuitive capacity should find truth.

These and other verses in the Quran alludes that it is human reasoning that enables one to decipher the Messages inscribed in the reality and understand the Messages given in the Divine Books. The Quran is full of exhortations such as “would you not reason”, “would you not think”, “would you reflect”, “would you not consider” etc.

On the other hand miracles do not need reason to convince. Islam appears to undervalue miracles. The Prophet was not given miracles as were done for the previous Prophets. The reason, I believe, is that the Message God has given to Muhammad [pbuh] is the final state of revelation to mankind that started from prophet Adam [pbuh]. To understand the ultimate phase of revelation God seems to place the power of reason and not the power of miracles to understand and accept His Messages.

Previously the state of human affairs perhaps needed the intervention of miracles to spread the Message. By the time of the Prophet the progress of human intellect came to the state where the Messages could be understood by virtue of reasoning. The most profound Miracle the Prophet received is the Quran itself. The exquisite use of the Arabic language, the unparallel literature with the amazing poetic composition that provides none other than law and the moral code of conduct revealed to a man who did neither read nor write could convince a person with clear mind and reason that this is good enough to place trust and believe. The Quran poses the challenge to human reason and intellect. It is the emphasis on human reason rather than miracles that God seems to place: how this can be denied and ignored unless a mind is corrupt, ignorant and imbecile?