# If reason helps us understand the Quran, does the reasoning of earlier scholars matter too?

*Does reason play a part in understanding revelation, and does the reasoning of earlier scholars count?*

- URL: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/onzjd7xmdhe/s/23/
- Date: 2025-10-18 · Kind: discussion · Transcript tier: machine · Recording: Br Muhammad MFG | Quranist Only Belief - A Dialogue | MindTrap #82 - Mufti Abu Layth (1:55:37–1:58:33)
- Status: latest answer on its topic; general teaching
- Watch from the start of the segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONzjD7XMDhE&t=6937s
- Recording page: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/onzjd7xmdhe/

**Topics:** Reason and revelation; Legal theory and method; Quran-only movement

**Summary (not a quotation; machine-made, unchecked):** Both agree reason is essential to understanding revelation; Mufti Abu Layth adds that by the same logic the reasoning of the Prophet, the Companions and the scholars before us is a valuable reservoir, not his reason alone, and the guest demands the Prophet's own explanation.

## Longer summary

Mufti Abu Layth asks a concluding question: if everything in the Quran is already locked, does reason have any play in understanding it? If it does, then some of the Quran depends on explanation, and whose explanation would be better than that of the Prophet, the Companions and the fuqaha, without removing our own participation. The guest says reason and logic were what enabled Ibrahim to break through the programming of polytheism, after which listening let him understand the curriculum he had to follow, so reason is entirely important and is what drives a person's faith, as even followers of tradition cannot accept what makes no sense to them. Mufti says he too champions the voice of reason, as did many of the Salaf such as Imam Malik, but that if reason has an active dynamic with revelation, his own reason alone is not the ultimate reason to have come since revelation, so the reservoir of understanding of those who went before, beginning with the Prophet teaching revelation and the Companions, is valuable as well. The guest asks him to bring the Prophet's explanation of the Quran.

## Sources and names cited

- Br Muhammad (MFG, MuhammadFromGod channel)
- Imam Malik
- Ibrahim (Abraham)
- salaf

## Transcript (machine tier, 1:55:37–1:58:33)

[1:55:26] the the you don't have to agree with all of them I don't we don't agree with all of them but they highlight rules okay look let's not I don't want to just you know go off stay too much on one point. Look here's an interesting point. This theory that look cuz and sorry the final concluding point is if everything in the Quran is already locked does our reason have some play?

[1:55:52] Would you say that the voice of reason has some play in um in that or is it that it because if you say it does then doesn't it mean that some of the Quran is dependent on an explanation and if so then whose explanation better than that of the the prophet and the Sahaba and the fukah and and including uh us participating as well I'm not removing our particip participation but I'm saying or would you say the Quran does not have any engagement dynamic with the voice of reason in in its understanding.

[1:56:29]  So when it comes down to the understanding of the Quran and the reason reason  reason and logic is the reason why uh uh uh Ibraim was capable of jumping away from polytheism breaking through the programming of poly polytheism. It was reason and logic and then it was the listening the hearing was where he was capable of understanding the curriculum that he had to follow because he broke through the polotheism.

[1:56:58] So reason is 100% more very important as God states in the Quran and is mentioned more. So you're absolutely right that the person's reason is what's driving his faith. Even as people that are following the traditions that they don't think is reason is important if it's not making a reason to them they themselves cannot accept it. So yes has a huge effect  and I'm and I'm very much with championing the voice of reason as were many of the Salaf like Imam Malik right now but if our reason is an active uh

[1:57:35] has an active dynamic with revelation which I agree it does as well then surely by that logic my by that logic my reason alone does not it's not going to be necessarily the the the ultimate reason that has come on earth since revelation. So those who have gone before me that have contributed to the understanding beginning with the best of creation, the prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam teaching us revelation, the Sahabah, uh the the

[1:58:12] everybody,  wouldn't that whole reservoir of their understanding be valuable as well? Bring bring me the explanation of Prophet Muhammad.  Okay, let's take a verse. No,  let's take a verse. I'm asking you for the of the Quran of Prophet Muhammad.

## Cite

Mufti Abu Layth Archive, segment ONzjD7XMDhE/s/23. https://muftiabulayth.org/r/onzjd7xmdhe/s/23/

Not a fatwa: these answers were given to specific people at specific times. Ask a qualified scholar about your own situation.