In the book Return to Islam, Allamah Mansoor Hashemi Khorasani has said that he does not like philosophy; “because although some of its results are correct, its method is different from the method of intellectuals, and it is more mental and abstract than it is practical for them.” Then what is his opinion on other rational sciences, such as logic and Islamic theology?
Islamic theology is a beneficial science if its purpose is to understand the beliefs of Islam based on proof and to defend them against the doubts of deniers, as indicated by the words of Allah Almighty, where He has said: ﴿ادْعُ إِلَى سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ ۖ وَجَادِلْهُمْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ﴾[1]; “Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good exhortation, and argue with them in the best manner,” and said: ﴿قُلْ هَاتُوا بُرْهَانَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ﴾[2]; “Say: ‘Bring your proof if you are truthful.’” However, if its purpose is to argue through fallacies and playing with terms to defend beliefs that lack proof, then it is a deadly poison, as indicated by the words of Allah Almighty, where He has said: ﴿وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يُجَادِلُ فِي اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَلَا هُدًى وَلَا كِتَابٍ مُنِيرٍ﴾[3]; “And among people are those who argue about Allah without knowledge, guidance, or an enlightening book,” and said: ﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُجَادِلُونَ فِي آيَاتِ اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ سُلْطَانٍ أَتَاهُمْ ۙ إِنْ فِي صُدُورِهِمْ إِلَّا كِبْرٌ مَا هُمْ بِبَالِغِيهِ ۚ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ﴾[4]; “Indeed, those who argue about the signs of Allah without any proof bestowed on them, there is nothing in their hearts but arrogance which they will never achieve. So seek refuge in Allah, for He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing,” and said: ﴿الَّذِينَ يُجَادِلُونَ فِي آيَاتِ اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ سُلْطَانٍ أَتَاهُمْ ۖ كَبُرَ مَقْتًا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَعِنْدَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ۚ كَذَلِكَ يَطْبَعُ اللَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ قَلْبِ مُتَكَبِّرٍ جَبَّارٍ﴾[5]; “Those who argue about the signs of Allah without any proof bestowed on them are greatly hated in the sight of Allah and in the sight of those who believed. This is how Allah seals every arrogant, self-exalting heart.” Therefore, the hadiths and historical accounts that have been narrated in reproaching Islamic theology are understood as referring to this type of Islamic theology, such as those compiled by Abu al-Fadl al-Razi (d. 454 AH) in the book Ahadith Fi Dhamm al-Kalam Wa Ahlih and by Abu Isma‘il al-Harawi (d. 481 AH) in the book Dhamm al-Kalam Wa Ahlih.
This is also the case with logic. Whatever of it assists in understanding the principles of thinking and reasoning, and in not being deceived by fallacies, is beneficial. Anything beyond that is a waste of time and energy, a preoccupation with idle chatter, and considered extremism similar to philosophy, while the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his family, prohibited this with his words: «إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَرِهَ لَكُمْ قِيلَ وَقَالَ، وَكَثْرَةَ السُّؤَالِ، وَإِضَاعَةَ الْمَالِ»[6]; “Allah dislikes for you vain talk, asking too many questions, and wasting wealth,” and it has been narrated that he said: «هَلَكَ الْمُتَنَطِّعُونَ»[7]; “Those who go to extremes are doomed,” three times.