By: Fida Hussain Bhat
In this age, knowledge has been de-sacralized. It is defined as rational, empirical, and utilitarian—separated from divinity, stripped of its spiritual resonance, and confined to the measurable. Hence, it does not have transformational power any more. Knowledge today is often reduced to data, information, or technique, serving material progress but rarely guiding moral or spiritual transformation. This separation of reason from revelation, intellect from intuition, has created a profound epistemological crisis that instead of guiding people, led to incorrigible detours. Shaheed Murtaza Mutahhari, the Iranian philosopher and martyr, diagnosed this crisis with remarkable clarity. For him, knowledge was never merely about understanding the world; it was ultimately about knowing God. He famously says,” the angel of knowledge is at the service of the giant of lust”.
The Secularization of Knowledge
Modern epistemology tends to equate knowledge with rational deduction or empirical observation. Science and philosophy, in their contemporary forms, often dismiss revelation and intuition as subjective or unverifiable. Intuition and spirituality are relegated to private belief, not public truth. In this desacralized framework, knowledge ceases to be transformative. It no longer elevates the soul or refines ethics; it merely equips humanity with tools for control and consumption. Mutahhari saw this as a dangerous narrowing of the human horizon. He says that in this era the knowledge is more slave to power than in any other age and reducing knowledge to rationality alone is to amputate its deepest dimension—the connection between the knower and the Divine. Knowledge teaches us the way but spirituality teaches us the right turns.
Mutahhari’s Definition of Knowledge
Mutahhari defined knowledge as “the presence of the form of a thing in the mind.” This definition, rooted in classical Islamic philosophy, emphasizes that knowledge is not simply sensory data but a mental representation of reality. Yet Mutahhari went further: true knowledge is not exhausted by concepts or judgments. It is transformative, leading the human being from perception to understanding, from understanding to certainty, and from certainty to faith. At its highest level, knowledge culminates in ma‘rifah—gnosis, or the direct awareness of God. In this sense, knowledge is sacred because it connects the finite human intellect to the infinite Divine reality.
Revelation and Reason: A False Separation
One of Mutahhari’s most important contributions was his insistence that revelation and reason are not contradictory but complementary. Modern thought often pits them against each other: reason is seen as objective and universal, while revelation is dismissed as subjective and particular. Mutahhari rejected this dichotomy. In his work The Unschooled Prophet, he argued that revelation is more authentic than reason because it originates from a source beyond human limitation. Reason, though powerful, is prone to error, bias, and incompleteness. Revelation, by contrast, is divine guidance that corrects and completes the work of reason.
This does not mean Mutahhari dismissed reason. On the contrary, he saw reason as indispensable. But he insisted that reason must be integrated with revelation to reach truth. Revelation without reason risks blind dogmatism; reason without revelation risks arrogance and nihilism. The Prophet, though “unschooled” in the worldly sense, embodied a knowledge that surpassed the greatest philosophers precisely because his source was divine.
Knowledge as Transformation
For Mutahhari, knowledge was never neutral. It was meant to transform the knower. In Islamic epistemology, knowledge is inseparable from action. To know the truth is to live by it. Knowledge that does not lead to ethical refinement or spiritual elevation is incomplete. Mutahhari lamented that modern knowledge, divorced from revelation, has lost this transformative power. It produces specialists and technocrats but not sages or saints. It builds machines but not moral character. It expands horizons outward but shrinks them inward.
In contrast, sacred knowledge—knowledge rooted in revelation—awakens the soul. It leads to humility before God, compassion toward others, and justice in society. It is not merely theoretical but practical, guiding human beings toward their ultimate purpose. Mutahhari’s vision of knowledge was thus holistic: intellectual, ethical, and spiritual.
The Prophet as the Model of Knowledge
Mutahhari’s reflections on the “unschooled prophet” highlight the paradox of divine knowledge. The Prophet Muhammad, though unlettered, became the greatest teacher of humanity. His knowledge did not come from books or schools but from revelation. This, Mutahhari argued, demonstrates that revelation is more authentic than reason. The Prophet’s wisdom transformed societies, liberated the oppressed, and elevated human consciousness. His knowledge was not abstract speculation but lived truth. For Mutahhari, this model shows that true knowledge is inseparable from divine guidance.
The Crisis of Modernity
Mutahhari’s critique resonates deeply in the contemporary world. Knowledge today is abundant but fragmented. We have unprecedented access to information, yet we struggle with meaning. Rational and empirical sciences have advanced, but spiritual and ethical crises persist. The separation of reason from revelation has produced a culture of skepticism, relativism, and despair. Mutahhari’s reminder is urgent: knowledge must be re sacralized. It must reconnect with divinity, intuition, and spirituality. Without this, knowledge risks becoming sterile, serving power rather than truth.
Toward a Sacred Epistemology
Mutahhari’s vision calls for a reintegration of reason and revelation. Rational inquiry must be pursued, but always within the horizon of divine guidance. Revelation must be embraced, but always with the support of reason. Intuition and spirituality must be valued as genuine sources of knowledge. In this sacred epistemology, knowledge regains its transformative power. It becomes not only a tool for survival but a path to salvation. It elevates the human being from mere existence to meaningful existence, from knowing the world to knowing God.
Conclusion
Shaheed Murtaza Mutahhari’s defense of sacred knowledge is a profound response to the modern crisis of desacralization. He reminds us that knowledge is not merely rational or empirical; it is revelational, spiritual, and intuitive. Reason and revelation are not enemies but allies. Knowledge is not neutral but transformative. At its highest level, knowledge means knowing God. In The Unschooled Prophet, Mutahhari insists that revelation is more authentic than reason, because it connects humanity to a source beyond error and limitation. His vision challenges us to re-sacralize knowledge, to restore its ethical and spiritual dimensions, and to rediscover its ultimate purpose: guiding humanity toward truth, justice, and divine proximity.
The writer is a teacher and a columnist. azaadbhat28@gmail.com
