A Criticism of Sorush’s Bases regarding Knowledge of Revelation

The discussion and debate on the essence of the reality of revelation and explanation of how it is received by Prophet Mohammad, has always been noticed in the history of Islam. Nowadays some people such as Abdol-Karim Sorush, greatly affected by the hermeneutical and linguistic theories of Western scholars, have created a serious difference between the ideas of past and recent scholars, doubting the linguistic essence of revelation on the one hand, and suspecting the source of revelation on the other hand. From the beginning of the formation of this idea, there has been considerable criticisms on Sorush’s ideas on the knowledge of revelation, by Howzah and University scholars; yet the basis and origin of these ideas are less discussed. This article extracts and criticizes the basis and substructure of Sorush’s views on the knowledge of revelation, which is the base of religious studies, epistemology, hermeneutics and linguistics. The main criticisms of Sorush’s view are as follows: an ambiguous and vague presentation of the theory; weakness of methodology; confusion between different discussions; a wrong comparison between Islam and other religions and sects; non-justified claims; cognitive relativism.