Reason within the Bounds of Bare Religion; According to Abū Ḥāmid Muḥammad Al-Ghazali

Al-Ghazali, while emphasizing the strong connection between reason and religion, believes that some religious beliefs need rational approval in the sense of theoretical reason, but he has considered reason incapable of practical understanding of religion and considers religion more valuable than reason. He believes that reason is a prelude to entering the realm of religion. Therefore, he does not abandon reason altogether and considers it as a prelude to the realm of religion and accepts its role in receiving religious truths. This theologian considers the hand of reason to be short in bringing man to true happiness, and degrades the status of reason to the status of faith. In fact, he considers reason to be the commentator of religion. However, he has a deep connection between reason and religion and considers reason as the best support for religion. Al-Ghazali is only opposed to a rationalist who tries to believe in his own power without basing himself on other methods. Therefore, in this article, the relationship between reason and religion is discussed. The method of this research is a qualitative method using the hermeneutic study of al-Ghazali personality and texts.