Ayatollah Mesbah-Yazdi's Critique on the Foundations of Quran-Based Humanities

Humanities compass a set of sceinces aimed at understanding human beings and describing, explaining, and interpreting individual and social phenomena to guide human actions and interactions. These sciences play a significant role in the destiny of individuals and societies. However, the current version of humanities, based on non-divine foundations, has been inadequate in leading humans towards happiness, especially in underperforming Islamic societies. Therefore, there is a necessity for the production of Islamic humanities, especially Quran-based humanities. One of the significant issues worth investigating in this regard is the credibility of these sciences. Examining the viewpoints of prominent figures in this field contributes to the advancement of this area of study and the resolution of its issues. Ayatollah Mesbah-Yazdi (May His Soul Rest In Peace) has devoted four decades to elucidating the foundations of Islamic humanities and presenting a scientific model for their production. Hence, we analyze this matter from his perspective using a descriptive-analytical method to facilitate the pathway for the production of Islamic humanities. The research findings indicate that, in his viewpoint, the Holy Quran possesses the necessary potential for the production of credible humanities. This is because the Quran, as a divine revelation and a valid source of knowledge, is comprehensive, realistic, internally consistent, universal, and eternal. Therefore, the science derived from the Quran in the realm of humanities is considered valid. Consequently, with the proper method of Quranic theorization, a solid foundation of humanities based on the Quran can be established to complement human societies.