Quran Invites to Thinking and reasoning:

🔵Quran Invites to Thinking:

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For many people, even Muslims, it would be surprising to find out what strong recommendations are made in Quran about research, thinking over and reasoning, and how the manner of the people who do not use their mind to analysis good and bad are criticised. 

Let us narrate directly from Quran.

The Quran clearly encourages to observe and study the signs of the truth in the whole universe:

We will show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth… (Quran al-Fussilat 41:53)

Say, [O Muhammad], “Travel through the land and observe how He began creation. Then Allah will produce the final creation. Indeed Allah, over all things, is competent.” (Quran al-Ankaboot 29:20)

Similar situations [as yours] have passed on before you, so proceed throughout the earth and observe how the end of those who denied was. (Quran Al-i-Imran 3:137)

Do they not see the birds controlled in the atmosphere of the sky? None holds them up except Allah. Indeed in that are signs for people who believe. (Quran an-Nahl 16:79)

The Quran encourages thinking and pondering. Sometimes in the form of a request:

Say, “I only advise you of one thing – that you stand for Allah, in pairs and individually, and then give thought.” (Quran as-Saba 34:46)

And sometimes by describing the people who give thought and do not simply pass over the signs and instructions around them:

Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding; Those who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], “Our Lord, You did not create this without purpose …” (Quran Al-i-Imran 3:190-191)

Several times the Quran has referred to the people who possess minds and have an understanding of the truth, for example:

There was certainly in their stories a lesson for those who possess minds (Quran Yoosuf 12:111)

In some phrases, the Quran drives the listener to ponder by raising a question: 

Say, “Is the blind equivalent to the seeing? Then will you not give a thought?” (Quran al-Ana’am 6:50)

Sometimes the Quran explains signs in the creation or recounts the instructive story of the former people and wishes the listeners to think over:

… That is the example of the people who denied Our signs. So relate the stories that perhaps they will give thought. (Quran al-Aaraf 7:176)

…even so do We explain the signs in detail for those who think over (Quran Yoonus 10:24)

And it is He who spread the earth and placed therein firmly set mountains and rivers; and from all of the fruits He made therein two mates; He causes the night to cover the day. Indeed in that are signs for people who give thought. (Quran Ar-raad 13:3)

And We revealed to you the message that you may make clear to the people what was sent down to them and that they might give thought. (Quran an-Nahl 16:44)

In some Verses the Quran actually blames the people who do not think over the signs or follow the mainstream type of thinking blindly:

Have they not pondered upon themselves? (Quran ar-Rum 30:8)

And when they are told to follow what Allah has revealed, they respond, “no, we will follow what we found our forefathers doing.” Even though their forefathers did not understand nor were they guided? (Quran al-Baqara 2:170)

🔴Quran Invites to reasoning:

In contrast to the view of some religions that entail their followers to forget reasoning and focus solely on heart, the Quran expresses the importance of reasoning and frequently asks people to use their intellectual power to find the right way. Nearly in seventy verses the words from the root “Taa’qul” meaning “to reason” have been used. The Quran alerts lack of reasoning in a striking statement:

Indeed, the worst of living creatures in the sight of Allah are the deaf and dumb who do not use reason. (Quran al-Anfal 8:22)

It is evident that the Quran does not mean the physically deaf and dumb, but those who do not want to listen to the truth, or those who do not wish to admit the truth when they hear it. It implies that the ears which are unable to listen to the truth and which are only used for listening to absurd and irrational things are deaf. Similarly, the tongue which is merely used to utter nonsense is in fact dumb.

The people, who do not reason, are those who do not make use of their intellect and their capacity of thought. Such people lack one of the main aspects of human beings. The Quran includes them among the beasts and even worse:

 …They have hearts with which they do not understand, they have eyes with which they do not see, and they have ears with which they do not hear. Those are like livestock; rather, they are more astray. It is they who are the heedless. (Quran al-Aaraf 7:179)

The Quran teaches that the uncleanness is in fact due to lack of reasoning:

And it is not for a soul to believe except by permission of Allah, and He will place uncleanness upon those who will not use reason. (Quran Yoonus 10:100)

In several verses, the Quran requests from the people with wrong claims to produce evidence:

…Say, “Bring your proof, if you should be truthful.” (Quran al-Baqarah 2:111)

The Quran do not ban hearing other ideas for the purpose of research; even praises the people who listen to different ideas, analysis and accept the best one:

The people who listen to the speech and follow the best of it; those are the ones Allah has guided, and those are people of understanding. (Quran az-Zumar 39:18)

The Quran states the very principal facts by indicating logics behind them; for instance, the Quran reasons the unity of God by saying:

If there were gods in them [earth and heaven] other than the God, they would surely go to ruin … (Quran al-Anbiya 21:22)

The Quran relates the smart style of Ibrahim to show the idolaters the absurdity of their beliefs:

When the night covered him, he saw a planet, and he said: “This is my Lord.” But when it disappeared he said: “I do not like those that disappear.” So when he saw the moon rising, he said: “This is my Lord.” But when it disappeared he said: “If my Lord does not guide me, then I will be amongst the misguided!” So when he saw the sun rising, he said: “This is my Lord, this is biggest.” But when it disappeared he said: “My people, I am innocent of all that you associate with God.” (Quran al-Ana’am 6:76-79)

In harmony with its enlightening teachings, the Quran always explains the underlying principle behind its rules and guidelines (It should be noted however that explaining the advantages of a command in Quran does not necessarily mean that the purpose of it is limited to what has been mention). For example, the benefits of doing the prayer and fasting are stated in Quran:

… establish the prayer; Indeed, the prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing … (Quran al-Ankaboot 29:45)

O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you so that you may become righteous (Quran al-Baqarah 2:183)

The Quran has spoken about thinking, reasoning and knowledge nearly one thousand times.

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Collected.raf.