Modern Rationalist Trends and Their Stance on the Sunnah

Abstract

This research addresses modern rationalist trends, their emergence, characteristics, and their stance on the Sunnah. It begins by clarifying the concept of modern rationalist trends and their development, highlighting how these trends approach religious texts through reason. It then explores the relationship between reason and the Sunnah within Islamic thought, emphasizing that there is no conflict between the two. The research proceeds to present the main rationalist objections to the Sunnah and outlines how to respond to these objections using evidence from the Qur'an and the Sunnah. Finally, the research discusses the scientific methodology used to counter these objections and presents its findings, which confirm the compatibility of reason with authentic transmission. Key findings include that those who criticize the Sunnah are far removed from the scientific methodology, and that both the Qur'an and the Sunnah offer clear refutations to these objections. Additionally, many of the criticisms against the Sunnah are based on old doubts that have already been addressed in the past. The recommendations include enhancing education on the fundamentals of faith, encouraging scholars to defend the Sunnah, and safeguarding the youth from doubts through systematic religious education.