Methodology of "Philosophical Kalam" in the Thought of Ibn Maytham Bahrani

Science of Kalam since its very dawn has undergone through various stages and modes; traditionalism, dialectical method, rationalism, hermeneutics, philosophical Kalam are considered to be among the most important approaches in the course of evolution of Shia Kalam. Having provided a short introduction of the school of philosophical Kalam, the current essay with a descriptive-analytic method seeks to study the Kalam based approach of Ibn Maytham Bahrani and via a set of different evidence from his works and ideas it proves that Bahrani's chosen path in Kalam is rational-philosophical. Deduction and analysis of the features of philosophical Kalam in the thought of Ibn Haytham is also of importance from the perspective that with the emphasis on rationality, argument, free thinking and critical thought it can provide the scholars of Shia Kalam with a methodological pattern. Introduction Following the emergence of different ideological problems and intellectual disputes among Muslims a science started to take form that due to its inclusion of beliefs it was given various names like "science of beliefs", "science of articles of faith", "jurisprudence the great", and "science of monotheism and divine attributes". But the most renowned title used for this science is Kalam which became popular at least from the second century of Hijrah and it refers to a science that discusses religious beliefs based on a rational and traditional method and not only deduces the beliefs from its sources rather it also explains and proves religious beliefs and answers the doubts and objections of the opponents. The advantage and strength of the aforementioned definitions lies in the fact that it simultaneously contains the subject matter, method and end of the science of Kalam. However, examination and articulation of the science of Kalam and discussion of methodological issues are among the necessary premises of the methodic Kalam. Regardless of the diversity of methods and approaches which have existed in the science of Kalam since its very inception, one can still distinguish between three distinct general approaches in the explanation of ideological issues in the domain of Shia Kalam; first, traditional method and emphasis on religious texts and inattention to reason and its function in the understanding of Kalam issues; second approach is hermeneutical and esoteric method that not only underlines the authority and credit of reason and its role in the acquisition of knowledge