Taḥsīn & Taqbīḥ: Reason, Revelation, and the Foundations of Islamic Morality | Sh. Omer Khurshid

Before studying the primary sources of Islamic law—the Qur’an, Sunnah, Ijmāʿ, and Qiyās—classical scholars of uṣūl al-fiqh introduced foundational discussions (mabādiʾ) to prepare students intellectually and methodologically. One of the most profound discussions held is the debate on taḥsīn and taqbīḥ: whether actions are inherently good or evil, or only become so through divine revelation. This lecture explores how Islamic scholarship frames morality between objectivity and subjectivity, rejecting both absolute relativism and rigid rationalism. It explains Islam’s balanced moral framework, where some values are intrinsically fixed (such as tawḥīd), while others depend on divine wisdom, context, and legislation. The discussion then unpacks the three meanings of taḥsīn and taqbīḥ, clarifying that scholarly disagreement centers only on whether the intellect alone can determine moral accountability deserving reward or punishment. The differing positions of the Ashʿarīs, Muʿtazilah, and Māturīdīs are presented clearly, highlighting how each school understands the relationship between reason and revelation. Finally, the lecture shows why this debate matters today—shaping Islamic views on accountability, ethics, divine justice, and responding to modern moral relativism—while preparing students to understand Islamic law as a coherent, divinely guided moral system. This is an excerpt taken from the Musallam Al Thubut classes delivered by Sh. Omer Khurshid at Talweeh Academy. For the entire course, visit: https://talweehacademy.com/courses/mu... For more beneficial content, visit our official website: https://talweehacademy.com/ 🔹 Stay connected with us on social media: Telegram: https://t.me/TalweehAcademy Twitter: https://x.com/Talweeh_Academy Instagram:   / talweeh.academy   📸 Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more inspiring content! Chapters 00:00 Objective vs. Subjective Morality 17:19 Point of contention between Islamic scholars 22:14 Islamic Perspective on Morality 31:39 Understanding Good and Evil: A Rational Perspective 34:51 Diverging Views on Morality: Ash'ari vs. Mu'tazili 40:37 The Role of Intellect in Determining Morality 47:42 Accountability and the Influence of Shari'ah 52:54 Categories of Actions: Objective vs. Subjective Morality #talweehacademy #UsulAlFiqh #TahsīnAndTaqbīḥ #IslamicPhilosophy #IslamicTheology #ReasonAndRevelation #Ashari #Maturidi #Mutazila #IslamicEthics #ShariahPrinciples #FiqhFoundations #Mabadi #ObjectiveMorality #IslamicLaw #Aqidah #IslamicIntellectualHistory #MoralPhilosophy #IlmAlUsul #IslamicStudies #ScholarlyTradition