Sources of Knowledge in Islam: Epistemology of Revelation, Reason, Senses, and Intuition

Abstract

Knowledge in Islam is fundamentally derived from four primary sources: revelation, reason, senses, and intuition. This study is motivated by the fragmented understanding of these sources, which are often treated separately within rational, empirical, and spiritual domains. The research aims to comprehensively analyze the interrelation and integration of these four dimensions in constructing an Islamic epistemology that is holistic and relevant to contemporary intellectual and scientific challenges. Employing a qualitative approach through a library research method, the study examines primary sources such as the Qur’an, hadith, and classical works of Muslim scholars including Al-Farabi, Ibn Sina, Al-Ghazali, and Ibn Arabi, as well as secondary literature consisting of books and peer-reviewed journals published between 2018 and 2025. Data were analyzed using content analysis techniques to identify the contribution of each epistemological source in Islamic thought. The findings indicate that philosophers emphasized reason and empirical observation as rational tools, theologians prioritized revelation as the ultimate and infallible truth, while Sufi scholars valued intuition as a spiritual path to uncover divine reality. Islam harmonizes these perspectives by integrating revelation, reason, senses, and intuition into a unified epistemological system that is rational, empirical, ethical, and spiritual. In conclusion, Islamic epistemology underscores the necessity of harmonizing all sources of knowledge to build an integrated and balanced framework, offering an intellectual foundation capable of addressing moral crises, scientific secularization, and the disintegration of values in the modern era.