Studying the nature of reason, its role and status in understanding and formulation of beliefs as well as the relation of reason with revelation and prophetic Tradition is one of the most important problems in theology (kalām) which gave rise to two competing views of literalism and rationalism among Islamic scholars. Fayḍ Kashani's view is always a matter of debate. For some he belongs to the rationalist current of thought in in virtue of such works of him as Ayn Al-yaqin (literally Fountain of certainty), Anwār Al Hikmah (Lights of Wisdom) and Usul al-Maārif (Principles of Doctrines) all of which were written in rationalist vein. For others, however, he was regarded as belonging to literalist tradition arguing his approach in other works by such as Al-Maārif, Wāfi, Shāfi, Nawādir Al-akhbār in harmony with literalism. The present article is an attempt to support his rationalistic position in the doctrinal domain on the basis of extant works of this eleventh century Muslim thinker.
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