ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a very brief historical outline of some key positions regarding the relationship between faith and reason that were adopted by Muslim thinkers throughout Islamic history. A philosophical investigation of Islam gives priority to reason over revelation in determining the truth of Islamic belief. A critical assessment of Islamic fideism will therefore be important in urging Muslims to give due consideration to philosophical investigations of Islam. The threads of thought that constitute traditionalist fideism in Islam can be found in the works of the four famous Imams of the Sunni tradition: Abu Hanifah, Malik b. Anas, al-Shafi'i and Ahmad Ibn Hanbal. Throughout the history of Western philosophy and its interaction with the Abrahamic religions, much has been said about the legitimacy, role and scope of philosophical reflection about religious matters. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
