This paper deals with Motahhari's rational reading of the Quranic story of Moses(pbuh) and Al-Khidr(pbuh). The rational aspect of this reading are using the philosophical concept of context in analyzing the behavior of the characters in the story, the rational and non-mystical analysis of the behavior ...
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This paper deals with Motahhari's rational reading of the Quranic story of Moses(pbuh) and Al-Khidr(pbuh). The rational aspect of this reading are using the philosophical concept of context in analyzing the behavior of the characters in the story, the rational and non-mystical analysis of the behavior of Moses(pbuh) and the implications of this reading in critical thinking.In Motahhari, intellectual contexts of the characters of the story are incommensurable and they are in Equivalence of Reasons. Through the opportunity to look through the lens of Moses(pbuh), Motahhari sees the behavior of Moses(pbuh) as justified. Moses(pbuh) transforms from a passive imitator, in some readings, to a differentiative follower in the light of common sense. Educational dimensions of the justified behavior of Moses(pbuh), significantly increases the educational functions of the whole story in comparison with other readings. The educational significance of this reading becomes clear when we know that most human beings, according to Motahhari, live in the three-dimensional world of Moses(pbuh) and not the four-dimensional world of Al-Khidr(pbuh). Humans are expert in very few realms, and in many realms they are imitators; Therefore, not only ontologically and cognitive, but also psychologically, they are closer to intellectual and biological context of Moses(pbuh).
