Nâsır-ı Hüsrev’in Tenasüh Reddiyesi
Nāsir-i Khusraw’s Refutation of Reincarnation

Summary/Abstract: Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examines the criticisms made by Nāsir-i Khusraw regarding the belief in reincarnation. This issue has been a controversial one in the Islamic intellectual tradition. The primary objective of the research is to ascertain the philosophical underpinnings of Nāsir-i Khusraw's rejection of reincarnation and o elucidate the distinctive contributions this rejection made to the intellectual millieu of the era. The objective of the present study is to make a systematic contribution to the existing literature on Islamic philosophy by analysing the philosopher's approach that the belief in reincarnation is incompatible with Islamic doctrine, within the context of metaphysics, the soul and the afterlife. Method: The research is of a qualitative nature and is based on document analysis. The primary source utilised in this study was Nāsir-i Khusraw's work Zād al-Musāfirīn, with addition classical philosophical texts relevant to the subject of transmigration were also consulted. The data were evaluated using both descriptive and conceptual analysis techniques. Findings: The findings reveal that Nāsir-i Khusraw rejected the concept of reincarnation. The philosopher's position is that such a transition is not possible for the soul. In this particular context, Nāsir-i Khusraw advances the argument that the doctrine of reincarnation is incompatible with the tenets of divine justice and individual responsibility. Khusraw claims that resurrection in the afterlife is not physical, but spiritual. The aforementioned individual posits that the concept of true resurrection should not be conceptualized as the reanimation of the body. Rather, it should be conceptualised as the awakening of the soul with the awareness of truth and its orientation towards divine perfection. The reanimation of the body in the hereafter and the soul entering this body is equivalent to reincarnation. The concept of physical resurrection can be regarded as a metaphorical expression appropriate to the level of understanding of the people;. In reality, resurrection is an intellectual and spiritual process. The study concluded that Nāsir-i Khusraw's arguments against reincarnation, when his views on physical or spiritual resurrection in the afterlife are excluded, are consistent with theories in Islamic philosophy that reject reincarnation. Conclusion: It is thought that Nāsir-i Khusraw’s critique of reincarnation may contribute to the preservation of fundamental concepts in Islamic thought, such as the continuity of the soul and individual responsibility. In this respect, Nāsir-i Khusraw's approach can be regarded as a comprehensive refutation on both the philosophical and theological planes. The study can also be considered a contemporary reference in terms of metaphysical issues that have recently come to the fore with discussions on soul migration, reincarnation, and post-death consciousness. It is suggested that future research comparing Nāsir-i Khusraw's rejection of the concept of transmigration with that of philosophers who accept or reject the idea of transmigration will provide further insight into the historical development of anti-transmigration thought in Islamic philosophy.

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