The definition of “religion” within the Islamic philosophical tradition has frequently been influenced by theological presuppositions. The present paper, the first part of a three-phase project on defining religion, aims to critically examine the definitions articulated within this tradition and elucidate their inherent conceptual inconsistencies. The second part will critique the definitions of religion in Western philosophy, while the third part will propose a novel definition.

The selection of thinkers is grounded in the “Islamic philosophical tradition,” encompassing the three major schools of Peripatetic, Illuminationist, and Transcendental Theosophy. Employing a descriptive-analytical approach, this research categorizes these non-reductionist definitions into three modern models: “teleological,” “theological,” and “essentialist.” By distinguishing between specific and common critiques of each definition, this study highlights the structural impasses of these models.

Conversely, the article emphasizes the significance of the “a priori approach” found in some of Allameh Tabatabai’s works—an approach that facilitates independent rational evaluation and provides the necessary foundation for bridging the dichotomy between Islamic philosophy and contemporary religious studies.