The Necessity of Religion as Viewed by Abduh and Tabatabei Ali Rabbani Gulpaygani

  According to Muhammad Abduh it is with reference to the belief of the majority of people in the continuation of life in the posthumous state and the importance of attaining eternal happiness through the necessity of social life and the dissemination of ethical values that manchr('39')s need for religion can be explained. According to Tabatabei man seeks to attain happiness, perfection, and good. So the necessity of social life and law is inevitable for man. He holds that if a law is harmonious with creative order it can provide justice and happiness. This includes the hereafter as well. The success of religion can be assessed in the light of such comprehensibility through rational discussion and historical examination. Key words: the necessity of religion, eternal life, the necessity of social life, Muhammad Abduh, Tabatabai.