🌟 Sadr al-Din al-Shirazi: Mulla Sadra’s Legacy in Islamic Philosophy 🏛️

Definition and Meaning

Sadr al-Din al-Shirazi (d. 1641), widely known as Mulla Sadra, was an eminent Iranian philosopher and theologian who synthesized various philosophical traditions including Peripatetics, Illuminationism, mysticism, and Muslim theology. He shifted the central philosophical influence in Shi’i theology from Aristotelianism to Neoplatonic emanationism.

Etymology and Background

• Etymology: “Sadr al-Din” can be translated from Arabic as “Master of the Faith”. “Al-Shirazi” indicates his geographic origin, referring to Shiraz, Iran.
• Cultural Context: Shirazi’s work flourished during the Safavid Empire in Persia, a time when Shii Islam was actively promoted.

Historical Facts and Dates

• Birth: 1571/1572 in Shiraz, Iran.
• Education: Studied in Isfahan under Mir Damad and Baha’ al-Din al-Amili.
• Major Works: His magnum opus is Al-asfar al-arbaah (The Four Journeys), which expounds his philosophy of existence (wujud) and essence (mahiyya).

Philosophical Contributions

Mulla Sadra is most renowned for his doctrine of the Primacy of Existence (Asalat al-Wujud) which argues that existence is the fundamental reality over essence. He incorporated mystical insights from Ibn Arabi, and philosophical reasoning from Ibn Sina (Avicenna) and Suhrawardi.

Cultural Impact

• Persia and Qajar Iran: His teachings were revived during the Qajar dynasty, heavily influencing Iranian philosophical thought.
• Indian Muslim Thought: His works were taught and revered in the intellectual circles of 18th-century Mughal India.
• Shii Iraq: Continued relevance and study in Shii theological schools, particularly those in Najaf and Karbala.

Synonyms and Related Terms

• Synonyms: Mulla Sadra, Islamic Neoplatonist, Persian Philosopher.
• Related Terms: Transcendent Theosophy (al-Hikmah al-Muta’aliyah), Neoplatonism, Primacy of Existence (Asalat al-Wujud).

Exciting Facts

• The Four Journeys (Al-asfar al-arbaah) divides the philosophical quest into four major stages or journeys, symbolizing a mystical and intellectual ascent.
• Innovator: Mulla Sadra’s philosophical approach was seen as revolutionary for its time, garnering both followers and critics.

Quotations

“The world of existence is a single, continuous act of creation, and the essences are nothing but the manifestations of the act of existence.” - Mulla Sadra

“Knowledge is a light that Allah sheds in the hearts of those He loves.” - Bayt of traditional Islamic prayer adapted by Mulla Sadra.

Further Study and Literature

• Primary Sources:

  • Mulla Sadra, Al-asfar al-arbaah (The Four Journeys)
  • Mulla Sadra, Kitab al-Masha’ir (Book of Metaphysical Prehensions)

• Secondary Sources:

  • Henry Corbin, The Life of Mulla Sadra
  • Fazlur Rahman, Islam and Modernity: Transformation of an Intellectual Tradition
  • Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Islamic Philosophy from Its Origin to the Present: Philosophy in the Land of Prophecy

Additional Translations

• Arabic: صدر الدين الشيرازي
• Urdu: صدر الدین شیرازی
• Persian: صدرالدین شیرازی
• Indonesian: Sadr al-Din al-Shirazi

Quizzes

Life’s wisdom lies in understanding the essence within existence. As we explore philosophies ancient and modern, may we grow closer to illumination and truth. 🌟

Warm regards, Rayhan Al-Hajji