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Mulla Sadra

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description Mulla Sadra Overview

Mulla Sadra (1635-1692) was a prominent Persian philosopher and theologian. He developed Transcendent Theosophy, a complex system exploring the nature of reality and God’s relationship to it. His work significantly influenced Islamic thought, particularly in metaphysics and logic. Primarily studied by scholars and students engaged with traditional Islamic philosophy and theology, his writings remain relevant for those investigating questions about existence, knowledge, and divine wisdom.

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What does Mulla Sadra mean by the primacy of existence?

Mulla Sadra argued that existence, not essence, is what is fundamentally real. This doctrine, often called asalat al-wujud, became one of the defining ideas of his 17th-century school, Transcendent Theosophy.

What is Mulla Sadra's Four Journeys?

The Four Journeys, or al-Asfar al-Arba'a, is Mulla Sadra's major philosophical work. It organizes metaphysics, theology, psychology, and spiritual ascent around the image of four journeys of the soul.

How is Mulla Sadra connected to Safavid Iran?

Mulla Sadra lived during the Safavid period and is closely associated with Shiraz and later Qom. His synthesis drew on Avicenna, Suhrawardi, Ibn Arabi, and Shi'i theology.

What is substantial motion in Mulla Sadra's philosophy?

Substantial motion is his claim that change affects the very substance of things, not only their outward qualities. This idea let him describe the soul and the cosmos as dynamically unfolding rather than fixed objects.