1     Mulla Sadra's Life, works, and Philosophy

 BY: Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Khanienei

Translated by: Dr.R.Khoii.

• Abstracts:

3     The Features of Effusion Existential Activity in Mulla Sadra's Transcendent Theosophy

4     Mulla Sadra's Systemic Netwok of Ontology and its Imapacts on Modern Physics

5     The Value of Sense Perception

5     The theory of Correspondence

6     Suhrawardi's Innovations Concerning the Theory of "Emanation"

6     The Faculties of Internal Perception in Ibn Sina and Mulla Sadra

7     Some Deliberations on the Issue of Universals in Mnlla Sadra

 

Mulla Sadra's Life, works, and Philosophy

Prof.S.M, Khamenei

At the close of the book of Mulla Sadra's life, the first book of his biography conies to an end, and now it is time to review his spiritual life.

To consider the few decades of bodily life as real life originates from shortsightedness and the defects of unscientific cosmology which is also given the names of sensantionalism, empiricism, and positivism.

Worldly life is only a trivial part of man's life. According to the Holy Quran, the real life starts after death and at the so-called stage of the Hereafter (akhirat), "Lo! the home ot hereafter - that is life..." (the Holy Quran; 29: 64).

Our rich mystical literature introduces death as rebirth and real life. There is a sentence stating: "I will turn to that which cannot be imagined." It is also said that the character of highly elevated wen who are alive in the light of their love for God will be better known after their death. Therefore, we should consider this book and what comes after it, not what was written and told before, as representing the main life story of Mulla Sadra, since his real life passed and still goes on in people's hearts and memories. In this regard, Hafiz says:

"Never dies one whose heart is alive because of love;

"Our eternity is recorded in the book of the world."

After the apparent and corporeal death of Mulla Sadra in Basra, thousands of Mulla Sadra's have been bom in people's hearts. Superficeal observers assume that death throws a veil on people and prevents their presence in this world; while it is in fact the superficial existence of well-known people which is a barrier between their real selves and people's understanding.

One needs sharp eyes and a high level of intelligence to be able to know the people of God during their life and to see their real faces beyond the dust of their own pride, selfishness, and suspicions. That is why those men who, in spite of their apparant presene, are not seen and are hidden from the eyes of strangers should be given the name of "invisible men".

People's regrets and sorrows after the apparant death of great men indicate the fallacy of their assumptions during their life time, and also the reality of the above - mentioned points after their death.

Our wise sage, Sadr al-Muta'allihin wa'l Mutikamilin, lived and died in this way, too, since his living was like death and his death was like living. As the saying goes:

"The time he was drudging was considered as his life."

That is why the humble writer of this book decided to write the biography of this great sage. However, this is the story of a life which has not come to an end even after about 600 years and will continue for ever to the Ressurection day.

In order to compose the story of Mulla Sadra's eternal life, it is first necessary to review the short history of his corporeal life once more in brief. A chronicle of his life is also presented below for more convenience (as mentioned in the first volume of this book and according to Mulla Sadra's writings, his birth date was between 979 to 980 A.H., 1572 AD, and his death was, according a widespread belief, in 1050 A.H., 1632 AD).

Neither is Man a material being to perish with the annihilation of his matter or body nor are his real and spiritual interests so that his death causes his absolute separation from the world.

One's children and Family guarantee the continuity of his generation, and his good name and good works and deeds determine the presence of his name and identity in the society and history. The ways one has served the society and also his connections with prominent social institutions provide a link between his real being and the society. The character of such a person will become a part of the history of every nation, and the ancient history of the world will devote one page of its memorandum to his life and his name will be recorded there for ever.

 

979 

The birth date of Sadr al- Din Muhammad Shirazi

1020

 

980

 

1021 

The birth of Ibrahim, Mulla Sadra's son- his residence in Qum (probably) 

981 

 

1022 

writing the commentary 01 Ayat al-Kursi 

982

 

1023 

 

983

 

1024

The birth of Zubaydah, Mulla Sadra's daughter

984

Mulla Sadra's birth as reported by some historians

1025

 

985

The reign of Muhammad Shah Khudabandah Safavi, moving from Shiraz to Qazwin, The probable moving of Mulla Sadra's family (Qawami)

1026

 

986

 

1027

Fayd's trip to Shiraz

987

 

1028

 

988

Mir Damad's trip to Kashan, Mashhad, and Isfahan, Shah 'Abbass'sfighting with Uzbecks in Khurasan

1029

Fayd's trip to Isfahan, aid studying under Shaykh Baha

989

 

1030

Shaykh Baha' al-Din 'Am ill's death- writing commentaries on the noble chapaters al-Nur, al-Tahq, al-Jum'ah by Mulla  Sadra

990

 

1031

The birth of Nizam al-Dia Ahmad, Mulla Sadra's son- writing al-ixir al-'Arifin, writing the commentary on the verse Nur(light)

991

 

1032

Getting acquainted with Mulla Muhsin Fayd in Quirt-writing the treatise al-Hashr

992

Shaykh Baha'i's residence in Tabriz and then in Qazwin

1033 

the death of Muhammad Amin Astarabadi, the birth of Ma'sumah Khatun, Mulla Sadra's daughter

993

 

1034

the Writing of al-Qabasat by Mir Damad - Mulla 'Abd al-Razzaq Lahiji's marriage to Mulla Sadra's daughter (probably)

994

 

1035

 

995

 

1036

The date of Khan school's letter of endowment

996

Dethroning of Muhammad Shah and the beginning of Shah 'Abbass's reign at the age of 17

1037

Fayd's Marriage to Mulla Sadra's daughter

997

 

1038

Uuveiling the union of the intelligent and intelligible, ShahSafi's coming to the throne - birth of Muhammad 'Alam a-Huda, Fayd's sou, Mulla Sadra's arrival in Shiraz

998

 

1039

 

999

 

1040

 

1000

Qazwin, Mir Damad's teaching, Mulla Sadra's being his student

1041

Mir Damad's death

1001

 

1042

Imam Quli Khan's murder, the end of the writing of al-Asfar, and probably starting to write Sharh usul al -Kafi

1002 1043

1003

Shaykh Baha'i in kazimayn writing the treatise al-Hilaliyah

1044

The end of the Kitab al-'Aql wa'l jahl of Sharh usul al-Kafi, starting to write kitab al-'ilm wal tawhid of Sharh usul al -Kafi

1004

Rene Descartes' birth (1596 AD), Fayd Kashani's birth

1045

Mulla Sadra's death, according to 'Alam al-Huda, the birth of Mirza Hasan, Lahiji's son

1005

  

1046

 

1006

  

1047

 

1007

The formal change of the Safavid capital to Isfahan and, along with it, the transfer of the philosophical center there

1048

 

1008

 

1049

 

1009

 

1050

Mulla Sadra's well-known date of death

1010

Mulla Sadra's leaving Isfahan for Shiraz (probably) and staying there

1051

Shah Safi's death

1011

 

1052

the reign of Shah 'Abbass' the second. Fayd's journey to Isfahan in response to the invitation of Shah 'Abba&s' the second, and holding the position of Imam Jum'ah, there