The theory of Na’ini as explained above seems to suffer fatal problems. It seems also that the martyr Sadr’s theory of sovereignty despite its beauties and firmness still has very important problems. Of course, this does not mean that Sadra’s theory ...

The theory of Na’ini as explained above seems to s...

Sovereignty or salatanah is an internal quality that we all understand. It is what we know by presence (‘ilm huduri). To conceptualize it we can use the expression: "The agent may or may not act". There is no necessity to act or not to act. Sovereig...

Sovereignty or salatanah is an internal quality th...

The difficulties in Na’ini’s theory led the great Ayatullah Sadr to reconstruct the theory and revive Na’ini’s claim with a new argument. To develop his theory of sovereignty Sadr first mentions some premises: First premise- Equal relation of act to...

The difficulties in Na’ini’s theory led the great ...

Mirza Na’ini, one of the founders of modern principles of jurisprudence, was the first one to develop and defend this theory. According to an exposition of the lectures of Na’ini (Ajwad al-Taqrirat), this theory can be traced back to Mirza Muhammad T...

Mirza Na’ini, one of the founders of modern princi...

The solution relies on three main points: A- To distinguish between necessity and determinism and between contingency and free will. According to Sadra, critics of the theory of necessity have failed to distinguish between ikhtiyar and contingency o...

The solution relies on three main points: A- To d...

Early theologians and modern usuliyyun who seriously oppose the theory of necessity or necessitation of effect by cause or in other words the necessary relation of cause and effect, take this theory in conflict with free will and believe that even if...

Early theologians and modern usuliyyun who serious...

From what has been said before, the concepts of causation, cause and effect become clear. Cause is an independent being which has no need for its effect, originating and necessitating the effect. Effect is a totally dependent being, which is nothing ...

From what has been said before, the concepts of ca...

According to what was said earlier, the difference among beings is the difference in levels and degrees of existence starting with the self-necessary being and ending with the potential being. Reflection on the reality of "being" leads to the conclus...

According to what was said earlier, the difference...

According to asalat al-wujud, the differences that we understand among things in the world are all rooted in their "being" and can have no root other than the reality of ‘being’. Therefore, all things in the world differ in "being", just as they shar...

According to asalat al-wujud, the differences that...

The Theory of Necessity (Sadra’s Theory in the Interpretation of Causality and its Relation to Human Freedom) Before explaining the theory of necessity, it is noteworthy that the reason beyond calling this theory "The Theory of Necessity" lies in th...

The Theory of Necessity (Sadra’s Theory in the Int...

`Allamah Tabataba'i‑may God's mercy be upon him‑in his exposition on Divine Wisdom says:1 The various movements originating from us can be considered as our actions when they are related to and dependent upon our will in some way. There­fore, he...

`Allamah Tabataba'i‑may God's mercy be upon him‑in...

We know that human speech derives from the vocal chords causing vibrations in the air and these vibrations are heard as meaningful sounds or `speech'. However, `speaking', in this sense, does not apply to God, because He has no corporeal form that He...

We know that human speech derives from the vocal c...

In the discussion on the proof of the existence of God, it was said that one of the ways of knowing God is through natural instinct. It was pointed out that just as God is known by means of `ilm huduri, know­ledge of Divine Unity is also obtained...

In the discussion on the proof of the existence of...

One of the attributes of God is Unity, which is stressed by certain religions, especially Islam. Monotheism and belief in Oneness of God is one of the prominent characteristics of Islam, for which it has been named the religion of monotheism. Theolog...

One of the attributes of God is Unity, which is st...

By free will is meant that a conscious and aware creature is able to select one way which is the most expedient from amongst all imagin­able alternatives for accomplishing of something, and in reality the only thing that may compel him to do some...

By free will is meant that a conscious and aware c...

Knowledge, like power, is another attribute of Divine Essence. On the basis of the proofs forwarded for demonstrating the existence of God, it can be said that God is omniscient. Moreover, it was stated in the discourse on power that it is deduced fr...

Knowledge, like power, is another attribute of Div...

The word `impossible' is used in three different senses: (a) Inherent impossibility (muhal dhati), (b) Impossibility of occurrence (muhal wuqu `i), (c) Habitual impossibility (muhal `adi). (a) Inherent Impossibility: It applies to a statement whi...

The word `impossible' is used in three different s...

In defining power, it can be said that one is powerful if he can act whenever he wants to and refrain from action. whenever he doesn't. Therefore, `powerful' is one who, firstly, has will (by virtue of this definition, power cannot be attributed to s...

In defining power, it can be said that one is powe...

Hitherto, some of the proofs of the existence of God were discussed. We shall now examine briefly the attributes of God, an issue which is one of the most important topics of theology, and which, if properly understood, can remove doubts of those who...

Hitherto, some of the proofs of the existence of G...

The invalidity of circular series can be proven in this manner. There can be two or more elements in the circle of causation. If there are only two elements A and B, we may represent the causal relation­ship by writing A ↔B. If there are mor...

The invalidity of circular series can be proven in...

If we consider the nature of a thing, we cannot say of it that it should necessarily have existed or not existed. To our rational mind its relation to existence or non‑existence is neutral. If the object exists in the external world, then there must ...

If we consider the nature of a thing, we cannot sa...