An Ontological Explanation of Mystical Annihilation in the View of Transcendental Philosophy

Although the concept of ‘’mystical annihilation’’ and its derivations and requisites are among the concepts which characterize Islamic mysticism, it has affected the atmosphere of Islamic thought and soon entered philosophy so that Muslim philosophers investigated, criticized and analyzed it from an ontological perspective. This is why Mulla Sadra has dealt in his philosophical system with ‘’mystical annihilation’’, a subject for which “Peripatetic philosophy and Illuminationism”, two philosophical schools, had already attempted to provide ontological explanation. Meanwhile, Mulla Sadra claims that no one of the philosophers who proceeded him could solve the problem of mystical annihilation as it is viewed by mystics.He thinks that solving this problem depends on a proper explanation of existential becoming. Existential becoming and transfiguration of essence have their roots in “unification of the sage into the intelligible” and “unification with the active intellect”. On the other hand, Mulla Sadra believes in the particular unity of existence, that is, he accepts the concept of being mystically annihilated in Allah, during inherent mystical annihilation. Hence, the way for the explanation of mystical annihilation is paved in his philosophical system.