Fundamental Differences between Ostad Motahari's and Allameh Jaafari's Approaches to Meaning of Life as an Issue

The meaning of life, as a significant issue, has been considered by Ostad Motahari and Allameh Jaafari. The analytic-descriptive study of these two Muslim thinkers’ views shows that, in spite of considerable similarities, there are essential differences between their approaches to this issue. The differences are classified under three categories: (1) The theological and transmitted approach of Ostad Motahari to this issue in comparison with the rational and philosophical approach of Allameh Jaafari; (2) Motahari’s non-independent and reductionist attitude to the issue of meaning of life versus Jafari’s independent and pivotal attitude toward it; (3) Motahari’s lack of attention to the issue of meaning of life and his approach to take it for granted versus the serious attention of Allameh Jaafari to this question and his efforts to derive the answer through analyzing the question. These fundamental differences represent two different ways through which the meaning of life is discussed in the realm of Islamic- Iranian thinking thought.