Comparative Study of Self-knowledge from standpoints of Mulla Sadra and Tabatabai

Self-knowledge is regarded as a preamble to the knowledge of God in Islamic teachings. This idea was particularly emphasized by two forerunners of transcendent philosophy: Sadra Shirazi in 11th century and AllamaTabatabae in 14th. Although they shared the same epistemic aim, the two great thinkers had different approaches to the problem. In the thought of Mulla Sadra human soul has creative role as revealing God the Creator. To Tabatabae, knowledge of the self is an act of knowing dependent and relative entity concomitant with the knowledge of Independent Essence. This article is to answer the question which sort of knowledge leads to the presential knowledge of God. The conclusion made in light of transcendent principles of philosophy is that self-knowledge by presence can yield presential knowledge of God, for reality of knowledge is but a presence and existence.