An analysis of Allameh Tabatabaei's View on the Unseen and the Visible

The Unseen and the Visible have special meanings in religious doctrines, and this question has been the special concern of Allameh Tabatabaei. Considering Al-Mizan Commentary, this paper seeks to extract his views about the Unseen and the Visible, their meanings and the relationship between them. The findings of this paper show that Allameh considers the ‘’Unseen’’ as an impalpable and extra-material reality which divine revelation has explicitly confirmed. It has also talked about the Unseen and invited people to believe in it. Although man is by divine nature (Fitrah) aware of the ‘’Unseen’’ and believes in it, he cannot have a detailed knowledge of the Unseen, the creatures and the impalpable worlds about the ‘’Unseen’’ except through divine revelation. As for the Visible, it is obvious and known to the perceiver. Similarly, visibility is the full knowledge of something through the senses, imagination, intellect or existential knowledge.