Religion and the Pious from Mullā Sadrā’s Viewpoint

The works of Sadr al-Muta’allehin Shirāzi, widely known as Mullā Sadrā, offer readers an opportunity to have different readings of the concept ‘religion’ because his definition of religion sometimes suggests ‘surrender’, in certain occasions ‘faith’ and at times the ‘Divine law’. None of these definitions and readings are exempt from certain considerations. In spite of this diversity, his own accepted definition of religion is as follows: Religion is a law and a plan revealed by Allah through a chosen man called Prophet or Messenger to organize personal and social affairs of the people both in their lives of this world and in those of the other (hereafter), and lead them to the desired and deserved state of perfection and happiness or eternal bliss— in the theoretical and practical aspects of the soul (nafs). Mullā Sadrā has also opened up some other significant discussions on the way through which one can come to know religion. Not only has he explained statements of religion but also he has nicely illustrated the relations that exist among them. He has also made clear the evolutionary levels (states) of religion, Prophets and religious communities, as he has spoken of the grades of the people of faith and their interrelations in detail. The present paper seeks to explore Mullā Sadrā’s thoughts on the above-mentioned issues by examining the numerous works of this Muslim sage.