Allameh Tabatabai and the Question of Secularization

This paper examines and analyzes the dialogue between Henry Corbin and Allameh Tabatabai and in this regard, refers to the other works of Corbin and continues a comparative analysis of his works and for the first time, presents the importance of his view on secularization and his precedence over introducing that notion in Iran and claims that Corbin's project is about the question of why and how theological and philosophical secularization, occurred in the West, hasnt happened in Iran. Henry Corbin looks for resistance against secularization and seeks Shiite's and Iranian Islam's teachings against it. Allameh Tabatabai confirms Corbin's spiritual and numinous solution, but he doesnt satisfy to this amount and mentions a special secularization in the Islamic history that by ignoring one of Quran's most important commands, led to the decline of Islamic communities. Answering the secularization question, he introduces an Islamic comprehensive plan. As it results from this paper, it is impossible or, at least, very hard to understand the views of Iranian scholars about secularization, without an understanding of Corbin's works and his project.