Rethinking On the Elements of Al-Wāḥid (unity) Principle

Al-Wāḥid is one of the oldest and most controversial philosophical principles, which always faced so many agreements and disagreements, particularly by theologians. Depending on different definitions of its conceptual origins, the referents and applications have been changed and applied to prove unity of First intellect to plurality of soul faculties. Its opponents have regarded that as a violation of God’s Absolute efficient, omnipotence and will. In the meantime, there are certain expressions in some Suhrawardī and Mullā Ṣadrā’s works -who advocate the principle- which require that, the principle should be denied or revised basically. It should be noted that some of Islamic philosophers have supported the principle as a strong foundation and original axiom. Through rethinking some origins of the principle, we can review and criticize its proofs to show that the other proofs should be required to advocate the theory in which just one immediate entity has been issued from God.