Peace and Tolerance in the Thoughts of Rumi and Attar In Comparison with Mulla Sadra’s Pacifist Approach

Peace is one of the human concerns which has been a significant concept in mystical literature and philosophical ideas. In the works of Attar and Rumi, two prominent Iranian poets, peace-seeking has been introduced and reflected as a social need to eliminate grudges and enmities. Mulla Sadra, the famous Iranian philosopher, also paid special attention to the concept of peace and tolerance. This article, with a descriptive-analytical method, studies the concept of peace-seeking in the works of Attar and Rumi and compares it with the philosophical view of Mulla Sadra on peace. It aims to examine the level of convergence and disagreement between Attar and Rumi’s Sufi views and Mulla Sadra’s philosophical approach to peace, as well as the possibility of linking their views. The result shows that pacifism as a social current in the works of Attar and Rumi under the title of “inner peace” and “total peace” has constant stability. With a Sufi attitude, Attar and Rumi have invited people to achieve inner peace and total peace on the basis of mystical experience (discovery and intuition) and in the light of moral virtues such as love, tolerance, contentment, and goodness. Mulla Sadra has also considered the manifestations of peace as the means to attain the position of “perfect man”; but the foundation of peace in Sadra’s philosophy, unlike the above-mentioned poets, is based on theoretical rationality with a moderate and justice-oriented approach, and he considers security in social life as a necessary factor for achieving peace.