A Comparative Study of the Role of Predestination and Free Will in Happiness and Misery from the Point of View of Mulla Sadra and Ayatollah Mojtaba Qazvini

Happiness and misery have been basic issues and main concern of mankind since the creation. For Ayatollah Mojtaba Qazvini, the discussions related to happiness and misery as raised in philosophy and mysticism are against teachings of the Qur’an; however, some philosophers, such as Mulla Sadra who seeks to harmonize the Qur’an, proof and mysticism, do not have such an idea. This study is an introduction to the examination of philosophers’ viewpoints on this issue and reconciling the views of Ayatollah Mojtaba Qazvini and Mulla Sadra, and taking steps towards creating harmony between Islamic philosophy and the teachings of the Qur’an. The evaluation of the views of these two thinkers about the happiness and misery showed that, in general, Ayatollah Qazvini did not provide sufficient and convincing reasons against philosophy, and his view about the determinism of philosophers, including Mulla Sadra, is not correct. Ayatollah Qazvini considered happiness and misery to be optional, but he believes in the secondary nature of misery and its immutability. From his point of view, happiness and misery in philosophy are deterministic and inviolable, but Mulla Sadra clearly listed the voluntary factors of happiness and mentioned man-made obstacles in the way to happiness.