Divine Manifestations: Concerning the Secrets of the Perfecting Sciences

Book excerpt: Divine Manifestations is the first English translation of Mulla Sadra Shirazi’s final work on divine metaphysics. Written at the request of his students who wanted a concise and accessible summary of his philosophy, Divine Manifestations exemplifies the rational theology Mulla Sadra is famed for. In Divine Manifestations Mulla Sadra addresses the most gripping topics in Islamic theology in a thoroughly thought-provoking manner. This work represents Mulla Sadra’s ultimate metaphysical perspective; it is interwoven with his innovative Qur’anic interpretation and is replete with commentary on, and indirect criticism of, the orthodox theology of his day. Combining both scriptural and philosophical reasoning, Mulla Sadra discusses the existence of God, His attributes, His acts, the Resurrection, and the nature of the non-material worlds. Divine Manifestations is a valuable work for anyone interested in reading Mulla Sadra’s argument for the harmony between philosophy, theology, and religion.