Mulla Sadra’s View, as a Philosopher, on Jurisprudence and the Rationality of its Propositions

The philosophical prominence of Sadr al-Mutallihin Shirazi outweighs his jurisprudential expertise. His works on different philosophical, exegetical, hadith and ethical subjects can better depict his juridical mastery. He has a full command of the lexical, technical and the traditional meanings of jurisprudence, its subject matter, its basic prevailing concepts such as obedience and defiance and the well-known five types of the Islamic rulings. Furthermore, he realizes the position of jurisprudence compared to other sciences, its relation with the ethical and doctrinal propositions and the difference and commonalities of sharia [the divine law], with tariqa [path], and haqiqa [truth]. He not only recommends that all should abide by the jurisprudential propositions but also adheres to the necessity that the juridical propositions should be explained. He attempts to rationalize the juridical propositions. According to him, these propositions do not contradict one’s reason; rather there are some expediencies in the actual world that considering them , Allah  sanctions different rulings. These expediencies  lie beyond the reach of human intellect. Mostly, the human struggle in this regard is characterized as unproductive. For they either prefer their personal interests to the public or their worldly benefits to that of the real profits [of the hereafter]. Relying upon these facts strengthen one’s submissive attitude towards Allah. Though these propositions lie beyond the reach of one’s intellect;  there are still rational arguments that can attract one’s attention and reliance. For certain juridical propositions have been issued from a source that intellect bears witness to its flawlessness. Relying upon the true nature of these propositions is followed by the rationalization of those propositions.