Sadr al-Din Shirazi (Mulla Sadra) and Natural Human Rights

Authors

1 Student in the Transcendent Philosophy at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran

2 Associate Professor at Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran

10.48308/ihrd.2019.104579

Abstract

The concept of ‘natural human rights’ serves as a pivotal fundament in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and is among the most commonly discussed topics in today’s world. Belief in natural rights for humankind means that, humans, qua humans, have a natural and inherent right, apart from any type of contract/convention or command. This paper sought to address whether such a view could be attributed to Mulla Sadra, considering he never addressed this question seriously or mentioned it in his writings. To this end, we needed to indirectly pursue the issue; we did this within the framework of Mulla Sadra’s perspective on ethical values. The data were gathered through library research and the conclusions were reached using a logical, deductive method. The results showed that Mulla Sadra’s belief in decency (good) and obscenity (evil) would indicate his acceptance of natural human rights. Although the discussion of rights is apparently different from the discussion of ethical values, these two topics can be linked according to some views; the foundations raised in one area can be extended to another, and we may conclude that, although Mulla Sadra did not expressly state his acceptance of natural human rights, his ideas were in conformity with inherent natural rights based on evidence and rational reasoning taken from his moral views.

Keywords


  • Dehkhoda, Ali-Akbar, Loqatnameh (A Dictionary). Tehran: Majlis Printing House, 1946.
  • Ibn Babawayh,. Uyun Akhbar al-Ridha (A.S.). Translated by A. Rezaei & M. Sa’edi, Tehran: Eslamiyeh Publications, 1976.
  • Ja’fari Tabrizi, Mohammad-Taqi, Tafsir va Naqd va Tahlil-e Mathnaviye Jalaluddin Mohammad Balkhi (Interpretation, Review, and Analysis of Rumi’s Mathnavi) (12th ed.). Tehran: Eslami Publishers, 1994.
  • Javadi-Amoli, Abdollah, Haq va Taklif dar Eslam (Right and Duty in Islam) (1st ed.). Qom: Isra’ Publlishers, 2005.
  • Katouzian, Nasser, Falsafeye Hoquq (Philosophy of Law) (Vol. 1). Tehran: Enteshar Publications and Bookstore, 1998.
  • Khamenei, Ali, 2009. Noktehaye Nab: Gozide Bayanate Rahbare Farzaneye Enqelab dar Jam’e daneshjuyan va danesgahiyan salhaye 1368 ta 1383 (A Selection of Pure Statements of the Wise Leader among Students and Academics from 1989 to 2004) (7th ed.). Qom: Ma’aref Publications.
  • Khoramshad, Mohammad Bagher, Mardomsalariye Dini: Mahiyat, Ab’ad, va Masa’ele Mardomsalariye Dini (Religious Democracy: nature, dimensions, and issues). First Edition. Qom: Ma’aref Publications, 2006.
  • Kulayni, Muhammad ibn Ya'qub, Tohafat ul-oliya (Translation of Kitab al-Kafi) (Vol. 4). Qom: Darolhadith Cultural-Academic Institute, 2009.
  • Mohaghegh Damad, Mostafa, Nazariye Hoqugiye Eslami (Theory of Law in Islam). Qom: The Imam Khomeini Educational Research Institute, 2001.
  • Mohaghegh Damad, Mostafa, Pasokhe Hekmate Mut’aliyeh be Masa’ele Hoquqe Bashare Mo’aser (Transcendental Philosophy’s Reaction to Human Rights Issues in Contemporary Era). Tehran: Sadra Islamic Philosophy Research Institute, 2008.
  • Motahari, Morteza, Majmu’eye Asare Ostad Shahid Motahari (A Collection of Works) (Vol. 19: Women Legal System in Islam). Qom: Sadra Publishers, 2000.
  • Plato, “Morality and Religion”, in Philosophy of Religion: An Anthology, Louis P. Pojman (ed.), 1997.
  • Plato, Doreye Asare Aflatun (A Review of Plato’s Works) (Vol. 2). Translated by M. H. Lotfi & R. Kaviani. Tehran: Kharazmi Publications, 2005.
  • Sadr al-Din Shirazi, Muhammad ibn Ibrahim, Al-Hikma al-Muta'aliya fi l-Asfar al-'Aqliyya al-Arba'a (Transcendental Philosophy in Four Rational Journeys/The Four Journeys). Annotated by Mohammad Hossein Tabataba’i (3rd ed.). Beirut: Daru Ehya Turath al-Arabi Publications, 1981.
  • Sadr al-Din Shirazi, Muhammad ibn Ibrahim, Al-Mabda’ va al-Ma’ad (Origin/the Beginning and Resurrection/the End) (1st ed.). Tehran: Institute for Research in Philosophy, 1975.
  • Sadr al-Din Shirazi, Muhammad ibn Ibrahim, Al-Tafsir (A commentary upon the Holy Qur’an) (2nd ed.). Edited by Mohammad Khajavi. Qom: Bidar Publications, 1987.
  • Sadr al-Din Shirazi, Muhammad ibn Ibrahim, Kasr al-Asnam al-Jahiliyyah (Demolishing the Idols of the Periods of Barbarism and Human's Ignorance). A reading of divine philosophy. Translated by Gholamhossein Ahani. Tehran: Sadra Islamic Philosophy Research Institute, 2002.
  • Sadr al-Din Shirazi, Muhammad ibn Ibrahim, Majmua al-Rasa’el ul-Tes’e (A Collection of Nine letters by Mulla Sadra). Qom: Maktab al-Mustafawi, 1885.
  • Sadr al-Din Shirazi, Muhammad ibn Ibrahim, Majmua al-Rasa’ele Falsafiye Sadr-ul-Moteallehin (A Collection of Mulla Sadra’s Philosophical Notes) (1st ed.). Compiled and Edited by Hamed Naji. Tehran: Hekmat Publications, 1996.
  • Sajjadi, Seyedjafar, Farhange Ma’arefe Eslami (A Dictionary of Islamic Sciences) (3rd ed.). Tehran: University of Tehran Press, 1994.
  • Tabataba’i Motameni, Manouchehr, Azadihaye Omumi va Hoquqe Bashar (Public Liberties and Human Rights) (6th ed.). Tehran: University of Tehran Press, 2015.
  • Wacks, Raymond, Falsafeye Hoquq az Hoquqe Tabi’i to Pasamodernism (Philosophy of Law: A Short Introduction from Natural Law to Post-Modernism). Translated by Fatemeh Abyar, Tehran: Rokhdade Now Publications, 2009.