The Innate Nature and Innate Knowledge from the Viewpoint of Mirza Mehdi Isfahani

The epistemological bases of Mirza Mehdi Isfahani (Rah) formed in the realms of linguistics, cosmology and theology on the basis of the theory of innate nature (al-fiṭrah). In his belief, the innate nature in its general and widespread meaning is direct encounter of the reasonable with the outer world and omission of the pictures and mental conceptions in the realm of reasoning and thinking. The light of knowledge and reason bring to light the outer things for the reasonable and the mental pictures have no intervention in the knowledge process. But the knowledge of God is by an innate knowledge (ma’rifah al-fiṭrī), neither by rational picture nor by the light of knowledge and reason. The innate knowledge of God is to receive the knowledge of God by God, and human being enters this worldly life with this knowledge. Comprehensive knowledge of God is impossible and the only way for rational knowledge is exit of the two boundaries.