The Influence of Mulla Sadra’s Philosophical Foundations on the Description of God's Opposite Attributes (based on the Description of the Book Usul Kafi)

This article adopts a descriptive-analytical approach to examine the role of Mulla Sadra's philosophical principles in interpreting God's opposite attributes mentioned in the book Usul Kafi by the late Kuleyni (Kitab al-Tawhid). Specifically, it focuses on attributes such as "being the first and the last" or "being outward and inward." The study explores the influence of Mulla Sadra's philosophical principles, including the "principality of existence" and its associated concepts like "analogical gradation," "copulative existence," and "unity of existence," on the interpretation of these attributes. The findings demonstrate that the principle of principality of existence, along with its branches, shapes the meanings of these attributes. Consequently, not only does it resolve any apparent conflicts between opposite attributes, but it also reveals how each attribute complements the meaning of the other. Furthermore, the article establishes that Sadra’s ideas in this context are compatible with his broader theological perspectives.