Comparison of Ibn Barrajān and Mullā Sadrā’s Views on Disjointed Letters

The issue of Disjointed Letters (Al-Hurūf al-Muqatta'a) is one of the important issues dealt with by the commentators of the Holy Qur'an in different approaches. Mullā Sadrā and Ibn Barrajān are two thinkers who have discussed this, and their views are comparable. The purpose of this article is to examine Mullā Sadrā's and Ibn Barrajān's views on disjointed letters using a comparative approach and a documentary and descriptive-analytical method. Findings show the following and influence of Mullā Sadrā by Avicenna and ‘Ayn al-Qudāt. However, Ibn Barrajān's view on the general nature of Disjointed Letters is new. Mullā Sadrā believes that these letters indicate the ranks of beings. Ibn Barrajān considers these letters to be the medium of the Clear Book and the Qur’an, indicating the names of Allah. The views of these two thinkers are similar in terms of the possibility of understanding Disjointed Letters, grouping them together, suggesting oaths, the signification of A-L-M on the names of Allah, and the signification of Y-S on the perfect human being, and they differ in terms of the general nature of Disjointed Letters, their partial meaning, the extent of quoting verses of the Qur'an, and the influence of the others. The approach of the two thinkers (philosophical/mystical) plays a significant role in the emergence of similarities and differences. There are also critical comments on their views.