Allāmah Ṭabāṭabā’ī and Critique of the Unity of the Detailed Knowledge of God in ‘Irfān

Theological discussions hold a significant place in philosophy and theoretical mysticism (‘irfān), and are discussed under the rules of the reality of existence and its accidents or determinations. One of the issues raised in this field is the elucidation of the levels of divine knowledge. The prevailing view in theoretical mysticism expounds detailed knowledge before creation through the determination of unity. In the determination of unity, the Almighty has the knowledge of the affairs, names and perfections of the essence, which is detailed and in the form of immutable essences. The cognitive forms and the immutable essences (a’yān-i thābitāh) within unity serve as the criterion for pre-creation detailed knowledge and act as the mediator for manifesting multiplicity of objects in the external world. The question arises whether the perspective of mystics in associating this form of detailed knowledge to the Almighty can be accepted or not. Despite the discussions presented in explaining and correcting the mystics' viewpoint, accepting a formal detailed knowledge for the Almighty needs to be reconsidered. ‘Allāmah Ṭabāṭabā’ī has criticized the mystics' immutable essences perspective in explaining the detailed knowledge of the Almighty, criticizing in the same context of the Mu'tazilites’ thoughts regarding the pre-eternal subsistents (thābitāt-i azalī). In this article, through an analytical approach, we delve into the explanation and reinforcement of ‘Allāmah's critique of the mystics' perspective, demonstrating that accepting the unity presented in mysticism as a level of pre-creation detailed knowledge of the Almighty is a matter of contemplation and doubt.