The Factors of Obtaining Perfection in Sadr al-Mutallehin's View

Human's perfection is the outcome of his own determination. He may actuate his potentials only through his physical actions. Sadr al-Mutallehin, the founder of transcendental wisdom, in addition to theorizing on human's ultimate perfection, which he knows as the "annihilation in Allah" or obtaining intuitive knowledge of Allah, has spoken of the factors facilitating or hindering human's achieving perfection.The present paper deals with an investigation of factors affecting human's perfection in Mulla Sadra's view. Before stating these factors, however, it deals with four other issues as an the way an action affects achieving perfection, necessity of sincerity in one's action, status and ranks of actions, necessity of having a teacher.In Mulla Sadra's view, the factors effective in human's ultimate perfection are as follows: awakening, determination, legitimate austerity, divine knowledge, paying attention to God and neglecting all other than Him, divine affection and love, mentioning God, and contemplation.