ʿILM‐I ILĀHĪ DAR SUNNAT‐I ʿIRFĀNĪ VA ṢADRĀʾĪ, DIVINE KNOWLEDGE IN THE MYSTICAL AND SADRAEAN TRADITION. By Seyyed AhmadGhaffari Qarabagh. Iranian Research Institute of Philosophy, 2025. Pp. 462. 4,400,000 IRR.
Religious Studies Review December 1, 2025 Moslem Tahiri
Divine Knowledge in the Mystical and Sadraean Tradition provides a comparative analysis of divine knowledge within Islamic mysticism, particularly Ibn ʿArabī's school, and Mullā Ṣadrā's Transcendent Philosophy. The author examines ontological, epistemological, and hierarchical aspects, highlighting commonalities and distinctions between the two traditions. Key concepts include the unity of the knower and the known, gradation of existence, and presential versus acquired knowledge. The work argues that Transcendent Philosophy synthesizes philosophy and mysticism while offering a more systematic articulation of mystical concepts. It also addresses divine knowledge's relation to human free will and critiques perspectives from al-Suhrawardī, Avicenna, Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī, and Mullā Ṣadrā. The book is noted for its theoretical depth and clear language but may challenge non-specialists and lacks engagement with contemporary issues.