Ma`rifat Falsafi

The philosophy of critiquing power represents a novel domain pioneered by Mulla Sadra within Islamic social philosophy. By doing so, he has expanded the scope of political and social philosophy within the Islamic philosophical tradition, thereby promoting the development of the practical wisdom (hikmat-i 'amali) system. This paper aims to conduct a qualitative study using a content analysis approach to examine the dissection of contemporary crises by Mulla Sadra in his two treatises: ‘Kasr al-Asnam al-Jahiliyya’ (Breaking Down the Idols of Ignorance Era) and ‘Risalah al-Thalathat al-Usul’ (The Treatise of Three Principles). A study of the two treatises reveals that the civil society of Mulla Sadra’s era constructs ideological frameworks through technical means i.e. various forms of hegemony. These include: cultural hegemony (resemblance to the post of Caliphate, Prophethood, Imamate, and mastership, claims of loftiness and virtue, and the positions of issuing fatwas and guidance), social hegemony (having social prestige, religious authority, and the patronage of Sufi masters), political hegemony (alignment with political power), religious hegemony (the sanctity of mystics, the emulation of their conduct, and claims of miracles and spiritual states), and economic hegemony (the accumulation and utilization of wealth). These mechanisms fostered thought patterns that led to a ‘narcotic interpretation of religion.’ Such patterns entail consequences such as the intensification of ‘sacred ignorance,’ religious literalism, and the reduction of religion to mere jurisprudence (Fiqh), which have historically contributed to the tribulations faced by the Ahl-u al-Bayt (PBUT). The study concludes that these consequences are mitigated through the proposed paradigm (self-knowledge, purification of innate being, Sharia-centrism, leader-centrism, and abiding by divine Law) alongside the awareness-raising efforts by the true elite (authentic mystics) regarding the prevailing social conditions.