This lecture series offers a systematic and text-based study of the doctrine of the soul (nafs) as presented in Mulla Sadra’s al-Shawahid al-Rububiyyah (The Divine Witnesses), one of the foundational works of Transcendent Philosophy (al-Ḥikmah al-Mutaʿaliyyah). The course begins with a concise survey of the major theories of the soul developed within the Peripatetic (Mashshaʾi) and Illuminationist (Ishraqi) traditions, providing the historical and philosophical context necessary for appreciating Mulla Sadra’s distinctive synthesis and innovations.

The lectures will then examine Mulla Sadra’s comprehensive philosophical account of the soul, focusing on its ontological status, its emergence through the doctrine of corporeal origination and spiritual subsistence (jismaniyyat al-ḥuduth wa ruḥaniyyat al-baqa), and its continuous perfection through substantial motion (al-ḥarakah al-jawhariyyah). Special attention will be given to the role of the gradation of existence (tashkik al-wujud) in explaining the soul’s developmental journey, the nature of the soul–body relationship, the faculties and levels of the soul, the process of intellectual and spiritual perfection, and the soul’s destiny after death.

Through a close reading of the text, participants will explore Mulla Sadra’s philosophical arguments, his critical engagement with earlier Islamic philosophical traditions, and the ways in which he integrates Peripatetic, Illuminationist, theological, and mystical insights into a unified account of human existence. The course will also highlight the distinctive features of Sadrian psychology that set it apart from preceding philosophical schools and establish its enduring significance within the Islamic intellectual tradition.

Course Schedule

Format: On campus and online (hybrid)

Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Session 1 – Tuesday, 25 August 2026
Historical Background and Earlier Theories of the Soul
• The soul in Peripatetic philosophy (al-Farabi, Ibn Sina)
• Illuminationist perspectives (Suhrawardi)
• Philosophical problems inherited by Mulla Sadra

Session 2 – Tuesday, 1 September 2026
The Ontological Reality of the Soul
• The nature and definition of the soul
• The soul and the gradation of existence (tashkik al-wujud)
• Mulla Sadra’s critique and synthesis of earlier views

Session 3 – Tuesday, 8 September 2026
Corporeal Origination and Spiritual Subsistence
• Jismaniyyat al-ḥuduth wa ruḥaniyyat al-baqa
• Substantial motion (al-ḥarakah al-jawhariyyah) and the development of the soul
• The soul–body relationship

Session 4 – Tuesday, 15 September 2026
The Perfection and Destiny of the Soul
• The faculties and stages of the soul
• Intellectual and spiritual perfection
• Death, resurrection, and the soul’s ultimate destiny according to Mulla Sadra
• Concluding discussion and questions

Duration: 4 weekly sessions (8 hours total)