Ayatullah Mutahhari sees human nature (fitrah) as the mother of all Islamic teachings. In fact, fitrah play a central role in Mutahhari's discussions on various topics. However, it ...
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Ayatullah Mutahhari sees human nature (fitrah) as the mother of all Islamic teachings. In fact, fitrah play a central role in Mutahhari's discussions on various topics. However, it has the most influence on his theory of cognition and philosophy of religion. This article aims to answer the key question of how Ayatollah Mutahhari’s perspective on the subject of cognition and philosophy of religion can be explained based on his theory of fitrah. To clarify the matter, his approach is comparatively examined with some Western philosophers. The results of this research show that, in the field of cognition, Mutahhari believes in certain affirmations that fall under the category of innate qualities (fitriyat). Furthermore, the examination of his views in the field of philosophy of religion reveals that he, unlike most traditional discussions in the philosophy of religion that have an intera-religious approach, focuses on the nature of religion and its acceptance. Therefore, with a different argumentation than analytical philosophers or philosophers influenced by Wittgenstein, Mutahhari delves into the foundation of religious acceptance and seek the main basis in human anthropology. Hence, the main focus is on human nature, which inherently have tendency toward perfection and salvation.
