Mulla Sadra’s Interpretation of the Impacts of Metaphorical Love

Document Type : Research Article

Author

Department of Islamic Philosophy and Wisdom, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

The present study examines Mullā Ṣadrā’s interpretation of the impact of metaphorical (majāzī) love, employing a library-based research methodology. In Mullā Ṣadrā’s view, existence (wujūd) is ontologically primary, whereas essence (māhiyyah) is merely conceptual; what constitutes the fabric of reality is existence, not essence. He maintains that existence is not only commensurate with, but identical to, every form of perfection, including life, consciousness, and beauty. For Mullā Ṣadrā, existence admits of gradation, encompassing both intensity (perfection) and deficiency, and all beings are composites of these two. Only God possesses an existence that is absolute perfection, entirely free from any imperfection. Mullā Ṣadrā regards the love of beauty—being one of the manifestations of existence—as permeating the entirety of the cosmos. He classifies love into true (ḥaqīqī) love and metaphorical (majāzī) love, and further elaborates on the relationship between them. He subdivides metaphorical love into animalistic and psychic (nafsānī) forms. By legitimizing and valuing psychic metaphorical love as a transitional stage toward true love, Mullā Ṣadrā considers this form of love significant due to its profound individual and social implications. Such love, in his account, contributes to the moral transformation of both the individual and society, guiding the lover toward the attainment of true love. Moreover, since access to true love is not easily attainable for everyone, he does not dismiss metaphorical love as trivial or dispensable. From Mullā Ṣadrā’s perspective, metaphorical love does not function merely as a bridge to true love; and it is precisely this point that distinguishes his conception of metaphorical love from that of other thinkers, particularly the mystics. From Mulla Sadra's perspective, one of the important results of virtual love is the inner transformation of the lover and the production of human qualities such as tenderness of heart, intelligence of mind, etc., which will certainly have positive external effects, especially in the important matter of education. Of course, the effects of virtual love from Mulla Sadra's perspective are not limited to these cases, but in his belief, virtual love is the generator of art, literature, and culture, and is one of the fundamental foundations of the education system in human societies. Mulla Sadra's view of virtual love, apart from its beautiful approach of praising love and the person in love, seems to have an unpleasant approach that is usually less paid attention to due to its monopoly on true love and then on virtual, sensual love, and that is the denigration of virtual, physical love, which is usually interpreted as animal love in a derogatory manner, and its adherents have considered it to be at the level of animals and beyond the human level, especially since this type of love finds meaning in relationships between men and women, it is accompanied by the denigration of women and their degradation to the level of animals by some, including Mulla Sadra, Hajj Mulla Hadi Sabzevari, Ghazali, and others

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  • Receive Date: 06 January 2026
  • Revise Date: 15 September 2026
  • Accept Date: 15 September 2026

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