Abstract

The argument of the believers is one of the most important and valid philosophical arguments propounded on the demonstration of God's Existence in the field of Islamic philosophy and culture. According to Mulla Sadra's interpretation, the only argument that deserves the title of the believers is one in which the means and the ends are the same and one. Since God is Pure Existence, we are obliged to deliberate upon the 'reality of existence'. In line with this idea and in his al-Asfar, Mulla Sadra develops an argument based on the principiality and gradation of being as its two main pillars. This assertion can be interpreted in two ways: the first is the unitarianist interpretation in which, from the two underlying elements of gradation of existence, the element of unity is particularly emphasized; the second is the gradation centered interpretation in which, from the two elements of the unity and plurality of being, none has superiority over the other. Although both interpretations are in conformity with the text of al-Asfar, unitarianist interpretations are preferred for the following reasons: fist, they are in greater conformity with the general guidelines and perspective that Mulla Sadra initially portrays for his argument; second, some of the characteristics and advantages that Mulla Sadra refers to for his assertion are only justified on the basis of this kind of interpretation.