History Philosophy of Murtadha Mutahhari

Abstract

The philosophy of history is a science concerned with the developments and changes that transform a society from one stage to another and with the laws that govern these changes. Professor Mortadha Motahhari focuses on the society as an introduction to fully study the philosophy of history. Both the society and the individual are fundamental in the Qur’anic perspective. Society also has its own laws and regulations. This does not imply that individuals are forced to abide by these laws. Since human beings are one kind, human societies are also one kind as a result of the innate nature, al-fitrah. The movement of history falls under the laws of ‘cause and effect’ and moves towards evolution and development. In addition, it does not contradict human freedom. In contrast to the existing theories of the philosophy of history, Professor Motahhari believes that the divine innate nature, al-fitrah, of human is combined with the substantial motion, al-harakah al-jawhariyyah, that is the fundamental basis of the personality of the individual whose evolution depends on various factors in the environment the individual resides. The key drivers of this evolution is the set of individual characteristics including the ability to express knowledge in writing and rhetoric, the preservation of experiences, cognitive and creative ability, subjective tendency and the innate nature of creativity and innovation. Unlike much of the views, the future of mankind and history as suggested by Mutahhari promote optimism, spirituality and Islamic governance that count on the innate nature, al-fitrah.