HIKMAH - حكمة‎

Etymology&Literal Meaning: Derived from the root h-k-m (ح ك م), which fundamentally means to restrain, prevent from wrongdoing, judge, or govern with justice and wisdom. Literally, it means knowledge, philosophy, the principles of personal and social life, an ultimate or hidden cause for existence, a point of knowledge about a fundamental cause, or a point of wisdom. It also denotes a system of science.

As an Islamic Term: The absolute and purposeful knowledge through which the universe is comprehended, not as self-existent entities (ma’nâ al-ismî), but as sacred letters and wondrously crafted works displaying the beautiful names of Allah (ma’nâ al-harfî). In light of the Twelfth Word, true hikmah is defined as the light of the Qur'an that reveals the underlying purposes, duties and signs embedded in all creation by their Creator. It stands in absolute opposition to human philosophy detached from the words of Allah, which blinds human thought by attributing events to blind chance or causality. While philosophy leads to bewilderment and ma’nawî darkness, Qur'anic hikmah elevates knowledge into a source of constant guidance (hidâyah), unveiling hidden mysteries and ultimate harmony in the universe on which every particle and celestial body relies for their existence.

For example, when an artisan produces an artifact, he does so for specific purposes and aims. These purposes and aims can be known in two ways: either by being informed directly by the maker himself, or through unaided human reason and material experiences without considering the maker's information. While the first method leaves no room for doubt, the second method inevitably leads to uncertainty and error. The first is the Qur'anic way of hikmah, and the second is the way of philosophy.

We derive profound instruction from the universal meanings of the âyahs, such as 2:32, 3:61, 22:54 and 34:6: Allah is the sole proprietor of true, azalî and eternal ‘ilm, haqq and hikmah. He bestows and transmits shares of them to man as He wills, and man's bounden duty is to learn this granted true ‘ilm and act in accordance with it through his particular will (juz’ al-ikhtiyârî ).1

For man, hikmah is the wasat degree of quwwa al-aqliyyah within as-sirât al-mustaqîm—it is the very knowledge and capacity to discern and distinguish between haqq and bâtil.

وَمَنْ يُؤْتَ الْحِكْمَةَ فَقَدْ اُو۫تِىَ خَيْرًا كَث۪يرًۜا2

(For further explanation, please refer to The Twelfth Word and The Eleventh Word.)