The Concept of Hikmah (Wisdom) in Islam: Literal and Quranic Meaning of Hikmah – Part 1

Understanding The Broader Concept of Hikmat Is Necessary for understanding the Quran Well

Main Points:

1.    Hikmat denotes several meanings depending on the circumstance, setting, and context.

2.    Hikmat literally means intellect, wisdom, knowledge, efficiency, goodness, treatment, truth and genesis of something, wise proverb, technique, understanding, a body of knowledge etc.

3.    In the Holy Qur'an, the word "Hikmat" is used frequently to denote piety in the religion of Allah, things that offer comfort to souls, righteous thought, comprehending and obeying Allah's commands, etc.

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By Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam

23 July 2022

The word Hikmah or Hikmat denotes several meanings depending on the circumstance, setting, and context. Some of them are as follows:

Hikmat means intellect, wisdom, and knowledge. One of the best fiction authors in the Urdu language, Intizaar Hussain produces works that are at the pinnacle of literature. He uses the word "Hikmat" in the sense of knowledge and intelligence and writes: "He could even travel to China in pursuit of wisdom and intellect [Hikmat]" in his book "The Decline of Symbols [Alaamaton Ka Zawaal] page 191, 1976”

Hikmat Means Efficiency, Goodness, And Advancement

The Encyclopaedia of Islam or Daairatul Ma’arif al-Islamiyya was translated into Urdu and named "Urdu Dairae Maarif Islamia". Before, there was no Urdu-language encyclopaedia of Islam that covered its history and notable figures. Hikmat is used in this text to refer to goodness; for instance, "Whoever among the intellectuals of Islam stressed on acts.... This was goodness (Hikmat) in their view." (Urdu Dairae Maarif Islamia, 3/735)

Another meaning of Hikmat is treatment and healthcare knowledge. The prominent Urdu writer Syed Mahfouz Ali Badayuni, who worked for the journal "Hamdard Akhbar" published by Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar, uses the word Hikmat in the same sense, “it should be left to those whose subject is entirely medical and health-care knowledge (Hikmat).” (Mahfouz Ali Badayuni, Tanziyyat wa Maqaalaat, 334, 1943)

Hikmat is a word used to define the truth, essence, or genesis of anything. In the poetry mentioned below, that is referenced in Kulliyaate Wali, for example, Hikmat is utilised in the same way:

Hikmate Ishq [truth of Ishq] Bu Ali Sr Na Puch, Nahi wo Qaanoon Shanaas Is Fan Ka, (Kulliyyate Wali, 24, 1707)

Hikmat also denotes strategy, tricks and techniques. For instance, the statement "There are various techniques (Hikmat) to be safe from the harshness of snow and cold" appears in the book "Ma'aashi Aur Tijaarati Jughraafiya [Economic and Commercial Geography, 268, 1975]

Hikmat is another name for the body of knowledge, including logic, philosophy, and science, in which truths are discovered by observation, contemplation, justification, and supporting data. (See page 11 of Kaise Kaise Log by Syed Akbar Naqvi.)

Hikmat's connotation also includes a local proverb, a wise proverb, or a word of wisdom, such as “noon tel bhi bechte jaate aur Ramayana aur Mahabharata me Likhi hui Hikmaten (words of wisdom) bhi Sunaate Jaate” (Basti, 10, 1979).

Additionally, the word Hikmat indicates "manner," "method," "means," "arrangement," "miracle," and "mystery. (Jami’ul Lughaat)

Hikmat in the context of Sufism is described as "understanding the relationship between causes and effects," "knowing divine truths and knowledge," and "getting to know the essence of creatures, their facts, qualities, and rulings as they actually are" (Derived from Misbah al-Tasarruf, 104)

What Hikmat means in the Holy Quran?

The word Hikmat appears frequently in the Holy Qur'an. Here are a few examples:

Allah Azzawajal says in Surah Baqarah:

“He gives wisdom [Hikmat] to whom He wills, and whoever has been given wisdom [Hikmat] has certainly been given much good. And none will remember except those of understanding.” (2:269)

What does the Quranic reference to the word Hikmat mean? In this regard, let us see what the Companions, eminent jurists and Taabeyeen say:

Allama Abul Hayyan al-Andalusi writes:

Hazrat Ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him), Mujahid, Dahhaak and Muqaatil said: “Wisdom refers to the Qur’an”.

Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “Hikmat means Knowledge of the abrogating (Naasikh) and abrogated (Mansukh) of the Holy Quran, Muhkam and Mutashabih, and Muqaddam and Mu’akhkhar”

Suddi said: “Hikmat refers to prophethood (Nabuwwat).

Ibrahim, Abul Aaliyah and Qatadah said: Hikmat means understanding the Qur'an.

Laith narrated from Mujahid: Hikmat refers to knowledge and jurisprudence [Fiqh].

Ibn Najih narrated on the authority of Mujahid: Hikmat refers to the accuracy of speech and deeds.

In the Islamic religion, Hikmat refers to piety, according to Hasan.

Hikmat denotes fear [of God], according to Rabi bin Anas.

Hikmat is the concept of comprehending the commands of Allah, according to Ibn Zayd.

Hikmat, according to Shareek, means understanding.

Hikmat is a blend of knowledge and deed, according to Ibn Qutaiba.

Hikmat relates to writing [Kitaabat], according to Mujahid.

Hikmat is anything whose correctness the intellect can confirm, according to Ibn al-Maqna’.

Imam Qushairi said: Hikmat means pondering over the commandments of Allah Almighty and following these commandments. He also said that wisdom means obedience to Allah, jurisprudence, religion and following it.

‘Ataa said: Hikmat also means forgiveness.

Hikmat is the light that distinguishes between whispering and inspiration, according to Abu Uthman.

Hikmat, according to Qasim bin Muhammad, is the act of making decisions based on the truth as opposed to one's wishes.

Hikmat, according to Bandaar bin Hussain, means to respond swiftly and appropriately.

Hikmat means "to bring back to rightness," according to Mufazzal.

According to Qattaani, the term Hikmat refers to things and deeds that bring peace to the souls and those things are: bearing witness to the truth in every circumstance, enlightenment, and reflection on the Attributes of Allah, inner cleansing to become a source of inspiration, advancement of the religion and world reform, and gaining knowledge of wisdom.

After mentioning these meanings, Abu Hayyan Andalusi says, “(Regarding Hikmat) these are twenty-five sayings in total. (Al-Bahr al-Muhit vol. 2, p. 683-684, published by Darul Fikr, Beirut, 1412 AH)

There appears to be a verbal conflict between the meanings of Hikmat when all of the aforementioned sayings and meanings of Hikmat are considered, but when the details of these meanings are considered, it is evident that there is a deep connection between them all and that there is no contradiction. In other words, let's imagine that the term "Hikmat" is so comprehensive that all of these meanings can coexist peacefully inside its confines.

(To be continued) 

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Kaniz Fatma is a classic Islamic scholar and a regular columnist for New Age Islam.

URL:    https://newageislam.com/islamic-ideology/hikmah-wisdom-literal-quranic-/d/127549

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