Muslims in the West live under circumstances very different from those they faced in the past. We live now in a pluralistic, multi-cultural society the magnitude of which the world has never seen. In facing the unique challenges that this society poses, more than anything Muslims are in need of a quality best defined in Arabic as “hikmah”.

What is Hikmah? 

The Arabic word hikmah is a hard one to translate as its implications are multi-dimensional and its meanings are deep.  

Imam Raghib al-Asfahani said,

 Hikmah is the realization of the truth through knowledge and intellect.

 He further stated,

The meaning of hikmah differs in respect to who is being characterized by it. Hikmah in respect to Allah refers to the knowledge of all things and their creation على غاية الإحكام. In respect to humans, it refers to the knowledge of existent things and good actions. It is this meaning that is inferred when describing Luqman (may Allah send him peace) in the Qur’an: “And certainly We bestowed hikmah upon Luqman.

Imam Ghazali said,

Hikmah implies the knowledge of the most excellent of things through the most excellent knowledge. Allah is therefore the true possessor of hikmah (Hakim), since He knows the most excellent things through the most excellent knowledge…

According to the masters of exegesis, “hikmah” is the knowledge of the truth as it pertains to one’s self and of good for the purpose of practicing upon it.

Hikmah According to Scholars of Hadith

Scholars of hadith have interpreted the word “hikmah” as meaning “correctness in speech.” It has also been said to mean “understanding given by Allah”, “what the intellect testifies to its legitimacy”, “a light that differentiates between true inspiration and satanic whispering,” “the ability to promptly answer a question correctly,” etc… [Fath al-Bari]

Hafiz Ibn al-Hajar transmitted on the authority of Imam Nawawi:

In regards to the meaning of hikmah, there are many unsettled opinions, the choicest of which is: Hikmah is the knowledge that comprises of recognizing Allah through the implementation of insight, refinement of the self, and affirmation of the truth by means of acting upon it and refraining from that which is contrary to it.  And al-Hakim is the person who possesses the aforementioned.

Hikmah According to the Spiritual Sages:

Shaykh Muhammad al-Thanawi has reported two meanings for the word “hikmah”:

1.      Hikmah is the recognition of the ailments of the self, Satan, and [deviant] spiritual exercises.

2.      Hikmah is a feature referring to the output of intellectual capacity which is moderation between being overly cunning (الجربزة) and excessively naïve (الحمق).  Hikmah, according to this definition, is one aspect of that justness which is the opposite of oppressive.

Various Meanings of Hikmah as Used in the Qur’an:

The Scholars of tafsir (exegesis of the Qur’an) have mentioned that the word hikmah, as used in the Qur’an, has six meanings:

           1. The first of these meanings is “admonition” (الموعظة).  An example of this is the saying of Allah the Exalted:

حِكْمَةٌ بَالِغَةٌ فَمَا تُغْنِ النُّذُرُ - القمر: 5

Consummate wisdom (admonition), but warnings do not avail. [Al-Qamr: 5]

2. The second of these meanings is “prophetic tradition”.  An example of this is the saying of Allah the Exalted:

و يعلمكم الكتاب و الحكمة –البقرة: 151

And He teaches you the Book (Qur’an) and the Wisdom (the prophetic tradition). [Al-Baqarah: 151]

3. The third meaning is “understanding”. An example of this is the saying of Allah the Exalted:

وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا لُقْمَانَ الْحِكْمَةَ أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِلَّهِ وَمَن يَشْكُرْ

فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ حَمِيد –لقمان: 12

Indeed, we have granted Luqman wisdom (understanding), saying: Be grateful to Allah.  And whoever is grateful, then he is only grateful for his own self.  And whoever is ungrateful, then Allah is the Self-Sufficient, the Praiseworthy. [Luqman: 12]

4. The fourth meaning is “prophethood”.  An example of this is the saying of Allah the Exalted:

وَآتَيْنَاهُ الْحِكْمَةَ وَفَصْلَ الْخِطَابِ – ص: 20

And we granted him wisdom (prophethood) and unmistakable judgment. [Sad: 20]

5. In the fifth meaning, hikmah refers to “the commands and prohibitions of the Qur’an".  An example of this is the saying of Allah the Exalted:

ادْعُ إِلِى سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَ – النهل: 125

Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom (the commands and prohibitions of the Qur’an) and goodly exhortation. [Al-Nahl: 125]

       6. The sixth meaning is “knowledge of the Qur’anic sciences”.  An example of this is the saying of Allah the Exalted:

يُؤتِي الْحِكْمَةَ مَن يَشَاء وَمَن يُؤْتَ الْحِكْمَةَ فَقَدْ

أُوتِيَ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلاَّ أُوْلُواْ الأَلْبَابِ –البقرة: 269

He grants wisdom (knowledge of the Qur’anic sciences) to whomever He wills, and whoever has been granted wisdom (knowledge of the Qur’anic sciences) then he has indeed been granted immense good. [Al-Baqarah: 269]

In a hadith declared fair (hasan) by Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said,

I am Darul Hikmah (the house of wisdom) and ‘Ali is its door.