The Meaning Of Hikmah

[Abu Hafsa]

“Hikmah is to know the best of things by way of the best of sciences. And the one who excels in the knowledge of the details of various things is referred to as one who is hakim.” [Ibn Mandhur’s ‘Lisan al-‘Arab’; 15/30]

“One who is muhakkam is an old man with experience, and such a person has hikmah ascribed to him.” [al-Asma’i’s ‘as-Sihah’; 5/1901]

“Hikmah is justice in judging, and it is knowledge of the reality of things according to how they really are, and it has also been described as the established strength of knowledge-based logic. It has also been defined as reaching the truth with knowledge and action…and when it is said ‘ahkamahu,’ this means that one has been prevented from committing evil.” [‘Taj al-‘Arus’; 8/353]

“A hikmah is a silver saddle that weighs down a riding beast, and it is called this because if humbles the animal for the one who will ride it, preventing it from going wild, etc.” [‘al-Misbah al-Munir’; 1/200]

“It is that which prevents ignorance.” [Ibn Faris’s ‘Mu’jam Maqayis al-Lughah’; 2/91]

‘Abd ar-Rahman as-Sa’di said: “Hikmah consists of the beneficial sciences, knowledge of correct facts, firm logic, composed spirit, and being accurate in speech and action. And all of these affairs are not rectified except by hikmah, which is to put things in their proper places, assigning them to their proper status, being forthcoming when it is appropriate to do so, and refraining when it is proper to do so.” [‘Taysir al-Karim ar-Rahman’; 1/233]

ar-Razi said: “What is meant by hikmah is either knowledge, or doing that which is correct.” [‘Tafsir ar-Razi’; 7/67]

Ibn ‘Ashur said: “Hikmah has been explained as knowing things for what they really are, as much as is possible. In other words, it is such that one is not confused by various doubtful possibilities mixed together, and is not mistaken as to why certain things have occurred.” [‘at-Tahrir wat-Tanwir’; 3/61]

Sayyid Qutb said: “It is accuracy and justice, and realization of reasons and goals, and lightened insight that guides one to that which is correct and accurate in his movements and actions.” [‘Fi Dhilal al-Qur’an’; 1/312]

Ibn Hajar said, in regards to the hadith of Ibn ‘Abbas, that the Messenger of Allah said: “O Allah! Teach him the hikmah!”: “And there is a difference of opinion in regards to the meaning of hikmah here. So, it was said that it is: correctness in speech; understanding of Allah; that whose correctness is confirmed by logic; the light that distinguishes between inspiration and devilish whispers; quickness in answering correctly; and some of them explained hikmah here to mean the Qur’an.” [‘Fath al-Bari’; 7/100]

Ibn al-Qayyim said: “The best that has been said regarding hikmah is that which was said by Mujahid and Malik: “Knowledge of the truth, acting upon it, correctness in speech and action,” and this is impossible to achieve except by understanding the Qur’an, and having fiqh in the laws of Islam and the realities of faith.” [‘at-Tafsir al-Qayyim’; p. 226]

He Ibn al-Qayyim also said: “Hikmah is to do that which needs to be done, in the manner in which it needs to be done, at the time in which it needs to be done.” [‘Madarij as-Salikin’; 2/479]

He also divided hikmah into two categories, and three levels:

“Hikmah is of two types: that which is related to knowledge, and that which is related to action. So, that which is related to knowledge is to realize the essence of things, and to understand the connection between cause and effect – in regards to the Creation, occurrence of events, fate, and legislation. As for the action-based hikmah, it is to put things in their proper places.

And it is of three levels:

1) that you give everything its right and do not exceed the limits in this, and that you do not rush it before or delay it past its proper time;

2) that you realize Allah’s intent in His Promise, realize His Justice in His Decision, as well as His grace in preventing you from something. And from that which defines this level is that which has been said by the people of firmness and Sunnah: ‘Hikmah consists of the lofty and praiseworthy goals that are necessitated by his Creating and Commanding, for which He Commanded, and for which He Predestined;

3) that you reach the highest levels of knowledge when making deductions and coming to conclusions, and it is the insight, the knowledge of which is to the heart like something which is being looked at to the eyes that are looking at it (i.e., in confirming that the organ is functioning properly). And this is the exclusive level that has been reserved for the Companions over the rest of the Ummah, and it is the highest level that the scholars can reach.”

[‘Madarij as-Salikin’; 2/478]

Collected from the book ‘al-Hikmah,’ by Shaykh Nasir bin Sulayman al-‘Umar.


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[Abu Hafsa]

The Meaning of Al-Hikmah (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Allah said,

﴿يُؤْتِى الْحِكْمَةَ مَن يَشَآءُ﴾

(He grants Hikmah to whom He wills.)

`Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said, "That is knowledge of the Qur'an. For instance, the abrogating and the abrogated, what is plain and clear and what is not as plain and clear, what it allows, and what it does not allow, and its parables.'' Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn Mas`ud said that he heard the Messenger of Allah saying,

«لَا حَسَدَ إِلَّا فِي اثْنَتَيْنِ: رَجُلٌ آتَاهُ اللهُ مَالًا فَسَلَّطَهُ عَلَى هَلَكَتِهِ فِي الْحَقِّ، وَرَجُلٌ آتَاهُ اللهُ حِكْمَةً فَهُوَ يَقْضِي بِهَا وَيُعَلِّمُهَا»

(There is no envy except in two instances: a person whom Allah has endowed with wealth and he spends it righteously, and a person whom Allah has given the Hikmah and he judges by it and teaches it to others.)
This was also collected by Al-Bukhari, Muslim, An-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah.
Allah's statement,

﴿وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلاَّ أُوْلُواْ الأَلْبَـبِ﴾

(But none remember (will receive admonition) except men of understanding.) means, "Those who will benefit from the advice are those who have sound minds and good comprehension with which they understand the words (of advice and reminder) and their implications.''

﴿وَمَآ أَنفَقْتُم مِّن نَّفَقَةٍ أَوْ نَذَرْتُم مِّن نَّذْرٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُهُ وَمَا لِلظَّـلِمِينَ مِنْ أَنصَارٍ - إِن تُبْدُواْ الصَّدَقَـتِ فَنِعِمَّا هِىَ وَإِن تُخْفُوهَا وَتُؤْتُوهَا الْفُقَرَآءَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ وَيُكَفِّرُ عَنكُم مِّن سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ ﴾

(270. And whatever you spend for spendings (e.g., in Sadaqah) or whatever vow you make, be sure Allah knows it all. And for the wrongdoers there are no helpers.) (271. If you disclose your Sadaqat (almsgiving), it is well; but if you conceal them and give them to the poor, that is better for you. (Allah) will expiate you some of your sins. And Allah is Well-Acquainted with what you do.)

Allah states that He has perfect knowledge of the good deeds performed by all of His creation, such as charity and various vows, and He rewards tremendously for these deeds, provided they are performed seeking His Face and His promise. Allah also warns those who do not work in his obedience, but instead disobey His command, reject His revelation and worship others besides Him:

﴿وَمَا لِلظَّـلِمِينَ مِنْ أَنصَارٍ﴾

(And for the wrongdoers there are no helpers.) meaning, who will save them from Allah's anger and torment on the Day of Resurrection.

[Abu Hafsa]

All credit to Abu Sabaaya for the research in Post #1

Barakallah Feek Ya Akh.

[ibnfaruk]

Salams to all, MashAllah very beneficial, as are all of Abu Sabaaya's posts, may Allah reward him and you.

salams

[Abu Dharr Al Kashmiri]

Alhamdulillah very beneficial read. Jazakamullahu khayran

[abudurrah]

jazakallah khair for that

“One who is muhakkam is an old man with experience, and such a person has hikmah ascribed to him.” [al-Asma’i’s ‘as-Sihah’; 5/1901]

is this linguisticly or shariah.

i want to know coz i wanna coz, is it possible for the youth to have hikmah.

[Abu Jalfrezi]

Barakallah Feek Akh for this beneficial peice. Indeed Hikmah is something which there is a lack of nowadays.

This refutes those zealous youth, who argue that Hikmah is Quran and Sunnah (which is not incorrect) so whatever they do according to what they believe is Quran or Sunnah is Hikmah, regardless of how much it goes against the sane mind and wisdom itself.