Hikma
/ˈhɪk.mə/noun
An Arabic term meaning wisdom, sound judgment, or philosophical insight, especially in Islamic thought.
Did you know?In Islamic intellectual tradition, hikma became closely associated with philosophy, theology, and the pursuit of wisdom, while the same Arabic root also produced words for judgment and governance.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*ḥ-k-m
“Reconstructed root associated with judging, deciding, governing, and wisdom”
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
ḥokhmāh
“Wisdom or skill, especially divinely informed understanding”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
ḥikma
“Wisdom, sound judgment, philosophy, or the ability to apply knowledge rightly”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
ḥukm
“Judgment, ruling, authority, or decree”
Medieval Islamic scholarship
Arabic
ḥikma
“Wisdom as a philosophical and theological discipline, including the study of reality and divine order”
Modern English
English
hikma
“A transliterated Arabic term used in English-language writing about Islamic philosophy, spirituality, and wisdom”