Hikmah
/ˈhɪk.mə/noun
In Islamic thought, wisdom or divine insight, often associated with sound judgment and understanding.
Did you know?Hikmah shares its Arabic root with hakim, meaning wise person, judge, ruler, or physician—figures traditionally linked with the power to discern and restore order.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*ḥkm
“To judge, decide, establish order, or govern wisely”
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
ḥokhmāh
“Wisdom, especially practical or sacred wisdom”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
ḥikma
“Wisdom, sound judgment, or profound understanding”
7th Century
Quranic Arabic
ḥikmah
“Wisdom or divinely guided understanding, mentioned alongside scripture”
19th–20th Century
English
hikmah
“A transliterated Islamic term for wisdom, philosophical insight, or spiritual understanding”