Hikma Distinguished from ‘Ilm and Nubuwwa
‘Ilm (knowledge) is what you know — facts, texts, reports. Hikma is how you use what you know — the capacity to apply knowledge to the situation in the right way at the right time. Nubuwwa (prophecy) is revelation from Allah — a specific channel of divine communication reserved for prophets.
Hikma can be given to anyone. The Quran says yu’ti al-hikma man yasha’ (2:269) — He gives wisdom to whom He wills, not restricted to the prophetic class. The phrase wa-man yu’ta al-hikma fa-qad utiya khayran kathiran (whoever is given wisdom has been given great good) makes it one of the most valued divine gifts, comparable in weight to major blessings.
Luqman as the Model
Luqman (31:12-19) received al-hikma — the Quran’s title for him is al-Hakeem (the wise). His wisdom is expressed in seven practical counsels to his son:
- Do not associate partners with Allah (31:13)
- Be grateful to Allah and your parents (31:14)
- Do not obey parents in shirk but keep good company with them (31:15)
- Even a mustard seed of deed, Allah will account for it (31:16)
- Establish prayer (31:17)
- Command good and forbid evil, and be patient over what befalls you (31:17)
- Do not swell with pride in your cheek at people, nor walk arrogantly (31:18-19)
These are not theological abstractions but practical moral architecture — the shape of a life well-ordered. This is hikma in action.
Hikma and the Bohra Ismaili Tradition
In Ismaili ta’wil, hikma carries a specific technical meaning: it refers to the esoteric dimension of religious knowledge — the inner (batin) meaning of the zahir (outer). The Quran pairs hikma with the Book in multiple verses (2:231, 3:81, 4:54, 33:34) — ta’wil reads these pairings as the tanzil (the scripture) paired with the ta’wil (its hidden meaning). The wali who carries the ta’wil of each prophetic cycle is the bearer of hikma for that age.
See also: Fadl Al Ilm, Al Luqman, Tafakkur Reflection, Tazkiyah, Al Ghazali, Quran Sciences, Tafsir Overview