Dictionary_Of_Islamic_Philosophy.pdf

Dictionary of Islamic philosophical terms

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Dictionary of Islamic Philosophical Terms

Introduction:

This dictionary is an aid to the readers of Muslim philosophical works many of which

are in Arabic. It includes most of the terminology that was developed by Muslim

philosophers in their works and the terms that they borrowed -and sometimes translated-

from the Greek philosophical works. Also included are concepts that are Islamic but of a

philosophical nature and were used by Muslim philosophers. Pure Arabic or strictly Fiqhi

(including Islamic concepts ) and Sufi terminology are not included in this dictionary. Also

if you are looking for Arabic Names - male or female - this is not the place for it.

The dictionary also includes the Arabized names of the philosophers and scientist of

Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Origin -namely those that worked with Greek works of

science, mathematics and philosophy.

At times it only includes the names of the non- Muslim scholars and little else, as very

little is known about them. Also the Greek schools of thoughts are included and briefly

defined. There are philosophers and ideas that were erroneously attributed by the

philosophers who worked in Arabic -Muslim and non-Muslim- and that is brought to light.

An example of this is some the works of Poltinus was attributed to Aristotle.

This dictionary is based on the work by Prof. M. Saeed Sheikh " Dictionary of Muslim

Philosophy " published by the Institute of Islamic Culture -of Lahore, Pakistan- first

published in 1970 with updates and corrections as needed. Also I have added terms from

Professor Alparslan Acikgenc of Fatih University, Turkey, and they

are marked as such with (AnAc) .

Using the Dictionary:

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Dictionary of Islamic philosophical terms

Since this dictionary uses frames if you want to use a frame free version click here . At the

bottom frame you will find a list of Arabic alphabet. select the letter and that will open up

the page with list of definitions. If you do not see this frame you may click here for the

frames version.

l For a complete listing of the terms in this dictionary in English transliteration. click

here .

l For a complete listing of the terms in this dictionary in Arabic. click here .

l For a copy of the original preface of the book. click here .

For more information regarding Islamic Philosophy. click here .

l For a dictionary of Islamic philosophical terms in Russian. Click here .

Primary Sources of Reference:

1. Ta’rifat by Ali ibn Muhammad al-Jurjani, (Beirut: Matkabat Lebanon, 1978).

2. Mafatih al-‘Ulum by Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Khawarizmi.

3. Maqasid al-Falasifah by Imam Ghazali (ed. S. Duyna, Dar al-Maraif Cairo, 1960).

4. Kashf ‘Istilahat al-Funun by Muhammad Ali bin Ali at-Tahwani, (Beirut: Dar Sadr, 1961).

Supplementary Texts:

1. Al-Fhirist by al-Nadim. (The work is in Arabic and has been translated into English by the late B. Dodge).

2. Tarikh al-Hukama by Al-Qifti.

3. ‘Uyun al-‘Anba if Tabaqat al-‘Atibba by Ibn abi ‘Usaibi’ah.

4. Mustalihat Falsafi Sadr ad-Din Shirazi by Sayyid Ja’far Sajjadi.

5. al-Mu'jam al-Falsafi by Jamil Salibah, (Beirut: Dar al-Kitab al-Lubanani, 1982).

6. Studies in the History of Arabic Logic by Nicholas Rescher.

7. Lexique del la Langue Philosophique d’ Ibn Sina by A. M. Goichon .

Any questions or comments please e-mail me.

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Dictionary of Islamic philosophical terms

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PREFACE

Dictionary of

Muslim Philosophy

PRE FACE

In this short work, the first of its kind in the English language, an attempt has been made to give reliable

definitions and clear explanations of the major terms used by the medieval Muslim philosophers in logic,

metaphysics, psychology and other allied disciplines.

Among the many works consulted in the compilation of this dictionary are the Ta‘rifat by ‘Ali ibn

Muhammad al-Jurjani , Mafatih al-‘Ulum by Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Khwarizmi , Lexique de la Langue

philosophique d’ Ibn Sina by A. M. Goichon and Imam al-Ghazali’s Maqasid al-Falasifah . For fuller

explanation of certain terms the monumental Kashf ‘Istilahat al-Funun has been resorted to, while quite a

few terms have been culled from Sayyid Ja‘far Sajjadi ’s Mustalihat Falsafi Sadr al-Din Shirazi . Nicholas

Rescher ’s Studies in the History of Arabic Logic has been helpful in the selection and elucidation of a

number of logical terms.

To the important terms selected have been added some variants of Arabicised Greek names and titles

which though commonly found in such source books as Ibn al-Nadim ’s al-Fihrist , alQifti ’s Tarikh al-

Hukama’ , Ibn abi ‘Usaibi‘ah ’s ‘Uyun al-’Anba’ fi Tabaqat al-’Atibba’ , are yet likely to be unfamiliar to the

modern reader.

All terms given in Arabic script with transliteration in English have been arranged alphabetically except

for the definite article "al" which has been disregarded in the listing of both the single words and the

compounds. Where the technical meaning of a term differs widely from its literal meaning, the latter has

also been given.

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PREFACE

I feel deeply indebted to a large number of learned authors, both Oriental and Occidental, whose valuable

works have been of great help to me in compiling this dictionary; the present work, however, is not a

mere translation of what has been written on Muslim philosophy or its terminology in Arabic, or Persian,

or German, or French. An effort has been made all along to strike a balance between the ipsessima verba

of the classical texts consulted and the diction and idiom of modern philosophical thought to make the

definitions and explanations of terms as easily and clearly communicable to the Western and West-

oriented reader as is possible consistently with accuracy; this, however, could be attempted only by

making a free use of cross-references:

This dictionary, it is hoped, will be of use not only to the students of Muslim philosophy, for whom it has

been primarily designed, but will also be of interest to scholars of Islamics and philosophy generally. It is

further expected to be of some help to the increasing number of scholars who are engaged in forging a

new philosophical vocabulary in Arabic, Persian, or Urdu in alignment with the great Muslim intellectual

heritage.

I wish to place on record my deep sense of indebtedness to my teacher, the late Professor M. M. Sharif ,

who urged me to work on this deplorably neglected field, helped me to prepare the original plan and

remained my guide and constant source of inspiration, so long as he lived, in its execution in detail. May

his soul rest in peace !

To Dr S. M. Ikram , the present Director of the Institute of Islamic Culture, Lahore, I owe a special debt

of gratitude-without his personal interest, encouragement and patience this work would not have seen

the light of the day.

I remember with gratefulness the help given me in understanding some passages of highly technical

Arabic texts by Maulana M. Hanif Nadawi , an Arabist par excellence .

I am equally indebted to Mr. M. Ashraf Darr for the very special care with which he went through the

manuscript and the closest attention with which he read the rather difficult proofs.

Needless to add that for imperfections and shortcomings which still remain I alone am responsible.

Suggestions for improvement will be gratefully acknowledged.

Lahore

M.S.S.

23 June 1970

Fine print: A Dictionary of Muslim Philosophy is copyright of the Institute of Islamic Culture, 1970. First Impression, 1970: 1100

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