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''Aql al-Fa'al ()'' or Wahib al-Suwar'''' is a kind of reason in
Islamic philosophy Islamic philosophy is philosophy that emerges from the Islamic tradition. Two terms traditionally used in the Islamic world are sometimes translated as philosophy—''falsafa'' (), which refers to philosophy as well as logic, mathematics, and p ...
and psychology. It is considered as the lowest level of celestial intelligences''.''


Concept

Aql has many different meanings in
Islamic philosophy Islamic philosophy is philosophy that emerges from the Islamic tradition. Two terms traditionally used in the Islamic world are sometimes translated as philosophy—''falsafa'' (), which refers to philosophy as well as logic, mathematics, and p ...
and psychology. The word aql philologically means to restrain or to tie. It is something which prevents human from judgment and behavior. Semantically aql gradually transformed to reason. In
Islamic philosophy Islamic philosophy is philosophy that emerges from the Islamic tradition. Two terms traditionally used in the Islamic world are sometimes translated as philosophy—''falsafa'' (), which refers to philosophy as well as logic, mathematics, and p ...
, particularly the
peripatetic school The Peripatetic school ( ) was a philosophical school founded in 335 BC by Aristotle in the Lyceum in ancient Athens. It was an informal institution whose members conducted philosophical and scientific inquiries. The school fell into decline afte ...
, the technical use of aql to some extent is under the influence of
Greek philosophy Ancient Greek philosophy arose in the 6th century BC. Philosophy was used to make sense of the world using reason. It dealt with a wide variety of subjects, including astronomy, epistemology, mathematics, political philosophy, ethics, metaphysic ...
.


Historical background

Farabi numerated several meanings of aql in his book. Farabi tries to reconcile between the peripatetic understanding of active intellect with the Islamic notion of prophecy. Farabi identifies active intellect with Jibril (the angel of revelation in Islam). Humans can be transformed from '' Aql bi al-Quwwah'' (potential intellect) into '' Aql bi al-Fi'l'' (actual intellect). Thereby men can be free from the darkness of ignorance. Finally aql transforms into '' Aql al-Mustafad'' (acquired intellect). In the level that acquires intellect, aql reflects upon its own contents through inquiring among its similarities and distinction.


See also

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Active intellect In medieval philosophy, the active intellect (Latin: ''intellectus agens''; also translated as agent intellect, active intelligence, active reason, or productive intellect) is the formal (''morphe'') aspect of the intellect ('' nous''), according ...
*
Islamic philosophy Islamic philosophy is philosophy that emerges from the Islamic tradition. Two terms traditionally used in the Islamic world are sometimes translated as philosophy—''falsafa'' (), which refers to philosophy as well as logic, mathematics, and p ...


References

Islamic philosophy Islamic terminology {{islam-studies-stub