ABSTRACT
Reason as an instinctive faculty given to humans is a poorly understood concept in psychology. The concept of reason is from the French “raison,” from which the English word is derived. The concept has been examined from different perspectives: Philosophical, logic, linguistics, psychology, cognitive science and artificial intelligence. Intellect is a cardiocentric (heart-centred) model and a encephalocentric model (brain-centred). The word Aql is an Arabic language term meaning “intellect,” intelligence or the rational faculty of the soul or mind in Islamic philosophy. The concept of intellect or reasoning is well promoted in the Qur’an and Sunnah. Scholars have identified five essential values of life: Religion (Ad-Deen), physical safety (An Nafs), ancestry and lineage (An-Nasl, or An-Nasab), intellect (Al-Aql) and property (Al-Maal). There is a divergence of opinions between the scholars of Islam concerning the anatomical seat of intellect, whether it is in the brain or heart. According to the Qur’an, wisdom is of the greatest value and blessing for a human being. A growing body of evidence suggests that wisdom is a complex concept that contributes to mental health and happiness. In Islam, wisdom is always linked to virtue and ethical behaviours and Hikmah is the lost property of the believer. The wisdom of Luqman: Do not ascribe partners to Allah; fulfil the rights of the parents; do not forget that Allah is watching everything you do; establish prayer; enjoin people for good and forbid from evil; observe patience; do not be arrogant; adopt a moderate approach in life; be moderate in walking; keep your voice unraised.
