ABSTRACT
While al-Quddūs is the most eminent signifier of transcendence, there are a few other attributes that convey Allah's perfection without compromising His alterity, due to their rootedness in freedom. One of these attributes is ḥilm. Like al-Quddūs, ḥilm has also been marginalized in the tawḥīdic discourses. In this chapter, a review of the pre-Islamic development of ḥilm is provided, with emphasis on its anthropological significance. This is followed by an analysis of how this moral ideal has been perceived in the Islamic philosophical and ethical works. There is generally an ambivalence towards ḥilm, and its underappreciation may be due to its strong association with pre-Islamic culture, which is considered jahiliyya (abominable ignorance).
While al-Quddūs is the most eminent signifier of transcendence, there are a few other attributes that convey Allah's perfection without compromising His alterity. One of these attributes is ḥilm, which is a manifestation of divine freedom. Like al-Quddūs, ḥilm has also been marginalized in the tawḥīdic discourses. In this chapter, a review of the pre-Islamic development of ḥilm is provided, with emphasis on its anthropological significance. This is followed by an analysis of how this moral ideal has been perceived in Islamic philosophical and ethical works. There is generally an ambivalence towards ḥilm, and its under-appreciation may be due to its strong association with pre-Islamic culture, which is considered jahiliyya (abominable ignorance).
