Discover the meaning of the term Al-fkr (فكر) in Islamic vocabulary.
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Updated on 11 April 2026 at 1:05 AM
📖 3 min readThe ordering of known matters so as to lead to an unknown.
The deepening of reflection upon a thing. Know that nazar and fikr are as synonyms, for between them is a conventional difference, that observing motion in the thing is considered in nazar and not considered in fikr. The well-known definition of the two is: the ordering of known matters to lead to an unknown, theoretical, conceptual or assentative. Upon this it is meant that definition by a singular is not sound, as defining man by 'speaking' and by 'laughing.' It is answered: the defined must be known by some aspect, so definition is by the compound of that aspect and the singular, or that definition by the singular is only by derivatives, which are compound in that they include the essence and the quality, or in that they are more general in concept, so a specific context is required; thus definition by the singular is compound of the derivative's meaning and the context. What flaw is in these three answers is not hidden: the aspect by which the sought is known precedes definition, were it with him the seeking of the unrestricted unknown would be required; and there is no ordering between it and the singular; and likewise no ordering in the derivative, neither between the essence and the quality nor between the derivative and the context.
'Fakkara fi al-shay' yafakkuru fakkaran' (like daraba): he exercised his mind upon it to understand its aspects and its reality. Abu al-Baqa' said: 'fikr is the soul's motion toward the premises and its return from them to the sought ends.' The shaykh Zakariya said: 'fikr is the soul's motion in the intelligibles, unlike it in the sensibles, for that is imaging, not thought.'
Imaginative motions in the mind; the soul's motions in meanings seeking the middle term, or what runs its course.
The ordering of known matters to lead to an unknown.
The ordering of known matters to lead to an unknown; thus mentioned Ibn Kamal (and al-Ta'rifat, p. 176).
The ordering of known matters to lead to an unknown, or the heart's wavering by looking and pondering in seeking meanings.