Discover the meaning of the term Al-ḥywan (حيوان) in Islamic vocabulary.
Contents :
Updated on 11 April 2026 at 1:05 AM
📖 2 min readThe growing body, endowed with sensation, moving by volition.
Derived from al-hayat (life): it is that which has a spirit (ruh); its opposite is al-mawtan (death); as if the alif and nun were added for intensification, as in nayzawan and ghalyan. Hayawan is applied to every ensouled being, rational or non-rational. Some defined it as the growing body, endowed with sensation, moving by volition; the animal is broader than the mute beast ('ajma') (al-Nazm al-Musta'dhab 1/223; al-Hudud al-Aniqa, p. 71; al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya 29/293).
Endowed with sensation and moved by volition.
Plural: hayawanat; that which has life; used alike in singular and plural. Every ensouled being among creatures, rational or non-rational (English gloss: living creatures). Every ensouled being among non-rational creatures (English gloss: animal).
The opposite of death (mawtan); then applied to every ensouled being, rational or non-rational; derived from life, it is used alike in singular and plural, since it is originally a masdar, its root being hayiyan.
Every ensouled being, rational or non-rational; derived from life; used alike in singular and plural. Life; in the Quran: "The life of this world is but diversion and play; the home of the hereafter is truly the life, did they but know" (al-'Ankabut 29:64), that is, the lasting life not followed by death. Al-hayy: the opposite of the dead; plural: ahya'; in the Quran: "Do not think those killed in Allah's path are dead; rather they are alive with their Lord, provided for" (Al 'Imran 3:169). The tribe. The tribe's dwelling.
﴿وَمَا هَـٰذِهِ ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا لَهْوٌۭ وَلَعِبٌۭ ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱلدَّارَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةَ لَهِىَ ٱلْحَيَوَانُ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ﴾
« And this worldly life is not but diversion and amusement. And indeed, the home of the Hereafter - that is the [eternal] life, if only they knew. »
Surah العنكبوت : 64