🔍 Understanding HAYŪLĀ (هـيـولى): The First Principle of Matter
HAYŪLĀ (هـ يـولى), deriving from the Greek hulē (ὕλη), meaning “matter” or “wood,” signifies a fundamental concept in Islamic philosophy. In classical rationalistic thought, HAYŪLĀ refers to the primal substance that constitutes the foundation of all material entities. Although it doesn’t appear in the Qurʾān or the Hadith literature, its implications reverberate through later Islamic intellectual traditions, significantly influencing metaphysics and ontology.
Etymology and Background
The term HAYŪLĀ is borrowed from Ancient Greek philosophy, particularly from the Aristotelian notion of hylē, but was adapted by Islamic philosophers such as Al-Kindi, Al-Farabi, and especially Ibn Sina (Avicenna). These thinkers integrated Greek metaphysical concepts with Islamic teachings to explain the nature of existence.
Cultural Differences and Similarities
While the concept of matter is universal across various philosophical traditions, HAYŪLĀ in Islamic philosophy incorporates a distinct theistic framework. Unlike the secular application in Greek philosophy or the more analytical dissection in modern scientific discourse, Islamic discussions on HAYŪLĀ bridge the metaphysical and the divine. Not only does it refer to the physical essence, but it is also seen as contingent upon the omnipotence of Allah.
Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms:
- Primal Matter
- Substance
- Essence
Antonyms:
- Form
- Spirit
- Abstraction
Related Terms
- Ṣūrah (صو رة): Form, the actual shape, structure, or design that matter (HAYŪLĀ) takes.
- Mādda (مـادّة): Another term for matter, but often used more generally.
- Jauhar (جَوْهَر): Substance and sometimes denotes ’essence.'
- Mithal (مِثَال): Form; conceptually intertwines with Ṣūrah.
Exciting Facts and Quotations
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Philosophical Integration: Ibn Sina’s Metaphysics relates HAYŪLĀ to his more comprehensive theories of existence and essence (wujūd and māhīyah), effectively cementing its role in Islamic philosophy.
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Influence: Medieval European scholars were heavily influenced by Islamic interpretations of HAYŪLĀ, guiding subsequent Christian scholasticism.
Quotation: Ibn Sina writes in his Kitāb al-Shifāʾ (Book of Healing):
“HAYŪLĀ is the bedrock upon which Allah imprints His creation, molding from it the multiplicity that springs forth from unity.”
Suggested Literature and Other Sources for Further Studies
- “The Metaphysics of Avicenna (Ibn Sina)” by Parviz Morewedge
- “Islamic Philosophy, Science, Culture, and Religion: Studies in Honor of Dimitri Gutas” edited by Felicitas Opwis and David Reisman
- “Mullā Ṣadrā’s Transcendent Philosophy” by Muhammad K. Sabih
Quizzes
May your quest for knowledge lead to profound understandings and deeper insights.
Farewell Thought: “In contemplating the primal substance of our material world, let us also perceive the divine imprint upon all existence.” - Fatima Hadi
Pollished by: Fatima Hadi, Islamic Scholar, 2023-10-04
