ahlâk

ahlâk (also spelled ahlak, Arabic: أخلاق‎) is an Arabic term that refers to moral principles, ethics, and the standards of conduct seen as desirable within a society. Derived from the root letters k-l-q, the word encapsulates the collective habits, customs, and code of behavior that distinguish a community’s sense of right and wrong. The concept has its roots in Islamic teachings, where ahlâk is considered one of the foundational pillars of the faith and a guide for personal and social conduct.

In classical Islamic scholarship, ahlâk is often discussed alongside the technical sciences, science of the heart, and the more advanced aspects of character. Arabic scholars such as Al-Ghazali and Ibn Khaldun wrote extensively about the cultivation of virtue, linking ahlâk to the broader vision of human dignity and the Kingdom of God. Many Sunni schools emphasize that the study and practice of ahlâk is essential for aligning a believer’s internal disposition with outward behavior. Ethics is also a prominent topic in Sufi teachings, with emphasis on purification of the heart and attaining states of moral excellence.

In modern usage outside the strictly religious context, ahlâk may refer to a code of conduct for professions, businesses, or other communities. Many non‑Muslim scholars still use the term as a part of a syncretic framework for discussing Islamic moral philosophy. In contemporary education, courses on ahlâk are offered in some Arab universities as part of Islamic studies programs, addressing contemporary moral challenges while drawing from classical sources.