aqliy

Aqliy is an Arabic term meaning rational or intellectual, derived from the root aql, which denotes mind, reasoning, or understanding. As an adjective, aqliy describes things related to human reason, logic, or deductive thinking, as opposed to those associated with revelation or tradition.

In Islamic thought, aqli is often paired with naqli to distinguish knowledge gained through reason from knowledge transmitted by scriptural sources. Aqli knowledge emphasizes demonstration, logical consistency, and causation, and it is associated with disciplines such as philosophy, logic, and certain branches of jurisprudence that appeal to reason. Naqli knowledge, by contrast, rests on revelation, scripture, and authoritative reports. The interplay between aqli and naqli has shaped debates among theologians, philosophers, and jurists, guiding discussions on how reason and revelation should inform belief and practice.

In philosophy and related sciences, al-‘aqliya can refer to rational or rationally knowable sciences. This broad category includes logic (mantiq), mathematics, natural philosophy (early science), metaphysics, and ethics—areas typically approached through demonstration, reflection, and systematic argument rather than empirical or devotional sources alone.

In contemporary usage, aqliy appears in Arabic, Persian, Urdu, and Turkish scholarly literature to designate rationalist methods, the study of rational sciences, or a classification framework that contrasts aqli with naqli approaches. The term remains central to discussions about the scope and limits of human reason in relation to belief, knowledge, and inquiry.