malakut

Malakut is an Arabic term meaning kingdom or realm. In Islamic cosmology and mysticism, it denotes the immaterial, spiritual realm, often described as the world of angels, souls, and intelligible realities, as opposed to the physical world. The term is used in Qurʼanic exegesis and in later metaphysical writings to designate a non-material layer of existence.

In traditional Islamic philosophy, the cosmos is described as organized into hierarchical planes: Nasut (the material, sensory world), Malakut (the realm of spirits and angels, and the intelligible realm of meanings), and Jabarut (the world of divine sovereignty and power). Malakut is frequently presented as an intermediate, bridging layer through which prophets, angels, and the inner experiences of humans can access higher truths.

In Sufi thought, Malakut refers to meanings, inspirations, and inner realities that underlie outward forms; knowledge of Malakut is said to be gained through contemplation, visionary experiences, or spiritual unveiling (kashf). Notable figures such as Ibn Arabi and Suhrawardi have discussed Malakut within their ontological frameworks, while Ghazali and others used related language to describe stages of the spiritual ascent. The concept has varied across schools and periods, and some modern scholars treat Malakut as a symbolic description of non-physical realities rather than a literal plane.

In contemporary usage, Malakut appears in studies of Islamic metaphysics and Sufi literature, as well as in popular discussions of angels and dreams. It is sometimes rendered as “the unseen realm” or “the realm of the unseen,” depending on translational choices.