Introduction

Classical bibliographers traditionally classified the science of akhlāq—moral
character traits—as a branch of “practical wisdom” (al-ḥikma al-ʿamaliyya),
specifically concerning self-governance (siyāsat al-nafs). In this framework,
akhlāq emphasises the acquisition of self-qualities aimed at personal perfec-
tion and happiness, engaging deeply with virtues for cultivation and vices for
avoidance (see Ḥajjī Khalīfa 1941, 1:35; 1:676, 2:1289; al-Qinnawjī 2002, 253, 376,
467). However, this volume adopts a broader conception of ethics than the
traditional Greek-originated approach. Here, ethics encompasses both the
agent and actions, integrating deontic and virtue ethics. This volume examines
Islamic classical works across multiple specialised fields, bridging theoretical
and practical dimensions, and extending beyond the Greek model of moral
philosophy. It explores varied approaches to ethics, positioning itself as a ref-
erence work in the emerging field of Islamic ethics. This interdisciplinary field
incorporates various disciplines within Islamic studies as well as external fields
such as medicine, offering an extensive and analytical examination of ethical
thought in classical times.

In this introduction, I will address three main issues: modern scholarship
on ethics in the Islamic tradition, the focus of this volume, and its content and
methodology