An Etymological and Semantic Investigation of the Word akhlāq

This paper aims to carry out an investigation of the word akhlāq (s. khuluq) from an etymological-semantic perspective by mainly considering the classical Arabic lexicons. Although this word is often used as signifying “moral”, the root kh-l-q and the word akhlāq derived from this root does not directly involve a moral content. Even a small survey through classical Arabic lexicons shows that the primary meaning of the word kh-l-q is taqdīr, that is, “the act of measuring or determining the measure or proportion, and making a thing by measure.” Based on these data, the word akhlāq is considered and defined to be the nature and moral character of the human in the classical Arabic lexicons. This approach is consistent with the moral conception of the classical virtue ethics. The lexicographical meaning of the word akhlāq is also immanent in the way it is used in classical religious, philosophical, and literary texts.