Imam Razi’s Ilm al-Akhlaq

Imam Fakhr al-Din al-Razi’s work on ethics, often considered part of his broader philosophical and theological corpus, focuses on the rational and systematic construction of human morality within an Islamic framework. Ilm al-Akhlaq delves into the nature of the human soul (Nafs), classifying virtues and vices based on their effect on spiritual perfection and happiness (Sa’adah). Drawing heavily on Greek philosophy (particularly Aristotle and Plato) and integrating it with Ash’ari theology, Razi sought to provide a comprehensive philosophical guide for cultivating intellectual and practical virtues necessary for attaining closeness to God, making it a critical text in the development of Islamic ethics and moral psychology.
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