William C. Chittick

In both philosophy and Sufism, wisdom was understood to mean knowing things as they truly are and acting appropriately. This is to say that the goal of searching for wisdom was to become a wise man, a sage (hakim). The seeker of wisdom was attempting to live in perfect conformity with the Supreme Principle.

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Originally delivered at the Dialogue between Chinese and Islamic Civilizations: Cultural Dialogue and Cultural Consciousness, Yinchuan, China, November 2005. See also Sachiko Murata, Chinese Gleams of Sufi Light.