Aql al-Fa'al
Aql al-Fa'al or Wahib al-Suwar is a kind of reason in Islamic philosophy and psychology. It is considered as the lowest level of celestial intelligences''.''
Concept
Aql has many different meanings in Islamic philosophy and psychology. The word aql philologically means to restrain or to tie. It is something which prevents human from judgment and behavior. Semantically aql gradually transformed to reason. In Islamic philosophy, particularly the peripatetic school, the technical use of aql to some extent is under the influence of Greek philosophy.Historical background
Farabi numerated several meanings of aql in his book.Farabi tries to reconcile between the peripatetic understanding of active intellect with the Islamic notion of prophecy. Farabi identifies active intellect with Jibril. Humans can be transformed from Aql bi al-Quwwah into Aql bi al-Fi'l. Thereby men can be free from the darkness of ignorance. Finally aql transforms into Aql al-Mustafad. In the level that acquires intellect, aql reflects upon its own contents through inquiring among its similarities and distinction.