Al-Ḥakam
The Judge, The Arbiter
Root ح ك م (ḥ-k-m). Lane states that ḥakamahu primarily means ‘he prevented, restrained, or withheld him’ from wrongdoing; judgement (ḥukm) is what restrains wrongdoing. The word ḥukm means judgement or rule. Ḥikma is translated as wisdom. The term ḥākim means judge, such as in Qur'an 95:8, ‘aḥkam al-ḥākimīn’. Muḥkam, meaning precise or decisive, appears in Qur'an 3:7. While the definite form Al-Ḥakam is not in the Qur'an, it occurs indefinite, ḥakaman: ‘Then is it other than Allah I should seek as judge’ (6:114).
The root
ح ك مḥ-k-m
Restraining and judging. Lane says the primary acceptation of ḥakamahu is 'he prevented, restrained, or withheld him' from acting wrongly; judgement (ḥukm) is what restrains wrongdoing.
- حُكْمḥukmjudgement, rule
- حِكْمَةḥikmawisdom
- حَاكِمḥākimjudge (95:8, aḥkam al-ḥākimīn)
- مُحْكَمmuḥkamprecise, decisive (3:7)
Pronunciation
الْحَكَمُ
al-HA-kam
In the Qur'an
أَفَغَيْرَ اللَّهِ أَبْتَغِي حَكَمًا وَهُوَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ إِلَيْكُمُ الْكِتَابَ مُفَصَّلًا ۚ وَالَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ يَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ مُنَزَّلٌ مِنْ رَبِّكَ بِالْحَقِّ ۖ فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُمْتَرِينَ
[Say], "Then is it other than Allah I should seek as judge while it is He who has revealed to you the Book explained in detail?" And those to whom We [previously] gave the Scripture know that it is sent down from your Lord in truth, so never be among the doubters.
6:114 · Sahih International