Discover the meaning of the term Al-ḥja (حجة) in Islamic vocabulary.
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Updated on 11 April 2026 at 1:05 AM
📖 2 min readThat by which the soundness of a claim is established; and it has been said: the hujja and the dalil (proof) are one and the same.
In language: predominance, from hajja yahujju (to prevail), when one overcomes. In the terminology of the logicians: that which leads to assent (tasdiq); it bears this name only because whoever holds to it in arguing for what he seeks prevails over his opponent, so that it is the cause of victory, and it was named after it, in the manner of naming the cause by the name of the effect. The logicians count three of them: qiyas (syllogism), istiqra' (induction) and tamthil (argument by example).
That which establishes the soundness of the claim; it is what leads to assent (tasdiq).
That by which the soundness of a claim is established; it is: a valid evidentiary proof (bayyina), or an admission (iqrar), or refusal of the oath (nakul 'an al-yamin), or an oath (yamin), or qasama, or the judge's knowledge after his investiture, or a decisive indicant (qarina); so in al-Ashbah.
﴿وَمِنْ حَيْثُ خَرَجْتَ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۚ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُۥ لِئَلَّا يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَيْكُمْ حُجَّةٌ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ فَلَا تَخْشَوْهُمْ وَٱخْشَوْنِى وَلِأُتِمَّ نِعْمَتِى عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ﴾
« And from wherever you go out [for prayer], turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram. And wherever you [believers] may be, turn your faces toward it in order that the people will not have any argument against you, except for those of them who commit wrong; so fear them not but fear Me. And [it is] so I may complete My favor upon you and that you may be guided. »
Surah البقرة : 150
﴿رُّسُلًۭا مُّبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ لِئَلَّا يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ حُجَّةٌۢ بَعْدَ ٱلرُّسُلِ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًۭا﴾
« [We sent] messengers as bringers of good tidings and warners so that mankind will have no argument against Allah after the messengers. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise. »
Surah النساء : 165
﴿قُلْ فَلِلَّهِ ٱلْحُجَّةُ ٱلْبَـٰلِغَةُ ۖ فَلَوْ شَآءَ لَهَدَىٰكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ﴾
« Say, "With Allah is the far-reaching argument. If He had willed, He would have guided you all." »
Surah الأنعام : 149
﴿فَلِذَٰلِكَ فَٱدْعُ ۖ وَٱسْتَقِمْ كَمَآ أُمِرْتَ ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ ۖ وَقُلْ ءَامَنتُ بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ مِن كِتَـٰبٍۢ ۖ وَأُمِرْتُ لِأَعْدِلَ بَيْنَكُمُ ۖ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّنَا وَرَبُّكُمْ ۖ لَنَآ أَعْمَـٰلُنَا وَلَكُمْ أَعْمَـٰلُكُمْ ۖ لَا حُجَّةَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمُ ۖ ٱللَّهُ يَجْمَعُ بَيْنَنَا ۖ وَإِلَيْهِ ٱلْمَصِيرُ﴾
« So to that [religion of Allah] invite, [O Muhammad], and remain on a right course as you are commanded and do not follow their inclinations but say, "I have believed in what Allah has revealed of the Qur'an, and I have been commanded to do justice among you. Allah is our Lord and your Lord. For us are our deeds, and for you your deeds. There is no [need for] argument between us and you. Allah will bring us together, and to Him is the [final] destination." »
Surah الشورى : 15