Discover the meaning of the term Al-ḥkm (حكم) in Islamic vocabulary.
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Updated on 11 April 2026 at 1:05 AM
📖 3 min readThe predication of one thing of another, affirmatively or negatively; this excludes from the definition what is not a hukm, such as the restrictive relation (nisba taqyidiyya).
Masdar of one's saying 'he judged between them' (hakama), that is, decided; 'judged for him', 'judged against him'.
With damma of the ha' and sukun of the kaf: the effect necessarily following from a thing. In common usage: the attribution of one thing to another, affirmatively or negatively, excluding from the definition what is not a hukm, like the restrictive relation. In language: the directing of speech to another for understanding, then transferred to that which is addressed; hence it is said that what the usulis mean by God's address is the transcendent speech (kalam laduni).
Hakama, or hukuma: he judged; one says: he ruled for him, against him, or between them. He ruled against him 'in such a manner': forbade him it, so that he could not depart from that.
God's address concerning the acts of the morally responsible, either as requirement or as option; the predication of one thing of another, affirmatively or negatively.
With the people of the balance (ahl al-mizan): the predication of one thing of another affirmatively or negatively, which excludes the restrictive relation (al-Ta'rifat, p. 97).
What is established by compulsion; or, the deciding of the disputant's controversy and its settlement.
﴿مَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَن يُؤْتِيَهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْحُكْمَ وَٱلنُّبُوَّةَ ثُمَّ يَقُولَ لِلنَّاسِ كُونُوا۟ عِبَادًۭا لِّى مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَـٰكِن كُونُوا۟ رَبَّـٰنِيِّـۧنَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تُعَلِّمُونَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَبِمَا كُنتُمْ تَدْرُسُونَ﴾
« It is not for a human [prophet] that Allah should give him the Scripture and authority and prophethood and then he would say to the people, "Be servants to me rather than Allah," but [instead, he would say], "Be pious scholars of the Lord because of what you have taught of the Scripture and because of what you have studied." »
Surah آل عمران : 79
﴿وَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ شِقَاقَ بَيْنِهِمَا فَٱبْعَثُوا۟ حَكَمًۭا مِّنْ أَهْلِهِۦ وَحَكَمًۭا مِّنْ أَهْلِهَآ إِن يُرِيدَآ إِصْلَـٰحًۭا يُوَفِّقِ ٱللَّهُ بَيْنَهُمَآ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا خَبِيرًۭا﴾
« And if you fear dissension between the two, send an arbitrator from his people and an arbitrator from her people. If they both desire reconciliation, Allah will cause it between them. Indeed, Allah is ever Knowing and Acquainted [with all things]. »
Surah النساء : 35
﴿وَكَيْفَ يُحَكِّمُونَكَ وَعِندَهُمُ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةُ فِيهَا حُكْمُ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ يَتَوَلَّوْنَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ ۚ وَمَآ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ﴾
« But how is it that they come to you for judgement while they have the Torah, in which is the judgement of Allah? Then they turn away, [even] after that; but those are not [in fact] believers. »
Surah المائدة : 43
﴿أَفَحُكْمَ ٱلْجَـٰهِلِيَّةِ يَبْغُونَ ۚ وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ حُكْمًۭا لِّقَوْمٍۢ يُوقِنُونَ﴾
« Then is it the judgement of [the time of] ignorance they desire? But who is better than Allah in judgement for a people who are certain [in faith]. »
Surah المائدة : 50
﴿قُلْ إِنِّى عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَةٍۢ مِّن رَّبِّى وَكَذَّبْتُم بِهِۦ ۚ مَا عِندِى مَا تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ بِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنِ ٱلْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ ۖ يَقُصُّ ٱلْحَقَّ ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ ٱلْفَـٰصِلِينَ﴾
« Say, "Indeed, I am on clear evidence from my Lord, and you have denied it. I do not have that for which you are impatient. The decision is only for Allah. He relates the truth, and He is the best of deciders." »
Surah الأنعام : 57
﴿ثُمَّ رُدُّوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ مَوْلَىٰهُمُ ٱلْحَقِّ ۚ أَلَا لَهُ ٱلْحُكْمُ وَهُوَ أَسْرَعُ ٱلْحَـٰسِبِينَ﴾
« Then they His servants are returned to Allah, their true Lord. Unquestionably, His is the judgement, and He is the swiftest of accountants. »
Surah الأنعام : 62
This term appears in 37 verses of the Quran.