Hâkim

Hâkim is a term of Arabic origin (from the root ḥ-k-m) used across several languages to denote authority, judgment, or governance. The core sense is “one who governs, administers justice, or makes decisions.” In addition to its political and judicial uses, the same root also yields meanings such as “wise” or “sagacious” in some contexts.

In Arabic, ḥākim can refer to a ruler or local governor and, less commonly today, to a judge in certain historical or religious-legal settings. The term also appears in personal names and titles, and in compound forms such as Al-Hakim, which has been used by rulers and caliphs (for example, Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, a Fatimid caliph). In the broader Muslim world, the word has given rise to the proper name Hakim (or Hakeem/Haakim) used by many individuals.

In Malay and Indonesian contexts, hakim is the standard word for a judge or justice within the court system. In Turkish, the historical Ottoman form hâkim (with a circumflex to indicate a long vowel) carried similar connotations of authority or adjudication, though modern Turkish often uses yargıç for “judge.”

In South Asia, particularly in Urdu and Hindi, Hakim is a common given name and surname and, in the Unani system of medicine, a practitioner is often called a hakim or hakīm, reflecting the sense of learned authority or expertise.

Overall, hâkim carries connotations of authority, judgment, and knowledge, with variations in specific meaning across languages and historical periods.