ahkam

Ahkam is a term in Islamic jurisprudence that refers to the rulings or judgments (hukm) of Sharia governing human conduct. Derived from the Qur'an and Sunnah and elaborated through legal theory, they determine what is obligatory, recommended, permissible, disliked, or forbidden for Muslims. The plural ahkam denotes the different categories of rulings and their implications for worship, transactions, and social conduct.

Most classical scholars classify ahkam into five main categories: wajib or fard (obligatory duties that must be performed; neglect incurs sin); mustahabb (recommended acts that are rewardable but not mandatory); mubah (permissible actions without moral merit or demerit); makruh (disliked acts that are discouraged but not sinful); and haram (forbidden acts that are impermissible and entail sin or prohibition). Some differences exist in terminology: fard and wajib are sometimes distinguished, with fard denoting a higher level of obligation acknowledged by consensus.

Sources and methodology: ahkam are derived primarily from the Qur'an and Sunnah, then interpreted through ijma' (consensus) and qiyas (analogical reasoning), among other usul al-fiqh principles. They apply to a broad range of domains, including ibadat (ritual worship) and muamalat (transactions and social interactions), as well as personal conduct.

In practice, the assignment of a given action to a category can vary by madhhab, context, and evolving normative considerations. The concept of ahkam remains central to Islamic jurisprudence, informing legal rulings, fatwas, and governance in many Muslim communities.