hukm

Hukm is an Arabic noun meaning judgment, ruling, decree, or command. Etymologically it derives from the root h-k-m, associated with judging, deciding, and authority. The term is widely used across Arabic-speaking communities and in related languages such as Urdu and Persian, where it retains connotations of decision and governance.

In Islamic jurisprudence, the term often appears in the plural ahkam, which denotes the categories of rulings that govern action. Rulings are typically classified as obligatory (fard or wajib), recommended (sunnah or mandub), permissible (mubah), disliked (makruh), and forbidden (haram). The science that studies how hukm is derived and applied is usul al-fiqh (principles of jurisprudence) within fiqh, and it relies on primary sources such as the Qur’an and Sunnah, as well as methods like ijma (consensus) and qiyas (analogy).

The term also has a theological sense, referring to God’s command or decree in revelation and in divine governance. In this sense, hukm underscores the ultimate authority of God over moral and legal matters, as understood in Islamic thought.

In modern usage, hukm can denote a court ruling or official order within legal and administrative contexts in Arabic-speaking regions. It is also used as a given name in some Arab and South Asian communities, reflecting its association with authority, judgment, and wisdom.