Al-Hakam (الْحَكَمُ) means The Judge. It is name 28 in the well-known list of the 99 Names of Allah. Al-Ḥakam is the Judge whose ruling is final and always just. He judges between people in this world by His law and on the Last Day by His court.
The root and its meaning
Al-Hakam comes from the Arabic root ح ك م (ḥ-k-m), which carries the sense of judging, and holding back from wrong.
Where it is in the Quran
The exact form ḥakam is used of Allah in 6:114. The Prophet ﷺ changed a man's kunya from Abul-Ḥakam, saying Allah is Al-Ḥakam.
Surah Al-An'aam 6:114
أَفَغَيْرَ ٱللَّهِ أَبْتَغِى حَكَمًۭا وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ إِلَيْكُمُ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ مُفَصَّلًۭا ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَاتَيْنَٰهُمُ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ يَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُۥ مُنَزَّلٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّكَ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۖ فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْمُمْتَرِينَ
Afaghairal laahi abtaghee hakamanw wa Huwal lazee anzala ilaikumul Kitaaba mufassalaa; wallazeena atai naahumul Kitaaba ya'lamoona annahoo munazzalum mir Rabbika bilhaqqi falaa takoonanna minal mumtareen
[Say], "Then is it other than Allah I should seek as judge while it is He who has revealed to you the Book explained in detail?" And those to whom We [previously] gave the Scripture know that it is sent down from your Lord in truth, so never be among the doubters.
Quran 6:114. Arabic: Uthmani text (Tanzil). English: Sahih International.
Surah Hud 11:45
وَنَادَىٰ نُوحٌۭ رَّبَّهُۥ فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنَّ ٱبْنِى مِنْ أَهْلِى وَإِنَّ وَعْدَكَ ٱلْحَقُّ وَأَنتَ أَحْكَمُ ٱلْحَٰكِمِينَ
Wa naadaa noohur Rabbahoo faqaala Rabbi innabnee min ahlee wa inna wa'dakal haqqu wa Anta ahkamul haakimeen
And Noah called to his Lord and said, "My Lord, indeed my son is of my family; and indeed, Your promise is true; and You are the most just of judges!"
Quran 11:45. Arabic: Uthmani text (Tanzil). English: Sahih International.
Calling on Allah by this Name
Allah says: "And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them" (7:180). Begin your dua with يَا حَكَمُ (Yā Ḥakam) and ask for what fits its meaning. For example: "Yā Ḥakam, judge between me and those who wronged me with justice."
A dua from the Quran
قُلِ ٱللَّهُمَّ فَاطِرَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ عَٰلِمَ ٱلْغَيْبِ وَٱلشَّهَٰدَةِ أَنتَ تَحْكُمُ بَيْنَ عِبَادِكَ فِى مَا كَانُوا۟ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ
Qulil laahumma faatiras samaawaati wal ardi 'Aalimal Ghaibi washshahaadati Anta tahkumu baina 'ibaadika fee maa kaanoo fee yakhtalifoon
Say, "O Allah, Creator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, You will judge between your servants concerning that over which they used to differ."
Quran 39:46. Arabic: Uthmani text (Tanzil). English: Sahih International.
- Quran 6:114, translation by Sahih International.
- Quran 11:45, translation by Sahih International.
- Quran 39:46, translation by Sahih International.
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