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Adjudicate
حكم (hakkama) is a verb meaning 'to adjudicate,' 'to judge,' or 'to rule.' It refers to the act of making a judicial decision, arbitrating a dispute, or governing with authority. The word carries connotations of wisdom and fair judgment in Islamic and Arabic cultural contexts.
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حكم القاضي لصالح المدعي في القضية.
Hakkama al-qadi li-salih al-muda'i fi al-qadiyyah.
The judge adjudicated in favor of the plaintiff in the case.
يجب على الحكم أن يحكم بعدالة بين الطرفين.
Yajib 'ala al-hakim an yahkuma bi-'adala bayn al-tarafen.
The arbitrator must adjudicate fairly between the two parties.
حكمت الملكة على البلاد بحكمة لمدة ثلاثين سنة.
Hakkmat al-malikah 'ala al-bilad bi-hikmah li-muddat thalatheen sanah.
The queen ruled over the country with wisdom for thirty years.
لا يمكن لأحد أن يحكم على الآخرين بدون معرفة الحقائق.
La yumkin li-ahad an yahkum 'ala al-akhireen bidun ma'rifat al-haqa'iq.
No one can judge others without knowing the facts.
حكم الحكم بعدم جواز هذا الفعل.
Hakkam al-hakim bi-'adam jawaz hadha al-fi'l.
The judge ruled that this action is not permissible.
In Islamic tradition, the concept of حكم is deeply rooted in Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) and the authority of judges to interpret religious law. The word reflects the importance of justice ('adala) in Arab and Islamic culture, where fair adjudication is considered a moral and religious obligation. Historically, judges and rulers who demonstrated wisdom in their judgments were highly respected in Arab societies.
Remember that حكم as a verb (hakkama) means 'to judge/adjudicate,' while حكم as a noun (hukm) means 'judgment/ruling.' The verb is typically used with على (ala) when indicating judgment over someone or something. Be careful to distinguish between legal judgment and personal opinion—حكم specifically implies authoritative decision-making, not mere commentary.
The Arabic verb حكم (hakkama) is a fundamental term in legal, governmental, and everyday Arabic discourse. It means 'to adjudicate,' 'to judge,' 'to rule,' or 'to govern.' The word encompasses the act of making authoritative decisions, particularly in judicial contexts, but also applies to ruling a territory or making binding determinations. It derives from the root ح-ك-م, which carries the semantic field of wisdom, governance, and judgment.
حكم is a regular Form I (triliteral) Arabic verb. In the present tense, it conjugates as:
The past tense follows similarly: حكمت، حكمنا، حكموا. When used with prepositional phrases, it commonly takes على (ala - 'on/over') to indicate judgment over someone or something: حكم عليه (he judged against him).
In Islamic civilization, the concept of adjudication and governance embodied by حكم represents a sacred responsibility. Islamic law (Sharia) explicitly mandates that judges and rulers make decisions based on justice and wisdom. The Qur'an frequently references the concept of divine judgment (hukm) and the importance of fair adjudication. Historically, renowned Islamic judges and scholars were celebrated for their wisdom in حكم, and their legal decisions often became precedents in Islamic jurisprudence.
In modern Arabic-speaking countries, حكم remains essential vocabulary in legal, political, and administrative contexts. Courts (محكمة) exist to apply the process of adjudication, and judges (قاضي) are entrusted with the authority to حكم on disputes and violations.
In legal contexts: "حكمت المحكمة العليا بدستورية القانون" (The Supreme Court adjudicated on the constitutionality of the law).
In governance: "حكم الخليفة الإسلامي بعدل على الدولة" (The Islamic Caliph ruled justly over the state).
In personal disputes: "اتفقنا على شخص محايد يحكم بيننا" (We agreed on a neutral person to adjudicate between us).
The word family derived from ح-ك-م includes:
It is crucial to distinguish حكم (verb) from حكم (noun). As a verb, it means the action of judging. As a noun, it can mean the judgment itself, the ruling, or wisdom. Additionally, حكم differs from similar words like قضى (qada - to judge/decide) in that حكم often implies a more formal, authoritative, or binding decision-making process. قضى can be more general, while حكم typically suggests the formal exercise of judicial or governmental authority.
English speakers should remember that حكم specifically denotes authoritative judgment rather than casual opinion-giving. The preposition على frequently accompanies this verb when the judgment concerns a person or entity. Understanding the root ح-ك-م helps learners recognize related vocabulary and appreciate the philosophical connection between judgment, wisdom, and governance in Arabic thought. Practice using حكم in both formal legal contexts and historical/governance discussions to master its usage fully.