99 Names of Allah - Asma ul Husna - And the Answer is . . . Al-Hakam!

Allah’s Name Al-Hakam— The Judge, The Giver of Justice, The Arbitrator— is described in ayah 114 of Surah Al-An’am: 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?

Nothing Happens Without His Decree

Al-Hakam is the Onewho always delivers justice, in every situation, to everyone. Nothing happens in creation except by His authority and decree. Al-Hakam never wrongs anyone and is never oppressive. He is the only true Judge; no one can overturn His judgment and no one can ever appeal His decree!

Hakam comes from the root Haa-kaaf-meem, which refers to the attribute of judging, being wise, passing a verdict, and preventing or restraining people from wrongdoing. It appears 210 times in the Quran in 13 derived forms. Examples of these forms are hakama (to judge), al-hukm (the command, wisdom, judgement), hikmah (wisdom), and Ahkamu (Most Just).

Allah’s name Al-Hakam refers to the totality of Allah’s power to judge and arbitrate with perfect justice and immense mercy, which cannot be compared with the judging and arbitrating of any other created being.

The Best of Judges

Al-Hakam deals with all the affairs of Creation. Isn’t that amazing? He beautifully says: All those who are in the heavens and the Earth ask of Him; every moment He is in a state (of glory). [Sūrah al-Rahmān: 29]

Al-Hakam makes certain deeds lawful and other deeds sinful. He instructs us to do certain things and prohibits us from doing others. He has complete legislative power. The decree of Al-Hakam can’t be overturned by anyone, because He says:  His is the creation and His is the command. [Sūrah al-A`rāf: 54]

Whatever Al-Hakam legislates for you is never burdensome and never unfair.  Al-Hakam laid down the perfect rules to protect the rights of everyone—men and women, the righteous and the sinner, the believer and the unbeliever.

Judging Sins and Good Deeds

Al-Hakam is wise, the ultimate Judge, and He decreed that you don’t have to bear the sin of another. You’ll never ever be wronged by Allah (swt). You’re never punished for more than the magnitude of the sin you commit, and no good deed you ever do will go without a reward.

Al-Hakam Himself makes a soul-comforting promise: Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds – indeed, We will not allow to be lost the reward of any who did well in deeds. [Quran, 18:30]

Honouring the Names of Allah

Shurayh ibn Hani has said that his father Hani ibn Yazid said, I came to see the Messenger of Allah once and he heard people calling me `Abu al-Hakam (Father of Judgement).’ He said to them, `Al-Hakam is Allah! Why are you named like that?’ I said to him, `Whenever my people dispute with one another, I judge between them to the satisfaction of both disputing parties.’ The Prophet then asked me if I had any sons. `Yes. They are: Shurayh, Abdullah and Muslim, sons of Hani.’ `Who is their oldest?’ the Messenger of Allah asked me. I told him it was Shurayh. He then said, `You are Abu Shurayh,’ then he invoked Allah to bless me and my sons.

This is the hadith in which the Prophet confirms Allah’s Name Al-Hakam and it teaches us that we can’t choose the Beautiful Names of Allah to refer to ourselves unless we add “slave of” to them, like “Abdulhakam,” for example.

We can learn from this hadith that Islam erases what came before it and that if a person doesn’t have knowledge of something he’s excused of his faults until such time as he’s made aware of them. Alhamdulillaah ‘alaa ni’matul Islam— Praise be to Allah for the blessing of Islam!

How Can You Live by This Name?

1.  Trust in Al-Hakam at all times.

Take comfort in the fact that even if people are unjust, you will get your justice from Al-Hakam! Don’t despair, and fully rely on His judgment. Al-Hakam says: Follow what has been revealed to you, and be steadfast until Allah’s judgment comes. He is the Best of Judges. [Quran, 10:109]

2. Make the Quran and sunnah your guides.

You should take the Quran and the sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) for guidance in all matters, in all areas in your life. How many people refer to non-islamic legislations only when it comes to divorce, inheritance, etc.?  You should make the Quran and sunnah your guidance between right and wrong in everything you do, to guide you in your personal life, your community, your society, your interactions with others, your business, etc.

3. Remember Al-Hakam and stand up for the truth.

Remind yourself that you will stand before Him one day to be judged by Him. Make this your motivation to mind your actions in this world. Always stand up for truth and justice, even if it’s against yourself. Strive for a positive verdict from the One and only judge.

4. Always be fair and equal in judging others!

Whenever you’re in a position to judge between parties, for example a family affair, always be equal and just. Al-Hakam says: Behold, Allah bids you to deliver all that you have been entrusted with unto those who are entitled thereto,
and whenever you judge between people, to judge with justice.(Quran4:58)

5. Never object to the decree of Al-Hakam.

Whenever Al-Hakam decrees something, He does so with perfect wisdom. Never object to the decree of Al-Hakam by complaining about your fate and questioning Him (“oh, why do I have to go through this?”). Only people who don’t understand Allah (swt)’s names and attributes will question Him, so make it a striving to study al Asmaa ul Husnaa!

6. Ask Al-Hakam for protection and guidance.

Ask Allah Al-Hakam to protect you from injustice at the hands of others and ask Him to make you just toward others. Ask Al-Hakam to make you adhere to whatever He’s legislated for you!

Wallahuta’alaa‘alem.

O Allah, Al-Hakam, we know You are the Perfect Judge. Aid us to adhere to your legislation in our daily lives, make us of those who are equal and just to others and of those who always stand up for the truth. Protect us from the injustice of others, adorn us with reliance upon You and Your Justice at all times, ameen!