Ahkam
/ʔaħˈkaːm/noun
A plural Arabic term referring to legal rulings, judgments, or religious regulations, especially in Islamic jurisprudence.
Did you know?Ahkam comes from the same Arabic root associated with wisdom, judgment, and governance, reflecting the traditional idea that law should embody discernment rather than mere punishment.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*ḥ-k-m
“A reconstructed root associated with wisdom, judgment, and the exercise of authority”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
ḥakama
“To judge, govern, arbitrate, or restrain”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
ḥukm
“Judgment, decision, command, or legal ruling”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
ḥikmah
“Wisdom or sound judgment”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
aḥkām
“Broken plural of ḥukm: judgments, rulings, or legal regulations”
Modern English
English
ahkam
“An English loanword used for Islamic legal rulings or religious regulations”