Question about the Arabic work "hukm"

[Treks]

Greetings

In Sikhi, the word "hukam" is used extensively. I am trying to learn more about what Guru Nanak, circa 1500 AD, may have understood this term to mean.

According to Wikipedia, "hukam" is derived from from the Arabic 'hukm'.

How is this word usually used in Islam - does it have a special connotation as being a command from Allah, or is it more generalised to mean 'law' or 'system of law'?

Many thanks
Treks

 

[Godobeyer]

Greetings

In Sikhi, the word "hukam" is used extensively. I am trying to learn more about what Guru Nanak, circa 1500 AD, may have understood this term to mean.

According to Wikipedia, "hukam" is derived from from the Arabic 'hukm'.

How is this word usually used in Islam - does it have a special connotation as being a command from Allah, or is it more generalised to mean 'law' or 'system of law'?

Many thanks
Treks

Salam

Hi Terk Hukm "حُكْم" is close to meaning verdict , it's decision of judgement in court .

 

[Smart_Guy]

Hi there

You mean the religious meaning of hukm? It means the level of allowance of an act, or the position of religion in allowing it.

So the hukm of eating pork for example is forbidden "haram", or for another example, the hukm of eating beef is allowed "halal".

It could also refer to some religious behaviors like how to read the Quran the right way or how perform ablution, but in such contexts is it used in the plural form ahkam (long vowel for second /a/).

As for the lexical meaning, Godobayer was kind enough to explain. It means sentence.

 

[Godobeyer]

Hi there

You mean the religious meaning of hukm? It means the level of allowance of an act, or the position of religion in allowing it.

So the hukm of eating pork for example is forbidden "haram", or for another example, the hukm of eating beef is allowed "halal".

It could also refer to some religious behaviors like how to read the Quran the right way or how perform ablution, but in such contexts is it used in the plural form ahkam (long vowel for second /a/).

As for the lexical meaning, Godobayer was kind enough to explain. It means sentence.

thanks for help Smart Guy .
lol I forget the religious meaning .

 

[LuisDantas]

Greetings.

Please allow me to ask then, do you feel that something like "acceptability", "adequability", "appropriateness", "auspiciousness", "fitness" "merit" or "wholesomeness" might be a good word to use to give the approximate idea of hukm in religious contexts?

Do you feel that it is fair to say that Islam acknowledges the importance of the individual seeking constructive actions and choices, keeping in mind the close interdependency between the well-being of general society and that of the individual?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Smart_Guy]

Thank you for asking such a reasonable question.

Please allow me to ask then, do you feel that something like "acceptability", "adequability", "appropriateness", "auspiciousness", "fitness" "merit" or "wholesomeness" might be a good word to use to give the approximate idea of hukm in religious contexts?

I believe "acceptability" fits best to the description. It ranges from fully acceptable to completely unacceptable. That of course in normal cases.

Do you feel that it is fair to say that Islam acknowledges the importance of the individual seeking constructive actions and choices, keeping in mind the close interdependency between the well-being of general society and that of the individual?

This is complicated for me to answer, but the well being of the society is more important than that of the individual. That of course does not mean neglecting the the individual or be unfair to them for the sake of the society, but the reason behind it is because the individual lives in the society, so to have a good individual, a good society must be there to up-bring them, within the fairness for both. On the individual level, I believe Islam does acknowledge the importance of the individual seeking constructive actions and choices. This is why the above has basic rules and side rules depending on the need and circumstances of the individual.