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Hāni’ reported that when he came to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and he heard them calling Hāni’ by the nickname Abu al-Hakam, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) called him and said to him: “Allah is Al-Hakam (the Judge) and the judgment belongs to Him. Why are you known as Abu al-Hakam?” He said: “When my people differ concerning something, they come to me, and I pass judgment among them, and both sides accept it.” He said: “How good this is! Do you have any children?” He said: “I have Shurayh, Muslim, and ‘Abdullah.” He said: “Who is the eldest of them?” He said: “Shurayh.” He said: “Then, you are Abu Shurayh.” [Narrated by Al-Nasā’i; Sahīh (authentic)]
“Al-Hakam” and “Al-Hakīm” are from the beautiful names of Allah Almighty Who says: {...There is no god except Him, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.} [Surat Ᾱl ‘Imrān: 6] He also says: {...Verily, His is the judgment; and He is the Swiftest of Reckoners.} [Surat al-An‘ām: 62]
“Al-Hakīm has two meanings:
First: The One Who perfected all things. Allah Almighty is All-Wise because He perfected all His words and actions, all of which are right and at the peak of perfection.
An aspect of Allah’s perfection, which is the climax of wisdom, is that He puts everything in its proper place. He manages His creation in the best manner and has made the creatures in the most perfect way. Neither His management nor His creation suffers any deficiency or defect. And His actions are never subject to any error or lapse. Allah Almighty says: {...The work of Allah Who perfected all things...} [Surat an-Naml: 88]
Just as He perfected His creation, He also perfected the verses of His Book, the Noble Qur’an. He says: {...But Allah would abolish what Satan casts, then Allah would confirm His verses, for Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.} [Surat al-Hajj: 52] He describes His book as being wise: {These are verses of the wise Book.} [Surat Luqmān: 2]
Second: The Judge and Ruler among His servants as He judges between them by His Shariah.
He attributes judgment exclusively to Himself. So, it is not permissible for anyone to encroach upon this right. Allah Almighty says: {...The decision rests with Allah alone; He tells the truth and He is the Best of Judges.} [Surat al-An‘ām: 57] He also says: {...Verily, His is the judgment; and He is the Swiftest of Reckoners.} [Surat al-An‘ām: 62]”
To take Allah Almighty as the Judge and Ruler, we should refer to His Book and His Prophet’s Sunnah for judgment regarding anything we may differ about. Allah Almighty says: {Whatever is the subject of your differences, it is for Allah to judge....} [Surat ash-Shūra: 10]
It is Allah Almighty alone Who is worthy of being the Judge among His servants for He is their Lord, Creator, and God. {[Say], “Should I seek a judge other than Allah when He is the One Who has sent down to you the Book explained in detail?”...} [Surat al-An‘ām: 114]
Our Lord is the best of judges and the All-Knowing of all things. He gives the appropriate judgment regarding any issue as Allah Almighty says: {Follow what is revealed to you, and be patient until Allah passes His judgment, for He is the Best of Judges.} [Surat Yūnus: 109]
The believer is not truly a believer unless he submits to the Shariah of Allah and refers to it for judgment. Allah Almighty says: {But no, by your Lord, they will not believe until they accept you [O Prophet] as judge in their disputes, and find no discomfort within their hearts about your judgments, but accept them wholeheartedly.} [Surat an-Nisā’: 65]
Any community that claims to be Muslim yet does not rule by the Shariah of Allah will not attain success.
Whoever is endowed with wisdom is indeed endowed with abundant good. And indeed Allah grants it to whomever He wills. {And certainly We gave wisdom to Luqmān...} [Surat Luqmān: 12] All prophets (peace be upon them) were given wisdom, and some of them were better than the others in this respect.
The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “While two women were going along with their two sons, a wolf came and made away with the child of one of them. One of them said to her companion: ‘It is your child that it has made away with.’ And the other one said: ‘Rather, it has made away with your child.’
They brought the matter to Dāwūd (David) (peace be upon him) for judgment, and he made a decision in favor of the elder one. Thereupon, they went to Sulaymān ibn Dāwūd (Solomon) (peace be upon him) and told him (the story). He said: ‘Bring me a knife so that I may cut him into two parts for you.’
Thereupon, the younger one said: ‘Do not do that, may Allah have mercy upon you! He belongs to her.’ So, he gave a decision in favor of the younger one.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
Remember that Allah possesses the utmost wisdom. He does not give except for a wise purpose and does not withhold anything except for a wise reason. Indeed, Allah’s choice for you is better than your choice for your own self. {...And He has been Most Merciful to the believers.} [Surat al-Ahzāb: 43]
Sufyān al-Thawri (may Allah have mercy upon him) said: “When He withholds, it is indeed giving. This is because He does not withhold due to stinginess or unavailability. Rather, He looks at what is best for the person and withholds something from him based on His choice and good judgment.” A person may, in fact, pursue something that ultimately leads to untoward consequences or even to his own destruction.
Ibn Mas‘ūd (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “A person may pursue some matter of business or authority, and as things go easy for him, Allah looks at him and says to the angels: ‘Keep it away from him. Indeed, if I facilitate this for him, it will admit him into Hellfire.’ So, He makes this matter out of his reach. As a result, this person feels troubled and keeps saying: ‘So-and-so went ahead of me; so-and-so caused me harm.’ Yet, this matter is nothing but a favor from Allah Almighty.”
One of the righteous predecessors related that a man used to ask Allah to enable him to engage in conquests. Then, he heard a caller in a dream saying: “If you engage in a conquest, you will be taken captive; and if you are taken captive, you will convert to Christianity.” {...And Allah Knows, while you know not.} [Surat al-Baqarah: 216]
Exalted be Allah, the All-Wise, Who decides and judges as He wills!
He is Generous, Perfect, and Forbearing. He does not hasten to inflict punishment.
Beware of mistrusting your Lord in case you do not realize the wisdom behind something. Ascribe ignorance to yourself, for indeed our minds are incapable of realizing His wisdom. Even the angels, despite their closeness to the Almighty Lord and their knowledge of His majesty and power, did not know the wisdom behind making Adam settle on earth. They said: {...“Will You appoint on it someone who will spread corruption therein and shed blood, while we glorify You with Your praises and proclaim Your holiness?” He said, “I know that which you do not know.”} [Surat al-Baqarah: 30]
So, keep silent before your Lord whenever you see His decree and actions coming so that He shows you much more of His kindness.
‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “If the veils of the unseen were lifted for us, none of us would choose for himself other than what Allah had chosen for him.”
During the Hudaybiyyah Treaty, ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) went to the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and said: “O Messenger of Allah, are we not on the right path and they on the wrong?”
He said: “Yes.”
He said: “Is it not true that our dead ones go to Paradise and theirs to Hellfire?”
He said: “Yes.”
Thereupon, he remarked: “Then why should we accept a lower position with regard to our religion and return before Allah decides between us and them?”
The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “O Ibn al-Khattāb, I am the Messenger of Allah and He will never abandon me.” Thereafter, Allah Almighty revealed Surat al-Fat-h (the Conquest). So, people came to know that the treaty was indeed a conquest. [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
The pens had already been lifted, the scrolls had dried up, the matter had been decided, and all decrees had been written down. {Say: “Never will we be struck except by what Allah has decreed for us; He is our protector.” And upon Allah let the believers rely.} [Surat at-Tawbah: 51]
Allah is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy and the Best of Judges. So, rejoice and expect imminent relief. Tears will be followed by smiles, fear by security, and panic by tranquility. You should only adhere to piety and fear Allah.
Al-Alūsi said: “When a person fears Allah Almighty, springs of wisdom erupt from his heart and the delicate secrets get revealed to him, in accordance with his piety.” {...And fear Allah so that you may be successful.} [Surat Āl ‘Imrān: 130 and 200]
O Allah, the All-Wise, open for us the doors of Your wisdom and make us content with whatever You decreed for us; indeed, You are the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.