Hakim (title)
' and ' are two Arabic titles derived from the same triliteral root Ḥ-K-M "appoint, choose, judge".
Hakīm (حكيم)
This title is one of the 99 Names of God in Islam.Hakīm indicates a "wise man" or "physician", or in general, a practitioner of herbal medicine, especially of Unani and Islamic medicine, like Hakim Ajmal Khan, Hakim Said, Hakim Syed Zillur Rahman, etc.
Hakīm or Hakeem is also used for practitioner of Eastern medicine, those versed in indigenous system of medicines.
Hakīm was also used more generally during the Islamic Golden Age to refer to polymath scholars who were knowledgeable in religion, medicine, the sciences, and Islamic philosophy.
Some examples of hakīm are:
- Ibn Sina
- Omar Khayyam
Uses
- In old Abyssinia or Ethiopia, Hakim usually meant a learned person, usually a physician. Hence a Hakim-Bejt was a doctor's house or hospital.
- In Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, Hakim or Hakeem denotes a herbal medicine practitioner, specially of Unani medicine.
- In Turkey, hekim denotes a physician, while hakim can be used for a very wise person or philosopher.
Hākim (حاكم)
In Arab countries
- In Lebanon, the full title of the Emirs under Ottoman sovereignty was al-Amir al-Hakim, 1516–1842
- In three future Persian Gulf emirates, the first monarchic style was hakim:
- * Since 1783 when the conquering al-Khalifah lineage settles on Bahrain to 16 August 1971, its style was Hakim al-Bahrayn, then Amir Dawlat al-Bahrayn ; since 14 February 2002, they have been styled Malik al-Bahrayn.
- * In Kuwait, since its 1752 founding, the ruling Al Sabah dynasty's style was Hakim al-Kuwayt, from 1871 also Kaymakam : district administrator, while recognizing the sovereignty of the Ottoman Empire until independence on 19 June 1961. Since then the style has officially been Amir ad-Dawlat al-Kuwayt ;
- * Since on Muhammad ibn Thani's 12 September 1868 treaty with the British, effectively establishing Qatar as an independent State, his al-Thani dynasty's style was Hakim Qatar. From 1871, they were also styked Kaymakam, Ottoman district administrator, as with Kuwait above, until 3 November 1916, thereafter under British protectorate. Since independence from Britain on 3 September 1971, the style has been Amir Dawlat Qatar.
- In Libya, Hakim was the 1946 – 12 February 1950 style of the "ruler" of the former sultanate of Fezzan during the UN administration ; the only incumbent, Ahmad Sayf an-Nasr, stayed on as regional wali in the united Libyan kingdom until 24 December 1951, with a French Resident at his side, and then, without such French shadow, as first royal governor.
- In Yemen until 1902 the rulers of the Quaiti State of Shir and Mukalla, ash-Shihr Wa´l Mukalla, as before the 10 November 1881 merger with the Naqib of Mukalla's state it has been the princely style of ash-Shihr since independence from the Ottomans in 1866.
Elsewhere
- In the Makran region of Sistan and Baluchestan Province in Iran, hakom refers to sardars and khans in the traditional Baluchi government.
- In Indonesia, Malaysia and Turkey, hakim denotes a judge.
- In Nepal, a Bada Hakim was in charge of a district of the realm.
- In the Emirate of Bukhara, hakem was the title of a governor.
- In Nigeria, the Sokoto Caliphate is ceremonially governed by hakimai, chiefs that are answerable to the Sultan of Sokoto and the Emirs of the realm.
- In Uzbekistan, the term hokim is used to describe a governor or mayor of a region.
- In Kazakhstan, the term äkim is used to describe local-level mayors or governors of regions within the country.
Furthermore