Types of Rulings

Q. What is fard, waajib, sunnah and nafl and what is the difference between them?

A. Fard means compulsory beyond any argument. Anyone who denies a fard is a kaafir, and one who leaves it without excuse is a faasiq and punishable.

Waajib comes second to fard. One who denies waajib is not a kaafir but if he leaves it without excuse, he is faasiq and deserves punishment.

Sunnah is an act which the Prophet ﷺ did and his Companions followed and commanded.

Nafl is an act commanded by Sharee’ah that brings reward if done but no punishment if left. It is also called mustahab, mandoob, or tatawwu’.

Q. How many types of fard are there?

A. Two types: Fard ‘Ayn and Fard Kifaayah.

• Fard ‘Ayn: Compulsory on every individual Muslim. One who leaves it is faasiq and will be punished.
• Fard Kifaayah: An act that, if performed by some people, fulfills the duty for the whole community. If no one does it, all are sinful.

Q. How many types of sunan (pl. of sunnah) are there?

A. Two: Sunnat Mu’akkadah and Sunnat Ghayr Mu’akkadah.

• Sunnat Mu’akkadah: Constantly performed by the Prophet ﷺ or ordered by him. It is sinful to abandon, and very sinful to make a habit of leaving it.
• Sunnat Ghayr Mu’akkadah: Performed often but sometimes left without excuse. It brings reward but no sin if left. Also called Sunan-e-Zawaa’id.

Q. What is meant by haraam, makrooh tahreemi and makrooh tanzeehi?

• Haraam: That which is absolutely forbidden by clear proof (daleel-e-qat’i). One who does it is faasiq and punishable. Denying it is kufr.
• Makrooh Tahreemi: Forbidden by probable proof (daleel-e-zanni). Denying it is not kufr, but doing it is very sinful.
• Makrooh Tanzeehi: Avoiding it brings blessings. Doing it is bad but not punishable.

Q. What is mubaah?

A. Mubaah is an act that brings neither reward nor punishment, whether done or left.