What is meant by the Fardh, Waajib, Sunnah, Mustahab. Makrooh, Mubaah and Haraam?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

What is meant by the Fardh, Waajib, Sunnah, Mustahab. Makrooh, Mubaah and Haraam?

Answer:

(1) Fardh is that obligation which is established by a Qat'ee proof, i.e. a proof that cannot be doubted, such as a proof from the Qur'aan. The person who neglects a Fardh act without a valid excuse is regarded as a Faasiq and is liable for punishment. The person who rejects the fact that a Fardh act is indeed Fardh is a Kaafir. The two categories of Fardh are:

(a) Fardh Ayn: Those Fardh acts that are obligatory for every individual, such as the five daily salaah.

(b) Fardh Kifaayah: Those Fardh acts that are not obligatory upon every individual, but will be fulfilled when some members of the community discharge them. The rest of the community will then be absolved of the obligation. However, the entire community will be sinful if no one discharged the obligation. And example of this is the Janaazah salaah.

(2) Waajib is that compulsory act which is established by a Dhannee proof, i.e. a proof that is not as doubtless as a Qat'ee proof. The person who neglects a Waajib (compulsory) act without a valid excuse is liable for punishment and although the person who rejects the Waajib act is not a Kaafir, he will certainly be regarded as a Faasiq.

(3) Sunnah: These are those acts that Rasulullaah (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) and the Sahabah (radhiAllahu anhum) carried out. They fall into two categories:

(a) Sunnah Mu'akkadah: These are those acts that Rasulullaah (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) and the Sahabah (radhiAllahu anhum) regularly carried out, which they emphasised or which they never omitted without a valid excuse. The status of such acts is like that of Waajib (compulsory) acts, meaning that neglecting them without excuse will render one sinful and habitually neglecting them is a grave sin which will make one a Faasiq and will deprive one of Rasulullaah (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) intercession on the Day of Qiyaamah.

Sunnah Mu'akkadah acts also fall into two categories, viz:

Sunnah Ayn: Those Sunnah acts that are Sunnah for every individual, such as the Taraaweeh salaah.

Sunnah Kifaayah: Those Sunnah acts that are not Sunnah upon every individual, but will be fulfilled when some members of the community discharge them. However, the entire community will be sinful if no one discharged the obligation. And example of this is to perform the Taraaweeh salaah in Jamaa'ah in the local Masjid.

(b) Sunnah Ghayr Mu'akkadah: These are those Sunnah acts that Rasulullaah (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) and the Sahabah (radhiAllahu anhum) carried out most of the time, but sometimes left out without an excuse. They hold tremendous rewards if Carried out, but one will not be sinful for omitting them. These Sunnah acts are also known as Sunnah Aadiyyah and Sunnah Zawaa'id.

(4) Mustahab: These are those acts that Rasulullaah (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) and the Sahabah (radhiAllahu anhum) sometimes carried out and which were preferred by the pious Predecessors. They hold tremendous rewards if carried out, but one will not be sinful for omitting them. These acts are also known as Nafl, Mandoob and Tatawwu.

(5) Haraam: is that prohibition which is established by a Qat'ee proof, i.e. a proof that cannot be doubted, such as a proof from the Qur'aan. The person who perpetrated a Haraam act without a valid excuse is regarded as a Faasiq and is liable for punishment. The person who rejects the fact that a Haraam act is indeed Haraam is a Kaafir.

(6) Makrooh Tahreemi: This is that prohibition which is established by a Dhannee proof , i.e. a proof that is not as doubtless as a Qat'ee proof. The person who perpetrates a Makrooh Tahreemi act without a valid excuse is liable for punishment and although the person who rejects the Makrooh Tahreemi act is not a Kaafir, he will certainly be regarded as a Faasiq.

(7) Makrooh Tanzeehi: These are prohibited acts which, if avoided, will earn rewards but will not make one sinful if perpetrated, though carrying them out does hold a degree of repugnance.

(8) Mubaah: These are acts which will neither be rewarded if carried out, nor will they be punished if omitted.

And Allaah knows best what is most correct.

Fatawa Rahimiyyah (Vol.1)

source: Fatwa