Fiqh (Jurisprudence) - Legal Terminology

Key points

Linguistic | understanding and comprehension. There are 8 rulings of Sacred

Law discussed in this
Imam Abu anfa (80-150) defined it as: to know what is handout, in accordance with
the anaf School.
beneficial and harmful to the soul.

There are two types of far:

Technical | the science of legal rulings; pertaining to outward actions
Far al-ayn
of Islam.
Far al-kifya

Understanding the legal rulings is crucial. The terms will be used

Far al-ayn | can be understood
regularly and it is important to have a clear understanding of what
as the five daily prayers, fasting
the terms exactly mean.
during the month of Raman, for
these are obligatory upon every
Far (obligatory)
Muslim.

An action which is obligatory to perform and sinful not to
perform e.g. five times alh, iym.
Established from decisive evidence.
Non-fulfilment of a far, renders the action invalid.
Disbelief is feared for one who denies it.
Wjib (necessary)
An action which is necessary to perform and sinful not
Far al-kifya | an action which is
obligatory upon the entire
community; such as the funeral
prayer. If a communal obligation
remains unfulfilled the entire
community will bear responsibility.
Principles | the following two
principles should be remembered:

perform e.g. d prayer, witr prayer. i. Both far and wjib are
Proven from non-decisive evidence. identical in terms of
Non-fulfilment of a wjib, renders the action grossly reward and punishment.
deficient, and in need of amends. ii. Both arm and makr
Denying something necessary is corruption, not disbelief. tarman are identical in
terms of reward and

Sunna muakkada (emphasised sunna) punishment.

The best way in which to

An action which the Messenger of Allah performed
implement the legal rulings is to
consistently.
operationalise these in a gradual
An action highly recommended.
and steady manner.
Rewarded for performing the action.
Blameworthy for omitting it occasionally, without a reason.
Sinful if continually omitted.

Simply! Fiqh
Mustaab (recommended)

An action performed by the Messenger of Allah sometimes.

Rewarded for performing it.
No blame for non-fulfilment.
Also referred to as nafl.

Mub (permissible)

Neither performance nor abandonment is punished or rewarded.

Such acts are rewarded, if accompanied by a good intention.

Makr
There are two types of Makr:

i. Makr tarman (prohibitively disliked)

Sinful for performing it, and rewarded for not performing it.
The opposite of wjib.

ii. Makr tanzhan (somewhat disliked)

An action we have been commanded to leave.

Rewarded for not performing it, however, is not sinful for carrying out such an act.

arm (unlawful, forbidden)

An action totally forbidden by Islamic Sacred Law (e.g. consumption of an intoxicating

substance, or pork).
Sinful to perform, and rewarded for not performing it.
Established from decisive evidence.
The exact opposite of far.

Simply! Fiqh