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Fard, wajib, sunnah, haram: what they mean

Every action in Islamic law falls under a ruling.

1. Religious rulings

   In fiqh every act has a ruling. Knowing these terms helps tell what is required from what is recommended.

2. Fard (obligatory)

   What Allah commands by definitive proof. Doing it is rewarded and leaving it is a sin, e.g. the five daily prayers and the Ramadan fast. "Fard ayn" falls on everyone; "fard kifaya" is lifted from all when some do it, like the funeral prayer.

3. Wajib (necessary)

   In the Hanafi school, what is commanded by proof less definitive than fard; leaving it is a sin, e.g. witr, the Eid prayers and the sacrifice. Other schools do not make this distinction and count these as fard or sunnah.

4. Sunnah

   What the Prophet ﷺ did, said or approved. What he did regularly is "sunnah mu'akkadah" (like the sunnah of Fajr); what he did at times is "ghayr mu'akkadah".

5. Mustahabb (recommended)

   A good act the Prophet ﷺ did at times. It is rewarded and leaving it is not blamed, e.g. voluntary fasts.

6. Mubah (permissible)

   What one is free to do or leave, e.g. choosing what lawful food to eat. Done with a good intention, it too can be rewarded.

7. Makruh (disliked)

   What the religion wants avoided without forbidding it definitively. Hanafis call the kind close to haram "tahrimi" and the kind close to lawful "tanzihi".

8. Haram (forbidden)

   What Allah forbids definitively. Doing it is a sin and avoiding it is rewarded, e.g. alcohol, interest, lying, backbiting.

9. Halal and other terms

   Halal: what the religion allows. Sahih: worship done with all its conditions. Fasid / batil: invalid worship. Qada: making up worship missed in its time.

From the Learn section of the Mood & Dua app. Practices can differ slightly between schools; follow what you were taught.