Fiqh — Alimiyyah Grade 1
Basic Shar‘i Rulings
Read these terms first. They are used in the lesson below.
A ruling given by the Shariah about what a responsible Muslim should do, avoid, or is allowed to do.
The school of fiqh associated with Imam Abu Hanifah and developed by Hanafi jurists.
An act that is definitely required. Deliberately leaving it is sinful, and if it is essential to an act of worship, that worship is not valid without it.
A binding act. In Hanafi terminology it is obligatory but is distinguished from fard because of the nature of its proof.
A Prophetic practice that the Prophet ﷺ maintained regularly and which should not be habitually neglected.
A Prophetic practice that is recommended but was not maintained with the same regularity as an emphasized Sunnah.
An act that the Shariah requires a Muslim to leave.
In Hanafi usage, an act that must be avoided and is close to haram, though its proof is not at the same level as a categorical prohibition.
An act whose avoidance is better, but it is not treated like a binding prohibition.
Now learn the ruling
Islamic law uses clear categories to show what a Muslim must do, what should be avoided, and what is recommended. In Hanafi fiqh, the most important introductory categories are fard, wajib, sunnah, haram and makruh. A fard is an act required in a binding way on the basis of strong proof. Deliberately leaving it is sinful, and when it is an essential part of an act of worship, that worship is not valid without it. A wajib is also binding, but Hanafi jurists distinguish it from a conclusively established fard because its proof is of a different level. This distinction affects some detailed rulings.
Reference used for lesson preparation: فقه العبادات على المذهب الحنفي — used as a reference; lesson wording is original