Definition
Acts the Sharī‘ah commands firmly. Doing them is rewarded; leaving them is sinful. Most scholars (Mālikīs, Shāfi‘īs, Ḥanbalīs) use wājib and farḍ interchangeably; Ḥanafīs distinguish them by strength of evidence.
Pronunciation: WĀ-jib / farḍ
Etymology & Root
Wājib from و-ج-ب (w-j-b) — 'to be incumbent.' Farḍ from ف-ر-ض (f-r-ḍ) — 'to apportion, to ordain.'
Scholarly Notes
Obligations are further classified as farḍ ‘ayn (binding on every individual, e.g. ṣalāh) and farḍ kifāyah (binding on the community as a whole, e.g. janāzah prayer).
Practical Application
Never skip a farḍ ‘ayn for a mustaḥabb — secure the obligations first, then build with the recommended.
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Related Terms
More from Fiqh Terms
Consensus of qualified scholars.
Circumambulating the Ka‘bah seven times.
Following a scholar's ruling without knowing the evidence.
The direction of the Ka‘bah faced in prayer.
The pre-dawn meal before fasting.
Major ritual purification — full body washing.