Ranking of our daily acts

Af‘ålu ’l-Mukallaf¥n (Acts of the responsible):

MUKALLAF (plural Mukallaf¥n) — In Islåm, one becomes responsible (Mukallaf) and is regarded as an adult
when one fulfils all of the following three basic conditions:
a) must be Sound of Mind — a mentally disabled person is not Mukallaf
b) must have reached Puberty — a child is not Mukallaf
c) must be a Muslim — a non-Muslims is not Mukallaf

Hence in the course of life all of a Mukallaf’s every deed and action will fall into one of the following
categories:
FARÎ means obligatory and is divided into two kinds:
• Far®u ‘Ayn (Personally Obligatory) — is a duty which is obligatory upon every Mukallaf. Neglecting
it without a valid Islamic reason warrants punishment.
• Far®u Kifåyah (Communally Obligatory) — is a type of duty which is obligatory upon the Muslim
community. When such duty is carried out by an individual Muslim or a few members in the community,
the rest of the Muslim community is freed from that obligation. Íalåtul Janåzah (Funeral Prayer) is an
example of a Far®u Kifåyah act. If a single person does not carry out a Far®u Kifåyah duty, the entire
Muslim community will be sinful and held responsible on the Day of Judgement. Those who reject or
deny any Far® becomes a Kåfir (non-Muslim). The plural of the word Far® is Faråi®.

WÅJIB means necessary. Technically lower then Far® but equally important in practice. Neglecting it
without a valid Islåmic excuse warrants punishment. Those who reject or deny any Wåjib becomes a
Fåsiq (sinner/transgressor).

SUNNAH is the tradition of Rasœlullåh ( £ ), it consists of what he said (qawl¥), did (fi‘l¥), advised and
approved of (taqr¥r¥) and is divided into two types:
• Sunnah Mu’akkadah (Confirmed Sunnah) — refers to an act that was regularly done by Rasœlullåh
(£)
• Sunnah Ghayr Mu’akkadah (Non-confirmed Sunnah) — refers to an act which was done by
Rasœlullåh ( £ ) but was sometimes left out. There is no sin if such an act is not done but many rewards
if it is done.

MUSTAÓABB (Preferred/liked) — refers to the voluntarily acts of Rasœlullåh ( £ ). A Musta�abb act will be
rewarded. There is no sin for not doing a Musta�abb act.

ÓARÅM is an act prohibited by Allah (  ) and His Messenger ( £ ) through the Holy Qur’ån and
Mutawåtir Óad¥th. For example, shirk, zinå, disobedience to one’s parents, lying, ribå, bribery, injustice,
cruelty, terrorism, to give up hope from the mercy of Allah, not fasting during the month of Rama®ån,
backbiting, slandering, wasting, using illicit drugs, stealing, wearing pure silk and gold for men etc..

MAKRŒH is an act that is disliked. Technically, the opposite of the Sunnah of Rasœlullåh ( £ ). Disliked
acts are divided into two categories:
• Makrœh Tahr¥m¥ (prohibitively disliked) is an act which is close to Óaråm. To commit such an act
without a strong valid excuse is a sin. For example, delaying of Aßr Íalåt to the last minute without any
excuse.
• Makrœh Tanz¥h¥ (disliked) is an act which a person is better off not doing. If done occasionally is not
punishable. For example, using water to make Wu®œ, from a bucket which was left under the sun for a
long time.

MUBÅÓ is an act that is permissible. If such act is done it does not earn reward nor any sin. For example,
sitting, standing, eating, blinking, rubbing your nose etc.

MUFSID refers to the type of act which spoils an already commenced act of worship. For example, if one
laughs audibly whilst praying. The act of laughter in this case is a Mufsid act which spoils one’s Íalåt.