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Islam: Religious Concepts and Religious Life

The five categories of ethical action

  • 3 things to know
  • Component 1

Overview

Five categories of ethical action, difference between fard ayn and fard kifayah and principle of necessity in Islamic ethics.

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Key term

Why did Muslims need a framework of ethical categories?

Key term

Name the five categories of ethical action.

Key term

What does fard mean?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Why did Muslims need a framework of ethical categories?

    Model answer

    Shari'a addresses every area of life, so jurists needed a way to grade the status of each action. The categories let a Muslim know what is required, encouraged, neutral, disliked or forbidden.

  2. 2

    Name the five categories of ethical action.

    Model answer

    The five categories are fard, mustahab, mubah or halal, makruh and haram. Every act is placed into one of them.

  3. 3

    What does fard mean?

    Model answer

    Fard means compulsory, an act every accountable Muslim is required to perform. Omission is sinful and performance is rewarded.

  4. 4

    Give examples of fard actions.

    Model answer

    The five daily prayers, the fast of Ramadan, zakāh and the ḥajj for those able are all fard. Honouring parents and dealing honestly are likewise obligatory.

  5. 5

    What is the difference between fard ayn and fard kifayah?

    Model answer

    Fard ayn binds every individual, as the five daily prayers do. Fard kifayah binds the community, so the duty lapses for others once enough people perform it, as with the funeral prayer.

  6. 6

    What does mustahab mean?

    Model answer

    Mustahab means recommended or encouraged, an act rewarded when done and not punished when omitted. Voluntary night prayer, extra fasting and giving sadaqah are examples.

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