Legal Rulings
⚖️ Al-Ahkam — The Five Legal Rulings
﴿ And whatever the Messenger gives you - take it; and whatever he forbids you - abstain from it ﴾
— [Al-Hashr: 7]
📖 Introduction
📜 Scene: The Companion and the Question
Medina, during the Prophet's ﷺ era...
A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and asked:
"O Messenger of Allah, is there a sin in kissing while fasting?"
The Prophet ﷺ answered the question according to the person's situation...
Another man came and asked the same question, and the answer differed!
The Companions were puzzled...
The Prophet ﷺ explained:
"The first is an old man, and the second is a young man."
🎯 Rulings differ based on situations and people — and the usuli must understand these categories!
📜 Scene: Aisha and Fiqh
Aisha — may Allah be pleased with her — said to Urwa:
"O my nephew, I heard that Abdullah ibn Amr is passing by us on his way to Hajj. Go to him and ask him, for he has acquired much knowledge from the Prophet ﷺ."
Urwa went and asked him about some matters...
When he returned, Aisha said:
"Did he differentiate between the obligatory and the recommended?"
💡 Understanding the categories of rulings is the key to fiqh!
📖 Definition of Hukm (Legal Ruling)
Technical Definition
Al-Hukm Al-Shar'i: Allah's address related to the acts of the legally responsible, as a requirement, option, or assignment.
Types of Legal Rulings
| Type | Definition |
|---|---|
| ⚖️ Taklifi | Imposes a requirement or option |
| 📝 Wad'i | Establishes causes, conditions, impediments |
⚖️ The Five Taklifi Rulings
The Categories
| Ruling | Arabic | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| ✅ Obligatory | Wajib | Rewarded if done, punished if left |
| 💚 Recommended | Mandub | Rewarded if done, not punished if left |
| ⚪ Permissible | Mubah | No reward or punishment |
| 🟡 Disliked | Makruh | Rewarded if left, not punished if done |
| ❌ Prohibited | Haram | Rewarded if left, punished if done |
✅ First: The Obligatory (Wajib)
Definition
Wajib: What the Lawgiver demanded with a binding demand.
Indicators of Obligation
| Indicator | Example |
|---|---|
| 🔵 Direct command | ﴿ Establish prayer ﴾ |
| 🔴 Threat for leaving | ﴿ Hell as permanent residence ﴾ |
| ⚫ The word "obligatory" | "Ghusl on Friday is obligatory" |
| ⚪ The word "prescribed" | ﴿ Fasting has been prescribed for you ﴾ |
Types of Wajib
| Type | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 👤 Individual (Ayni) | Obligatory on every person | The five prayers |
| 👥 Collective (Kifa'i) | Obligatory on some | Funeral prayer |
| ⏰ Time-bound (Muaqqat) | Has a specific time | Prayer |
| 🔄 Unspecified (Mutlaq) | No specific time | Making up missed fasts |
| 📏 Specific (Muhaddad) | Determined amount | Zakat amounts |
| 📊 Unspecified (Ghayr Muhaddad) | Amount not set | Spending on family |
💚 Second: The Recommended (Mandub)
Definition
Mandub: What the Lawgiver requested without binding demand.
Names for Mandub
| Name | Usage |
|---|---|
| 💚 Mandub | The recommended |
| ⭐ Mustahabb | The liked |
| 🌙 Sunnah | The prophetic practice |
| ✨ Nafl | The voluntary |
| 🎯 Fadila | The virtuous |
Types of Mandub
| Type | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 🌟 Emphasized (Mu'akkad) | The Prophet ﷺ regularly did | Witr prayer |
| ⭐ Non-emphasized | Done sometimes | Four before Asr |
| 🌙 Prophetic custom | What he habitually did | His manner of eating |
⚪ Third: The Permissible (Mubah)
Definition
Mubah: What the Lawgiver gave the choice to do or leave.
Characteristics
| Characteristic | Explanation |
|---|---|
| ⚖️ No reward or sin | In its essence |
| 🔄 May become rewarded | With good intention |
| 🔄 May become prohibited | If leads to harm |
Examples
| Action | Category |
|---|---|
| 🍎 Eating the lawful | Permissible |
| 😴 Sleeping | Permissible |
| 🚶 Walking | Permissible |
| 🗣️ Speaking | Permissible (in origin) |
When Mubah Changes
| Condition | New Ruling |
|---|---|
| 🎯 With good intention | Becomes rewarded |
| 🚫 Leads to harm | Becomes prohibited |
| ⚠️ Leads to disliked | Becomes disliked |
🟡 Fourth: The Disliked (Makruh)
Definition
Makruh: What the Lawgiver requested to leave without binding prohibition.
Characteristics
| Characteristic | Explanation |
|---|---|
| ⚠️ Better to avoid | But not sinful if done |
| 🎯 Rewarded for leaving | As obedience to Sharia |
| 🔄 May become haram | If persisted in |
Examples
| Action | Category |
|---|---|
| 🚰 Wasting water in wudu | Disliked |
| 🕌 Praying when needing toilet | Disliked |
| 🌅 Praying after Asr | Disliked at those times |
| 🍖 Eating raw onions before mosque | Disliked |
Types of Makruh
| Type | Definition |
|---|---|
| 🟠 Closer to haram (Tahrimi) | Strong discouragement |
| 🟡 Closer to mubah (Tanzihi) | Light discouragement |
❌ Fifth: The Prohibited (Haram)
Definition
Haram: What the Lawgiver demanded to leave with a binding demand.
Indicators of Prohibition
| Indicator | Example |
|---|---|
| 🔴 Direct prohibition | ﴿ Do not approach zina ﴾ |
| ⚫ Threat of punishment | ﴿ Will face a painful punishment ﴾ |
| 🔵 Word "haram" | ﴿ Forbidden to you is the dead animal ﴾ |
| ⚪ Curse | "Allah cursed the one who..." |
Types of Haram
| Type | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 🔴 In itself (Li-dhatihi) | Prohibited inherently | Zina |
| 🟠 Due to external (Li-ghayrihi) | Prohibited due to another factor | Praying on usurped land |
📊 Comparison Table
| Ruling | If Done | If Left | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| ✅ Wajib | Reward | Punishment | Five prayers |
| 💚 Mandub | Reward | No punishment | Sunnah prayers |
| ⚪ Mubah | Nothing | Nothing | Eating |
| 🟡 Makruh | No punishment | Reward | Wasting water |
| ❌ Haram | Punishment | Reward | Riba |
🎯 Contemporary Cases
📱 Case 1: Using Social Media
Situation: What is the ruling on using social media?
❓ Which of the five rulings?
📜 Click for answer
The ruling varies:
| Usage | Ruling |
|---|---|
| 📚 For da'wah and learning | Recommended |
| 🎮 For entertainment | Permissible |
| ⚠️ Wasting much time | Disliked |
| 🚫 For haram content | Prohibited |
💡 The tool is permissible — the ruling depends on usage!
🎮 Case 2: Video Games
Situation: What is the ruling on playing video games?
❓ Which of the five rulings?
📜 Click for answer
The ruling varies:
| Type | Ruling |
|---|---|
| 🟢 Educational games | Permissible/recommended |
| 🟡 Entertainment games | Permissible |
| 🟠 Causing neglect | Disliked |
| 🔴 Containing haram | Prohibited |
💡 The origin is permissibility — but depends on content and time!
🏋️ Case 3: Exercise
Situation: What is the ruling on going to the gym?
❓ Which of the five rulings?
📜 Click for answer
Analysis:
| Condition | Ruling |
|---|---|
| 🏋️ For health | Recommended |
| 💪 If needed | May be obligatory |
| ⚠️ Mixed environment | May be prohibited |
| 🕌 During prayer time | May be disliked |
💡 The origin is permissibility — circumstances change the ruling!
🍔 Case 4: Fast Food
Situation: What is the ruling on eating fast food?
❓ Which of the five rulings?
📜 Click for answer
Analysis:
| Condition | Ruling |
|---|---|
| 🍖 Halal meat | Permissible |
| ⚠️ Harming health | May be disliked |
| 🚫 Haram ingredients | Prohibited |
| 🎯 With gratitude | Permissible |
💡 The origin is permissibility — but health and source matter!
💼 Case 5: Working in Conventional Banks
Situation: What is the ruling on working in a conventional bank?
❓ Which of the five rulings?
📜 Click for answer
Scholarly positions:
| Role | Ruling |
|---|---|
| 📝 Directly in riba transactions | Prohibited |
| 🏢 Support roles (cleaning, security) | Differed upon |
| 💻 IT not related to transactions | Less severe |
💡 Depends on the nature of the work and its connection to riba!
💭 Reflection
Imam Al-Shatibi — may Allah have mercy on him — said:
"The objectives of Sharia in legislation is to free the legally responsible from the grip of their desires, so they become servants of Allah by choice as they are by necessity."
🎯 Understanding the five rulings is the key to correct action!
📚 Summary
| Ruling | Definition | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| ✅ Wajib | Binding demand to do | Punished if left |
| 💚 Mandub | Non-binding request to do | Rewarded if done |
| ⚪ Mubah | Choice between doing and leaving | No reward or punishment |
| 🟡 Makruh | Non-binding request to leave | Rewarded if left |
| ❌ Haram | Binding demand to leave | Punished if done |