Rukhs

Rukhs, in Islamic jurisprudence, refers to a formal concession or license that allows a believer to relax normal religious duties under specific circumstances. The term rukhsah is the plural of rukhsah/town? No, the singular is rukhsah, from the Arabic root meaning ease or permission. In practice, rukhsah denotes allowances granted by Islamic law to ease hardship, necessity, or risk.

Rukhsahs cover various acts of worship and daily duties. Common examples include shortening the five daily prayers (qasr) and sometimes combining prayers (jam’) for travel or danger; breaking or delaying fasting during Ramadan when a person is ill or traveling, with the obligation to make up the fast later; and performing alternative acts of purification, such as tayammum when water is unavailable. Rukhsah may also apply to other duties or rituals in light of necessity, danger, or hardship, whenever adhering strictly would cause undue burden.

The concept is grounded in primary sources, including Qur’anic verses that authorize concessions (for example, permitting shortened prayers while traveling and exemptions related to fasting under hardship) and the Prophetic traditions (hadith). It is recognized across major Islamic legal schools, both Sunni and Shia, though the exact conditions and scope vary by school and circumstance.

In modern practice, rukhsahs remain a standard category in fiqh discussions and fatwas, guiding how Muslims observe prayer, fasting, and ritual purity during travel, illness, or other difficult conditions. They are regarded as mercy and flexibility within Islamic law, intended to preserve religious obligation without causing undue hardship.