fard

Fard is an Arabic term used in Islamic jurisprudence to denote acts that God requires Muslims to perform. The word means obligation or duty, and in classical fiqh it is contrasted with other categories such as sunnah (recommended), makruh (disliked), and haram (forbidden). Within fard, scholars distinguish two main subtypes: fard al-ayn (an individual obligation) and fard al-kifayah (a collective or communal obligation).

Fard al-ayn refers to duties that each Muslim must fulfill if they meet the conditions. If a person fails to perform them without a valid excuse, they are considered sinful. Fard al-kifayah, by contrast, is an obligation that the community as a whole must fulfill; if enough members carry it out, the obligation is lifted from the rest. If no one performs it, the entire community bears responsibility.

Common examples of fard al-ayn include the five daily prayers, fasting during Ramadan, and the obligatory alms (zakat) for those who possess the required wealth, as well as the obligation to perform the Hajj for those who are able to undertake it. Zakat al-fitr, the charitable obligation at the end of Ramadan, is often listed as a specific fard for all eligible Muslims.

Examples cited for fard al-kifayah include communal duties such as performing funeral rites and certain welfare or enforcement tasks that should be undertaken by some members of the community; if enough people fulfill these duties, others are absolved. In many traditions, enjoining good and forbidding wrong is also treated as a fard kifayah.

Usage and interpretation of fard can vary among Islamic schools and communities, but the core idea remains: fard identifies mandatory acts, with the burden divided between individual and collective responsibility.