kifayah

Kifāyah (كِفَاية) is a term in Islamic jurisprudence describing a communal or collective obligation, rendered as fard kifāyah. It refers to duties that are required of the Muslim community as a whole rather than of every individual. The obligation is considered discharged once enough members have fulfilled it; if no one does, all members may be held responsible. The concept provides a mechanism for distributing essential duties so that the community remains protected and functional without imposing an obligatory burden on every person.

The word kifāyah comes from the Arabic root meaning sufficiency or adequacy. Fard kifāyah sits within the broader fiqh framework alongside fard ‘ayn (individual obligation) and others. The exact scope and classification of duties as fard kifāyah can vary among legal schools and contexts, and some tasks may be viewed differently depending on time and place.

Commonly cited examples include duties that secure the public good or the community’s religious life: defense and security of the Muslim community, maintenance of essential public services, and undertakings such as the construction and upkeep of mosques, schools, and welfare facilities; provision of medical care and emergency relief; and education or training of professionals who serve the community. If a sufficient number undertake such tasks, the obligation is lifted from others; if not, the entire community remains responsible.

In modern usage, kifāyah remains a reference point in Islamic legal theory for collective responsibility and the justification of communal funding or governmental action to ensure these duties are carried out.