makruh

Makruh is an Islamic legal term used to describe acts that are disliked or discouraged by Shariah but are not strictly forbidden. The word makruh literally means “disliked.” In fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), actions are placed on a spectrum from obligatory to permissible to disapproved, with makruh occupying a middle zone. Performing a makruh act is not typically a sin, but it may reduce spiritual reward, or elicit blame in certain contexts, and abstaining from it is generally rewarded.

There are two main subcategories of makruh. Makruh tanzihi (disliked but not blameworthy) refers to acts that believers are urged to avoid because avoiding them brings reward, yet performing them is technically permissible. Makruh tahrimi (strongly disliked, bordering on forbidden) describes acts that are very close to haram; in many juristic views, persistence in such acts can incur blame or sin, and abstaining is strongly encouraged.

The precise rulings on makruh vary among the major Sunni schools of Islamic law (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi‘i, Hanbali) and depend on context. Some practices may be classified as makruh tahrimi in one school and makruh tanzihi in another, reflecting differences in interpretation and priority of evidences.

In practice, scholars use makruh judgments to guide worship, etiquette, and everyday conduct. The status of an act as makruh helps Muslims prioritize actions that maximize spiritual reward while recognizing that some permissible actions are better avoided in certain situations, such as during specific prayers, times, or social contexts.

See also: halal, haram, wajib/fard, mustahabb, fiqh.