Fard or Sunnah?

by

Sr Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood

There is actually a difference between something which is fard (a compulsory part of islam), and something which is sunnah (the Prophet’s recommended practice). Of course many Muslims are so devout that they regard all the Prophet’s sunnat as fard, on the grounds of several verses of the Qur’an:

‘O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and those charged with authority among you.’ (Surah 4:59)

‘O ye who believe! Obey Allah and His Messenger, and turn not away from him when ye hear (him speak).’ (Surah 8:20).

‘Say (ie. Tell the people): ‘If you love Allah, follow me (ie the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh)): Allah will love you and forgive you your sins: For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’ (Surah 3:31)

‘So take what the Messenger gives you, and refrain from what he prohibits you. And fear Allah: for Allah is strict in Punishment.’ (Surah 59:7. See also 8.24).

Imam Ghazzali, for example, stated: ‘Know that the key to total bliss (saadah) lies in following the sunnah and in emulating the life of the Messenger (pbuh) in everything that issues from him, and in all his doings, even if it concerns the manner of his eating, rising, sleeping, and speaking. I do not say this in relation to rituals in worship only because there is no way neglecting the sunnah reported of him in such matters - but what I say includes every aspect of his daily life.’ (Kitab al Arbain Addin, Cairo 1344, p. 89)

However, scholars do make a difference between fard and sunnah on these grounds. If a fard is carried out the Muslim has done good for which he/she will be rewarded, but if it is missed, then a sin has actually been committed for which he/she would be held to account. On the other hand, if a Muslim does something sunnah, he/she will be rewarded for it, but there is no suggestion or hint of punishment from Allah if it is omitted, as it is not a compulsory part of Islam. This is a very important difference.

The Minutiae Muslim and the Nass-Principle Muslim

Naturally, Muslims wishing to do their utmost to please Allah make it their business to copy as closely as possible all the things that the Prophet (pbuh) did, and spurn all the things he disapproved.

Taking this as the ground and basis for all devout Muslims, we then find that they subdivide into two main categories – the ‘Minutiae Muslim’ or the ‘Principle Muslim’ (these subdivisions being without clear-cut edges and, of course, dividing on into many more sub-categories). Minutiae Muslims channel their energies into a devoted imitation of every particular detail of ruled-on behaviour. Principle (or Nass) Muslims often feel that the details carried out so fastidiously by the Minutiae Muslims hardly matter – what matters is the purity and nobility of heart and character.

For example, the Nass Muslim knows that it is fard for Muslim women to dress modestly – but how they interpret that is left up to them, from fully covering their entire selves with black sheeting to adopting the modest dress of the society in which they live. What matters is not the clothing but that the woman is modest. A woman could be entirely covered in black, face and all, but still be an attention-seeker, arrogant, selfish and unkind. The Minutiae Muslim demands exact definitions of hijab, jilbab, khimar and so on, details of sizes and lengths, and materials which are more pleasing to Allah than others, and would sacrifice everything rather than compromise their din (faith).

The Minutiae Muslim carefully draws the implications from each text to justify the complete dedication of their lives to pleasing Allah in their detailed and rule-governed ways, warning the Nass Muslim that they are missing the commands, failing to please Allah, disappointing the Prophet (pbuh) and putting themselves in danger of Hellfire.

The Nass Muslim feels that the Minutiae Muslims may spend hours in chanted voluntary prayers, extra fasts, measuring beards and so on – yet still be an unkind and selfish person, and a family tyrant.

Both sides feel that they are right, and they both are right, and are both insha’Allah doing their best to please Allah.