Fard

What Does Fard Mean in Detail?

Fard represents the highest level of obligation in Islamic jurisprudence. An act classified as Fard must be performed, and its omission is sinful unless there is a valid excuse recognized by Shariah. In হজ্জ, the Fard acts (called Arkan or pillars) are those without which the হজ্জ is completely invalid and cannot be rectified by a penalty sacrifice. The Arkan of হজ্জ জমহুর উলামাদের মতে are: ইহরাম (entering the sacred state with intention), Wuquf at আরাফাত (standing at আরাফাত on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah), তাওয়াফ al-Ifadah (the essential circumambulation), and সাঈ between Safa and Marwa. The Hanafi school distinguishes between Fard (established by definitive evidence from আল-কুরআন) and Wajib (established by strong but secondary evidence), while the other three schools generally treat Fard and Wajib as synonymous. This distinction has practical implications: in the Hanafi school, missing a Wajib can be compensated with Dam, while missing a Fard invalidates the act entirely.