What is the difference between waajib and fardh ?

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

Fardh and Waajib are academic terms having specific definitions. Literally, Fard means ‘compulsory.’ It refers to those acts and things which are compulsory on a Muslim. Abandoning or abstaining from a Fard act is a major sin. Rejecting a fard act amounts to kufr (disbelief). In principle, any ruling that is deduced from a text that is Qatiyyus-Thuboot (expressly proven) and Qatiyyud-Dalaalah (expressly indicative) is Fardh.

Waajib, literally, means ‘obligatory.’ In Islamic jurisprudence, it refers to that act which has not been established by an absolute proof. Leaving out a Waajib without any valid reason makes one a Faasiq (open sinner) and entails punishment. In principle, if a ruling is deduced from a text that is Qatiyyus-Thuboot but Dhaniyyut-Dalaalah (not expressly proven but through conjecture), it will be Waajib.

[Bahishti Zewar v1 pg 462/474]

[Usool us Shashi pg103]

[Al-Mazhab Al-hanafi pg 289-294]

And Allah knows best

Wassalamu Alaikum

Ml. Mohammed Moola,
Student Darul Iftaa

Checked and Approved by:

Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa