Question

Differentiate between fardh and Sunnah acts in Islam.

Answer 1

• There is only one obligatory fast in the month of Ramadhan while recommended fasts are many.
• Avoiding obligatory fast without justifiable reason is blamewonhy and sinful while omitting Sunnah fast attracts no sins nor punishment from Allah.
• A Muslim must compensate for missed fardh fast in form of Fidya or Qadha while there is no fidya or qadha for missed Sunnah fast.
• Fasting in Ramadhan lapses for 29 - 30 consecutive days while it is recommended to fast a day and break the other in Sunnah fast.
• Observance of the obligatory fast is done during the month of Ramadhan while Sunnah fasts are scattered throughout the other eleven months.
• Fardh fast begins and ends with the sighting of the moon while Sunnah fast is not days or months specific.
• End of obligatory fast is marked with the celebration of Eid-ul-fitr while Sunnah fast require no specific festival.
• The prescription of fardh fast is expressly mentioned in the Quran while Sunnah fasts are modelled in the practice of the Prophet (p.b.u.h).