Ahkam

Ahkam are Islamic legal rulings or norms; the word is the plural of the Arabic ḥukm. They classify conduct and other matters under Islamic law.

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Fiqh: Fiqh is the human understanding and interpretation of Islamic law. Ahkam are the rulings that jurists formulate through fiqh.
Fard: Fard is an obligatory act whose performance is legally required in Islamic jurisprudence. It names the ruling assigned to acts that must be performed.
Hanafi school: The Hanafi school is a Sunni legal tradition founded on the jurisprudence associated with Abu Hanifa. Its distinction between fard and wajib illustrates one school-specific classification of rulings.
Salah: Salah is the prescribed ritual prayer performed by Muslims at set times. Its conditions and performance are governed by rulings on obligation and validity.
Ijtihad: Ijtihad is disciplined juristic reasoning used to derive rulings where texts do not settle a case explicitly. Debates about who may exercise it affect how new ahkam are established.
Usul al-fiqh: Usul al-fiqh is the methodology for deriving Islamic legal rulings from recognized sources. Its methods guide how jurists establish ahkam.
Mandub: Mandub is a recommended act whose performance is rewarded but whose omission is not sinful. It marks conduct encouraged without being strictly obligatory.
Maliki school: The Maliki school is a Sunni legal tradition associated with Malik ibn Anas and the practice of Medina. Its methods show how jurists can reach rulings through distinct evidentiary priorities.
Zakat: Zakat is the obligatory almsgiving required of Muslims who meet specified conditions. Its rules define who owes payment, what is assessed, and who may receive it.
Taqlid: Taqlid is following a qualified jurist or legal school without independently deriving the ruling. Its contrast with independent reasoning raises questions about authority and legal change.