View source for Makruh

{{short description|Discouraged, but not forbidden, action in Islam}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Usul al-fiqh}}
In [[Islamic]] terminology, something which is '''makruh''' or '''makrooh''' ({{langx|ar|مكروه}}, [[transliteration|transliterated]]: ''makrooh'' or ''makrūh'') is "disliked", literally "detestable" or "abominable".<ref name="aldin" /> This is one of the [[Ahkam|five categories]] (''al-ahkam al-khamsa'') in Islamic law – ''[[wajib]]/[[fard]]'' (obligatory), ''[[Mustahabb]]/mandub'' (recommended), ''[[mubah]]'' (neutral), ''makruh'' (disapproved), ''[[haram]]'' (forbidden).<ref name="CampoEoI">{{cite book|last1=Campo|first1=Juan Eduardo|title=Encyclopedia of Islam|year=2009|publisher=infobase|page=284|isbn=9781438126968|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OZbyz_Hr-eIC&q=Makruh+haram+halal&pg=PA284|access-date=July 8, 2014}}</ref>

Though a ''makruh'' act is not ''[[haraam|haram]]'' (forbidden) or subject to punishment, a person who abstains from this act will be rewarded.<ref name="aldin" /> [[Muslim]]s are encouraged to avoid such actions when or as possible. It is one of the degrees of approval (''[[ahkam]]'') in [[sharia|Islamic law]]. In the terminology of [[Islamic jurisprudence]], "Makruh" refers to an action that is not forbidden to do, but had better to be abandoned.<ref>
{{cite book
 |last        = الزحیلی
 |first       = وهبه
 |author-link = 
 |date        = 
 |title       = اصول الفقه الاسلامی
 |trans-title = Principles of Islamic jurisprudence
 |url         = https://digilib.feqhemoaser.com/arabic-book/%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%88%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D9%82%D9%87-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%8A/
 |location    = دمشق
 |publisher   = دار الفکر
 |quote       = چاپ اول، ۱۴۰۶ق.
 |language    = ar
 |volume      = ۱
 |page        = ۴۵
 |isbn        = 
}}
</ref>

Acts considered ''makruh'' can vary between different [[Madhhab|madhhabs]] due to differing scholarly interpretations of the [[Quran]] and [[Hadith]], with [[Hanafi]] scholars in particular differing from the other [[Madhhab|madhhabs]] in regard to classification of ''makruh''.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Kamali |first=Mohammad Hashim |url=https://asimiqbal2nd.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/islamic-law.pdf |title=Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence |publisher=Islamic Texts Society |year=2005 |isbn=978-0946621828 |edition=3rd |pages=285, 278, 287, 288 |language=en}}</ref>

== Overview ==
Actions that are reprehensible and violate rules of [[Fiqh]] are considered to be ''makruh.''<ref name=":02">{{Cite book |last=Desai |first=Shabbir Ahmed |url=https://islamicbulletin.org/en/ebooks/resources/taleemul_haq.pdf |title=Ta'leemul Haq |publisher=Adam Publishers IND |year=2010 |isbn=978-8171015863 |edition= |pages=17, 18, 29, 148, 173 |language=ar, en}}</ref>

''Makruh'' is considered to be of two types:

* ''Makruh Tahrimi'', مکروہ تَحریمی - Actions disliked in the same vein as [[haram]] actions, but does not have definitive proof and instead uses speculative evidence for their prohibition. Unlike haram actions, committing these types of actions does not lead to unfaithfulness. This type of ''makruh'' is primarily cited by Hanafi scholars when issuing [[Fatwa]], and is not used by scholars of other [[Madhhab|madhhabs]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":02" />
* ''Makruh Tanzihi'', مکروه تنزیهی - Not strictly forbidden according to scholars, but is disliked if done. Engaging in actions that are considered this type of ''makruh'' will not lead to punishment, but avoiding these types of actions will bring one closer to God. This type of ''makruh'' is primarily used by all [[Madhhab|madhhabs]], and is interchangeable with the word ''makruh'' in most cases.<ref name=":1" />
The [[Hanafi]] school uses the ''makruh tahrimi'' classification on the basis that there is doubt (but not extremely significant) in the chain of narration and/or authenticity of a [[Hadith]] that provides evidence that a particular act is considered haram. All other [[Madhhab|madhhabs]] would consider classifying an act as haram in this case.<ref name=":1" />

==Examples==
[[File:Makruh.png|thumb|The word makruh written in Arabic. Commonly seen in texts, both transliterated and translated, in order to provide a visual marker for actions that fall under this category in Fiqh.]]
Some of the examples of something considered ''makruh'' are the use of a great amount of water when performing [[ritual purification]]s known as the ''[[wudu]]'' (partial ablution, or ''abdest'') and ''[[ghusl]]'' (full ablution) or the consumption of [[garlic]] before attending the mosque or socializing with others.<ref name=aldin>{{cite book |last1=al-Dīn |first1=Mūʼil Yūsuf ʻIzz |title=Islamic Law: From Historical Foundations to Contemporary Practice |year=2004 |publisher=Edinburgh University Press |page=98 |isbn=9780748614592 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fQzVVL8zI0sC&q=Makruh+example&pg=PA98 |access-date=July 8, 2014}}</ref><ref name=women-sonbol>{{cite book |editor1-last=Sonbol |editor1-first=Amira El Azhary |title=Women, the Family, and Divorce Laws in Islamic History |date=June 1996 |publisher=Syracuse University Press |page=265 |isbn=9780815603832 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FLUgscG6zFYC&q=Makruh+divorce&pg=PA265 |access-date=July 8, 2014}}</ref>

An example of a food which is considered ''makruh'' for Muslims of the [[Hanafi school]] is [[prawn]]s (but only for the Hanafi school).<ref>Lawful to you is the pursuit of water game and its use for food, for the benefit of yourselves and those who travel; ….[5:96].</ref> Hanafis believe in refraining from consuming prawns and therefore choose to eat something else if possible.<ref>{{citation |title=Ruling on Shrimp |url=http://spa.qibla.com/issue_view.asp?HD=1&ID=2990&CATE=107 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202222206/http://spa.qibla.com/issue_view.asp?HD=1&ID=2990&CATE=107 |archive-date=2013-12-02 |url-status=dead}}</ref> There are, however, shared attitudes within the Hanafi school of whether shrimp are considered water game and are thereby ''[[halal]]''.<ref>
{{cite web 
|url         = https://civilica.com/doc/909403/
|title       = بررسی حیوانات حلال و حرام گوشت دریایی در فقه مذاهب پنجگانه
|trans-title = A study of halal and haram animals and seafood in the jurisprudence of the five major religions
|language    = fa
|access-date = 18 April 2025
}}
</ref>

An example in regards to clothing that is considered ''makruh'' is wearing garments below the ankle. However, debate among scholars, particularly of the [[Maliki]] school, has led to some considering it haram while others maintain it is ''makruh''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Al-Uthaymin |first=Muhammad bin Salah |url=http://archive.org/details/TheFoundationsOfTheKnowledgeOfUsool |title=The Foundations Of The Knowledge Of Usool |publisher=5 Pillars Publishing |year=2013 |pages=68 |language=English |asin=B00DTWKITE}}</ref>

While the wearing of silk garments and gold jewelry by men is considered haram in all other schools, the Hanafi school considers it ''makruh tahrimi'' due to doubt in the chain of narration and authenticity of the Hadith in which this evidence is sourced.<ref name=":1" />

Another example of ''makruh tahrimi'' is making an offer to buy something that has an offer already placed by another person. Similarly to the rule on men and silk garments, the Hanafi school considers it ''makruh tahrimi'' since the Hadith in which the evidence is found has some doubt to the chain of narration.<ref name=":1" /> 

Other examples of ''makruh'' acts in Islam include talking while taking ablutions for prayer and slaughtering an animal for food where other animals of its kind can see it.<ref name=":02" />

==See also==
{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Ahkam]]
* [[Baligh]]
* [[Batil]]
* [[Ghanimah]]
* [[Hirabah]]
* [[Ibadah]]
* [[Khums]]
* [[Zakat]]
* [[Taqiyya]]
* [[Thawab]]
* [[Ulu'l-amr]]
* [[Wakil]]
{{Div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://en.wikishia.net/view/Makruh Makruh]
* [https://fiqh.islamonline.net/en/makruh-its-meaning-and-concept/ Makruh: Its Meaning and Concept]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEWFRYxh5bY If Something Is Makruh, Then Is It Sinful to Do?]

{{Obligatory rulings of Islam}}
{{Islam topics}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Arabic words and phrases in Sharia]]
[[Category:Islamic jurisprudence]]
[[Category:Islamic ethics]]
[[Category:Ritual purity in Islam]]
[[Category:Sharia legal terminology]]