FARDH – فرض
Literally: An enjoining. Prescribed as a duty.
As a term of fiqh: An Ilahî ordinance that is wâjib to practice and not practising it is a sin. Rigid commands of Allah that are certain by the Qur’an and Hadiths. For example: Not committing shirk, having verified îmân, salâh and not lying etc. (Qur’an 2: 197) (Qur’an 24:1) (Qur’an 28:85) (Qur’an 33:50) (Qur’an 2:236, 237) (Qur’an 33:38) (Qur’an 4:7,118) (Qur’an 66:2) (Qur’an 4:11, 24) (Qur’an 9:60).
First Matter: The sources of Ar-Rasûl Al-Akram ‘Alayhissalâtu Wassalâm's Sunnah as-Saniyyah are three: His words, his acts and his states. These three parts are also three parts: Fardh, nawâfil and his laudable habitual practices.
To follow the sort of fardh and wâjib is an obligation, there is suffering and punishment in their abandonment. Everyone is bound to follow them. As for the nawâfil sort, as a commendable act (mustahab), the people of îmân are again bound to follow. But in their abandonment, there is no suffering or punishment. There is great sawâb in performance and following them and substituting and changing them is bid’ah, dhalâlah and a great error. As for his exalted habitual practices and admirable conduct, to imitate and follow them are extremely admirable in terms of the hikmah, the benefit, personal life and the life of society and mankind. For in each of his habitual behaviours are numerous benefits for life, and through conforming to them, such âdâb and habitual practices become ‘ibâdah.
Yes, since by the agreement of friend and foe, the person of Ahmad (asm) is the place of manifestation for the highest degrees of moral virtues; and since by unanimity, he is the most famous and distinguished individual in the human race; and since through the indication of thousands of miracles, and testimony of the ‘âlam of Islam that he established and its perfections, and affirmation of the haqiqahs of Al-Qur’an Al-Hakîm of which he is the herald and interpreter, he is the most excellent perfect man and most excellent murshid; and since through the fruit of following him, millions of the people of perfection have advanced through the degrees of attainment and reached the happiness of both worlds; for sure the Sunnah and conduct of that person are the finest examples to be followed, and the safest guides and the firmest laws to be taken as principles. Happy is the one whose share of following such Sunnah is great. One who does not follow the Sunnah, if it is due to laziness, it is a great loss; if he considers it to be unimportant, it is a great crime; the criticism, which reeks of pronouncing it to be false, is a great dhalâlah.
The Eleventh Flash- 11th Subtle Point