Al-Wajib al-Kifa'i: Difference between revisions

Al-Wajib al-Kifa’i (collective compulsory act) is a kind of compulsory religious act that addresses no specific person and if it is performed by some duty-bound (Mukallaf) Muslims, the other will no longer held accountable. Burying a dead, Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil (al-Amar bi al-Ma’ruf wa al-Nahi ‘an al-Munkar) and defensive Jihad are some examples of al-Wajib al-Kifa’i. Al-Wajib al-Kifa’i is the opposite of al-Wajib al-‘Ayni (individual compulsory act).

==Deference between al-Wajib al-Kifa’i and al-Wajib al-‘Ayni==

Al-Wajib al-Kifa’i is a compulsory religious act, the purpose of which is ot have that act done with no regard for the specific individuals performing it. Put differently, al-Wajib al-Kifa’i addresses all Muslims in a same manner; thus, if some Muslims undertake the Wajib, the others will no longer held accountable. Al-Wajib al-Kifa’i is the opposite of al-Wajib al-‘Ayni, in which every individual must perform the compulsory act, such as: Salat. The performer of al-Wajib al-Kifa’i receives the reward for perfoming it, but if no one undertakes al-Wajib al-Kifa’i, all will held accountable as they have committed a sin by leaving this Wajib.  

The cases of al-Wajib al-Kifa’i are related to society’s general interests, i.e. to have the act performed is the most important point in al-Wajib al-Kifa’i; unlike the case of al-Wajib al-‘Ayni, in which performing the act by every individual is required. Ghusl al-Mayyit, shrouding the dead, performing Salat al-Mayyit, cleaning Masjid from Najis, enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil (al-Amar bi al-Ma’ruf wa al-Nahi ‘an al-Munkar), surviving the life of someone who is indanger and studying theology and other branches of Islamic Studies are some examples of al-Wajib al-Kifa’i.

==General and Particular al-Wajib al-Kifa’i==

There is two types of al-Wajib al-Kifa’i:

==Recognition of al-Wajib al-Kifa’i and al-Wajib al-‘Ayni==

Scholar of al-Usul al-Fiqh (Principles of Jurisprudence) maintain that Divine orders address every individual duty-bound person; thus every individual must perform the His orders. Accordingly, when we are doubtful about a Wajib, whether it is al-Kifa’i or al-‘Ayni, it will be considered al-‘Ayni.