Definition

Acts the Sharī‘ah disapproves of without making them ḥarām. Leaving them is rewarded; doing them is not punished.

Pronunciation: mak-RŪH

Etymology & Root

From the root ك-ر-ه (k-r-h), meaning 'to dislike.' Makrūh is what is disliked by the Lawgiver, though not strictly prohibited.

Scholarly Notes

Some early scholars used 'makrūh' to mean ḥarām — care must be taken when reading their statements. By the later technical convention, makrūh and ḥarām are clearly distinguished.

Practical Application

A serious worshipper avoids the makrūh as a precaution — for one who indulges in the disliked drifts toward the forbidden.

Related Terms

More from Fiqh Terms