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Imtihan (use, handling and scorned work)

الامتهان

Imtihan in the lexical sense is serving another or using and wearing a thing out; the jurists use the word in both senses, as trade and as wear. 1 It differs from contempt or disdain, since contempt is treating a thing as worthless, and imtihan does not imply that. 1 In some cases, such as Friday and the feasts, one is asked to wear something other than work clothes. 1

Depth

At a glance

Era
The Prophetic Era
Region
Global / Diaspora
Review
Draft Completeness 1/5 · Help complete it

Ethics and character

Definition

Imtihan is, from the root of "work" or "service", the use of a thing or the wearing of it out. The jurists use it in two senses: trade (ihtiraf) and wear (ibtidhal), the latter being not keeping a thing from use. 1 It differs from contempt, which treats a thing as worthless. 1

Ruling

On Friday, the feasts and congregational occasions one is asked to wear clothes other than work clothes, following the hadith that one should buy two garments for Friday besides his working clothes. 1

People and things also explored

Ada' al-dayn (paying a debt: its ruling, the manner of payment, insolvency and the debts of the dead)· Ada' al-shahada (performing testimony: the duty on request, the excused witness, and the wording)· Manners of the Qur'an bearer· Biting and the liability for injury it causes (add)· Adha (harm of a slight kind: removing harmful things and the duty not to harm)· Justice and grace (adl wal-fadl)· Pardon (afw) in purity, worship, contracts and penalties· Covenant (ahd) and the duty to keep it; oath by the covenant of God

Sources

  1. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.3380
Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “Imtihan (use, handling and scorned work)”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/concept/imtihan/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-23.

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Wing

Ideas

Beliefs, concepts, sciences and schools, explained in plain words. Related

Ada' al-dayn (paying a debt: its ruling, the manner of payment, insolvency and the debts of the dead)

Paying a debt in the form owed is obligatory by consensus. A debt due now must be paid on demand when the debtor can pay; a deferred debt is not due before its term. Payment is made in like items, with value owed where there is no like; a better payment is allowed when unconditioned. Remission, gift, assignment, set-off and settlement take the place of payment. A solvent debtor who refuses is compelled, imprisoned and his apparent property sold; the majority hold that a bankrupt is put under interdiction and his property divided among creditors, against Abu Hanifa. The insolvent is given respite, and his debt may be paid from zakat if he borrowed for himself in a lawful matter. A dead person's debt attaches to his estate and takes precedence over bequests and inheritance.