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The disliked (makruh)

المَكْرُوه

The disliked (makruh) is, in the lexicon, the opposite of the beloved, and what the nature and the law reject. The usul scholars define it as what is sought to be left without blame for doing it. It is opposed to the obligatory and to the recommended, and differs from the forbidden in that doing it is not blamed. The word has several senses in usul. The Hanafis split it into disliked as reprehensible (tanzih), which is closer to permitted, and disliked as near prohibition (tahrim), which is closer to forbidden; Muhammad ibn al-Hasan holds that a near-prohibition founded on a probable text is forbidden. The usul appendix has the discussion of its ruling. 1 2 3

Depth

At a glance

Era
The Prophetic Era
Region
Global / Diaspora
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Ethics and character

Summary

The disliked (makruh) is, in the lexicon, the opposite of the beloved and what nature and the law reject. In usul it is what is sought to be left, without blame for doing it. 1 2

Related terms

It is opposed to the obligatory and the recommended, and differs from the forbidden in that the doer is not blamed. 2

Senses of the word

Usul scholars give the word four senses: the forbidden, leaving the better, what is disliked as reprehensible, and what is doubtful in its prohibition; al-Ghazali, al-Amidi and al-Zarkashi hold this view. 2

The Hanafi division

The Hanafis divide it into disliked as reprehensible (tanzih), which is closer to permitted and carries no punishment, and disliked as near prohibition (tahrim), which is closer to forbidden and carries lesser penalties such as loss of intercession. Muhammad ibn al-Hasan holds that a near-prohibition founded on a probable text is forbidden. 3

Its ruling

Usul scholars differ on the ruling on the disliked, on whether the doer is bound to leave it, and on whether a general command covers it; the detail is in the usul appendix. 3

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.14933
  2. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.14934
  3. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.14935
Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “The disliked (makruh)”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/concept/makruh/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-23.

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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.