Is fardhu kifayah obligated by commencing it or not?Hal yalzam fardhul kifayah bish-shurū‘i fīhi am lā?

Abstract

This study was undertaken due to the critical importance of fardh al-kifayah (communal obligations), which are vital for the survival and growth of the Muslim Ummah. Another key reason was the necessity of connecting various Islamic sciences, particularly usul al-fiqh (principles of Islamic jurisprudence), to the practical realities faced by mukallafin (those bound by religious duties). The primary aim of this research was to elucidate the significance of fardh al-kifayah and its role in building the Islamic Ummah across diverse aspects, as well as to highlight how usul al-fiqh—and Islamic sciences in general—address the daily lives and practical applications for mukallafin. Using both inductive and deductive methodologies, the study's findings established that the preferred definition of fardh al-kifayah is "an important matter intended to be achieved without primary regard to the doer." It was also found that usul al-fiqh scholars hold three different opinions on whether fardh al-kifayah becomes obligatory upon commencement, with the researcher leaning towards the view that it is obligated if supported by religious texts and recognized objectives (maqasid). Finally, the contemporary applications of the rule concerning the commencement of fardh al-kifayah were categorized into six distinct areas.