Different Categories of Namaaz

In general there are four categories of Namaz:

Farz, Wajib, Sunnath and Nafil.

1. Farz means duty. It is compulsory and should not be avoided. It has two sub-divisions:

i) Farz-i-ayn; which is compulsory on all Muslims, for example offering Namaz five times a day, fasting during the month of Ramadan etc. One who performs it gets the reward but one who does not perform it is a sinner, liable to be punished. One who rejects it altogether is a kafir (Unbeliever).

ii) Farz-i-kifayah; which is not compulsory on all Muslims and even if a group of Muslims perform it the responsibility of all Muslims would be fulfilled, for example Namaz-i-janazah (Namaz for the dead).

2. Wajib: means essential or necessary. It is next to Farz in importance., for example Namaz-i-Idd. One who performs it gets the reward but one who does not perform it is a sinner liable to be punished.

3. Sunnah: means that which Prophet Muhammed (SAWS) did. There are two types of sunnaths: a) Sunnath-i-muakkadah: that which Prophet Muhammed (SAWS) always did and ordered his followers to do. One who does it gets the reward and one who does not do, is a sinner liable to be questioned. Sunnath-i-ghair muakkadah ; that which Prophet Muhammed (SAWS) did occasionally and which is optional on his followers. One who does it gets a reward.

4. Nafil: means extra. One who does it gets a reward but one who does not do/ is not liable to be punished.