What is the difference between a disbeliever (kafir), a transgressor (fasiq), an apostate (mariq), and a wicked person (fajir)? And what is the difference between a Sunnah and a مكرمة (makrumah)?
A disbeliever (kafir) is one who denies and rejects what the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, brought, which is known by necessity. As for the transgressor (fasiq), he is one who deviates from obedience, whether by disbelief, committing major sins, or persisting in minor sins. The renegade (mariq) is one who departs from religion or obedience, as in the description of the Khawarij: "They renegade from the religion just as an arrow renegades from the bow." As for the immoral person (fajir), this term is applied to a liar and an adulterer, and from this is the hadith: "Beware of lying, for lying leads to immorality, and immorality leads to the Fire." The Sunnah is that for which the doer is rewarded and the one who abandons it is not punished, and it is the opposite of the disliked (makruh). As for the noble deed (makramah), it is a rank below that, closer to guidance and recommendation.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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