The imperative form, by default, requires immediate execution; some scholars, however, contend that it does not, arguing that the objective is merely to bring the act into existence without tying it to the very first moment.
Nor does the imperative imply repetition: the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Allah has made the pilgrimage obligatory for you, so perform the pilgrimage.” When a man asked, “Every year, Messenger of Allah?” he rebuked him and replied, “Pilgrimage is only once (in a lifetime).”
Prohibition (nahy)
A prohibition is a demand to abstain from an act issued from a position of authority. Its standard form is the imperfect verb preceded by the prohibitive particle lā, as in the Almighty’s words, “Do not come near adultery.”
When used without qualification, the prohibitive form signifies that the act is unlawful.
• If the prohibition relates to the very essence of the act or to one of its conditions, it renders the act invalid.
• If it concerns an external matter, the act remains valid, though committing it is still forbidden.
A prohibition differs from a command in two ways:
- A command, according to the stronger opinion, does not necessitate immediate performance, whereas a prohibition demands instant cessation.
- A command does not imply repetition, whereas a prohibition requires that the act never be resumed.
Impediments to legal accountability
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “My community has been excused for what they do by mistake, out of forgetfulness, or under coercion.” [sound ḥadīth]
These impediments are:
(a) Ignorance (jahl): perceiving something contrary to its reality. Some uṣūl scholars define it as the mere absence of knowledge, distinguishing compound ignorance (misconception) from simple ignorance (lack of knowledge).
If a legally responsible person commits a forbidden act while unaware of its prohibition, or neglects an obligation while unaware that it is required, he bears no sin. Proofs for this abound in the Qur’an and Sunnah, such as His words: “We have never…"