A demand to act may also be understood from wording other than the explicit imperative: for instance, when an action is described as farḍ (obligatory), wājib (required), mandūb (recommended), or an act of obedience; or when the doer is praised, the one who abandons it is censured, reward is promised for performing it, or punishment is threatened for neglecting it (1).
What the imperative form entails
When the imperative (ṣīghat al-amr) is used without qualification, it signifies two things: that the commanded matter is obligatory, and that it must be carried out without delay.
Evidence that it denotes obligation includes the Almighty’s words: “Let those who oppose his command beware, lest a trial befall them or a painful punishment befall them” (Q 24:63). Allah’s warning that those who oppose the Messenger’s command may be afflicted with a trial—namely, deviation—or struck by a painful punishment can only apply to neglecting
(1) The late author, Shaykh — may Allah have mercy on him — comments:
• An example of what the texts label as fard (strict obligation) is the Prophet’s statement: “Inform them that Allah has made obligatory upon them five prayers in every day and night….”
• An example of what is called wajib (mandatory) is his saying: “The Friday bath is wajib for every adult male.”
• An example of what is described as taʿa (obedience) is: “Whoever obeys my commander has obeyed me.”
• An example in which the doer is praised is his remark about ʿAbd Allah b. ʿUmar: “What an excellent man ʿAbd Allah b. ʿUmar would be, were he only to rise for night prayer.”
• An example in which the one who neglects the act is reproved is his saying: “Whoever gives up archery after having learned it, out of aversion to it, has rejected a blessing.”
• An example that links the act to a reward is: “Whoever invokes one blessing upon me, Allah will send ten blessings upon him.”
• An example that links neglect of the act to punishment is: “Whoever misses three Friday prayers out of heedlessness, Allah will seal his heart.”