Thus the prescriptive rulings are five: the obligatory, the recommended, the prohibited, the disliked, and the permissible.

1 – The obligatory (wājib)
Linguistically: something that has fallen due or become binding.
Technically: whatever the Lawgiver commands in a binding manner, such as the five daily prayers.
Excluded by our phrase “whatever the Lawgiver commands” are the prohibited, the disliked, and the permissible; and excluded by our phrase “in a binding manner” is the recommended.
Whoever performs an obligatory act in obedience is rewarded, while whoever neglects it is liable to punishment.
It is also called farḍ, farīḍah, ḥatm, or lāzim.

2 – The recommended (mandūb)
Linguistically: that which is summoned or invited.
Technically: whatever the Lawgiver commands, but not in a binding manner, such as the regular sunnah prayers.
Excluded by our phrase “whatever the Lawgiver commands” are the prohibited, the disliked, and the permissible; and excluded by our phrase “not in a binding manner” is the obligatory.
Whoever performs a recommended act in obedience is rewarded, whereas whoever omits it is not punished.
It is also called sunnah, masnūn, mustaḥabb, or nafl.

3 – The prohibited (muḥarram)
Linguistically: that which is forbidden.
Technically: whatever the Lawgiver forbids in a binding manner, such as being undutiful to one’s parents.
Excluded by our phrase “whatever the Lawgiver forbids” are the obligatory, the recommended, and the permissible.