المعنى الاصطلاحي

Something a person is required by the Shariah to refrain from, but not obligated.

الشرح المختصر

"Makrouh" (disliked) is one of the five categories of Shariah defining laws. It refers to the act or statement that the Lawgiver requires us to not do, but not on an obligatory basis. Examples of this include: turning one’s neck during prayer, taking and giving things by the left hand. The fact that the Lawgiver requires us to not do such things rules out the three rulings of "wājib" (obligatory), "mustahabb" (recommended), and "mubāh" allowable. Both "wājib" and "mustahabb" stand for the Lawgiver’s commandments to do, while "mubāh" just denotes that the matter is optional rather than it being a commandment or forbiddance. Likewise, the fact that the Lawgiver does not ask us to refrain from doing such acts or sayings in a manner that denotes obligation rules out the ruling of harām (forbidden), because harām is a definitive commandment of abstention.

التعريف اللغوي المختصر

"Makrouh": detestable and abominable. Opposite: "mahboob" (loved or recommended). "Karāhah" means hardship and distress, but it is derived from "kurh" or "karh", which means abhorrence. "Makrouh" is what one hates and deems difficult. Other meanings: something disallowed, rejected, hardship, harshness.

التعريف

Action which earns praise for abandoning, but does not earn censure when committed.