Mustahabb مُسْتَحَبّ

An act that is recommended and rewarded when done, but not sinful to leave.

Arabic: مُسْتَحَبّ
Transliteration: Mustahabb
Meaning: Recommended
Topic: Law & rulings

About Mustahabb

Mustahabb is also called mandub or nafl, and the jurists sometimes use sunnah for it too. Examples include extra voluntary fasts, giving charity beyond zakat, and using the siwak. Doing such acts regularly is a way to draw nearer to God and to protect the obligatory ones.

See also

Sunnah سُنَّة — Way of the Prophet
Nafl نَافِلَة — Voluntary prayer
Fard فَرْض — Obligatory
Makruh مَكْرُوه — Disliked
Sadaqah صَدَقَة — Voluntary charity

These entries are general, mainstream explanations for learning. Where scholars differ, this is noted. For rulings and personal questions, please ask a qualified scholar.