Seadet-i Ebediyye - Endless Bliss Second Fascicle

a person converts to Islam during the morning hours, it becomes
fard immediately after the arrival of noon time that he learn those
acts that are fard to do during ablution and namâz. At the same
time, it becomes sunnat for him to learn the acts that are sunnat (to
do during ablution and namâz). When the time for evening prayer
arrives, it becomes fard for him to learn that the (compulsory, or
fard, section of) evening prayer consists of three rak’ats. When the
blessed month of Ramadân arrives, it becomes fard for him to learn
those tenets of fast that are fard. One year after he attains, (if he
does), the nisâb (the border which Islam prescribes a Muslim must
financially reach in order to become rich), it becomes fard for him to
learn (the Islamic commandment termed) zakât. Learning (the
commandment termed) hajj becomes fard when he (fulfils the
conditions that make hajj compulsory for him and therefore he) is
about to set out for hajj. Thus, as the time for each religious duty
comes, it becomes fard-i-’ayn for him to learn it. For instance, when
he wants to enter into a marriage, it becomes fard for him to learn
the teachings pertaining to nikâh (marriage contract prescribed by
Islam), conjugal duties and rights, and periods of ’udhr
(menstruation) of women. If he is to engage in trade or arts, it
becomes fard for him to learn the dos and don’ts of these
occupations, and especially the subtle particulars of interest. If he
intends to specialize in a particular branch of art, it is fard for him to
major in that art and learn the up-to-date teachings concerning that
art. (For instance, if he is to become a dentist, it is fard for him to
first graduate from a high school and then from the dental school
and then to undergo a period of initiation and, finally, to specialize.
This rule applies to every branch of art, trade and agriculture. It is
fard for everybody to study and learn his branch of art. It is not fard
for him to learn other branches, (except, of course, those aspects of
other branches overlapping his own area). In a warlike situation, it is
fard-i-’ayn to learn military subjects such as weaponry, to learn
science and technology only adequately enough to make up-to-date
weapons and to defend your country, and it is fard-i-kifâya [1]
to
specialize in them.)
[1] With respect to comprehensiveness, there are two kinds of fard.
When something is compulsory for each individual Muslim, it is
called fard-i-’ayn. If the obligation of a fard lapses from other
Muslims when one Muslim performs it, that is, if other Muslims do
not have to perform it when it is carried out by one Muslim, and if all
Muslims are responsible and become sinful when no Muslim
performs it, this kind of fard is called fard-i-kifâya.
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