Fiqh of Fasting (Siyam) According to the Four Madhahib
My dear students, you will learn the legal rulings of fasting in Islam through a comparative study of the four Sunni schools of jurisprudence: the Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi‘i, and Hanbali schools. You will explore both the areas where the scholars agreed and the areas where they differed so that you develop a clear and balanced understanding of the rulings of fasting.
You will study the foundations and wisdom of fasting in Islam, beginning with the proofs from the Quran and the Sunnah. You will examine the legal definition of fasting, its spiritual objectives, and the different categories of fasting such as obligatory, recommended, disliked, and prohibited fasts.
You will learn the conditions that make fasting obligatory, including who is required to fast and who is exempt. This includes the rulings related to travelers, the sick, pregnant and nursing women, the elderly, and those who are unable to fast.
You will also study the pillars and conditions that make a fast valid. This includes the rulings related to intention, the time of fasting, and the acts that invalidate the fast. You will examine the differences among the four madhahib on matters such as eating forgetfully, vomiting, cupping, and other related issues.
You will learn what breaks the fast and what does not break the fast, along with the legal consequences of invalidating a fast. This includes the rulings of making up missed fasts, expiation, and compensation according to the four schools of Islamic law.
You will study the recommended practices of fasting such as suhur, hastening the iftar, supplications during fasting, and the etiquettes of Ramadan. You will also learn the rulings related to Laylat al Qadr, itikaf, and voluntary fasting throughout the year.
You will also explore how the jurists applied the principles of Islamic law to practical situations. This will help you understand how scholars approached new questions and how the methodology of the four madhahib can be applied to contemporary issues related to fasting.
By the end of this course, you will have a structured understanding of the fiqh of fasting according to the four Sunni schools, enabling you to recognize valid scholarly differences and apply the rulings of fasting with clarity and confidence.