al-Sawm Junnah
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- al-Sawm Junnah
al-Sawm Junnah (Fasting is a Shield) is a treatise on the jurisprudence, virtues, and rules of fasting written by the contemporary Saudi scholar Khalid al-Juraysi. The book forms the eighth installment of his devotional series Zad al-Mu'min ("Provision for the Believer").
Background and Title
The author titled the work after the phrasing of the prophetic hadith qudsi reported by Abu Hurayrah in the collections of al-Bukhari and Muslim, in which God says: الصوم لي وأنا أجزي به... والصوم جنة ("Fasting is for Me and I reward for it... and fasting is a shield"). In his introduction, al-Juraysi stated that his objective was to compile and organize the essential matters concerning the pillar of fasting, outlining its virtues, inner secrets, foundational principles, and legal rulings (ahkam).
Structure and Method
Following an introduction, the treatise is arranged into five main chapters:
- Quranic Texts Pertaining to Fasting (al-Nusus al-muta'alliqah bi-l-siyam min al-Qur'an al-'azim): Enumerates the primary verses governing the obligation and rules of fasting.
- Definition and History of Legislation (Ta'rif al-siyam wa-tarikh tashri'ih): Examines the linguistic and legal definitions of fasting and traces the stages of its institution in Islamic history.
- Virtues, Secrets, and Ramadan's Merits (Fada'il al-siyam wa-asraruh, wa-khasa'is Ramadan): Discusses the spiritual benefits of fasting and the particular qualities of the month of Ramadan.
- Categories of Fasting (Anwa' al-siyam): Covers the various types of obligatory and supererogatory fasts.
- Key Legal Rulings and Issues (Ahkam wa-masa'il muhimmah muta'alliqah bi-l-siyam): Addresses practical legal questions and rulings related to the observance of the fast.
The author's methodology centers on citing verified and authentic prophetic traditions, providing hadith documentation (takhrij), and referencing traditional source materials.
Reception
The treatise includes a foreword by the Saudi scholar Abdullah ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Jibreen, dated 25 Shawwal 1425 AH (2004 CE). Ibn Jibreen commended the book for its thoroughness and selection of material, noting that it comprehensively addressed the historical obligation, underlying wisdoms, mandatory requirements, conditions, invalidators, excused categories, voluntary fasting, the nightly prayers of Ramadan (qiyam), the Night of Decree (Laylat al-Qadr), and zakat al-fitr, all supported by authentic narrations.
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