Ithaf al-Anam bi-Ahkam wa-Masa'il al-Siyam
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- Maktabat al-ʿUlūm al-Salafiyyah
Ithaf al-Anam bi-Ahkam wa-Masa'il al-Siyam (Bestowing upon Mankind the Rulings and Issues of Fasting) is a contemporary jurisprudence treatise on the legal rulings of fasting, spiritual retreat (i'tikaf), the charity of breaking the fast (zakat al-fitr), and the two Eids, authored by the Yemeni scholar Muhammad bin Ali bin Hizam al-Ba'dani .
Composition and Purpose
The author completed the initial text on the night of Monday, 8 Sha'ban 1423 AH, and subsequently finalized a revised and expanded version on Monday, 29 Jumada al-Ula 1424 AH . In his introduction, al-Ba'dani states that his purpose was to assemble the legal rules and sub-issues (furu') regarding the pillar of fasting in Ramadan so that Muslims might benefit from them .
Al-Ba'dani organized the work following the methodology of classical jurists (tariqat al-fuqaha'), framing topics around individual legal questions (masail), identifying differing scholarly viewpoints (ikhtilaf), presenting evidence from the Quran and Sunnah, and evaluating the preponderant position (tarjih) . He noted that this juristic approach was chosen to encompass practical legal branches, whereas he reserved the traditional hadith-chaptering approach (tariqat al-muhaddithin bi-l-tabwib) for his broader work, al-Jami' al-Sahih fi al-Fiqh al-Shar'i .
Structure and Contents
The book is structured into sections covering legal topics through discrete problem headings (mas'alah):
- Fasting (al-Siyam): Covers the linguistic and legal definitions of fasting, its various designations in religious texts, and its legal divisions (obligatory, compensatory, expiatory, vowed, and voluntary) . It details the obligation of Ramadan fasting, the historical stages of its legislation (such as initial fasting on Ashura and the abrogated option to pay a ransom instead of fasting), moonsighting, continuous fasting (wisal), and specific prohibitions, such as fasting on the Days of Tashriq or singling out Friday .
- Spiritual Retreat (al-I'tikaf): Examines the definition, legal status, conditions, and whether fasting is required during retreat or whether one may exit a voluntary retreat without completing it .
- Charity of Breaking the Fast (Sadaqat al-Fitr): Discusses the obligation of zakat al-fitr, who is liable to pay it, and the categories of foodstuffs that may be dispensed (such as dates, barley, raisins, and local staple food), as well as scholarly debates concerning cash payments in lieu of food .
- The Two Eids (Ahkam al-'Idayn): Addresses rulings pertaining to Eid celebrations and the legislated formulas and timings of the takbir during Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha .
Publication
A revised and expanded edition of the treatise has been published by Dar al-Hadith al-Salafiyyah in Ibb, Yemen .
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