The jurisprudential approach of Muqaddad al-Siyuri (d. 826 AH) in his book Kanz al-Irfan fi Fiqh al-Furan. An applied study of the books on prayer and fasting

Abstract

Jurisprudence is a field that encompasses life, with all its constants and developments. It is one of the arenas for rapprochement among Muslims because it unifies their individual and social paths from the natural disposition (fitrah) with all its fixed and variable elements. The rulings of the Qur'an are the most capable of bringing the viewpoints of scholars closer together.

Among these rulings are those related to prayer and its obligation on every believer, subject to conditions and times that may not be changed or altered. The opinions of commentators differ regarding the meaning of the middle prayer. Some say it is the dawn prayer, others say it is the afternoon prayer, others say it is the sunset prayer, and others say it is the evening prayer. However, some later scholars hold that after it was specified, its specification was abrogated, and thus the specification was removed. Furthermore, facing the qibla (the Sacred House of God during prayer) is not permissible. It is not permissible to face any other direction, as God Almighty directed His noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) to face the qibla toward the Sacred House of God, after the qibla had previously been toward Jerusalem. Other rulings relate to fasting during the month of Ramadan, as it is an obligation imposed by Allah the Almighty upon His servants, and He has commanded them to maintain and honor it. Whoever is able to fast during this blessed month has completed the days, and whoever is unable to fast due to illness or travel must make up for the days of the blessed month that he missed. It is necessary to point out the time of fasting, which begins from the true dawn until nightfall, and the necessity of adhering to this time, and the prohibition of night fasting and continuous fasting. In addition, we should address the basic things that break the fast during the time of fasting, which are eating, drinking, and sexual intercourse. Finally, we should address the practice of seclusion in one of the houses of Allah, which is an act of worship on the same level as circumambulation, bowing, and prostration, and it has specific conditions and rulings.