About This Book

Umdatul-Ahkaam: The Book of Zakah and Fasting covers the chapters on zakah and fasting from Umdat al-Ahkam, the collection of hadith on legal rulings compiled by Imam Abdul-Ghani al-Maqdisi. It explains both acts of worship from their definitions onward.

Zakah is defined in the Arabic language as growth and purification, and in the Shariah as an obligatory portion of particular kinds of wealth given to specific recipients. The book notes that zakah was made obligatory in Makkah before the Hijrah and that its details were set out in Madinah, and it treats zakah as one of the pillars of Islam. Fasting is defined linguistically as refraining from something, and in the Shariah as refraining from food, drink, and the other things that break the fast, from true dawn until sunset, as an act of worship. The book cites the verse of Surah Al-Baqarah (2:183) that prescribes fasting for the believers as it was prescribed for those before them.

What's Inside

• The linguistic and legal definitions of zakah
• When zakah was made obligatory and its place among the pillars of Islam
• The linguistic and legal definitions of fasting
• The Qur'anic basis for the obligation of fasting

Who It's For

• Students studying hadith on rulings (ahkam)
• Readers who want a grounded explanation of zakah and fasting
• Study circles preparing for Ramadan