What Aspects Should a Shafi’i Look Out for When Taking a Hanafi Dispensation for Fasting?
Hanafi FiqhShafi'i Fiqh
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
I am a male who primarily follows the Shafi‘i school of thought. However, I’ve found it difficult to follow the school’s position regarding swallowing phlegm/mucus during fasting. I understand that to take a dispensation from another school; one has to ensure that they don’t do it habitually and that it doesn’t lead to contradictions in one’s act of worship.
I’ve done my research (through SeekersGuidance’s articles and course and reading Ascent to Felicity) to ensure that there aren’t contradictions in my fast, but to be sure, could you advise whether there are any aspects a Shafi‘i should look out for specifically when taking a Hanafi dispensation for fasting in particular, such that his fasts would not end up invalid?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
I pray you are in good faith and health.
To take the dispensation of the Hanafi school regarding the swallowing of phlegm, you will have to keep the fasts by following the fasting rules according to the school in its entirety, soundly understanding the preconditions, invalidators, etc.
Learn the Rules of Another School with a Scholar or Book
It would be better to learn from a scholar the rules of fasting or read a text which you can soundly understand and ensure you follow the rules of fasting with all its conditions.
Conditions for the Validity of Following Another School
One has to remember that while it is permissible to follow another recognized school, it is impermissible to do so merely out of desire (shahwa) – or avoid legal responsibility- or in a manner that would lead to contradictory actions (talfiq).
Taking another school’s dispensation is valid if this is done due to an Islamically recognized reason, such as health conditions, elder age, etc.
Swallowing Phlegm from within the Mouth
Swallowing phlegm from within the mouth does not invalidate the fast in the Hanafi school, even if done intentionally. [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah]
However, it is recommended to avoid swallowing phlegm in a dignified manner when reasonably possible. [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar; ʿAla’ al-din ʿAbidin, al-Hadiyya al-‘Ala’iyya; Tahtawi, Hashiyat al-Tahtawi ‘ala Maraqi al-Falah]
Related:
- Principles on what invalidates the fast
- Fasting: A Comprehensive SeekersGuidance Reader
- A Ramadan Reader: A Comprehensive Answers Guide to Getting the Most Out of
- All you need to know about whether to follow a madhab
Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersGuidance?
I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences. He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His interest is a love of books and gardening.
