1ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ أَبِي يَحْيَى الْوَاسِطِيِّ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ مَنْ أَشْبَعَ مُؤْمِناً وَجَبَتْ لَهُ الْجَنَّةُ وَمَنْ أَشْبَعَ كَافِراً كَانَ حَقّاً عَلَى الله أَنْ يَمْلأ جَوْفَهُ مِنَ الزَّقُّومِ مُؤْمِناً كَانَ أَوْ كَافِراً.

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from abu Yahya al-Wasiti from certain individuals of our people from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Paradise becomes necessary for one who satisfies the hunger of a believer. For one who satisfies the hunger of an unbeliever (for his disbelief) it becomes necessary for Allah to fill his belly with al-Zaqum, the fruit of hell, regardless of his being a believer or unbeliever.”

2ـ عَنْهُ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لأنْ أُطْعِمَ رَجُلاً مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أُطْعِمَ أُفُقاً مِنَ النَّاسِ قُلْتُ وَمَا الأفُقُ قَالَ مِائَةُ أَلْفٍ أَوْ يَزِيدُونَ.

2. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from certain individuals of our people from abu Basir from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Satisfying the hunger of a Muslim is more beloved to me than feeding a whole horizon of people.’ 1 then asked, ‘What is a horizon?’ The Imam said, ‘It is one hundred thousand or more people.’”

3ـ عَنْهُ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) مَنْ أَطْعَمَ ثَلاثَةَ نَفَرٍ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ أَطْعَمَهُ الله مِنْ ثَلاثِ جِنَانٍ فِي مَلَكُوتِ السَّمَاوَاتِ الْفِرْدَوْسِ وَجَنَّةِ عَدْنٍ وَطُوبَى [ وَ] شَجَرَةٍ تَخْرُجُ مِنْ جَنَّةِ عَدْنٍ غَرَسَهَا رَبُّنَا بِيَدِهِ.

3. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Ahmad from Safwan ibn Yahya from abu Hamza from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Whoever, feeds three Muslims, Allah will feed him from three gardens in the Kingdom of the heaven, the garden of al-Firdaws, (paradise), the garden of Eden and Tuba’, the tree that comes out of the garden of Eden is planted by our Lord with His own hands.’”

4ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ عُمَرَ الْيَمَانِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ مَا مِنْ رَجُلٍ يُدْخِلُ بَيْتَهُ مُؤْمِنَيْنِ فَيُطْعِمُهُمَا شِبَعَهُمَا إِلا كَانَ ذَلِكَ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ عِتْقِ نَسَمَةٍ.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Ibrahim ibn ‘Umar al-Yamani from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The serving of a man’s food at his home to two of the believing people to their satisfaction is more meritorious than the setting free of a human soul.”

5ـ عَنْهُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيهِما السَّلام) قَالَ مَنْ أَطْعَمَ مُؤْمِناً مِنْ جُوعٍ أَطْعَمَهُ الله مِنْ ثِمَارِ الْجَنَّةِ وَمَنْ سَقَى مُؤْمِناً مِنْ ظَمَإٍ سَقَاهُ الله مِنَ الرَّحِيقِ الْمَخْتُومِ.

5. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from his father from Hammad from Ibrahim from abu Hamza from Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) who has said the following: “Whoever provides food to a believer to satisfy his hunger Allah will feed him with the fruits of paradise and whoever provides water to quench the thirst of a believer Allah will quench his thirst from the wine of paradise which is in sealed containers.”

6ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الأشْعَرِيِّ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ مَيْمُونٍ الْقَدَّاحِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ مَنْ أَطْعَمَ مُؤْمِناً حَتَّى يُشْبِعَهُ لَمْ يَدْرِ أَحَدٌ مِنْ خَلْقِ الله مَا لَهُ مِنَ الأجْرِ فِي الآخِرَةِ لا مَلَكٌ مُقَرَّبٌ وَلا نَبِيٌّ مُرْسَلٌ إِلا الله رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ ثُمَّ قَالَ مِنْ مُوجِبَاتِ الْمَغْفِرَةِ إِطْعَامُ الْمُسْلِمِ السَّغْبَانِ ثُمَّ تَلا قَوْلَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَوْ إِطْعامٌ فِي يَوْمٍ ذِي مَسْغَبَةٍ يَتِيماً ذا مَقْرَبَةٍ أَوْ مِسْكِيناً ذا مَتْرَبَةٍ .

6. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ja’far ibn Muhammad al-Ash’ari from ‘Abd Allah ibn Maymun al-Qaddah from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘If one serves food to a believer to satisfy his hunger, no one of the creatures of Allah will be able to find out how much reward he will have in the hereafter for such service, not even the angels close to Allah or a prophet Divinely commissioned to preach can find out except Allah, Lord of the worlds. ’ The Imam then said, ‘Among the means of forgiveness of sins is feeding a hungry Muslim.’ Then he read the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy: ‘. . . in a day of famine, the feeding of (9:14) an orphaned relative (9:15) and downtrodden destitute person, . . .’” (9:16)

7ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) مَنْ سَقَى مُؤْمِناً شَرْبَةً مِنْ مَاءٍ مِنْ حَيْثُ يَقْدِرُ عَلَى الْمَاءِ أَعْطَاهُ الله بِكُلِّ شَرْبَةٍ سَبْعِينَ أَلْفَ حَسَنَةٍ وَإِنْ سَقَاهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لا يَقْدِرُ عَلَى الْمَاءِ فَكَأَنَّمَا أَعْتَقَ عَشْرَ رِقَابٍ مِنْ وُلْدِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ.

7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfali from al-Sakuni from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Whoever serves a drink of water to a believer who (himself) also can find water, Allah will give him seventy thousand good deeds for each drink and if he provides a drink of water when he (himself) is not able to find one it will be like setting free ten persons from the descendents of Tsma’il.’”

8ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ حُسَيْنِ بْنِ نُعَيْمٍ الصَّحَّافِ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) أَ تُحِبُّ إِخْوَانَكَ يَا حُسَيْنُ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ تَنْفَعُ فُقَرَاءَهُمْ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ أَمَا إِنَّهُ يَحِقُّ عَلَيْكَ أَنْ تُحِبَّ مَنْ يُحِبُّ الله أَمَا وَالله لا تَنْفَعُ مِنْهُمْ أَحَداً حَتَّى تُحِبَّهُ أَ تَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى مَنْزِلِكَ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ مَا آكُلُ إِلا وَمَعِيَ مِنْهُمُ الرَّجُلانِ وَالثَّلاثَةُ وَالأقَلُّ وَالأكْثَرُ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) أَمَا إِنَّ فَضْلَهُمْ عَلَيْكَ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أُطْعِمُهُمْ طَعَامِي وَأُوطِئُهُمْ رَحْلِي وَيَكُونُ فَضْلُهُمْ عَلَيَّ أَعْظَمَ قَالَ نَعَمْ إِنَّهُمْ إِذَا دَخَلُوا مَنْزِلَكَ دَخَلُوا بِمَغْفِرَتِكَ وَمَغْفِرَةِ عِيَالِكَ وَإِذَا خَرَجُوا مِنْ مَنْزِلِكَ خَرَجُوا بِذُنُوبِكَ وَذُنُوبِ عِيَالِكَ.

8. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Husayn ibn Nu’aim al-Sahhaf who has said the following: “Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) asked, ‘Do you love your brothers (in belief) O Husayn?’ I said, ‘Yes, 1 love them.’ The Imam asked, ‘Do you provide any benefit for their poor?’ I said, ‘Yes, I do so.’ The Imam said, ‘It is obligatory for you to love whoever loves Allah. By Allah you will not provide any benefit to any of them unless you love them. Do you invite them to your house?’ I said, ‘Yes, I do so. I do not eat unless there are two, three men or less or more. ’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) then said, ‘Their excellence over you is more than your excellence over them.’ I then said, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, I feed them my food on my own table on my furnishings. How can their excellence be greater than my excellence?’ The Imam said, ‘Yes, it is because when they come to your house they bring with them forgiveness for you and for your family and when they leave your house they leave along with your sins and the sins of your family.’”

9ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ الْوَابِشِيِّ قَالَ ذُكِرَ أَصْحَابُنَا عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) فَقُلْتُ مَا أَتَغَدَّى وَلا أَتَعَشَّى إِلا وَمَعِيَ مِنْهُمُ الإثْنَانِ وَالثَّلاثَةُ وَأَقَلُّ وَأَكْثَرُ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) فَضْلُهُمْ عَلَيْكَ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ كَيْفَ وَأَنَا أُطْعِمُهُمْ طَعَامِي وَأُنْفِقُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ مَالِي وَأُخْدِمُهُمْ عِيَالِي فَقَالَ إِنَّهُمْ إِذَا دَخَلُوا عَلَيْكَ دَخَلُوا بِرِزْقٍ مِنَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ كَثِيرٍ وَإِذَا خَرَجُوا خَرَجُوا بِالْمَغْفِرَةِ لَكَ.

9. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from abu Muhammad al-Wabishi who has said the following: “Our people were mentioned before abu ‘Abd Allah, recipient of divine supreme covenant. I said, ‘I do not eat lunch or dinner without two, three or more or less of them with me.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) said, ‘Their merit over you is greater than your merit over them.’ I then said, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, how can it be as such? I feed them and spent for them from my property and my family serves them.’ The Imam said, ‘When they come to you they come with plenty of sustenance from Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, and when they leave, they do so with forgiveness for you.’”

10ـ عَنْهُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُقَرِّنٍ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ الله الْوَصَّافِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لأنْ أُطْعِمَ رَجُلاً مُسْلِماً أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أُعْتِقَ أُفُقاً مِنَ النَّاسِ قُلْتُ وَكَمِ الأفُقُ فَقَالَ عَشَرَةُ آلافٍ.

10. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Muhammad ibn Muqrin from ‘Ubayd Allah al-Wassafi from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘Feeding a Muslim man is more beloved to me than setting free a horizon (full) of people.’ I then asked, ‘How many is a horizon of people?’ The Imam said, ‘It is ten thousand people.’”

11ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ رِبْعِيٍّ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) مَنْ أَطْعَمَ أَخَاهُ فِي الله كَانَ لَهُ مِنَ الأجْرِ مِثْلُ مَنْ أَطْعَمَ فِئَاماً مِنَ النَّاسِ قُلْتُ وَمَا الْفِئَامُ مِنَ النَّاسِ قَالَ مِائَةُ أَلْفٍ مِنَ النَّاسِ.

11. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Rib’i who has said the following: “Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) said, ‘Whoever feeds his Muslim brother (in belief) for the sake of Allah his reward will be like the reward of a person who feeds a Fi’Am, (whole group) of people.’ 1 then asked, ‘How many is a Fi’am of people?’ The Imam said, ‘It is one hundred thousand people.’”

12ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ سَدِيرٍ الصَّيْرَفِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) مَا مَنَعَكَ أَنْ تُعْتِقَ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ نَسَمَةً قُلْتُ لا يَحْتَمِلُ مَالِي ذَلِكَ قَالَ تُطْعِمُ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ مُسْلِماً فَقُلْتُ مُوسِراً أَوْ مُعْسِراً قَالَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الْمُوسِرَ قَدْ يَشْتَهِي الطَّعَامَ.

12. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn al-Hakam from Sadir al-Sayrafi who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has asked, ‘What prevents you from setting free a soul every day?’ I said, ‘My property is not enough to bear it.’ The Imam said, ‘Feed a Muslim every day.’ I asked, ‘Is it so, regardless, of his being affluent or poor?’ The Imam said, ‘Affluent people also desire food.’”

13ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ الْجَمَّالِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ أَكْلَةٌ يَأْكُلُهَا أَخِي الْمُسْلِمُ عِنْدِي أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أُعْتِقَ رَقَبَةً.

13. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Basir from Safwan al-Jammal from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “A meal that (I may provide) for a Muslim brother (in belief) is more beloved to me than setting free a slave.”

14ـ عَنْهُ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ الْجَمَّالِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لأنْ أُشْبِعَ رَجُلاً مِنْ إِخْوَانِي أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أَدْخُلَ سُوقَكُمْ هَذَا فَأَبْتَاعَ مِنْهَا رَأْساً فَأُعْتِقَهُ.

14. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Isma’il ibn Mehran from Safwan al-Jammal from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Feeding one of my brothers (in belief) to his satisfaction is more beloved to me than entering your market to buy a slave and set him free.”

15ـ عَنْهُ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لأنْ آخُذَ خَمْسَةَ دَرَاهِمَ وَأَدْخُلَ إِلَى سُوقِكُمْ هَذَا فَأَبْتَاعَ بِهَا الطَّعَامَ وَأَجْمَعَ نَفَراً مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أُعْتِقَ نَسَمَةً.

15. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “With five Dirhams, if I enter your market to buy food to feed a few Muslim people is more beloved to me than setting free of a slave.”

16ـ عَنْهُ عَنِ الْوَشَّاءِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سُئِلَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) مَا يَعْدِلُ عِتْقَ رَقَبَةٍ قَالَ إِطْعَامُ رَجُلٍ مُسْلِمٍ.

16. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from al-Washsha’ from Ali ibn abu Hamza from abu Basir from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Muhammad ibn Ali (a.s.) asked, ‘How much is the value of setting free a slave?’ The Imam said, ‘It is equal to feeding a Muslim man to his satisfaction.’”

17ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أَبِي الْخَطَّابِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ عُقْبَةَ عَنْ أَبِي شِبْلٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) مَا أَرَى شَيْئاً يَعْدِلُ زِيَارَةَ الْمُؤْمِنِ إِلا إِطْعَامَهُ وَحَقٌّ عَلَى الله أَنْ يُطْعِمَ مَنْ أَطْعَمَ مُؤْمِناً مِنْ طَعَامِ الْجَنَّةِ.

17. Muhammad ibn Y ahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn ibn abu al- Khattab from Muhammad ibn Isma’il from Salih ibn ‘Aqabah from abu Shabal who has said the following: “I do not find anything equal in reward to visiting a believer except feeding him. Allah considers it His responsibility to feed, from the food of paradise, one who feeds a believer.”

18ـ مُحَمَّدٌ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ عُقْبَةَ عَنْ رِفَاعَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لأنْ أُطْعِمَ مُؤْمِناً مُحْتَاجاً أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أَزُورَهُ وَلأنْ أَزُورَهُ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أُعْتِقَ عَشْرَ رِقَابٍ.

18. Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Muhammad ibn Isma’il from Salih ibn ‘Aqabah from Rufa’a from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Feeding a needy believer is more beloved to me than visiting him, and to visit him is more beloved to me than setting free of ten slaves.”

19ـ صَالِحُ بْنُ عُقْبَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَيَزِيدَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ مَنْ أَطْعَمَ مُؤْمِناً مُوسِراً كَانَ لَهُ يَعْدِلُ رَقَبَةً مِنْ وُلْدِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ يُنْقِذُهُ مِنَ الذَّبْحِ وَمَنْ أَطْعَمَ مُؤْمِناً مُحْتَاجاً كَانَ لَهُ يَعْدِلُ مِائَةَ رَقَبَةٍ مِنْ وُلْدِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ يُنْقِذُهَا مِنَ الذَّبْحِ.

19. Salih ibn ‘Aqabah has narrated from ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad and Yazid ibn ‘Abd al-Malik from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Whoever feeds an affluent believer it is equal to setting free a slave from the descendents of Isma’il and rescuing him from slaughter. Whoever feeds a needy believer, it is equal in reward for him to set free one hundred slaves from the descendents of Isma’il and rescue them from being slaughtered.”

20ـ صَالِحُ بْنُ عُقْبَةَ عَنْ نَصْرِ بْنِ قَابُوسَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لأطْعَامُ مُؤْمِنٍ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ عِتْقِ عَشْرِ رِقَابٍ وَعَشْرِ حِجَجٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ عَشْرِ رِقَابٍ وَعَشْرِ حِجَجٍ قَالَ فَقَالَ يَا نَصْرُ إِنْ لَمْ تُطْعِمُوهُ مَاتَ أَوْ تَدُلُّونَهُ فَيَجِي‏ءُ إِلَى نَاصِبٍ فَيَسْأَلُهُ وَالْمَوْتُ خَيْرٌ لَهُ مِنْ مَسْأَلَةِ نَاصِبٍ يَا نَصْرُ مَنْ أَحْيَا مُؤْمِناً فَكَأَنَّمَا أَحْيَا النَّاسَ جَمِيعاً فَإِنْ لَمْ تُطْعِمُوهُ فَقَدْ أَمَتُّمُوهُ وَإِنْ أَطْعَمْتُمُوهُ فَقَدْ أَحْيَيْتُمُوهُ.

20. Salih ibn ‘Aqabah has narrated from Nasr ibn Qabus from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Feeding a believer is, indeed, more beloved to me than setting free ten slaves and performing ten Hajj.’ I (the narrator) then asked, ‘Is it like setting free ten slaves and performing ten Hajj?’ He has said that the Imam said, ‘O Nasr, if you do not feed him he will die or you will humiliate him, then he will go to one who is a bitter enemy of the Imam and will ask him for help. Death is better for him than asking help from such enemy of the Imam. O Nasr, giving life to a believer is like giving life to all mankind. If you do not feed him you have caused his death, if you feed him you have given him life.’”