Virtue of Charity

Giving Charity Repels Misfortune

The Virtue of Giving Charity Out of Public Sight

Giving Charity During the Night

Giving Charity Increases One’s Wealth

Giving Charity to Relatives

Providing for the Family to Improve the Quality of Their Lives

One’s Dependents

Giving Charity to Those Whom One Does Not Know

Giving Charity to Bedouins and People Who Live in Desolate Areas

Undesirability of Turning Away One Asking for Help

The Amount of Charity for One Asking for Help

The Prayer of the Recipient of Charity

One Who Distributes Charity Has a Share in Rewards with the Donor of Charity

Self-Abnegation (Giving Preference to Others Over One’s Self)

One Who Asks for Help Without Actually Needing Help

Unpleasantness of Begging

Embarrassing the Recipient of a Favor

Giving Charity After an Appeal From a Recipient

Benevolent Assistance (Optional Charity as Opposed to Compulsory Ones)

The Virtue of Benevolent Assistance

Another Chapter about the Subject of the Previous Chapter

Providing Benevolent Assistance Repels Wicked Encounters

Providers of Benevolent Assistance Will be Identified as Such on the Day of Judgment

Completion of Benevolent Assistance

Finding a Proper Recipient of Benevolent Assistance

Disciplines for Providing Benevolent Assistance

Refusing to Appreciate a Benevolent Assistance

Providing a Loan

Extending Due Date of Payment in Favor of the Borrower

Waiving a Loan in Favor of a Dead Person

The Cost of Maintenance of Wealth

Appreciation of Bounties

Understanding Generosity and Munificence

Spending on Deserving Causes

Stinginess and Greed

Rare Ahadith about Charity

Virtue of Serving Food

The Excellence of Moderation

Detestability of Over-Spending and Living in Austerity

Providing Water for Drinking

Charity for Descendents of al-Hashim and the People of Their Household (Servants) and Compensation to Them

The Rare Ahadith

The Excellence of Fast and Fasting

The Excellence of the Month of Ramadan

About the One Who Serves Food to a Fasting Person

Prohibition of Saying ‘Ramadan’ Instead of the ‘Month of Ramadan’

The Words to Say When the Month of Ramadan is About to Begin

Verifying the Rise of the New Moon and Finding Witnesses for It

Another Chapter about the Previous Subject

The Day That Is Doubtful About Its Being of the Month of Sha‘ban or the Month of Ramadan

Kinds of Fasts

Disciplines During Fasting

The Fasting of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause

Excellence of Fasting in the Month of Shaman, Continuing Such Fast to Connect it with the Month of Ramadan, and Three Days of Fasting Every Month

Breakfast before Dawn

The Prayer to Say During Breakfast after Sunset

Fasting Continuously and All the Time

The Case of One Who Eats or Drinks but Has Doubts About Its Taking Place before or after Dawn

What Is Dawn, When Does It Come and When Is It Unlawful to Eat?

The Case of One Who Eats, Thinking it to Be after Sunset, when It Is Not yet Sunset

The Time of Breaking Fast after Sunset

The Case of One who Eats or Drinks out of Forgetfulness During the Month of Ramadan

The Case of One Who Knowingly Eats or Is Involved in Carnal Relation During the Month of Ramadan

The Case of a Person Involved in Carnal Relations in the Form of Kissing or Foreplay

The Case of One Who Experiences a Wet-Dream During the Night in the Month of Ramadan or at Other Times and Does Not Shower before Dawn or It Occurs During the Night or Day

The Undesirability of Immersing One’s Head in Water while Fasting

Rinsing One’s Mouth and Nostrils while Fasting

The Case of a Fasting Person’s Vomiting, Nauseating or Burping

The Case of a Fasting Person’s Use of Bath Room and Apply Cupping

The Case of a Fasting Person’s Sniffling or Use of Eardrops or Enema

The Case of a Fasting Person’s Use of Kohl (Eye Drops or powder)

A Fasting Person’s Use of Tooth Brush

A Fasting Person’s Use of Perfumes

A Fasting Person’s Use of Chewing Gum

The Case of a Fasting Person Tasting the Salt in Cooking Pot and Chews for the Fledgling

The Case of a Fly or Mucus Entering the Throat of a Fasting Person

The Case of a Fasting Person’s Keeping a Ring, a Pebble or a Date Stone in His Mouth while Fasting

The Case of Seniors Who Feel Weak when Fasting

The Case of a Pregnant or Breastfeeding Woman Who Feels Weak when Fasting

The Limit of Illness That Exempts One from Fasting

The Case of One Who Remains 111 for Two Consecutive Months of Ramadan

Remedy and Compensatory Fast for the Missed Fasting During the Month of Ramadan

The Case of One Who Wakes up in the Morning with an Intention to Fast, but Who Does Not Do So or Vice Versa when Fasting Is a Compensatory Fast for the Missed Fast in the Month of Ramadan or Other Days

The Case of One Who Fasts Optionally while He Is Obligated to Make Up for Fasting of the Month of Ramadan He Has Missed

The Case of a Person Who Passes Away Owing Fasting of the Month of Ramadan or Other Times

Children’s Fasting and When They Owe Fasting

The Case of One Who Becomes a Muslim during the Month of Ramadan

Undesirability of Traveling in the Month of Ramadan

Undesirability (unlawfulness) of Fast on a Journey

The Case of One Who Fasts on a Journey out of Ignorance

Those Who Do or Do Not Have to Break Their Fast on a Journey 

Optional Fasting on a Journey and Qada’ (compensatory fast) of Fasting Missed on a Journey

The Case of One Who Begins a Journey or Returns from a Journey in the Month of Ramadan

The Case of a Traveler Who Enters His Town or a Place where He Wants to Stay for Ten Days

The Case of One Who Involves Himself in Carnal Relations with His Wife on a Journey or Returns from a Journey in the Month of Ramadan

The Case of Fasting during Menses: Major or Minor One

The Case of One Who Owes Fasting of Two Consecutive Months but an Obstacle Prevents Him 

Fasting As Expiation for Swearing

1ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ هَاشِمٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) الصَّدَقَةُ تَدْفَعُ مِيتَةَ السَّوْءِ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashim has narrated from his father, from al-Husayn ibn Yazid af-Nawfafiy from al-Sakuniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.), has said, ’Charity dispels wicked forms of death.’” 

2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ جَمِيعاً عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ غَالِبٍ عَمَّنْ حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ الْبِرُّ وَالصَّدَقَةُ يَنْفِيَانِ الْفَقْرَ وَيَزِيدَانِ فِي الْعُمُرِ وَيَدْفَعَانِ تِسْعِينَ مِيتَةَ السَّوْءِ. وَفِي خَبَرٍ آخَرَ وَيَدْفَعَانِ عَنْ شِيعَتِي مِيتَةَ السَّوْءِ.

2. Muhammad ibn Isma‘il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan and Ahmad ibn Idris from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar all from Safwan ibn Yahya from Ishaq ibn Ghalib from those who narrated to him who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Benevolence and charity remove poverty, increase longevity of life and dispel seventy kinds of wicked forms of death.” Another Hadith has said that it ‘dispels wicked forms of death from our Shi`a.’” 

3ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ خَلَفِ بْنِ حَمَّادٍ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ الْجَوْهَرِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ لأَنْ أَحُجَّ حَجَّةً أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أُعْتِقَ رَقَبَةً وَرَقَبَةً حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَى عَشَرَةٍ وَمِثْلَهَا وَمِثْلَهَا حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَى سَبْعِينَ وَلأَنْ أَعُولَ أَهْلَ بَيْتٍ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ أُشْبِعَ جَوْعَتَهُمْ وَأَكْسُوَ عَوْرَتَهُمْ وَأَكُفَّ وُجُوهَهُمْ عَنِ النَّاسِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أَحُجَّ حَجَّةً وَحَجَّةً وَحَجَّةً حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَى عَشْرٍ وَعَشْرٍ وَعَشْرٍ وَمِثْلَهَا وَمِثْلَهَا حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَى سَبْعِينَ.

3. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from abu ‘Abd Allah from his father from Khalaf ibn Hammad from Isma‘il al-Jawhariy from abu Basir who has said the following: “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘I like performing Hajj more than setting free a slave, another slave and another slave . . .’ He went on to say up to ten slaves, and then up to seventy slaves. He then said, ‘If I support a Muslim family, satisfy their hunger, provide them clothes, and protect their dignity among people, it is more beloved to me than performing a Hajj and a Hajj and a Hajj . . .’ He went on to say up to seventy Hajj.” 

4ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) مَنْ صَدَّقَ بِالْخَلَفِ جَادَ بِالْعَطِيَّةِ.

4. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from al-Nawfaliy from al-Sakuniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.), has said, ‘One who is certain of (good) consequences, he strives to make it a good gift.’” 

5ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ سِنَانٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) دَاوُوا مَرْضَاكُمْ بِالصَّدَقَةِ وَادْفَعُوا الْبَلاءَ بِالدُّعَاءِ وَاسْتَنْزِلُوا الرِّزْقَ بِالصَّدَقَةِ فَإِنَّهَا تُفَكُّ مِنْ بَيْنِ لُحِيِّ سَبْعِمِائَةِ شَيْطَانٍ وَلَيْسَ شَيْ‏ءٌ أَثْقَلَ عَلَى الشَّيْطَانِ مِنَ الصَّدَقَةِ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِ وَهِيَ تَقَعُ فِي يَدِ الرَّبِّ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى قَبْلَ أَنْ تَقَعَ فِي يَدِ الْعَبْدِ.

5. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad, from Muhammad ibn Khalid, from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Qasim, from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Cure your illnesses by giving charity, repel misfortunes with prayer, and allow means of sustenance to descend upon you by giving charity. Charity finds its way through the beards of seven hundred Satans. No other thing is heavier upon Satan than when you give charity to a believing person. It finds its place in the hand of the Lord, the Most Blessed, the Most High, before finding its place in the hand of a servant (of Allah).”’ 

6ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الله عَنْ جَدِّهِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْفُضَيْلِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) أَرْضُ الْقِيَامَةِ نَارٌ مَا خَلا ظِلَّ الْمُؤْمِنِ فَإِنَّ صَدَقَتَهُ تُظِلُّهُ.

6. Ahmad ibn ‘Abd Allah has narrated from his grandfather from Muhammad ibn Ali from Muhammad ibn al-Fudayl from ‘Abd al- Rahman ibn Zayd who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘The land on the Day of Judgment is all fire except the shadow of a believing person. His charity provides him shadow.’” 

7ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ سِنَانٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) يَقُولُ الصَّدَقَةُ بِالْيَدِ تَقِي مِيتَةَ السَّوْءِ وَتَدْفَعُ سَبْعِينَ نَوْعاً مِنْ أَنْوَاعِ الْبَلاءِ وَتُفَكُّ عَنْ لُحِيِّ سَبْعِينَ شَيْطَاناً كُلُّهُمْ يَأْمُرُهُ أَنْ لا يَفْعَلَ.

7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘Giving charity by one’s own hand repels seventy kinds of misfortune, which finds its way out through the beards of seven hundred Satans who all try to stop him from giving charity.’” 

8ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) يَقُولُ كَانَ فِي وَصِيَّةِ النَّبِيِّ (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) لأَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ الله وَسَلامُهُ عَلَيْهِ وَأَمَّا الصَّدَقَةُ فَجُهْدَكَ جُهْدَكَ حَتَّى يُقَالَ قَدْ أَسْرَفْتَ وَلَمْ تُسْرِفْ.

8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ali ibn al-Nu’man from Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), narrate this Hadith. ‘It is in the will of the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, which is addressed to ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.). “As far as charity is concerned, strive to do your best until it is said that you have exceeded the limit, but in fact you have not exceeded.” He (the Messenger of Allah) has explained.’” 

9ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ يُسْتَحَبُّ لِلْمَرِيضِ أَنْ يُعْطِيَ السَّائِلَ بِيَدِهِ وَيَأْمُرَ السَّائِلَ أَنْ يَدْعُوَ لَهُ.

9. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that it is preferable for a person suffering from illness to give charity with his own hand to one who asks for charity, then ask him to pray for him.” 

10ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عُمَرَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ قَالَ أَخْبَرْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) أَنِّي أُصِبْتُ بِابْنَيْنِ وَبَقِيَ لِي بُنَيٌّ صَغِيرٌ فَقَالَ تَصَدَّقْ عَنْهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ حِينَ حَضَرَ قِيَامِي مُرِ الصَّبِيَّ فَلْيَتَصَدَّقْ بِيَدِهِ بِالْكِسْرَةِ وَالْقَبْضَةِ وَالشَّيْ‏ءِ وَإِنْ قَلَّ فَإِنَّ كُلَّ شَيْ‏ءٍ يُرَادُ بِهِ الله وَإِنْ قَلَّ بَعْدَ أَنْ تَصْدُقَ النِّيَّةُ فِيهِ عَظِيمٌ إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَقُولُ فَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِثْقالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْراً يَرَهُ وَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِثْقالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُ وَقَالَ فَلا اقْتَحَمَ الْعَقَبَةَ وَما أَدْراكَ مَا الْعَقَبَةُ فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ أَوْ إِطْعامٌ فِي يَوْمٍ ذِي مَسْغَبَةٍ يَتِيماً ذا مَقْرَبَةٍ أَوْ مِسْكِيناً ذا مَتْرَبَةٍ عَلِمَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَنَّ كُلَّ أَحَدٍ لا يَقْدِرُ عَلَى فَكِّ رَقَبَةٍ فَجَعَلَ إِطْعَامَ الْيَتِيمِ وَالْمِسْكِينِ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ تَصَدَّقْ عَنْهُ.

10. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from Muhammad ibn Ali from Muhammad ibn ‘Amr ibn Yazid who has said the following: “I informed abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.), about the passing away of my two sons and that only one small son is living. The Imam said, ‘You should give charity for his safety.’ When I was about to leave, he said, ‘Ask your son to give charity with his own hands; it can be a piece, a handful or even something very small. Anything whereby one can seek the pleasure of Allah with true intention, even though very small, is a great thing. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, says, “Whoever does a good deed, even if it is as small as the size of an atom, he will find its result; so also is the case of one who does a bad deed. (99:7-8) ”He has also said, “They have not yet entered al-‘Aqabah (mountain-pass). What do you think al-‘Aqabah is? Al-‘Aqabah is the setting free of a slave or providing food during a famine for a relative’s orphan or to a destitute person. (90:11-16)” He has also said, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, knows that everyone is unable to set a slave free. Thus, in the giving of charity, He has considered feeding an orphan or a destitute person the same as setting free a slave.’” 

11ـ غَيْرُ وَاحِدٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ غَيْرِ وَاحِدٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَمِيلَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) تَصَدَّقُوا وَلَوْ بِصَاعٍ مِنْ تَمْرٍ وَلَوْ بِبَعْضِ صَاعٍ وَلَوْ بِقَبْضَةٍ وَلَوْ بِبَعْضِ قَبْضَةٍ وَلَوْ بِتَمْرَةٍ وَلَوْ بِشِقِّ تَمْرَةٍ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ فَبِكَلِمَةٍ لَيِّنَةٍ فَإِنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ لاقٍ الله فَقَائِلٌ لَهُ أَ لَمْ أَفْعَلْ بِكَ أَ لَمْ أَجْعَلْكَ سَمِيعاً بَصِيراً أَ لَمْ أَجْعَلْ لَكَ مَالاً وَوَلَداً فَيَقُولُ بَلَى فَيَقُولُ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى فَانْظُرْ مَا قَدَّمْتَ لِنَفْسِكَ قَالَ فَيَنْظُرُ قُدَّامَهُ وَخَلْفَهُ وَعَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَعَنْ شِمَالِهِ فَلا يَجِدُ شَيْئاً يَقِي بِهِ وَجْهَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ. 

11. More than one person from our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from more than one narrator from abu Jamilah who has said the following: “This is a narration of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), from the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause. He (the Messenger of Allah) has said, ‘You must give charity even if it is one Sa‘ (a certain unit of measurement) of dates or less, or a handful or less or one piece of date or less, and if one does not find even this much, he should speak a soothing word. One of you may come in the presence of Allah who may ask, “Did I not do for you (all the things you have)? Did I not give you eyes and ears; did I not give you property and children?” He will say, “Yes, You gave me all such things.” Allah, the most Blessed, the most High, will say, “Look what you have sent for yourself?”’ He then said, ‘This person then looks around to his front, back, right and left and does not find anything to protect him from the fire.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 1, Chapter 1