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 Ill 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 عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ يُونُسَ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ مَكْتُوبٌ عَلَى بَابِ الْجَنَّةِ الصَّدَقَةُ بِعَشَرَةٍ وَالْقَرْضُ بِثَمَانِيَةَ عَشَرَ وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى بِخَمْسَةَ عَشَرَ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Mansur ibn Yunus from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘There is a writing on the door of Paradise that says: ‘Charity for ten “rewards” and loan for eighteen “rewards.”’ In another Hadith it is said, ‘Loan for fifteen “rewards.”” 

2ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنْ رِبْعِيِّ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله عَنْ فُضَيْلِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) مَا مِنْ مُؤْمِنٍ أَقْرَضَ مُؤْمِناً يَلْتَمِسُ بِهِ وَجْهَ الله إِلاَّ حَسَبَ الله لَهُ أَجْرَهُ بِحِسَابِ الصَّدَقَةِ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ إِلَيْهِ مَالُهُ.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and Muhammad ibn Isma‘il from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan, all from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad from Rib’iy ibn ‘Abd Allah from Fudayl ibn Yasar who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘For every believing person who provides a loan for another believing person, for the sake of Allah, Allah counts its reward as that of giving charity until the time the loan is paid back.’” 

3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فِي قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى لا خَيْرَ فِي كَثِيرٍ مِنْ نَجْواهُمْ إِلاَّ مَنْ أَمَرَ بِصَدَقَةٍ أَوْ مَعْرُوفٍ قَالَ يَعْنِي بِالْمَعْرُوفِ الْقَرْضَ.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Ibrahim ibn ‘Abd al-Hamid who has said the following: “This is about the words of Allah, ‘There is not much good in many of their secret talks except that which commands to give charity or Benevolent Assistance.’ (4:114) Abu ‘Abd Allah, has said, “Benevolent Assistance is a reference to providing loans for needy people.’”” 

4ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ خَالِدٍ قَالَ دَخَلْتُ أَنَا وَالْمُعَلَّى وَعُثْمَانُ بْنُ عِمْرَانَ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فَلَمَّا رَآنَا قَالَ مَرْحَباً مَرْحَباً بِكُمْ وُجُوهٌ تُحِبُّنَا وَنُحِبُّهَا جَعَلَكُمُ الله مَعَنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ فَقَالَ لَهُ عُثْمَانُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) نَعَمْ مَهْ قَالَ إِنِّي رَجُلٌ مُوسِرٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ بَارَكَ الله لَكَ فِي يَسَارِكَ قَالَ وَيَجِي‏ءُ الرَّجُلُ فَيَسْأَلُنِي الشَّيْ‏ءَ وَلَيْسَ هُوَ إِبَّانُ زَكَاتِي فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) الْقَرْضُ عِنْدَنَا بِثَمَانِيَةَ عَشَرَ وَالصَّدَقَةُ بِعَشَرَةٍ وَمَا ذَا عَلَيْكَ إِذَا كُنْتَ كَمَا تَقُولُ مُوسِراً أَعْطَيْتَهُ فَإِذَا كَانَ إِبَّانُ زَكَاتِكَ احْتَسَبْتَ بِهَا مِنَ الزَّكَاةِ يَا عُثْمَانُ لا تَرُدَّهُ فَإِنَّ رَدَّهُ عِنْدَ الله عَظِيمٌ يَا عُثْمَانُ إِنَّكَ لَوْ عَلِمْتَ مَا مَنْزِلَةُ الْمُؤْمِنِ مِنْ رَبِّهِ مَا تَوَانَيْتَ فِي حَاجَتِهِ وَمَنْ أَدْخَلَ عَلَى مُؤْمِنٍ سُرُوراً فَقَدْ أَدْخَلَ عَلَى رَسُولِ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَقَضَاءُ حَاجَةِ الْمُؤْمِنِ يَدْفَعُ الْجُنُونَ وَالْجُذَامَ وَالْبَرَصَ.

4. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ahmad ibn al-Hassan ibn Ali from his father from ‘Uqbah ibn Khalid who has said the following: “I went to visit abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.). Two other people, al-Mu‘alla’ and ‘Uthman ibn ‘Umar, also were present with me. On seeing us, he welcomed us and offered greetings of peace, saying, ‘I welcome the faces that love us and we love them. May Allah keep you with us in this world and in the next life.’ Uthman then said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause.’ The Imam acknowledged his expression and asked, ‘What can I do for you?’ Uthman then said, ‘I am an affluent man.’ The Imam said, ‘May Allah make your wealth a blessing for you.’ He then said, ‘A man comes to me for (financial) help. Such time is not the time for me to pay zakat.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), then said, ‘Providing a loan, before us, has eighteen rewards, and for charity it is ten rewards. You have no difficulty, being an affluent man as you just said. You can provide him help and when the time for paying zakat comes, count it as your zakat paid to him. O ‘Uthman, do not turn him away empty-handed; it is a great and serious matter in the sight of Allah. O ‘Uthman, if you had known how important a believer is in the sight of Allah, you would not hesitate to respond positively to his appeal. Whoever provides happiness for a believing person has done so for the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause. Providing help for a believing person repels illnesses like insanity, leprosy and albino (leprosy).”’ 

5ـ سَهْلُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ السِّنْدِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ قَرْضُ الْمُؤْمِنِ غَنِيمَةٌ وَتَعْجِيلُ خَيْرٍ إِنْ أَيْسَرَ أَدَّاهُ وَإِنْ مَاتَ احْتُسِبَ مِنَ الزَّكَاةِ. 

5. Sahl ibn Ziyad has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-FIamid from Ibrahim al-Sindiy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that providing a loan for a believing person is an (important) gain and a good deed if done quickly. If he becomes financially capable, he repays, but if he dies, the provider of loan can count it as payment for zakat.”

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 1, Chapter 29