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 مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ مَنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يُظِلَّهُ الله يَوْمَ لا ظِلَّ إِلاَّ ظِلُّهُ قَالَهَا ثَلاثاً فَهَابَهُ النَّاسُ أَنْ يَسْأَلُوهُ فَقَالَ فَلْيُنْظِرْ مُعْسِراً أَوْ لِيَدَعْ لَهُ مِنْ حَقِّهِ.

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), once, spoke to us and repeated the following phrase three times. ‘If one wishes that Allah provide him shadow on the Day when there will be no shadow except His shadow,’ and no one had the courage to ask him to explain, he (Imam) then said, ‘He should extend the due date of repayment of a loan for a borrower who has difficulty to pay back, or partially waive it in his (debtor’s) favor.’” 

2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) قَالَ فِي يَوْمٍ حَارٍّ وَحَنَّى كَفَّهُ مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَسْتَظِلَّ مِنْ فَوْرِ جَهَنَّمَ قَالَهَا ثَلاثَ مَرَّاتٍ فَقَالَ النَّاسُ فِي كُلِّ مَرَّةٍ نَحْنُ يَا رَسُولَ الله فَقَالَ مَنْ أَنْظَرَ غَرِيماً أَوْ تَرَكَ الْمُعْسِرَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ لِي عَبْدُ الله بْنُ كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ إِنَّ أَبِي أَخْبَرَنِي أَنَّهُ لَزِمَ غَرِيماً لَهُ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَأَقْبَلَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَدَخَلَ بَيْتَهُ وَنَحْنُ جَالِسَانِ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ فِي الْهَاجِرَةِ فَكَشَفَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) سِتْرَهُ وَقَالَ يَا كَعْبُ مَا زِلْتُمَا جَالِسَيْنِ قَالَ نَعَمْ بِأَبِي وَأُمِّي قَالَ فَأَشَارَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) بِكَفِّهِ خُذِ النِّصْفَ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ بِأَبِي وَأُمِّي ثُمَّ قَالَ أَتْبِعْهُ بِبَقِيَّةِ حَقِّكَ قَالَ فَأَخَذْتُ النِّصْفَ وَوَضَعْتُ لَهُ النِّصْفَ.

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from ‘Abd al- Rahman ibn abu ‘Abd Allah 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, bending his palm on a hot day, said, ‘Who wants to provide a shadow for himself against the heat of the blaze of hell fire?’ He repeated the sentence three times, and every time people said, ‘We want such a shadow, O Messenger of Allah.’ He then said, ‘He is the one who extends the due date of loan repayment or waives it altogether in favor of a borrower who has difficulty paying.’” “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), then said to me, “Abd Allah ibn Ka‘b ibn Malik has said to me that his father told him, “Once, in the Masjid I got hold of a person who had borrowed from me. The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, came and (seeing us) he went inside his house, while we were sitting in the Masjid. He then came out in the heat of the sun and began to speak, saying, ‘O Ka‘b, are you both still sitting there?’ I, Ka‘b then replied, ‘Yes, I pray to Allah to keep the souls of my father and mother in the service of your cause.’ The Messenger of Allah then pointed to his palm and said, ‘Take this half.’ I, Ka‘b, then said, ‘Yes, I pray to Allah to keep the souls of my father and mother in service for your cause.’ He (the Messenger of Allah) said, ‘Waive the other half in his favor.’ I took the half and waived the other half in favor of the borrower.’”” 

3ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَسْبَاطٍ عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ خَلُّوا سَبِيلَ الْمُعْسِرِ كَمَا خَلاَّهُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ.

3. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ali ibn Asbat from Ya’qub ibn Salim who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that you must leave alone a borrower who has difficulty repaying a loan, just as Allah does (extend the due time for payment of loan if the borrower has difficulty repaying. . . ” (see (2:280)). 

4ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ صَعِدَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) الْمِنْبَرَ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ فَحَمِدَ الله وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ وَصَلَّى عَلَى أَنْبِيَائِهِ صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ لِيُبَلِّغِ الشَّاهِدُ مِنْكُمُ الْغَائِبَ أَلا وَمَنْ أَنْظَرَ مُعْسِراً كَانَ لَهُ عَلَى الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ صَدَقَةٌ بِمِثْلِ مَالِهِ حَتَّى يَسْتَوْفِيَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) وَإِنْ كانَ ذُو عُسْرَةٍ فَنَظِرَةٌ إِلى‏ مَيْسَرَةٍ وَأَنْ تَصَدَّقُوا خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ مُعْسِرٌ فَتَصَدَّقُوا عَلَيْهِ بِمَالِكُمْ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ. 

4. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Yahya ibn ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Hassan ibn al-Hassan who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that one day the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, sat on the pulpit. He praised Allah, spoke of His glory, prayed for His prophets, and then said the following: ‘O people, those of you present must inform those who are absent. Whoever extends the due date for repayment in favor of a borrower who has difficulty to pay back, for such a person with Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, for every day a reward of charity equal to the amount of loan is recorded, until the loan is repaid.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), then said, ‘If a borrower has difficulty repaying the loan, he should be given time until his difficulty is no more, but it is better for you if you count it as is charity if he has difficulty to pay. You should provide him charity from your property; it is better for you.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 1, Chapter 30