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 عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي الْجَهْمِ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ بَكْرٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ قَالَ سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الأَوَّلَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) وَهُوَ فِي الطَّوَافِ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الْجَوَادِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ لِكَلامِكَ وَجْهَيْنِ فَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَسْأَلُ عَنِ الْمَخْلُوقِ فَإِنَّ الْجَوَادَ الَّذِي يُؤَدِّي مَا افْتَرَضَ الله عَلَيْهِ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَسْأَلُ عَنِ الْخَالِقِ فَهُوَ الْجَوَادُ إِنْ أَعْطَى وَهُوَ الْجَوَادُ إِنْ مَنَعَ لأَنَّهُ إِنْ أَعْطَاكَ أَعْطَاكَ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ وَإِنْ مَنَعَكَ مَنَعَكَ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ.

1. A number of our people have narrated from, Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from, his father from abu al-Jahm from Musa ibn Bakr from Ahmad ibn Sulayman who has said the following: “A man once asked abu al-Hassan, the 1st (a.s.), when he was performing Tawaf (walking seven times around the Ka‘bah), ‘Tell me about generosity.’ The Imam replied, ‘Your question has two sides. If you are asking about a generous creature, the answer is that a generous creature is one who pays what Allah has made obligatory on him to pay. If you are asking about the generosity of the Creator, then the answer is that the Creator is generous when He gives you something, and He is generous if He denies you something; if He gives you something, it does not belong to you; and if He denies you something, it does not belong to you.’” 

2ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ مَا حَدُّ السَّخَاءِ فَقَالَ تُخْرِجُ مِنْ مَالِكَ الْحَقَّ الَّذِي أَوْجَبَهُ الله عَلَيْكَ فَتَضَعُهُ فِي مَوْضِعِهِ.

2. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from certain individuals of our people who has said the following: “I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘What is the limit of generosity?’ The Imam replied, ‘It is to pay what Allah has made obligatory on you to pay to properly deserving recipients.’” 

3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ هَارُونَ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ مَسْعَدَةَ بْنِ صَدَقَةَ عَنْ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ آبَائِهِ (عَلَيْهِم السَّلاَم) أَنَّ رَسُولَ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) قَالَ السَّخِيُّ مُحَبَّبٌ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ مُحَبَّبٌ فِي الأَرْضِ خُلِقَ مِنْ طِينَةٍ عَذْبَةٍ وَخُلِقَ مَاءُ عَيْنَيْهِ مِنْ مَاءِ الْكَوْثَرِ وَالْبَخِيلُ مُبَغَّضٌ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ مُبَغَّضٌ فِي الأَرْضِ خُلِقَ مِنْ طِينَةٍ سَبِخَةٍ وَخُلِقَ مَاءُ عَيْنَيْهِ مِنْ مَاءِ الْعَوْسَجِ.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Harun ibn Muslim from Mas’adah ibn Sadaqah who has said the following: “Ja’far (a.s.), from his ancestors, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘A generous person is beloved in the heavens and on earth. Such persons are created from sweet clay. The water of the eyes of such people is created from the water of al-Kawthar. Stingy persons are hated in the heaven and on earth. Such people are created from salty clay and the water of the eyes of such people is created from the water of thorns.’” 

4ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عُقْبَةَ عَنْ مَهْدِيٍّ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ السَّخِيُّ الْحَسَنُ الْخُلُقِ فِي كَنَفِ الله لا يَسْتَخْلِي الله مِنْهُ حَتَّى يُدْخِلَهُ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَا بَعَثَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ نَبِيّاً وَلا وَصِيّاً إِلاَّ سَخِيّاً وَمَا كَانَ أَحَدٌ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ إِلاَّ سَخِيّاً وَمَا زَالَ أَبِي يُوصِينِي بِالسَّخَاءِ حَتَّى مَضَى وَقَالَ مَنْ أَخْرَجَ مِنْ مَالِهِ الزَّكَاةَ تَامَّةً فَوَضَعَهَا فِي مَوْضِعِهَا لَمْ يُسْأَلْ مِنْ أَيْنَ اكْتَسَبْتَ مَالَكَ.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn Faddal from Ali ibn ‘Uqbah from Mahdiy who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.), has said, ‘A generous person who possesses good moral discipline is under Allah’s protection and Allah does not leave such a person alone until He admits him to Paradise. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has never sent a prophet or an executor of the will of the prophets who is not generous. All the people of good deeds were generous. My father continued to encourage me to be generous until he passed away. He said, ‘One who pays zakat completely and pays it to properly deserving persons is not questioned wherefrom he has earned his wealth.’” 

5ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْمُكَارِي عَنْ رَجُلٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ أَتَى رَسُولَ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَفْدٌ مِنَ الْيَمَنِ وَفِيهِمْ رَجُلٌ كَانَ أَعْظَمَهُمْ كَلاماً وَأَشَدَّهُمْ اسْتِقْصَاءً فِي مُحَاجَّةِ النَّبِيِّ (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَغَضِبَ النَّبِيُّ (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) حَتَّى الْتَوَى عِرْقُ الْغَضَبِ بَيْنَ عَيْنَيْهِ وَتَرَبَّدَ وَجْهُهُ وَأَطْرَقَ إِلَى الأَرْضِ فَأَتَاهُ جَبْرَئِيلُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فَقَالَ رَبُّكَ يُقْرِئُكَ السَّلامَ وَيَقُولُ لَكَ هَذَا رَجُلٌ سَخِيٌّ يُطْعِمُ الطَّعَامَ فَسَكَنَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) الْغَضَبُ وَرَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ وَقَالَ لَهُ لَوْ لا أَنَّ جَبْرَئِيلَ أَخْبَرَنِي عَنِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَنَّكَ سَخِيٌّ تُطْعِمُ الطَّعَامَ لَشَرَدْتُ بِكَ وَجَعَلْتُكَ حَدِيثاً لِمَنْ خَلْفَكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ الرَّجُلُ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَيُحِبُّ السَّخَاءَ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ فَقَالَ إِنِّي أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لا إِلَهَ إِلاَّ الله وَأَنَّكَ رَسُولُ الله وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ لا رَدَدْتُ مِنْ مَالِي أَحَداً.

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from al-Husayn ibn abu Sa‘id al-Mukariy from a man from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who said: "A delegate from Yemen once came to the Messenger of Allah (sw). Among them, there was a man who was the greatest among them in speaking and most intense in arguing with the Prophet (sw). The Prophet (sw) became angry and the sweat of anger appeared between his eyes, his complexion changed, and he began to look down on the ground. Jibril (Gabriel (AS)) came to him and said, ‘Your Lord sends you greetings of peace and says, “This is a generous man. He provides food (for people).” The anger of the Prophet (sw) calmed down. He raised his head and said to him, "Had it not been for Jibril informing me about Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, that you are generous, feeding food (to people), I would have driven you away and made you a subject of discussion for those who came after you." The man said to him, "Indeed, your Lord loves generosity." He (sw) replied, "Yes." He (the man) said, "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that you are the Messenger of Allah, and by the One who sent you with the truth, I will not take back any my wealth from anyone."

6ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَبَانٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ زَيْدٍ الشَّحَّامِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) كَانَ أَبَا أَضْيَافٍ فَكَانَ إِذَا لَمْ يَكُونُوا عِنْدَهُ خَرَجَ يَطْلُبُهُمْ وَأَغْلَقَ بَابَهُ وَأَخَذَ الْمَفَاتِيحَ يَطْلُبُ الأَضْيَافَ وَإِنَّهُ رَجَعَ إِلَى دَارِهِ فَإِذَا هُوَ بِرَجُلٍ أَوْ شِبْهِ رَجُلٍ فِي الدَّارِ فَقَالَ يَا عَبْدَ الله بِإِذْنِ مَنْ دَخَلْتَ هَذِهِ الدَّارَ قَالَ دَخَلْتُهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهَا يُرَدِّدُ ذَلِكَ ثَلاثَ مَرَّاتٍ فَعَرَفَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) أَنَّهُ جَبْرَئِيلُ فَحَمِدَ الله ثُمَّ قَالَ أَرْسَلَنِي رَبُّكَ إِلَى عَبْدٍ مِنْ عَبِيدِهِ يَتَّخِذُهُ خَلِيلاً قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فَأَعْلِمْنِي مَنْ هُوَ أَخْدُمْهُ حَتَّى أَمُوتَ قَالَ فَأَنْتَ هُوَ قَالَ وَمِمَّ ذَلِكَ قَالَ لأَنَّكَ لَمْ تَسْأَلْ أَحَداً شَيْئاً قَطُّ وَلَمْ تُسْأَلْ شَيْئاً قَطُّ فَقُلْتَ لا.

6. Ali ibn Muhammad ibn ‘ Abd Allah has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from certain individuals of our people from Aban ibn Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar from Zayd al-Shahham who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Ibrahim (a.s.), was the father of guest- entertaining people. Whenever he did not have a guest, he would go out to search for a guest. He would close his door and take the keys with him when looking for guests. Once he returned home and found a person, or someone similar to a person, in his house. He asked, ‘Who are you, O servant of Allah and by whose permission have you come here?’ He replied, ‘I have come here by the permission of the owner of the house,’ and repeated it three times. Ibrahim then realized that he is Jibril. He thanked Allah and said, ‘Your Lord has sent me to one of His servants whom He has chosen as His friend.’ Ibrahim then said, ‘You should inform me, who is he so I serve him until the time of my death?’ He (Jibril) replied, ‘That person is yourself.’ He (Ibrahim) asked, ‘Why is that?’ He (Jibril) replied, ‘It is because you have never asked anyone for help and you are never asked.’ I said, ‘No, it has not happened.’” 

7ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ أَتَى رَجُلٌ النَّبِيَّ (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ الله أَيُّ النَّاسِ أَفْضَلُهُمْ إِيمَاناً قَالَ أَبْسَطُهُمْ كَفّاً.

7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Sinan from abu ‘Abd al- Rahman who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once a man came to the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and said, ‘O the Messenger of Allah, who among people is of more excellent belief?’ He replied, ‘He is one whose hands are more open than others.’” 

8ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَيُّوبَ بْنِ أَعْيَنَ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) يُؤْتَى يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ بِرَجُلٍ فَيُقَالُ احْتَجَّ فَيَقُولُ يَا رَبِّ خَلَقْتَنِي وَهَدَيْتَنِي فَأَوْسَعْتَ عَلَيَّ فَلَمْ أَزَلْ أُوسِعُ عَلَى خَلْقِكَ وَأُيَسِّرُ عَلَيْهِمْ لِكَيْ تَنْشُرَ عَلَيَّ هَذَا الْيَوْمَ رَحْمَتَكَ وَتُيَسِّرَهُ فَيَقُولُ الرَّبُّ جَلَّ ثَنَاؤُهُ وَتَعَالَى ذِكْرُهُ صَدَقَ عَبْدِي أَدْخِلُوهُ الْجَنَّةَ.

8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa ibn ‘Ubayd from abu al-Hassan, Ali ibn Yahya from Ayyub ibn Ay'an from Abu Hamzah from Abu Ja’far (a.s.) who said: The Messenger of Allah (sw) has said, ‘On the Day of Judgment a man will be brought and will be told to present his argument (to support his merits). He will say, "O Lord, You created me and guided me, You provided for me abundantly, and I have always extended Your provision to Your creation and made it easy for them, so that Your mercy may be spread over me today and You make it easy for me." Then the Lord, Exalted is His praise and Elevated is His remembrance, says, "My servant has spoken truthfully, admit him to Paradise."‘

9ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْوَشَّاءِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) يَقُولُ السَّخِيُّ قَرِيبٌ مِنَ الله قَرِيبٌ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ قَرِيبٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَسَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ السَّخَاءُ شَجَرَةٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ مَنْ تَعَلَّقَ بِغُصْنٍ مِنْ أَغْصَانِهَا دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ.

9. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla’ ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Washsha’ who has said the following: “I heard abu al-Hassan (a.s.), say, ‘A generous person is close to Allah, close to Paradise and close to people.’ I also heard him say, ‘Generosity is a tree in Paradise. Whoever holds to one of its branches will enter Paradise.’” 

10ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ يَاسِرٍ الْخَادِمِ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ السَّخِيُّ يَأْكُلُ طَعَامَ النَّاسِ لِيَأْكُلُوا مِنْ طَعَامِهِ وَالْبَخِيلُ لا يَأْكُلُ مِنْ طَعَامِ النَّاسِ لِئَلاَّ يَأْكُلُوا مِنْ طَعَامِهِ.

10. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Yasar al-Khadim who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.), has said, ‘A generous person eats people’s food so that they eat his food. A stingy person does not eat people’s food so that they will not eat his food.’” 

11ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله رَفَعَهُ قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) لابْنِهِ الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) يَا بُنَيَّ مَا السَّمَاحَةُ قَالَ الْبَذْلُ فِي الْيُسْرِ وَالْعُسْرِ.

11. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah in a marfu‘ manner saying: “’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), once asked his son, al-Hassan (a.s.), ‘My son, what is generosity?’ He replied, ‘It is providing assistance in both easy and difficult conditions.’” 

12ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ هَارُونَ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ مَسْعَدَةَ بْنِ صَدَقَةَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) لِبَعْضِ جُلَسَائِهِ أَ لا أُخْبِرُكَ بِشَيْ‏ءٍ يُقَرِّبُ مِنَ الله وَيُقَرِّبُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةَ وَيُبَاعِدُ مِنَ النَّارِ فَقَالَ بَلَى فَقَالَ عَلَيْكَ بِالسَّخَاءِ فَإِنَّ الله خَلَقَ خَلْقاً بِرَحْمَتِهِ لِرَحْمَتِهِ فَجَعَلَهُمْ لِلْمَعْرُوفِ أَهْلاً وَلِلْخَيْرِ مَوْضِعاً وَلِلنَّاسِ وَجْهاً يُسْعَى إِلَيْهِمْ لِكَيْ يُحْيُوهُمْ كَمَا يُحْيِي الْمَطَرُ الأَرْضَ الْمُجْدِبَةَ أُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الآمِنُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ.

12. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Harun ibn Muslim from Mas’adah ibn Sadaqah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to a certain person in his presence, ‘Should I tell you about something that gets you close to Allah and to paradise and away from hell fire?’ He said, ‘Yes, please do so.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘You must maintain generosity. Allah has created a creature by His kindness for His kindness. He has made them true deserving recipients of Benevolent Assistance, the proper place for good deeds, and a direction for people to strive toward them, so that they revive them, just as rain revives the barren land. Such people are the believers who live in peace in paradise on the Day of Judgment.’” 

13ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ أَوْحَى الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِلَى مُوسَى (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) أَنْ لا تَقْتُلِ السَّامِرِيَّ فَإِنَّهُ سَخِيٌّ.

13. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated in a marfu‘ manner saying: “He (the Imam) has said, ‘Allah the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, sent revelation to Moses and told him not to kill the Samiriy because he was a generous person.” 

14ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ الْمَدَائِنِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ شَابٌّ سَخِيٌّ مُرَهَّقٌ فِي الذُّنُوبِ أَحَبُّ إِلَى الله مِنْ شَيْخٍ عَابِدٍ بَخِيلٍ.

14. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Amr ibn ‘Uthman from Muhammad ibn Shu’ayb from abu Ja’far al- Mada’iniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that a young generous man excessively involved in sins is more beloved to Allah than an old worshipping man who is stingy.” 

15ـ سَهْلُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَمَّنْ حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ جَمِيلِ بْنِ دَرَّاجٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) يَقُولُ خِيَارُكُمْ سُمَحَاؤُكُمْ وَشِرَارُكُمْ بُخَلاؤُكُمْ وَمِنْ خَالِصِ الإِيمَانِ الْبِرُّ بِالإِخْوَانِ وَالسَّعْيُ فِي حَوَائِجِهِمْ وَإِنَّ الْبَارَّ بِالإِخْوَانِ لَيُحِبُّهُ الرَّحْمَنُ وَفِي ذَلِكَ مَرْغَمَةٌ لِلشَّيْطَانِ وَتَزَحْزُحٌ عَنِ النِّيرَانِ وَدُخُولُ الْجِنَانِ يَا جَمِيلُ أَخْبِرْ بِهَذَا غُرَرَ أَصْحَابِكَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مَنْ غُرَرُ أَصْحَابِي قَالَ هُمُ الْبَارُّونَ بِالإِخْوَانِ فِي الْعُسْرِ وَالْيُسْرِ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا جَمِيلُ أَمَا إِنَّ صَاحِبَ الْكَثِيرِ يَهُونُ عَلَيْهِ ذَلِكَ وَقَدْ مَدَحَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِي ذَلِكَ صَاحِبَ الْقَلِيلِ فَقَالَ فِي كِتَابِهِ يُؤْثِرُونَ عَلى‏ أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَلَوْ كانَ بِهِمْ خَصاصَةٌ وَمَنْ يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهِ فَأُولئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ. 

15. Sahl ibn Ziyad has narrated from those whom he has mentioned (in his book) from Jamil ibn Darraj who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘The virtuous ones among you are the generous ones, and the wicked ones among you are the stingy ones. You must do good to your brothers (in belief) and striving to help them comes from pure belief. The Beneficent loves those who do good to their brothers (in belief), and such manners humiliate Satan, distance one from the fire of hell, and admit one into paradise. O Jamil, inform the most distinguished ones of your people of this fact.’ I then asked, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, who are the most distinguished ones of my people?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘They are the ones who do good to their brothers (in belief) in both trouble-free and difficult conditions.’ He then said, ‘O Jamil, for affluent people, it is easy. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has praised the not-so-affluent ones in His book. ‘They give preference to them (the needy) over themselves, even concerning the things that they themselves urgently need. Whoever controls his greed will have everlasting happiness. (59:9)’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 1, Chapter 34