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 عِيسَى وَأَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ مِهْزَمٍ عَنْ رَجُلٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ إِنَّ الشَّمْسَ لَتَطْلُعُ وَمَعَهَا أَرْبَعَةُ أَمْلاكٍ مَلَكٌ يُنَادِي يَا صَاحِبَ الْخَيْرِ أَتِمَّ وَأَبْشِرْ وَمَلَكٌ يُنَادِي يَا صَاحِبَ الشَّرِّ انْزِعْ وَأَقْصِرْ وَمَلَكٌ يُنَادِي أَعْطِ مُنْفِقاً خَلَفاً وَآتِ مُمْسِكاً تَلَفاً وَمَلَكٌ يَنْضَحُهَا بِالْمَاءِ وَلَوْ لا ذَلِكَ اشْتَعَلَتِ الأَرْضُ.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa and Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid all from al- Hassan ibn Mahbub from Ibrahim ibn Mehzam from a man from Jabir who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said that when the sun rises, there are four angels with it. One angel calls, ‘O people of good deeds, complete your good deeds and for you there is glad news.’ Another angel calls, ‘O people of evil deeds, you must stop and stay away from evil deeds.’ The other angel says, To spend for deserving causes is a saving, and to withhold such spending is a sure loss.’ One angel keeps throwing water on it; otherwise, the earth catches fire.” 

2ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى عَمَّنْ حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فِي قَوْلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ كَذلِكَ يُرِيهِمُ الله أَعْمالَهُمْ حَسَراتٍ عَلَيْهِمْ قَالَ هُوَ الرَّجُلُ يَدَعُ مَالَهُ لا يُنْفِقُهُ فِي طَاعَةِ الله بُخْلاً ثُمَّ يَمُوتُ فَيَدَعُهُ لِمَنْ يَعْمَلُ فِيهِ بِطَاعَةِ الله أَوْ فِي مَعْصِيَةِ الله فَإِنْ عَمِلَ بِهِ فِي طَاعَةِ الله رَآهُ فِي مِيزَانِ غَيْرِهِ فَرَآهُ حَسْرَةً وَقَدْ كَانَ الْمَالُ لَهُ وَإِنْ كَانَ عَمِلَ بِهِ فِي مَعْصِيَةِ الله قَوَّاهُ بِذَلِكَ الْمَالِ حَتَّى عَمِلَ بِهِ فِي مَعْصِيَةِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ.

2. Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah has narrated from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from those whom he has mentioned who has said the following: “This is about the meaning of the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, Thus Allah shows them their deeds that will make them regretful. (2:162)’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, This is a man who keeps his property without spending in obedience to Allah due to his stinginess. He then dies and leaves it (the property) for one who spends it in obedience to Allah or in disobedience of Allah. If it is spent in obedience of Allah and finds it in the balance of the other person, he then becomes regretful; it was his property. If it is spent in disobedience of Allah, he is the one who enabled the spender through that property to disobey Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious.’” 

3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ رَاشِدٍ عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) مَنْ أَيْقَنَ بِالْخَلَفِ سَخَتْ نَفْسُهُ بِالنَّفَقَةِ.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa, from Ali ibn al-Hakam, from Musa ibn Rashid, from Sama‘ah who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, “When one who believes with certainty in receiving reward (from Allah), his soul allows him to spend generously.’”” 

4ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ بَعْضِ مَنْ حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ الله عَلَيْهِ فِي كَلامٍ لَهُ وَمَنْ يَبْسُطْ يَدَهُ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ إِذَا وَجَدَهُ يُخْلِفِ الله لَهُ مَا أَنْفَقَ فِي دُنْيَاهُ وَيُضَاعِفْ لَهُ فِي آخِرَتِهِ.

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Uthaman ibn ‘Isa from certain individuals who narrated to him who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, in one of his speeches, ‘If one extends his hand to provide Benevolent Assistance when he is able to do so, Allah replaces, in this world, what he has spent and will grant them double reward in the next life.’” 

5ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ قَالَ قَرَأْتُ فِي كِتَابِ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) يَا أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ الْمَوَالِيَ إِذَا رَكِبْتَ أَخْرَجُوكَ مِنَ الْبَابِ الصَّغِيرِ فَإِنَّمَا ذَلِكَ مِنْ بُخْلٍ مِنْهُمْ لِئَلاَّ يَنَالَ مِنْكَ أَحَدٌ خَيْراً وَأَسْأَلُكَ بِحَقِّي عَلَيْكَ لا يَكُنْ مَدْخَلُكَ وَمَخْرَجُكَ إِلاَّ مِنَ الْبَابِ الْكَبِيرِ فَإِذَا رَكِبْتَ فَلْيَكُنْ مَعَكَ ذَهَبٌ وَفِضَّةٌ ثُمَّ لا يَسْأَلُكَ أَحَدٌ شَيْئاً إِلاَّ أَعْطَيْتَهُ وَمَنْ سَأَلَكَ مِنْ عُمُومَتِكَ أَنْ تَبَرَّهُ فَلا تُعْطِهِ أَقَلَّ مِنْ خَمْسِينَ دِينَاراً وَالْكَثِيرُ إِلَيْكَ وَمَنْ سَأَلَكَ مِنْ عَمَّاتِكَ فَلا تُعْطِهَا أَقَلَّ مِنْ خَمْسَةٍ وَعِشْرِينَ دِينَاراً وَالْكَثِيرُ إِلَيْكَ إِنِّي إِنَّمَا أُرِيدُ بِذَلِكَ أَنْ يَرْفَعَكَ الله فَأَنْفِقْ وَلا تَخْشَ مِنْ ذِي الْعَرْشِ إِقْتَاراً.

5. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid and Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa all from ibn abu Nasr who has said the following: “I have read in a letter of abu al-Hassan, al-Rida, to abu Ja‘far (a.s.). It is said, ‘O abu Ja’far, I am told that the servants lead you out of the house through the small door so that no one receives any assistance from you and it is due to their stinginess. I ask you through my rights upon you; you must not use any other door for your exit or entrance besides the main door. When you want to ride, you must have gold or silver with you. Whoever asks you for help, you must not turn him away empty-handed. If any of your uncles asks you for help, you must not give him less than fifty dinars; but it is up to you if you want to give more. If any of your aunts asks you for help, you must not give her less than twenty-five dinars, but it is up to you if you want to give more. I want Allah to grant you higher position. Spend on deserving causes, and do not be afraid of the owner of the Throne’s making you poor.’” 

6ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ جَهْمِ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ الْمَدَائِنِيِّ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ أَبِي زِيَادٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) الأَيْدِي ثَلاثَةٌ سَائِلَةٌ وَمُنْفِقَةٌ وَمُمْسِكَةٌ وَخَيْرُ الأَيْدِي الْمُنْفِقَةُ.

6. Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid has narrated from Jahm ibn al-Hakam al-Mad’iniy from Isma‘il ibn abu Ziyad 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, There are three kinds of hands: the asking hand, the withholding hand, and the spending hand, of which the best hand is the spending hand.’” 

7ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ سَعْدَانَ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أَيْمَنَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ قَالَ يَا حُسَيْنُ أَنْفِقْ وَأَيْقِنْ بِالْخَلَفِ مِنَ الله فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَبْخَلْ عَبْدٌ وَلا أَمَةٌ بِنَفَقَةٍ فِيمَا يُرْضِي الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِلاَّ أَنْفَقَ أَضْعَافَهَا فِيمَا يُسْخِطُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ.

7. Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn has narrated from his father from Sa‘dan from al-Husayn ibn Ayman who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘O Husayn, you must spend (for deserving causes) and be certain about Allah’s replacing what you have spent. Any male or female servant (of Allah) who withholds spending for deserving causes that please Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ends up spending a double amount on such things that displeases Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious.” 

8ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ رَفَعَهُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) أَوْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ يُنْزِلُ الله الْمَعُونَةَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ إِلَى الْعَبْدِ بِقَدْرِ الْمَئُونَةِ فَمَنْ أَيْقَنَ بِالْخَلَفِ سَخَتْ نَفْسُهُ بِالنَّفَقَةِ.

8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from ‘Umar ibn ‘Udhaynah in a marfu‘ manner from who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah or abu Ja‘far, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, has said, ‘Allah sends help from Heaven equal to the amount of expenditure. When one is certain about (Allah’s) replacing what is spent, his soul allows him to spend generously.” 

9ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ مَوْلىً لَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ هَلْ أَنْفَقْتَ الْيَوْمَ شَيْئاً قَالَ لا وَالله فَقَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فَمِنْ أَيْنَ يُخْلِفُ الله عَلَيْنَا أَنْفِقْ وَلَوْ دِرْهَماً وَاحِداً.

9. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Safwan ibn Yahya from abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.), who has said the following: “The narrator has said, ‘Once, one of the servants of abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.), came in and the Imam asked, “Have you spent (for deserving causes) anything today?” He (the servant) replied, “No, I have not done so.” Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), then said, “Wherefrom will Allah then grant us replacement? You must spend (for deserving causes), even if it would be one dirham only.’”” 

10ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ وَهْبٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ مَنْ يَضْمَنُ أَرْبَعَةً بِأَرْبَعَةِ أَبْيَاتٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ أَنْفِقْ وَلا تَخَفْ فَقْراً وَأَنْصِفِ النَّاسَ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ وَأَفْشِ السَّلامَ فِي الْعَالَمِ وَاتْرُكِ الْمِرَاءَ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ مُحِقّاً. 

10. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Sinan from Mu‘awiyah ibn Wahab who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that one who is ready to guarantee to do four things will get four guaranteed homes in Paradise. They are: spending (for deserving causes) without fear from poverty, yielding to justice for people even against one’s own-self, offering greetings of peace loud and clearly in the world, and avoiding unneeded arguments, even if one is on the right side.” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 1, Chapter 35