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 هَارُونَ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ مَسْعَدَةَ بْنِ صَدَقَةَ عَنْ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ آبَائِهِ (عَلَيْهِم السَّلاَم) أَنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ الله عَلَيْهِ سَمِعَ رَجُلاً يَقُولُ إِنَّ الشَّحِيحَ أَغْدَرُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِ فَقَالَ لَهُ كَذَبْتَ إِنَّ الظَّالِمَ قَدْ يَتُوبُ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُ وَيَرُدُّ الظُّلامَةَ عَلَى أَهْلِهَا وَالشَّحِيحُ إِذَا شَحَّ مَنَعَ الزَّكَاةَ وَالصَّدَقَةَ وَصِلَةَ الرَّحِمِ وَقِرَى الضَّيْفِ وَالنَّفَقَةَ فِي سَبِيلِ الله وَأَبْوَابَ الْبِرِّ وَحَرَامٌ عَلَى الْجَنَّةِ أَنْ يَدْخُلَهَا شَحِيحٌ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Harun ibn Muslim from Mas’adah ibn Sadaqah from Ja’far from his ancestors, recipients of divine supreme covenant, who has said the following: “’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), once heard a man say, ‘A greedy person has more excuses than an unjust person has.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘What you said is false. An unjust person may repent, ask for forgiveness and return usurped property. A greedy person, upon exercising his greed, may withhold payment of zakat, charity, keeping proper relations with relatives, serving guests, spending (for deserving cause) for the sake of Allah and virtuous instances. (On the other hand), it is forbidden to admit a greedy person in the garden (paradise).’” 

2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ لله فِي عَبْدٍ حَاجَةٌ ابْتَلاهُ بِالْبُخْلِ.

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from certain individuals of his people who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘When Allah is not interested in a person, He allows greediness to dominate him.’” 

3ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) لِبَنِي سَلِمَةَ يَا بَنِي سَلِمَةَ مَنْ سَيِّدُكُمْ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ الله سَيِّدُنَا رَجُلٌ فِيهِ بُخْلٌ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَأَيُّ دَاءٍ أَدْوَى مِنَ الْبُخْلِ ثُمَّ قَالَ بَلْ سَيِّدُكُمْ الأَبْيَضُ الْجَسَدِ الْبَرَاءُ بْنُ مَعْرُورٍ.

3. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from al-Husayn ibn Ahmad from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar 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, once asked banu Salmah, ‘O banu Salmah, who is your master and leader?’ They replied, ‘O Messenger of Allah, our chief is a stingy man.’ The Messenger of Allah then said, ‘No illness is more serious than stinginess.’ He then said, ‘In fact, your chief is al-Bara’ ibn Ma‘rur, whose body is white.’” 

4ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي الْجَهْمِ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ بَكْرٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ الْبَخِيلُ مَنْ بَخِلَ بِمَا افْتَرَضَ الله عَلَيْهِ.

4. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from his father, from abu al-Jahm from Musa ibn Bakr from Ahmad ibn Sulayman who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), has said, ‘A stingy person is one who exercises stinginess in paying what Allah has made obligatory upon him to pay.’” 

5ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ هَارُونَ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ مَسْعَدَةَ بْنِ صَدَقَةَ عَنْ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ (عَلَيْهِما السَّلاَم) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) مَا مَحَقَ الإِسْلامَ مَحْقَ الشُّحِّ شَيْ‏ءٌ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ لِهَذَا الشُّحِّ دَبِيباً كَدَبِيبِ النَّمْلِ وَشُعَباً كَشُعَبِ الشِّرَكِ وَفِي نُسْخَةٍ أُخْرَى الشَّوْكِ.

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Harun ibn Muslim from Mas’adah ibn Sadaqah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, has narrated from his father (a.s.), who 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, ‘No other thing is more effacing to Islam than stinginess.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Greediness creeps like an ant and has branches (or thorns) like polytheism.’” 

6ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ أَبِي جَمِيلَةَ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) لَيْسَ بِالْبَخِيلِ الَّذِي يُؤَدِّي الزَّكَاةَ الْمَفْرُوضَةَ فِي مَالِهِ وَيُعْطِي الْبَائِنَةَ فِي قَوْمِهِ.

6. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ali from abu Jamilah from Jabir who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (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, ‘One who pays zakat that is due on his property and presents gifts to his people is not a stingy person.’” 

7ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ شَرِيفِ بْنِ سَابِقٍ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ أَبِي قُرَّةَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) تَدْرِي مَا الشَّحِيحُ قُلْتُ هُوَ الْبَخِيلُ قَالَ الشُّحُّ أَشَدُّ مِنَ الْبُخْلِ إِنَّ الْبَخِيلَ يَبْخَلُ بِمَا فِي يَدِهِ وَالشَّحِيحُ يَشُحُّ عَلَى مَا فِي أَيْدِي النَّاسِ وَعَلَى مَا فِي يَدَيْهِ حَتَّى لا يَرَى مِمَّا فِي أَيْدِي النَّاسِ شَيْئاً إِلاَّ تَمَنَّى أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُ بِالْحِلِّ وَالْحَرَامِ وَلا يَقْنَعُ بِمَا رَزَقَهُ الله.

7. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sharif ibn Sabiq from al-Fadl ibn abu Qurrah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), asked me, ‘Do you know who a greedy person is?’ I replied, ‘He is a stingy person.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘A greedy person is worse than a stingy one. A stingy person is stingy about what is already in his hands. A greedy person is greedy about things that are in the hands of others, as well as about what is in his own hands. Whenever he finds something in other people’s hands, he wishes it to have been his, regardless of lawfulness or otherwise, and he is not satisfied with what Allah has given to him.’” 

8ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ عَنِ الْمُفَضَّلِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) لَيْسَ الْبَخِيلُ مَنْ أَدَّى الزَّكَاةَ الْمَفْرُوضَةَ مِنْ مَالِهِ وَأَعْطَى الْبَائِنَةَ فِي قَوْمِهِ إِنَّمَا الْبَخِيلُ حَقُّ الْبَخِيلِ مَنْ لَمْ يُؤَدِّ الزَّكَاةَ الْمَفْرُوضَةَ مِنْ مَالِهِ وَلَمْ يُعْطِ الْبَائِنَةَ فِي قَوْمِهِ وَهُوَ يُبَذِّرُ فِيمَا سِوَى ذَلِكَ. 

8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father, from ibn al-Mughirah from al-Mufaddal ibn Salih from Jabir who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (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, ’One who pays zakat that is due on his property and presents gifts to his people is not stingy. A real stingy person is one who does not pay zakat that is obligatory on his property and does not present any gift to his people, but spends extravagantly on other things.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 1, Chapter 36