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 مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ وَغَيْرِهِ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ بَكْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ مِنْ مُوجِبَاتِ مَغْفِرَةِ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى إِطْعَامُ الطَّعَامِ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa ibn ‘Ubayd from Afi ibn al-Hakam and others from Musa ibn Bakr who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘Serving food is one of the reasons for which Allah, the most Blessed, the most High, grants forgiveness.”’ 

2ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) مِنَ الإِيمَانِ حُسْنُ الْخُلُقِ وَإِطْعَامُ الطَّعَامِ.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad ibn ‘Uthman who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Having good moral behavior and serving food is part of belief.’” 

3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْقَاسَانِيِّ عَمَّنْ حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ الْجَعْفَرِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) خَيْرُكُمْ مَنْ أَطْعَمَ الطَّعَامَ وَأَفْشَى السَّلامَ وَصَلَّى وَالنَّاسُ نِيَامٌ.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Ali ibn Muhammad al-Qasaniy from those who narrated to him from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Qasim al- Ja’fariy 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, ‘The best among you are those who serve food, offer greetings of peace aloud and perform Salat (prayer) when people are sleeping.’” 

4ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ سَيْفِ بْنِ عَمِيرَةَ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ شِمْرٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ كَانَ عَلِيٌّ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) يَقُولُ إِنَّا أَهْلُ بَيْتٍ أُمِرْنَا أَنْ نُطْعِمَ الطَّعَامَ وَنُؤَدِّيَ فِي النَّاسِ الْبَائِنَةَ وَنُصَلِّيَ إِذَا نَامَ النَّاسُ.

4. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from Muhammad ibn Ali from al-Hassan ibn Ali from Sayf ibn ‘Amirah from ‘Umar ibn Shamir from Jabir who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Ali (a.s.), would say, “We are a family who are commanded (by Allah) to serve food, send gifts to people and perform Salat (prayer) when people are sleeping.’”” 

5ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ يُوسُفَ عَنْ سَيْفِ بْنِ عَمِيرَةَ عَنْ فَيْضِ بْنِ الْمُخْتَارِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ الْمُنْجِيَاتُ إِطْعَامُ الطَّعَامِ وَإِفْشَاءُ السَّلامِ وَالصَّلاةُ بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّاسُ نِيَامٌ.

5. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ali from al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Yusuf from Sayf ibn ‘Amirah from Fayd ibn al-Mukhtar who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that serving food, offering greetings of peace aloud and performing Salat (prayer) when people are sleeping are reasons for which one may gain salvation.” 

6ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ إِنَّ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى يُحِبُّ إِهْرَاقَ الدِّمَاءِ وَإِطْعَامَ الطَّعَامِ.

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Ali ibn abu Hamzah from abu Basir who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah, the most Blessed, the most High, loves (shedding blood of edible animals) for serving meat and food.’” 

7ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ مِنْ أَحَبِّ الأَعْمَالِ إِلَى الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِشْبَاعُ جَوْعَةِ الْمُؤْمِنِ أَوْ تَنْفِيسُ كُرْبَتِهِ أَوْ قَضَاءُ دَيْنِهِ.

7. Muhammad ibn Isma‘il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn al-Hakam who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that of the most beloved deeds in the sight of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, is satisfying the hunger of a believer, relieving his suffering, or paying off his debts.” 

8ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ ثَعْلَبَةَ بْنِ مَيْمُونٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يُحِبُّ إِطْعَامَ الطَّعَامِ وَإِرَاقَةَ الدِّمَاءِ.

8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa ibn ‘Ubayd from Ahmad ibn Muhammad and ibn Faddal from Tha’labah ibn Maymun from Zurarah who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, loves serving food and shedding blood (of edible animals for meat to serve for food).’” 

9ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ رَجُلٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ أُتِيَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) بِأُسَارَى فَقُدِّمَ رَجُلٌ مِنْهُمْ لِيُضْرَبَ عُنُقُهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ جَبْرَئِيلُ أَخِّرْ هَذَا الْيَوْمَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ فَرَدَّهُ وَأَخْرَجَ غَيْرَهُ حَتَّى كَانَ هُوَ آخِرَهُمْ فَدَعَا بِهِ لِيُضْرَبَ عُنُقُهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ جَبْرَئِيلُ يَا مُحَمَّدُ رَبُّكَ يُقْرِئُكَ السَّلامَ وَيَقُولُ لَكَ إِنَّ أَسِيرَكَ هَذَا يُطْعِمُ الطَّعَامَ وَيُقْرِي الضَّيْفَ وَيَصْبِرُ عَلَى النَّائِبَةِ وَيَحْمِلُ الْحَمَالاتِ فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) إِنَّ جَبْرَئِيلَ أَخْبَرَنِي فِيكَ مِنَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بِكَذَا وَكَذَا وَقَدْ أَعْتَقْتُكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَيُحِبُّ هَذَا فَقَالَ نَعَمْ فَقَالَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لا إِلَهَ إِلاَّ الله وَأَنَّكَ رَسُولُ الله وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ نَبِيّاً لا رَدَدْتُ عَنْ مَالِي أَحَداً أَبَداً.

9. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam, from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from a man who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that certain prisoners of war were brought before the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause. One prisoner whose punishment was decapitation had been readied. Jibril came to the Holy Prophet and said, ‘O Muhammad, delay his case for one day. 5 His case was delayed and others were dealt with until it was the turn for that man again. He had been readied and Jibril said, ‘O Muhammad, your Lord sends you greetings of peace, and says to you, “This man who is your captive serves food, entertains guests, exercises patience in difficulties, and relieves others of liabilities.’” The Holy Prophet informed the man of what Jibril had conveyed to him from Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, and said, ‘I have decided to set you free.’ The man then asked, ’Does your Lord love this?’ The Holy Prophet replied, ‘Yes, He does.’ The man then declared, ‘I testify that no one deserves worship except Allah and that you are the Messenger of Allah, who has sent you for a truthful purpose as prophet. I will never deny anyone to benefit from my wealth.’” 

10ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ مَيْمُونٍ عَنْ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ (عَلَيْهِما السَّلاَم) أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) قَالَ الرِّزْقُ أَسْرَعُ إِلَى مَنْ يُطْعِمُ الطَّعَامَ مِنَ السِّكِّينِ فِي السَّنَامِ.

10. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from ibn Faddal from ‘Abd Allah ibn Maymun who has said the following: “Ja’far from his father (a.s.), has narrated that the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘Sustenance comes to a man, who serves food, faster than a knife goes into the hump on the back of a camel.’” 

1ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ بَكْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) يَقُولُ مِنْ مُوجِبَاتِ مَغْفِرَةِ الرَّبِّ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى إِطْعَامُ الطَّعَامِ.

11. Ali ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Allah has narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from his father from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Mughirah from Musa ibn Bakr who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan (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, would say, ‘Of the reasons for the Lord, the Most Blessed, the most High, to grant forgiveness is one’s serving food.’” 

12ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ مُعَمَّرِ بْنِ خَلاَّدٍ قَالَ كَانَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) إِذَا أَكَلَ أُتِيَ بِصَحْفَةٍ فَتُوضَعُ بِقُرْبِ مَائِدَتِهِ فَيَعْمِدُ إِلَى أَطْيَبِ الطَّعَامِ مِمَّا يُؤْتَى بِهِ فَيَأْخُذُ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ شَيْئاً فَيَضَعُ فِي تِلْكَ الصَّحْفَةِ ثُمَّ يَأْمُرُ بِهَا لِلْمَسَاكِينِ ثُمَّ يَتْلُو هَذِهِ الآيَةَ فَلا اقْتَحَمَ الْعَقَبَةَ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ عَلِمَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ كُلُّ إِنْسَانٍ يَقْدِرُ عَلَى عِتْقِ رَقَبَةٍ فَجَعَلَ لَهُمُ السَّبِيلَ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ. 

12. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from his father from Mu’ammar ibn Khallad who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan, al-Rida (a.s.), would ask for an empty plate before having food. He would keep it on one side at the table, then pick up the best of food from each kind brought for him, place them on the empty plate, and ask his people to give it to destitute people. He then would read this, ‘. . . they have not entered the stage. . . .’ (90:11), and say, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, knows that everyone is not able to set free slaves, thus He has made a way to reach paradise, which is serving food.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 1, Chapter 38