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 مُحَمَّدٍ وَسَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ جَمِيلِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ عَنْ بُرَيْدِ بْنِ مُعَاوِيَةَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ صَلَوَاتُ الله عَلَيْهِمَا لِيُنْفِقِ الرَّجُلُ بِالْقَصْدِ وَبُلْغَةِ الْكَفَافِ وَيُقَدِّمُ مِنْهُ فَضْلاً لآِخِرَتِهِ فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ أَبْقَى لِلنِّعْمَةِ وَأَقْرَبُ إِلَى الْمَزِيدِ مِنَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَأَنْفَعُ فِي الْعَافِيَةِ.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad and Sahl ibn Ziyad from ibn Mahbub from Jamil ibn Salih from Burayd ibn Mu‘awiyah who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said that Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), has said, ’One should spend moderately to a sufficient limit and send the extra for his next life. This is a better conservation of bounties, closer to its increase from Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, and more beneficial for good health (or consequences).’” 

2ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ السِّنْدِيِّ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ عَنْ دَاوُدَ الرَّقِّيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ إِنَّ الْقَصْدَ أَمْرٌ يُحِبُّهُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَإِنَّ السَّرَفَ أَمْرٌ يُبْغِضُهُ الله حَتَّى طَرْحَكَ النَّوَاةَ فَإِنَّهَا تَصْلُحُ لِلشَّيْ‏ءِ وَحَتَّى صَبَّكَ فَضْلَ شَرَابِكَ.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Salih ibn al-Sindiy from Ja’far ibn Bashir from Dawud al-Riqqiy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that moderation is a matter that Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, loves, and extravagance is a thing that Allah hates. It applies even to one’s throwing the stone inside the piece of a date; it can be useful for something, and to throwing the leftover of what you drink.’” 

3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فِي قَوْلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَيَسْئَلُونَكَ ما ذا يُنْفِقُونَ قُلِ الْعَفْوَ قَالَ الْعَفْوُ الْوَسَطُ.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘ Umayr from certain individuals of his people who has said the following: “About the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ‘They ask you about what should spend (for the sake of Allah). Say, “It is disregarding. . .’” (2: 219), Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The word “al-‘Afw (disregarding)” refers to spending moderately.’” 

4ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ الله عَلَيْهِ الْقَصْدُ مَثْرَاةٌ وَالسَّرَفُ مَتْوَاةٌ.

4. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated in a marfu‘ manner who has said the following: “’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘Moderation leads to increase, and extravagance leads to destruction.’” 

5ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ يُونُسَ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيْهِما السَّلاَم) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) ثَلاثٌ مُنْجِيَاتٌ فَذَكَرَ الثَّالِثُ الْقَصْدُ فِي الْغِنَى وَالْفَقْرِ.

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Mansur ibn Yunus from abu Hamzah who has said the following: “Ali ibn al-Husayn (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, ‘Three things work as means of salvation for a person and he described moderation, in both poverty and financial well-being, to be one of such means.’” 

6ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أَبَانٍ عَنْ مُدْرِكِ بْنِ أَبِي الْهَزْهَازِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ ضَمِنْتُ لِمَنِ اقْتَصَدَ أَنْ لا يَفْتَقِرَ.

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from ‘Umar ibn Aban from Mudrik ibn abu al-Hazhaz who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘I guarantee safety from poverty in favor of one who observes moderation (in spending).” 

7ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَسَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ وَاقِدٍ اللَّحَّامِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ لَوْ أَنَّ رَجُلاً أَنْفَقَ مَا فِي يَدَيْهِ فِي سَبِيلٍ مِنْ سَبِيلِ الله مَا كَانَ أَحْسَنَ وَلا وُفِّقَ أَ لَيْسَ يَقُولُ الله تَعَالَى وَلا تُلْقُوا بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ وَأَحْسِنُوا إِنَّ الله يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ يَعْنِي الْمُقْتَصِدِينَ.

7. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad and Sahl ibn Ziyad from ibn Mahbub from Yunus ibn Ya’qub from Hammad (ibn Waqid) al-Lahham who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that all kinds of one’s spending for the sake of Allah, on any one of His causes, is not a good or successful spending. Allah, the most High says, ‘You must not throw yourselves in perdition. Do good; Allah loves those who do good.’ (2:195) “Doers of good” refers to those who observe moderation in spending.” 

8ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مَرْوَكِ بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عُبَيْدٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) يَا عُبَيْدُ إِنَّ السَّرَفَ يُورِثُ الْفَقْرَ وَإِنَّ الْقَصْدَ يُورِثُ الْغِنَى.

8. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Marwak ibn ‘Ubayd from his father, ‘Ubayd who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘O ‘Ubayd, excessive spending causes poverty but moderation leads to wealth.’” 

9ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْفُضَيْلِ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ بَكْرٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) مَا عَالَ امْرُؤٌ فِي اقْتِصَادٍ.

9. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from Muhammad ibn Ali from Muhammad ibn al-Fudayl from Musa ibn Bakr who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), once said, ‘With moderation, one does not suffer poverty.’” 

10ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَعِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) أَنَّهُ قَالَ لَهُ إِنَّا نَكُونُ فِي طَرِيقِ مَكَّةَ فَنُرِيدُ الإِحْرَامَ فَنَطَّلِي وَلا تَكُونُ مَعَنَا نُخَالَةٌ نَتَدَلَّكُ بِهَا مِنَ النُّورَةِ فَنَتَدَلَّكُ بِالدَّقِيقِ وَقَدْ دَخَلَنِي مِنْ ذَلِكَ مَا الله أَعْلَمُ بِهِ فَقَالَ أَ مَخَافَةَ الإِسْرَافِ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ فِيمَا أَصْلَحَ الْبَدَنَ إِسْرَافٌ إِنِّي رُبَّمَا أَمَرْتُ بِالنَّقِيِّ فَيُلَتُّ بِالزَّيْتِ فَأَتَدَلَّكُ بِهِ إِنَّمَا الإِسْرَافُ فِيمَا أَفْسَدَ الْمَالَ وَأَضَرَّ بِالْبَدَنِ قُلْتُ فَمَا الإِقْتَارُ قَالَ أَكْلُ الْخُبْزِ وَالْمِلْحِ وَأَنْتَ تَقْدِرُ عَلَى غَيْرِهِ قُلْتُ فَمَا الْقَصْدُ قَالَ الْخُبْزُ وَاللَّحْمُ وَاللَّبَنُ وَالْخَلُّ وَالسَّمْنُ مَرَّةً هَذَا وَمَرَّةً هَذَا.

10. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and a number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad all from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Ishaq ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz from certain individuals of his people who has said the following: “Once, I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘On our way to Makkah, we wanted to wear the special dress for Ihram (a certain act of Hajj), but we did not have proper material for shaving, and we did not have bran or flour to use in place of lime. We used flour for this purpose. Allah knows that I had a strange feeling about it.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘Was your strange feeling for excessive spending?’ I replied, ‘Yes, that is true.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘There is not anything excessive in what is spent for the wellbeing of the body. I sometimes ask (my people) to mix marrow with oil to use for shaving. Excessive spending is when something that one owns is wasted and the body is harmed.’ I then asked, ‘What is living in austerity?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘It is living on bread and salt only, when you are able to use other food.’ I then asked, ‘What is moderation?’ He replied, ‘It is moderation when you use bread, meat, vinegar and oil; one time this and next time the other.’” 

11ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مَرْوَكِ بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ عَنْ رِفَاعَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ إِذَا جَادَ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى عَلَيْكُمْ فَجُودُوا وَإِذَا أَمْسَكَ عَنْكُمْ فَأَمْسِكُوا وَلا تُجَاوِدُوا الله فَهُوَ الأَجْوَدُ.

11. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Marwak ibn ‘Ubayd from Rifa’ah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when Allah, the most Blessed, the most High, gives to you generously, be generous to yourselves; when He withholds, you should also do so, but do not try to surpass Him; He is more generous than you are.” 

12ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الله عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الصَّيْرَفِيِّ عَنِ ابْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) مَنِ اقْتَصَدَ فِي مَعِيشَتِهِ رَزَقَهُ الله وَمَنْ بَذَّرَ حَرَمَهُ الله.

12. Ahmad ibn ‘Abd Allah has narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from Muhammad ibn Ali (al-Sayrafiy) from ibn Sinan 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, ‘Whoever maintains moderation, Allah grants him sustenance, but He deprives one who spends excessively.’” 

13ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ حَسَّانَ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ بَكْرٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) يَقُولُ الرِّفْقُ نِصْفُ الْعَيْشِ وَمَا عَالَ امْرُؤٌ فِي اقْتِصَادِهِ. 

13. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ali ibn Hassan from Musa ibn Bakr who has said the following: “I heard abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), say, ‘Easing off in spending is half of one’s sustenance, and with observance of moderation, one does not become poor.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 1, Chapter 39