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 مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ قَالَ كَانَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) إِذَا أَعْتَمَ وَذَهَبَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ شَطْرُهُ أَخَذَ جِرَاباً فِيهِ خُبْزٌ وَلَحْمٌ وَالدَّرَاهِمُ فَحَمَلَهُ عَلَى عُنُقِهِ ثُمَّ ذَهَبَ بِهِ إِلَى أَهْلِ الْحَاجَةِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ فَقَسَمَهُ فِيهِمْ وَلا يَعْرِفُونَهُ فَلَمَّا مَضَى أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فَقَدُوا ذَلِكَ فَعَلِمُوا أَنَّهُ كَانَ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله ع.

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn Salim who has said the following: “When it became dark and a part of the night had passed, abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), would pick up on his shoulder a sack of bread, meat and money and go to the needy people of al-Madinah, distribute it among them, and no one knew who he was. When abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), passed away, they missed him and realized that he (the helping person) was abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.).” 

2ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ آبَائِهِ (عَلَيْهِم السَّلاَم) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) إِذَا طَرَقَكُمْ سَائِلٌ ذَكَرٌ بِلَيْلٍ فَلا تَرُدُّوهُ.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfaliy from al-Sakuniy, 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, ‘If a needy person comes to you during the night asking for help, you must not turn him away (without giving any charity).’” 

3ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ سَعْدَانَ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ خُنَيْسٍ قَالَ خَرَجَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فِي لَيْلَةٍ قَدْ رُشَّتْ وَهُوَ يُرِيدُ ظُلَّةَ بَنِي سَاعِدَةَ فَاتَّبَعْتُهُ فَإِذَا هُوَ قَدْ سَقَطَ مِنْهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ فَقَالَ بِسْمِ الله اللهمَّ رُدَّ عَلَيْنَا قَالَ فَأَتَيْتُهُ فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ فَقَالَ مُعَلًّى قُلْتُ نَعَمْ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَقَالَ لِي الْتَمِسْ بِيَدِكَ فَمَا وَجَدْتَ مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ فَادْفَعْهُ إِلَيَّ فَإِذَا أَنَا بِخُبْزٍ مُنْتَشِرٍ كَثِيرٍ فَجَعَلْتُ أَدْفَعُ إِلَيْهِ مَا وَجَدْتُ فَإِذَا أَنَا بِجِرَابٍ أَعْجِزُ عَنْ حَمْلِهِ مِنْ خُبْزٍ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَحْمِلُهُ عَلَى رَأْسِي فَقَالَ لا أَنَا أَوْلَى بِهِ مِنْكَ وَلَكِنِ امْضِ مَعِي قَالَ فَأَتَيْنَا ظُلَّةَ بَنِي سَاعِدَةَ فَإِذَا نَحْنُ بِقَوْمٍ نِيَامٍ فَجَعَلَ يَدُسُّ الرَّغِيفَ وَالرَّغِيفَيْنِ حَتَّى أَتَى عَلَى آخِرِهِمْ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفْنَا فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ يَعْرِفُ هَؤُلاءِ الْحَقَّ فَقَالَ لَوْ عَرَفُوهُ لَوَاسَيْنَاهُمْ بِالدُّقَّةِ وَالدُّقَّةُ هِيَ الْمِلْحُ إِنَّ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى لَمْ يَخْلُقْ شَيْئاً إِلاَّ وَلَهُ خَازِنٌ يَخْزُنُهُ إِلاَّ الصَّدَقَةَ فَإِنَّ الرَّبَّ يَلِيهَا بِنَفْسِهِ وَكَانَ أَبِي إِذَا تَصَدَّقَ بِشَيْ‏ءٍ وَضَعَهُ فِي يَدِ السَّائِلِ ثُمَّ ارْتَدَّهُ مِنْهُ فَقَبَّلَهُ وَشَمَّهُ ثُمَّ رَدَّهُ فِي يَدِ السَّائِلِ إِنَّ صَدَقَةَ اللَّيْلِ تُطْفِىُ غَضَبَ الرَّبِّ وَتَمْحُو الذَّنْبَ الْعَظِيمَ وَتُهَوِّنُ الْحِسَابَ وَصَدَقَةَ النَّهَارِ تُثْمِرُ الْمَالَ وَتَزِيدُ فِي الْعُمُرِ إِنَّ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ (عَلَيْهِما السَّلاَم) لَمَّا أَنْ مَرَّ عَلَى شَاطِىِ الْبَحْرِ رَمَى بِقُرْصٍ مِنْ قُوتِهِ فِي الْمَاءِ فَقَالَ لَهُ بَعْضُ الْحَوَارِيِّينَ يَا رُوحَ الله وَكَلِمَتَهُ لِمَ فَعَلْتَ هَذَا وَإِنَّمَا هُوَ مِنْ قُوتِكَ قَالَ فَقَالَ فَعَلْتُ هَذَا لِدَابَّةٍ تَأْكُلُهُ مِنْ دَوَابِّ الْمَاءِ وَثَوَابُهُ عِنْدَ الله عَظِيمٌ. 

3. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Khalid from Sa‘dan ibn Muslim from Mu ’alia ibn Khunays who has said the following: “One rainy night, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), went out to Zullah of banu Sa‘idah. I followed him and saw that some of his things fell down. He said, ‘Bismillah (by the name of Allah). O Lord, please return it back to us.’ I went to him and greeted him with the greetings of peace. He said, ‘Is it you, Mu‘alla’?’ I replied, ‘Yes, may Allah keep my soul in the service of your cause.’ He said. ‘Search with your hands and give us whatever you find.’ I found a great deal of bread spread around and kept giving whatever bread I found to him. I found a sack full of bread so heavy that I could not lift it up. I then said, ‘May Allah keep my soul in the service of your cause; allow me to pick it up on my head.’ He said, ‘No, I am more proper for this than you are, but come along with me.’ We then reached Zullah of banu Sa‘idah and found a whole company of people sleeping. He then began to make one or two breads available to each one to the last of them, in a way that no one else could see. We then returned and I asked, ‘May Allah keep my soul in the service of your cause, do these people know the truth (are they Shi‘a)?’ He replied, ‘Were they of those who know the truth, we would have joined them for bread with salt. Allah, the most Blessed, the most High, has made a treasurer for everything He has created, except charity. The Lord Himself is the treasurer thereof. When my father would give charity, he would place it in the hand of the person asking for help, then take it back from him, kiss and smell it, and then give it back to him. Giving charity during the night extinguishes the anger of the Lord, deletes the great sin and makes presentation of one’s accounts easier. Giving charity during the day increases one’s wealth and longevity of life. Jesus, son of Mary, when passing by the coastline of the ocean, threw a loaf of bread in the water. Someone among his disciples said, ‘O the Spirit and Word of Allah, why did you throw your bread in the water, it was your food for the day?’ Jesus replied, ‘I did it for the living things in the ocean that may eat it and the reward for it with Allah is great.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 1, Chapter 4