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 مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ طَلْحَةَ بْنِ زَيْدٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ الله عَلَيْهِ أَوَّلُ مَا يُبْدَأُ بِهِ فِي الآخِرَةِ صَدَقَةُ الْمَاءِ يَعْنِي فِي الأَجْرِ.

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Muhammad ibn Yahya from Talhah ibn Zayd who has said the following: “ Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘The first charity for which one will be rewarded in the next life is providing water for drinking. ‘“

2ـ مُحَمَّدٌ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ مِسْمَعٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ أَفْضَلُ الصَّدَقَةِ إِبْرَادُ كَبِدٍ حَرَّى.

2. Muhammad has narrated from ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from Misma’ who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the best charity is cooling off a thirsty liver.” 

3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ مَنْ سَقَى الْمَاءَ فِي مَوْضِعٍ يُوجَدُ فِيهِ الْمَاءُ كَانَ كَمَنْ أَعْتَقَ رَقَبَةً وَمَنْ سَقَى الْمَاءَ فِي مَوْضِعٍ لا يُوجَدُ فِيهِ الْمَاءُ كَانَ كَمَنْ أَحْيَا نَفْساً وَمَنْ أَحْيَا نَفْساً فَكَأَنَّمَا أَحْيَا النَّاسَ جَمِيعاً.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that if one provides water for a thirsty person and there is water available, his reward is equal to the reward of setting free of a slave. If there is no other water available, its reward is then equal to the reward of saving a life, and the reward for one who saves a life is like saving all people’s lives.” 

4ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ حَدِيدٍ عَنْ مُرَازِمٍ عَنْ مُصَادِفٍ قَالَ كُنْتُ مَعَ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) بَيْنَ مَكَّةَ وَالْمَدِينَةِ فَمَرَرْنَا عَلَى رَجُلٍ فِي أَصْلِ شَجَرَةٍ وَقَدْ أَلْقَى بِنَفْسِهِ فَقَالَ مِلْ بِنَا إِلَى هَذَا الرَّجُلِ فَإِنِّي أَخَافُ أَنْ يَكُونَ قَدْ أَصَابَهُ عَطَشٌ فَمِلْنَا فَإِذَا رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْفَرَاسِينَ طَوِيلُ الشَّعْرِ فَسَأَلَهُ أَ عَطْشَانُ أَنْتَ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ فَقَالَ لِي انْزِلْ يَا مُصَادِفُ فَاسْقِهِ فَنَزَلْتُ وَسَقَيْتُهُ ثُمَّ رَكِبْتُ وَسِرْنَا فَقُلْتُ هَذَا نَصْرَانِيٌّ فَتَتَصَدَّقُ عَلَى نَصْرَانِيٍّ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ إِذَا كَانُوا فِي مِثْلِ هَذَا الْحَالِ.

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn Hadid from Murazim from Musadif who has said the following: “Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and I were between Makkah and al-Madinah. We passed by a man who had thrown himself near the trunk of a tree. He (the Imam) said, ‘Allow us to see this man. I am afraid he is thirsty. We went to him. He was a man from the Farasin (a certain people) and had long hairs. He (the Imam) asked, ‘Are you thirsty ? He replied, ‘Yes, I am thirsty. He (the Imam) said, ‘O Musadif, dismount and give him water. I went and gave him water. Then we left and I said, ‘He is a Christian man. Do you give charity to a Christian man? He (the Imam) replied, ‘Yes, I give them charity if they are found in that condition. ‘“

5ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ أَبِي الْبِلادِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ جَاءَ أَعْرَابِيٌّ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَقَالَ عَلِّمْنِي عَمَلاً أَدْخُلُ بِهِ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَالَ أَطْعِمِ الطَّعَامَ وَأَفْشِ السَّلامَ قَالَ فَقَالَ لا أُطِيقُ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَهَلْ لَكَ إِبِلٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَانْظُرْ بَعِيراً وَاسْقِ عَلَيْهِ أَهْلَ بَيْتٍ لا يَشْرَبُونَ الْمَاءَ إِلاَّ غِبّاً فَلَعَلَّهُ لا يَنْفُقُ بَعِيرُكَ وَلا يَنْخَرِقُ سِقَاؤُكَ حَتَّى تَجِبَ لَكَ الْجَنَّةُ.

5. Ali ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Allah has narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from Yahya ibn Ibrahim ibn abu al-Balad from his father from his grandfather who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said that once an Arab man came to the Prophet (sw) and said, ‘Teach me a good deed whereby I can go to Paradise. He said, ‘Serve food and offer greetings of peace aloud.‘ He (the Imam) has said that the man then said, ‘I cannot afford this.‘ He (the Holy Prophet) asked, ‘Do you have a camel?‘ He replied, ‘Yes.‘ He then said, ‘Prepare your camel and provide water for a family who need water only every other day. This will not destroy your camel or damage your water container before your going to Paradise becomes necessary.‘“

6ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنِ ابْنِ بُكَيْرٍ عَنْ ضُرَيْسِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ إِنَّ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى يُحِبُّ إِبْرَادَ الْكَبِدِ الْحَرَّى وَمَنْ سَقَى كَبِداً حَرَّى مِنْ بَهِيمَةٍ أَوْ غَيْرِهَا أَظَلَّهُ الله يَوْمَ لا ظِلَّ إِلاَّ ظِلُّهُ. 

6. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from ibn Faddal from ibn Bukayr from Durays ibn ‘Abd al-Malik who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah, the most Blessed, the most High, loves cooling off a thirsty liver. Whoever cools off a thirsty liver of an animal or others, Allah on the Day of Judgment provides him a shadow when there is no shadow except His shadow.” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 1, Chapter 41