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 أَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ جَمِيعاً عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ عِيصِ بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ إِنَّ أُنَاساً مِنْ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ أَتَوْا رَسُولَ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَسَأَلُوهُ أَنْ يَسْتَعْمِلَهُمْ عَلَى صَدَقَاتِ الْمَوَاشِي وَقَالُوا يَكُونُ لَنَا هَذَا السَّهْمُ الَّذِي جَعَلَهُ الله لِلْعَامِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا فَنَحْنُ أَوْلَى بِهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) يَا بَنِي عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ إِنَّ الصَّدَقَةَ لا تَحِلُّ لِي وَلا لَكُمْ وَلَكِنِّي قَدْ وُعِدْتُ الشَّفَاعَةَ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) وَالله لَقَدْ وُعِدَهَا (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَمَا ظَنُّكُمْ يَا بَنِي عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ إِذَا أَخَذْتُ بِحَلْقَةِ بَابِ الْجَنَّةِ أَ تَرَوْنِي مُؤْثِراً عَلَيْكُمْ غَيْرَكُمْ.

1. Ahmad ibn Idris has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar and Muhammad ibn Isma‘il from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan all from Safwan ibn Yahya from ‘Iys ibn al-Qasim who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once certain people of Banu Hashim came to the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and asked him to appoint them for collecting zakat on cattle. Therefore, the share of zakat collectors should be given to them. The Messenger of Allah said, ‘O children of ‘Abd al-Muttalib, receiving zakat is not lawful for me or for you. However, it is promised that I will have the privilege to intercede before the Lord to save from the fire whomever I will choose.’ -Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), then said that ‘by Allah, He (Allah) has promised His Messenger to have such a privilege,’- ‘What do you then think, children of ‘Abd al-Muttalib, when I have my hands on the doorknob of Paradise, will I give preference to others beside you?’ he (the Messenger of Allah) explained.” 

2ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنْ حَرِيزٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ وَأَبِي بَصِيرٍ وَزُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ وَأَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالا قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) إِنَّ الصَّدَقَةَ أَوْسَاخُ أَيْدِي النَّاسِ وَإِنَّ الله قَدْ حَرَّمَ عَلَيَّ مِنْهَا وَمِنْ غَيْرِهَا مَا قَدْ حَرَّمَهُ وَإِنَّ الصَّدَقَةَ لا تَحِلُّ لِبَنِي عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَمَا وَالله لَوْ قَدْ قُمْتُ عَلَى بَابِ الْجَنَّةِ ثُمَّ أَخَذْتُ بِحَلْقَتِهِ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمْ أَنِّي لا أُوثِرُ عَلَيْكُمْ فَارْضَوْا لأَنْفُسِكُمْ بِمَا رَضِيَ الله وَرَسُولُهُ لَكُمْ قَالُوا قَدْ رَضِينَا.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father, from Hammad, from Hariz, from Muhammad ibn Muslim, abu Basir and Zurarah who have said the following: “Abu Ja’far and abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, have said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘Charity is filth of the hands of people. Allah has prohibited me to accept it and certain other things for my own use. Charity is not lawful for the children of ‘Abd al-Muttalib.’ He then said, ‘By Allah, when I will stand at the door of Paradise and get hold of its handle, you must know that I will not give preference to others before you. Thus, you should be happy with what Allah and His Messenger have decided for you.’ They (children of ‘Abd al-Muttalib) then said, ‘We are happy with your decision.’” 

3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ الْحَجَّاجِ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْهَاشِمِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ أَ تَحِلُّ الصَّدَقَةُ لِبَنِي هَاشِمٍ فَقَالَ إِنَّمَا تِلْكَ الصَّدَقَةُ الْوَاجِبَةُ عَلَى النَّاسِ لا تَحِلُّ لَنَا فَأَمَّا غَيْرُ ذَلِكَ فَلَيْسَ بِهِ بَأْسٌ وَلَوْ كَانَ كَذَلِكَ مَا اسْتَطَاعُوا أَنْ يَخْرُجُوا إِلَى مَكَّةَ هَذِهِ الْمِيَاهُ عَامَّتُهَا صَدَقَةٌ.

3. Muhammad ibn Isma‘il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from Safwan ibn Yahya from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Hajjaj from Ja’far ibn Ibrahim al-FIashimiy who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘Is receiving charity lawful for the children of al- Hashim?’ He replied, ‘What is not lawful for us to receive of the people’s charity is obligatory charity. One is harmless when receiving charities other than obligatory. Had it been otherwise, they could not even go to Makkah; these waters are all charities.’” 

4ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ عَنِ سَعِيدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله الأَعْرَجِ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) أَ تَحِلُّ الصَّدَقَةُ لِمَوَالِي بَنِي هَاشِمٍ قَالَ نَعَمْ.

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Ali ibn al-Nu’man from Sa‘id ibn ‘Abd Allah al-A‘raj who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘Is charity lawful for Mawali (servants) of children of al-Hashim?’ The Imam said, ‘Yes, it is lawful.’” 

5ـ حُمَيْدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنِ ابْنِ سَمَاعَةَ عَنْ غَيْرِ وَاحِدٍ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ الْفَضْلِ الْهَاشِمِيِّ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنِ الصَّدَقَةِ الَّتِي حُرِّمَتْ عَلَى بَنِي هَاشِمٍ مَا هِيَ قَالَ هِيَ الزَّكَاةُ قُلْتُ فَتَحِلُّ صَدَقَةُ بَعْضِهِمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ قَالَ نَعَمْ.

5. Hamid ibn Ziyad has narrated from (ibn) Sama‘ah, from more than one person from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from Isma‘il ibn al-Fadl al- Hashimiy who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about charity which it is not lawful for children of al- Hashim to receive. The Imam replied, ‘It is zakat.’ I then asked, ‘Can they receive zakat from each other?’ He replied, ‘Yes, they can do so. ’’’(This Hadith is best explained by Fatwa). 

6ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْوَشَّاءِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ عَائِذٍ عَنْ أَبِي خَدِيجَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ أَعْطُوا الزَّكَاةَ مَنْ أَرَادَهَا مِنْ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ فَإِنَّهَا تَحِلُّ لَهُمْ وَإِنَّمَا تَحْرُمُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَالإِمَامِ الَّذِي مِنْ بَعْدِهِ وَالأَئِمَّةِ صَلَوَاتُ الله عَلَيْهِمْ أَجْمَعِينَ.

6. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu’alla ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad all from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Washsha’ from Ahmad ibn ‘A'idh from abu Khadijah from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who said, ‘You can pay Zakat to whoever wants it from Banu Hashim because it is lawful for them. It is unlawful only for the Prophet (sw) and for the Imam after him, and for the Imams, may the blessings of Allah be upon them all.’

7ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الأَوَّلِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ مَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ أَنْ يَصِلَنَا فَلْيَصِلْ فُقَرَاءَ شِيعَتِنَا وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ أَنْ يَزُورَ قُبُورَنَا فَلْيَزُرْ قُبُورَ صُلَحَاءِ إِخْوَانِنَا.

7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from certain individuais of our people from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Aiiah from Muhammad ibn Yazid who has said the folio wing: “Abu al-Hassan al-Awwal, the 1st (a.s.), has said, ‘Whoever is unable to keep good relations with us (by presenting gifts) should maintain good relations with poor people of our followers, and those who cannot visit our graves should visit the graves of our virtuous brothers (in belief).”’ 

8ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنْ عِيسَى بْنِ عَبْدِ الله عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) مَنْ صَنَعَ إِلَى أَحَدٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِي يَداً كَافَيْتُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ.

8. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from al-Nawfaliy from ‘Isa ibn ‘Abd Allah from Abu ‘Abdullah (a.s.) who said: "The Messenger of Allah (sw) said: 'Whoever does good to any member of my household, I will be his guarantor on the Day of Judgment.'"

9ـ وَعَنْهُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) إِنِّي شَافِعٌ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ لأَرْبَعَةِ أَصْنَافٍ وَلَوْ جَاءُوا بِذُنُوبِ أَهْلِ الدُّنْيَا رَجُلٌ نَصَرَ ذُرِّيَّتِي وَرَجُلٌ بَذَلَ مَالَهُ لِذُرِّيَّتِي عِنْدَ الْمَضِيقِ وَرَجُلٌ أَحَبَّ ذُرِّيَّتِي بِاللِّسَانِ وَبِالْقَلْبِ وَرَجُلٌ يَسْعَى فِي حَوَائِجِ ذُرِّيَّتِي إِذَا طُرِدُوا أَوْ شُرِّدُوا.

9. It is narrated from him (narrator of previous Hadith) from his father from certain individuals of our people, from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.), who said: "The Messenger of Allah (sw) has said, “On the Day of Judgment I will intercede on behalf of four kinds of people, even though they may come with the sins of the people of the world. (Of such people is) A man who has supported my offspring, one who has spent his property for my offspring in difficult times, a man who loves my offspring by his tongue and heart, and a man who strives hard to meet the needs of my offspring when they are driven away or expelled.’”

10ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ ثَعْلَبَةَ بْنِ مَيْمُونٍ قَالَ كَانَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) يَسْأَلُ شِهَاباً مِنْ زَكَاتِهِ لِمَوَالِيهِ وَإِنَّمَا حُرِّمَتِ الزَّكَاةُ عَلَيْهِمْ دُونَ مَوَالِيهِمْ. 

10. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Muhammad ibn Isma‘il from Tha’labah ibn Maymun who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), would ask Shihab (ibn ‘Abd Rabbihi) to pay zakat due from him to his (Imam’s) servants. It is not permissible for them (’A’immah) to receive zakat, but it is permissible for their servants.” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 1, Chapter 42