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 سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ وَأَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ عَطِيَّةَ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ الثُّمَالِيِّ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيْهِما السَّلاَم) قَالَ أَرْضَاكُمْ عِنْدَ الله أَسْبَغُكُمْ عَلَى عِيَالِهِ.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Ahmad ibn Muhammad all from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Malik ibn ‘Atiyyah from abu Hamzah al-Thumaliy who has said the following: “Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), has said, ’Of the people among you with whom Allah is most happy, is the one who improves the quality of life of his family the most.” 

2ـ وَعَنْهُمَا عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنِ الْعَلاءِ بْنِ رَزِينٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَجُلٌ لأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) إِنَّ لِي ضَيْعَةً بِالْجَبَلِ أَسْتَغِلُّهَا فِي كُلِّ سَنَةٍ ثَلاثَ آلافِ دِرْهَمٍ فَأُنْفِقُ عَلَى عِيَالِي مِنْهَا أَلْفَيْ دِرْهَمٍ وَأَتَصَدَّقُ مِنْهَا بِأَلْفِ دِرْهَمٍ فِي كُلِّ سَنَةٍ فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) إِنْ كَانَتِ الأَلْفَانِ تَكْفِيهِمْ فِي جَمِيعِ مَا يَحْتَاجُونَ إِلَيْهِ لِسَنَتِهِمْ فَقَدْ نَظَرْتَ لِنَفْسِكَ وَوُفِّقْتَ لِرُشْدِكَ وَأَجْرَيْتَ نَفْسَكَ فِي حَيَاتِكَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ مَا يُوصِي بِهِ الْحَيُّ عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ.

2. It is narrated from the two of them from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from al-’Ala’ ibn Razin from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “Once a man said to abu Ja’far (a.s.), ‘I have a certain amount of property in the mountains from which I receive three thousand dirham profit every year. I spend two thousand dirham for my family and one thousand dirham for charity every year.’ Abu Ja’far (a.s.), then said, ‘If the two thousand is enough for all of their needs for the year, you have been considerate for yourself, had good opportunity to have the right guidance. You have executed a plan for yourself in your lifetime which is like what one plans in his will.’” 

3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ مُعَمَّرِ بْنِ خَلاَّدٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ يَنْبَغِي لِلرَّجُلِ أَنْ يُوَسِّعَ عَلَى عِيَالِهِ كَيْلا يَتَمَنَّوْا مَوْتَهُ وَتَلا هَذِهِ الآيَةَ وَيُطْعِمُونَ الطَّعامَ عَلى‏ حُبِّهِ مِسْكِيناً وَيَتِيماً وَأَسِيراً قَالَ الأَسِيرُ عِيَالُ الرَّجُلِ يَنْبَغِي لِلرَّجُلِ إِذَا زِيدَ فِي النِّعْمَةِ أَنْ يَزِيدَ أُسَرَاءَهُ فِي السَّعَةِ عَلَيْهِمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ فُلاناً أَنْعَمَ الله عَلَيْهِ بِنِعْمَةٍ فَمَنَعَهَا أُسَرَاءَهُ وَجَعَلَهَا عِنْدَ فُلانٍ فَذَهَبَ الله بِهَا قَالَ مُعَمَّرٌ وَكَانَ فُلانٌ حَاضِراً.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Mu’ammar ibn Khallad who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘A man should better the quality of life of his family so that they may not wish for his death.’ He then recited this from the Holy Quran, “They give food, because of their love for Him, to a destitute, orphan and captive.” (76:8) Captive (in this verse) is a reference to one’s family; thus, he should improve the quality of their lives when his financial conditions improve.’ He then said, ‘So and so received favors from Allah, but he held it back from his family and instead kept it with so and so. Allah then took it away from him.’ Mu’ammar has said, ‘So and so was present at that time.’” 

4ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنِ الرَّبِيعِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) يَقُولُ الْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad ibn ‘Uthman from Rabi’a ibn Yazid who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘A providing hand is better than an asking hand, and you should begin providing for your family.’” 

5ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ قَالَ صَاحِبُ النِّعْمَةِ يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِ التَّوْسِعَةُ عَنْ عِيَالِهِ.

5. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from ibn abu Nasr who has said the following: “Al-Rida (a.s.), has said, ‘A wealthy person should improve the quality of life of his family.’” 

6ـ 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) الْمُؤْمِنُ يَأْكُلُ بِشَهْوَةِ أَهْلِهِ وَالْمُنَافِقُ يَأْكُلُ أَهْلُهُ بِشَهْوَتِهِ.

6 - Ali ibn Ibrahim reported from his father, from an-Nawfali, from as-Sakuni, from Abu Abdullah (as), who narrated: The Messenger of Allah (sw) said, "The believer eats according to the desires of his family, while the hypocrite eats according to his own desires."

7ـ سَهْلُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَسْبَاطٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ أَنَّ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) سُئِلَ أَ كَانَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) يَقُوتُ عِيَالَهُ قُوتاً مَعْرُوفاً قَالَ نَعَمْ إِنَّ النَّفْسَ إِذَا عَرَفَتْ قُوتَهَا قَنِعَتْ بِهِ وَنَبَتَ عَلَيْهِ اللَّحْمُ.

7. Sahl ibn Ziyad has narrated from Ali ibn Asbat from his father who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked, ‘Did the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, provide proper sustenance for his family?’ The Imam replied, ‘Yes, when a soul knows how much it needs, it then becomes satisfied with that much and flesh grows with it.’” 

8ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ كَفَى بِالْمَرْءِ إِثْماً أَنْ يُضَيِّعَ مَنْ يَعُولُهُ.

8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘ Umayr from Hisham ibn Salim who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is enough sin for one not to provide for his family and lose them.’” 

9ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ أَبِي الْخَزْرَجِ الأَنْصَارِيِّ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ غُرَابٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) مَلْعُونٌ مَلْعُونٌ مَنْ أَلْقَى كَلَّهُ عَلَى النَّاسِ مَلْعُونٌ مَلْعُونٌ مَنْ ضَيَّعَ مَنْ يَعُولُ.

9. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from abu al-Khazraj al-Ansariy from Ali ibn Ghurab who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Condemned is one, indeed condemned is one who shifts his burden upon the people, and so also is one who loses his family and does not provide sustenance for them.’” 

10ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ سَيْفِ بْنِ عَمِيرَةَ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ قَالَ قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيْهِما السَّلاَم) لأَنْ أَدْخُلَ السُّوقَ وَمَعِي دَرَاهِمُ أَبْتَاعُ بِهِ لِعِيَالِي لَحْماً وَقَدْ قَرِمُوا أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أُعْتِقَ نَسَمَةً.

10. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Sayf ibn ‘Amirah from abu Hamzah who has said the following: “Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), has said, ‘I love going to the market to buy meat for my family who strongly desire it, more than setting free an enslaved soul.’” 

11ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيْهِما السَّلاَم) إِذَا أَصْبَحَ خَرَجَ غَادِياً فِي طَلَبِ الرِّزْقِ فَقِيلَ لَهُ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ الله أَيْنَ تَذْهَبُ فَقَالَ أَتَصَدَّقُ لِعِيَالِي قِيلَ لَهُ أَ تَتَصَدَّقُ قَالَ مَنْ طَلَبَ الْحَلالَ فَهُوَ مِنَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ صَدَقَةٌ عَلَيْهِ.

11. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), would go out early every morning to earn a living. If people asked, ‘Where are you going, O great grandson of the Holy Prophet?’ He replied, ‘I want to give charity to my family.’ People then asked, ‘Is it charity?’ He then replied, ‘One who earns in lawful way; his earnings are Allah’s charity for him.’” 

12ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ بُنْدَارَ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ الأَنْصَارِيِّ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ يَأْخُذُ بِأَدَبِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِذَا وَسَّعَ عَلَ��ْهِ اتَّسَعَ وَإِذَا أَمْسَكَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْسَكَ.

12. Ali has narrated from Muhammad ibn Bandar from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from abu Muhammad al- Ansariy from ‘Umar ibn Yazid 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 believing person follows the discipline of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious. When Allah grants him extended favors, he becomes generous; and when He holds back, he also spares his means.’” 

1ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مُرَازِمٍ عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ كَثِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ مِنْ سَعَادَةِ الرَّجُلِ أَنْ يَكُونَ الْقَيِّمَ عَلَى عِيَالِهِ.

13. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Murazim from Mu’adh ibn Kathir who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that it is of the prosperity of man to support and provide for his family.” 

14ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ يَاسِرٍ الْخَادِمِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) يَقُولُ يَنْبَغِي لِلْمُؤْمِنِ أَنْ يَنْقُصَ مِنْ قُوتِ عِيَالِهِ فِي الشِّتَاءِ وَيَزِيدَ فِي وَقُودِهِمْ. 

14. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Yasir al-Khadim who has said the following: “I heard abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.), say, ‘A man should spare from the means of his sustenance to provide fuel for his family during winter.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 1, Chapter 7