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 عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) إِذَا صُمْتَ فَلْيَصُمْ سَمْعُكَ وَبَصَرُكَ وَشَعْرُكَ وَجِلْدُكَ وَعَدَّدَ أَشْيَاءَ غَيْرَ هَذَا وَقَالَ لا يَكُونُ يَوْمُ صَوْمِكَ كَيَوْمِ فِطْرِكَ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad ibn ‘Uthman from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When you fast, your ears, eyes, hairs and skin must also fast . . counting other things also, the Imam said that ‘the day of your fast should not be just like any other day.”’ 

2ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ النَّضْرِ الْخَزَّازِ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شِمْرٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) لِجَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله يَا جَابِرُ هَذَا شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ مَنْ صَامَ نَهَارَهُ وَقَامَ وِرْداً مِنْ لَيْلِهِ وَعَفَّ بَطْنُهُ وَفَرْجُهُ وَكَفَّ لِسَانَهُ خَرَجَ مِنْ ذُنُوبِهِ كَخُرُوجِهِ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ فَقَالَ جَابِرٌ يَا رَسُولَ الله مَا أَحْسَنَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) يَا جَابِرُ وَمَا أَشَدَّ هَذِهِ الشُّرُوطَ.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ahmad ibn al-Nadr al-Khazzaz from ‘Amr ibn Shamir from Jabir who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, once said to Jabir ibn ‘Abd Allah, “O Jabir, this is the month of Ramadan. Anyone who fasts during its days, stands for salat (prayer) during its nights, maintains his stomach and private parts chastely and controls his tongue, comes out of his sins just like his coming out of the month.” Jabir then said, “How beautiful is this Hadith, O the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause.” The Messenger of Allah said, “O Jabir, how strict these conditions are!”’” 

3ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ النَّضْرِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ عَنْ جَرَّاحٍ الْمَدَائِنِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ إِنَّ الصِّيَامَ لَيْسَ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ وَالشَّرَابِ وَحْدَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ قَالَتْ مَرْيَمُ إِنِّي نَذَرْتُ لِلرَّحْمنِ صَوْماً أَيْ صَوْماً صَمْتاً وَفِي نُسْخَةٍ أُخْرَى أَيْ صَمْتاً فَإِذَا صُمْتُمْ فَاحْفَظُوا أَلْسِنَتَكُمْ وَغُضُّوا أَبْصَارَكُمْ وَلا تَنَازَعُوا وَلا تَحَاسَدُوا قَالَ وَسَمِعَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) امْرَأَةً تَسُبُّ جَارِيَةً لَهَا وَهِيَ صَائِمَةٌ فَدَعَا رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) بِطَعَامٍ فَقَالَ لَهَا كُلِي فَقَالَتْ إِنِّي صَائِمَةٌ فَقَالَ كَيْفَ تَكُونِينَ صَائِمَةً وَقَدْ سَبَبْتِ جَارِيَتَكِ إِنَّ الصَّوْمَ لَيْسَ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ وَالشَّرَابِ قَالَ وَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) إِذَا صُمْتَ فَلْيَصُمْ سَمْعُكَ وَبَصَرُكَ مِنَ الْحَرَامِ وَالْقَبِيحِ وَدَعِ الْمِرَاءَ وَأَذَى الْخَادِمِ وَلْيَكُنْ عَلَيْكَ وَقَارُ الصِّيَامِ وَلا تَجْعَلْ يَوْمَ صَوْمِكَ كَيَوْمِ فِطْرِكَ.

3. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd, from al- Qasim ibn Sulayman, from Jarrah al-Mada’iniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that fasting is not fasting from food and drink only.” He then said, “Mary had said, ‘I have made a vow (promise) before the Beneficent to fast,’ meaning not to speak to anyone and remain silent, according to another script. When you fast, you should control your tongue, cast down your eyes, you must not quarrel and you must not be jealous.” The Imam then said, “The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, once heard a woman abusing her fasting servant. The Messenger of Allah asked for food and then asked the woman to eat. She said, ’I am fasting.’ He then said, ‘How can you be fasting while speaking words of abuse against your housemaid? Fasting is not fasting from food and drink only.’” He (the narrator) has said, that abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), then said, “When you fast, your ears and eyes must also stop committing unlawful acts and evil matters. You must not quarrel or hurt your servant. You must maintain the dignity of fasting and you must not make your day of fasting just like another day.” 

4ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ عَنِ الْفُضَيْلِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ إِذَا صَامَ أَحَدُكُمُ الثَّلاثَةَ الأَيَّامِ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ فَلا يُجَادِلَنَّ أَحَداً وَلا يَجْهَلْ وَلا يُسْرِعْ إِلَى الْحَلْفِ وَالأَيْمَانِ بِالله فَإِنْ جَهِلَ عَلَيْهِ أَحَدٌ فَلْيَتَحَمَّلْ.

4. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub, from abu Ayyub, from al-Fudayl ibn Yasar who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that if anyone of you fasts for three days of a month, you should not quarrel with anyone or act ignorantly. He should not be hasty to swear or to swear by Allah, and if anyone else may act ignorantly, he should exercise forbearance.” 

5ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ هَارُونَ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ مَسْعَدَةَ بْنِ صَدَقَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ آبَائِهِ (عَلَيْهِم السَّلاَم) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ صَالِحٍ يُشْتَمُ فَيَقُولُ إِنِّي صَائِمٌ سَلامٌ عَلَيْكَ لا أَشْتِمُكَ كَمَا شَتَمْتَنِي إِلاَّ قَالَ الرَّبُّ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى اسْتَجَارَ عَبْدِي بِالصَّوْمِ مِنْ شَرِّ عَبْدِي فَقَدْ أَجَرْتُهُ مِنَ النَّارِ.

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Harun ibn Muslim from Mas'adah ibn Sadaqah from Abu ‘Abdillah from his ancestors (AS), he said: The Messenger of Allah (sw) said, "There is no righteous servant who is insulted and responds by saying, 'I am fasting, may peace be upon you, I do not insult you as you have insulted me,' except that the Lord, Blessed and Exalted, says, 'My servant has sought protection in fasting from the evil of My servant; thus, I grant him protection from the Fire.'"

6ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ وَغَيْرِهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ لا يُنْشَدُ الشِّعْرُ بِلَيْلٍ وَلا يُنْشَدُ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ بِلَيْلٍ وَلا نَهَارٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ إِسْمَاعِيلُ يَا أَبَتَاهْ فَإِنَّهُ فِينَا قَالَ وَإِنْ كَانَ فِينَا.

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad ibn ‘Uthman and others who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘You must not read poems during the night. You must not read poems in the month of Ramadan during the night or during the day.’ Isma‘il then said, ‘Father, but it is in our praise.’ The Imam said, ‘Even if it is in our praise, do not read poems.’” 

7ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ هَارُونَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو يَزِيدَ عَنْ حُصَيْنٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) عَلَيْكُمْ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ بِكَثْرَةِ الاسْتِغْفَارِ وَالدُّعَاءِ فَأَمَّا الدُّعَاءُ فَيُدْفَعُ بِهِ عَنْكُمُ الْبَلاءُ وَأَمَّا الاسْتِغْفَارُ فَيَمْحَى ذُنُوبَكُمْ.

7. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ali ibn al-Husayn from Muhammad ibn ‘Ubayd from ‘Ubayd ibn Harun who has said that abu Yazid narrated to us from Husayn who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘In the month of Ramadan you should increase asking forgiveness from Allah and offering prayer before Him. Prayers repel misfortunes, and asking forgiveness deletes your sins.’” 

8ـ وَبِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ قَالَ كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيْهِما السَّلاَم) إِذَا كَانَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ لَمْ يَتَكَلَّمْ إِلاَّ بِالدُّعَاءِ وَالتَّسْبِيحِ وَالاسْتِغْفَارِ وَالتَّكْبِيرِ فَإِذَا أَفْطَرَ قَالَ اللهمَّ إِنْ شِئْتَ أَنْ تَفْعَلَ فَعَلْتَ.

8. It is narrated from him (narrator of previous Hadith) who has said the following: “Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), in the month of Ramadan would not speak anything other than prayer, Tasbih (Allah is free of all defects), ’Istighfar, (O Allah, I appeal before You for forgiveness) and Takbir (Allah is great beyond description). After breaking his fast, he would say, ‘O Allah, if You want to do something, You just do it without fail.’” 

9ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنِ الْوَشَّاءِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) يَقُولُ إِنَّ الصِّيَامَ لَيْسَ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ وَالشَّرَابِ وَحْدَهُ إِنَّ مَرْيَمَ (عَلَيْها السَّلاَم) قَالَتْ إِنِّي نَذَرْتُ لِلرَّحْمنِ صَوْماً أَيْ صَمْتاً فَاحْفَظُوا أَلْسِنَتَكُمْ وَغُضُّوا أَبْصَارَكُمْ وَلا تَحَاسَدُوا وَلا تَنَازَعُوا فَإِنَّ الْحَسَدَ يَأْكُلُ الإِيمَانَ كَمَا تَأْكُلُ النَّارُ الْحَطَبَ.

9. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from al-Washsha’ from Ali ibn abu Hamzah from abu Basir who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘Fasting is not abstaining from food and drink only. Mary had said, “I have made a vow before the Beneficent to fast,” meaning thereby to remain silent. You must control your tongues and cast down your eyes. You must not be jealous and you must not quarrel. Jealousy consumes belief just as fire consumes fire wood.’” 

10ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ يُونُسَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) يَقُولُ الْكَذِبَةُ تَنْقُضُ الْوُضُوءَ وَتُفَطِّرُ الصَّائِمَ قَالَ قُلْتُ هَلَكْنَا قَالَ لَيْسَ حَيْثُ تَذْهَبُ إِنَّمَا ذَلِكَ الْكَذِبُ عَلَى الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَعَلَى رَسُولِهِ وَعَلَى الأَئِمَّةِ ع.

10. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Mansur ibn Yunus from abu Basir who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘Speaking lies invalidates Wudu’ and fasting.’ I (the narrator) then said, ‘We are destroyed.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not the way you think it is. It means speaking lies against Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, His Messenger and ’A’immah, ‘Alayhim al-Salam.’” 

11ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مُوسَى عَنْ غِيَاثٍ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) إِنَّ الله كَرِهَ لِي سِتَّ خِصَالٍ ثُمَّ كَرِهْتُهُنَّ لِلأَوْصِيَاءِ مِنْ وُلْدِي وَأَتْبَاعِهِمْ مِنْ بَعْدِي الرَّفَثَ فِي الصَّوْمِ. 

11. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Musa from Ghiyath from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar 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, ‘Allah dislikes the existence of six things with me. I dislike such things to exist in the executors of the will in my descendants and their followers after me. One such matter is carnal relations during fasting.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 2, Chapter 11