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 مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنِ الْعَلاءِ بْنِ رَزِينٍ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ بَكْرٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ أَذَّنَ ابْنُ أُمِّ مَكْتُومٍ لِصَلاةِ الْغَدَاةِ وَمَرَّ رَجُلٌ بِرَسُولِ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَهُوَ يَتَسَحَّرُ فَدَعَاهُ أَنْ يَأْكُلَ مَعَهُ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ الله قَدْ أَذَّنَ الْمُؤَذِّنُ لِلْفَجْرِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ هَذَا ابْنُ أُمِّ مَكْتُومٍ وَهُوَ يُؤَذِّنُ بِلَيْلٍ فَإِذَا أَذَّنَ بِلالٌ فَعِنْدَ ذَلِكَ فَأَمْسِكْ.

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from al-‘Ala’ ibn Razin from Musa ibn Bakr from Zurarah who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ibn ‘Umm Maktum once said Adhan for the morning Salat (prayer) and a man passed by the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, who was eating. He (the Messenger of Allah) invited the man to eat Suhur (breakfast in the morning before dawn). He said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, Mu’adhdhin has said Adhan for the morning Salat (prayer).’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘Ibn ‘Umm Maktum says Adhan in the night; when Bilal says Adhan, then you must stop eating.’” 

2ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عَطِيَّةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ الْفَجْرُ هُوَ الَّذِي إِذَا رَأَيْتَهُ مُعْتَرِضاً كَأَنَّهُ بَيَاضُ سُورَى.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ali ibn ‘ Atiyyah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Dawn is when you see it, widthwise, like the whiteness of the suray (canal) (Euphrates river).”’ 

3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنِ الْخَيْطِ الأَبْيَضِ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الأَسْوَدِ فَقَالَ بَيَاضُ النَّهَارِ مِنْ سَوَادِ اللَّيْلِ قَالَ وَكَانَ بِلالٌ يُؤَذِّنُ لِلنَّبِيِّ (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَابْنُ أُمِّ مَكْتُومٍ وَكَانَ أَعْمَى يُؤَذِّنُ بِلَيْلٍ وَيُؤَذِّنُ بِلالٌ حِينَ يَطْلُعُ الْفَجْرُ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) إِذَا سَمِعْتُمْ صَوْتَ بِلالٍ فَدَعُوا الطَّعَامَ وَالشَّرَابَ فَقَدْ أَصْبَحْتُمْ.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from and Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad all from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad from al-Halabiy who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of ‘The white twine from the black twine.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is the whiteness of the day out of the blackness of the night.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Bilal and ibn ‘Umm Maktum would say Adhan for the Holy prophet. Ibn ‘Umm Maktum was blind and would say Adhan in the night. Bilal, however, would say Adhan when it was dawn. The Holy prophet said, ‘When you hear the voice of Bilal then stop eating and drinking, because you are in the morning.’” 

4ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ جَمِيعاً عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَحَدِهِمَا (عَلَيْهِما السَّلاَم) فِي قَوْلِ الله تَعَالَى أُحِلَّ لَكُمْ لَيْلَةَ الصِّيامِ الرَّفَثُ إِلى‏ نِسائِكُمْ الآيَةَ فَقَالَ نَزَلَتْ فِي خَوَّاتِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ الأَنْصَارِيِّ وَكَانَ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فِي الْخَنْدَقِ وَهُوَ صَائِمٌ فَأَمْسَى وَهُوَ عَلَى تِلْكَ الْحَالِ وَكَانُوا قَبْلَ أَنْ تَنْزِلَ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ إِذَا نَامَ أَحَدُهُمْ حُرِّمَ عَلَيْهِ الطَّعَامُ وَالشَّرَابُ فَجَاءَ خَوَّاتٌ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ حِينَ أَمْسَى فَقَالَ هَلْ عِنْدَكُمْ طَعَامٌ فَقَالُوا لا لا تَنَمْ حَتَّى نُصْلِحَ لَكَ طَعَاماً فَاتَّكَأَ فَنَامَ فَقَالُوا لَهُ قَدْ فَعَلْتَ قَالَ نَعَمْ فَبَاتَ عَلَى تِلْكَ الْحَالِ فَأَصْبَحَ ثُمَّ غَدَا إِلَى الْخَنْدَقِ فَجَعَلَ يُغْشَى عَلَيْهِ فَمَرَّ بِهِ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَلَمَّا رَأَى الَّذِي بِهِ أَخْبَرَهُ كَيْفَ كَانَ أَمْرُهُ فَأَنْزَلَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِيهِ الآيَةَ وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الأَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ.

4. Muhammad ibn ‘Isma’il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from and Ahmad ibn Idris from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar all from Safwan ibn Yahya from ibn Muskan from abu Basir who has said the following: “This is about the words of Allah, most High, ‘It is lawful for you to have carnal relation with your wives during the night of the fast. . . .’ (2:187) One of the two Imam, (abu Ja’far or abu ‘Abd Allah), ‘Alayhim al-Salam, has said that it was revealed about the case of Khawwat ibn Jubayr al-Ansariy. He was with the Holy prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, at the time of digging the ditch and fasting. It became evening. At that time, before the revelation of this verse, if anyone slept, eating and drinking became unlawful for him. Khawwat went home to his family in the evening and asked for food. They said that it is not ready yet so you must wait until food is prepared for you. He leaned and fell asleep. They asked him, ‘Did you do it (sleep)?’ He replied, ‘Yes, I did.’ He remained in that condition until the morning, then went to work in the ditches and would faint. The Messenger of Allah passed by and asked about his condition, which he informed him of his story. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, then sent down this verse, ‘Eat and drink until the white twine appears to you from the black twine in the morning.’ (2:187)” 

5ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ حُمَيْدٍ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فَقُلْتُ مَتَى يَحْرُمُ الطَّعَامُ وَالشَّرَابُ عَلَى الصَّائِمِ وَتَحِلُّ الصَّلاةُ صَلاةُ الْفَجْرِ فَقَالَ إِذَا اعْتَرَضَ الْفَجْرُ وَكَانَ كَالْقُبْطِيَّةِ الْبَيْضَاءِ فَثَمَّ يَحْرُمُ الطَّعَامُ وَيَحِلُّ الصِّيَامُ وَتَحِلُّ الصَّلاةُ صَلاةُ الْفَجْرِ قُلْتُ فَلَسْنَا فِي وَقْتٍ إِلَى أَنْ يَطْلُعَ شُعَاعُ الشَّمْسِ فَقَالَ هَيْهَاتَ أَيْنَ تَذْهَبُ تِلْكَ صَلاةُ الصِّبْيَانِ. 

5. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from ‘Asem ibn Humayd from abu Basir who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘When does it become unlawful to eat and drink for one fasting, and when does performing Salat (prayer) of the morning becomes lawful?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘When dawn appears which looks like white Coptic fabrics, then eating and drinking become unlawful for a fasting person and performing the morning Salat (prayer) becomes lawful.’ I then said, ‘So we do not have time until sunrise.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘That is not it at all. Where are you going? That is the time for Salat (prayer) by children.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 2, Chapter 18