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 عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنِ الْعَلاءِ بْنِ رَزِينٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فِي قَوْلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ قَالَ الشَّيْخُ الْكَبِيرُ وَالَّذِي يَأْخُذُهُ الْعُطَاشُ وَعَنْ قَوْلِهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَإِطْعامُ سِتِّينَ مِسْكِيناً قَالَ مِنْ مَرَضٍ أَوْ عُطَاشٍ.

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn, from Safwan ibn Yahya from al-‘Ala’ ibn Razin from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “This is about the words of Allah, the most Majestic and Glorious, ‘Those who can afford pay ransom by feeding a destitute.’ (2:184) Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘It is a reference to the old man who becomes thirsty. The words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, “So those who cannot afford to feed sixty destitute persons,” (58:5) is a reference to those who suffer from an illness or thirst.’” 

2ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ الْهَاشِمِيِّ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنِ الشَّيْخِ الْكَبِيرِ وَالْعَجُوزِ الْكَبِيرَةِ الَّتِي تَضْعُفُ عَنِ الصَّوْمِ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ قَالَ تَصَدَّقُ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ بِمُدِّ حِنْطَةٍ.

2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from ‘Abd al-Malik ibn ‘Utbah al- Hashimiy who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of an old man and an old woman who are very weak for fasting in the month of Ramadan. He (the Imam) said, ‘They pay a ransom of one mud (a certain measurement) of wheat for every day.’” 

3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ سِنَانٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ كَبِيرٍ ضَعُفَ عَنْ صَوْمِ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ قَالَ يَتَصَدَّقُ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ بِمَا يُجْزِئُ مِنْ طَعَامِ مِسْكِينٍ.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Mughirah from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of an old man who becomes weak because of fasting in the month of Ramadan. He (the Imam) said, ‘He pays a ransom of one meal to a destitute person for every day.’” 

4ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنِ الْعَلاءِ بْنِ رَزِينٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) يَقُولُ الشَّيْخُ الْكَبِيرُ وَالَّذِي بِهِ الْعُطَاشُ لا حَرَجَ عَلَيْهِمَا أَنْ يُفْطِرَا فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَيَتَصَدَّقُ كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ بِمُدٍّ مِنْ طَعَامٍ وَلا قَضَاءَ عَلَيْهِمَا فَإِنْ لَمْ يَقْدِرَا فَلا شَيْ‏ءَ عَلَيْهِمَا.

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from al-‘Ala’ ibn Razin from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “I once heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.), say, ‘An old man and one who suffers from thirst have permission not to fast in the month of Ramadan, and instead each one pays a ransom of one mud of food for every day, and thereafter they are not obligated for any Qada’ (compensatory fast). If they cannot afford, they are not obligated for anything.’” 

5ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنِ ابْنِ بُكَيْرٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فِي قَوْلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعامُ مِسْكِينٍ قَالَ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا يُطِيقُونَ الصَّوْمَ فَأَصَابَهُمْ كِبَرٌ أَوْ عُطَاشٌ أَوْ شِبْهُ ذَلِكَ فَعَلَيْهِمْ لِكُلِّ يَوْمٍ مُدٌّ.

5. Ahmad ibn Muhammad from has narrated from ibn Faddal from ibn Bukayr from certain persons of our people who have said the following: “This is about the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘Those who cannot afford, feed sixty destitute persons.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Those who were able to fast but now because of old age or thirst and so on (cannot fast), must pay one mud of food for every day of fast.’” 

6ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ وَغَيْرُهُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ مُصَدِّقِ بْنِ صَدَقَةَ عَنْ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فِي الرَّجُلِ يُصِيبُهُ الْعُطَاشُ حَتَّى يَخَافَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ قَالَ يَشْرَبُ بِقَدْرِ مَا يُمْسِكُ بِهِ رَمَقَهُ وَلا يَشْرَبُ حَتَّى يَرْوَى.

6. Ahmad ibn Idris and others have narrated from Muhammad ibn Ahmad from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from ‘Amr ibn Sa‘id from Musaddiq ibn Sadaqah from ‘Ammar who has said the following: “About a man who becomes thirsty and is afraid for his life, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘He can drink to spare his life but not to fill himself up.’” 

7ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ مَرَّارٍ عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنِ الْمُفَضَّلِ بْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) إِنَّ لَنَا فَتَيَاتٍ وَشُبَّاناً لا يَقْدِرُونَ عَلَى الصِّيَامِ مِنْ شِدَّةِ مَا يُصِيبُهُمْ مِنَ الْعَطَشِ قَالَ فَلْيَشْرَبُوا بِقَدْرِ مَا تَرْوَى بِهِ نُفُوسُهُمْ وَمَا يَحْذَرُونَ. 

7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from ‘Isma‘il ibn Marrar from Yunus from al-Mufaddal ibn ‘Umar who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of our young women and man who are not able to fast because of thirst. He (the Imam) said, ‘They can drink to quench their souls and to remove their fear.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 2, Chapter 37