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 جَمِيلِ بْنِ دَرَّاجٍ عَنِ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ صَبِيحٍ قَالَ حُمِمْتُ بِالْمَدِينَةِ يَوْماً فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَبَعَثَ إِلَيَّ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) بِقَصْعَةٍ فِيهَا خَلٌّ وَزَيْتٌ وَقَالَ أَفْطِرْ وَصَلِّ وَأَنْتَ قَاعِدٌ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Jamil ibn Darraj from al-Walid ibn Sabih who has said the following: “Once in al-Madinah, during the month of Ramadan, I had fever, and abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), sent a bowl with olive oil and vinegar in it and said, ’Eat and perform Salat (prayer) in a sitting position.”’ 

2ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ قَالَ كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) أَسْأَلُهُ مَا حَدُّ الْمَرَضِ الَّذِي يُفْطِرُ فِيهِ صَاحِبُهُ وَالْمَرَضِ الَّذِي يَدَعُ صَاحِبُهُ الصَّلاةَ قَائِماً قَالَ بَلِ الإِنْسانُ عَلى‏ نَفْسِهِ بَصِيرَةٌ وَقَالَ ذَاكَ إِلَيْهِ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِنَفْسِهِ.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ‘Umar ibn ‘Udhaynah who has said the following: “I once wrote to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), asking about the limit of illness because of which one has permission to stop fasting and not to perform Salat (prayer) in a standing position. He (the Imam) said, ‘In fact, man is well aware of his soul,’ it is up to him to decide; he knows about his soul.’” 

3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ مَا حَدُّ الْمَرَضِ الَّذِي يَجِبُ عَلَى صَاحِبِهِ فِيهِ الإِفْطَارُ كَمَا يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِ فِي السَّفَرِ مَنْ كَانَ مَرِيضاً أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ قَالَ هُوَ مُؤْتَمَنٌ عَلَيْهِ مُفَوَّضٌ إِلَيْهِ فَإِنْ وَجَدَ ضَعْفاً فَلْيُفْطِرْ وَإِنْ وَجَدَ قُوَّةً فَلْيَصُمْهُ كَانَ الْمَرَضُ مَا كَانَ.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa ibn ‘Ubayd from Yunus from Sama‘ah, who has said the following: “I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about the limits of illness because of which it is obligatory on the patient not to fast as is the case on a journey, ‘. . . one who is on a journey or suffers from an illness. . . .’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is up to him to decide. If he finds weakness, he eats and if he finds strength he fasts, regardless of the degree of illness.’” 

4ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنْ حَرِيزٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ الصَّائِمُ إِذَا خَافَ عَلَى عَيْنَيْهِ مِنَ الرَّمَدِ أَفْطَرَ.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad from Hariz who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If a fasting person is afraid about the illness of his eyes, he is allowed to eat.’” 

5ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى وَغَيْرُهُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ مُصَدِّقِ بْنِ صَدَقَةَ عَنْ عَمَّارِ بْنِ مُوسَى عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فِي الرَّجُلِ يَجِدُ فِي رَأْسِهِ وَجَعاً مِنْ صُدَاعٍ شَدِيدٍ هَلْ يَجُوزُ لَهُ الإِفْطَارُ قَالَ إِذَا صُدِّعَ صُدَاعاً شَدِيداً وَإِذَا حُمَّ حُمَّى شَدِيدَةً وَإِذَا رَمِدَتْ عَيْنَاهُ رَمَداً شَدِيداً فَقَدْ حَلَّ لَهُ الإِفْطَارُ.

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya and others has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ahmad from Ahmad ibn al-Hassan from ‘Amr ibn Sa‘id from Musaddiq ibn Sadaqah from ‘Ammar ibn Musa who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a fasting man who feels a severe headache if he can eat. He (the Imam) said, ‘If one feels severe headache, a severe fever and a severe eye illness, then it is lawful for him to discontinue his fasting.’” 

6ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ سَيْفِ بْنِ عَمِيرَةَ عَنْ بَكْرِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ قَالَ سَأَلَهُ أَبِي يَعْنِي أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) وَأَنَا أَسْمَعُ مَا حَدُّ الْمَرَضِ الَّذِي يُتْرَكُ مِنْهُ الصَّوْمُ قَالَ إِذَا لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ أَنْ يَتَسَحَّرَ.

6. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Sayf ibn ‘Amirah from Bakr ibn abu Bakr al-Hadramiy who has said the following: “Once my father asked him (abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) ) and I was listening, ‘What is the limit of an illness because of which it is permissible to stop fasting?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is when one is not able to take Suhur (breakfast in the morning before dawn).”’ 

7ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ عَمْرٍو عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ اشْتَكَتْ أُمُّ سَلَمَةَ رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْهَا عَيْنَهَا فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَأَمَرَهَا رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) أَنْ تُفْطِرَ وَقَالَ عَشَاءُ اللَّيْلِ لِعَيْنِكِ رَدِيٌّ.

7. Ahmad ibn Muhammad from has narrated from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Husayn ibn ‘Uthman from Sulayman ibn ‘Amr who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Once in the month of Ramadan ‘Umm Salamah complained of illness of her eyes. The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, commanded her to eat, saying, ‘Not to eat until supper can cause the demise of your eyes.’” 

8ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنْ شُعَيْبٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) مَا حَدُّ الْمَرِيضِ إِذَا نَقَهَ فِي الصِّيَامِ قَالَ ذَلِكَ إِلَيْهِ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِنَفْسِهِ إِذَا قَوِيَ فَلْيَصُمْ. 

8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus ibn Shu’ayb from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the limit of the illness that weakens one when fasting. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is up to him to decide; he knows better about his soul and when he is strong he can then fast.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 2, Chapter 39