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 عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يُصْبِحُ وَهُوَ يُرِيدُ الصِّيَامَ ثُمَّ يَبْدُو لَهُ فَيُفْطِرُ قَالَ هُوَ بِالْخِيَارِ مَا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ نِصْفِ النَّهَارِ قُلْتُ هَلْ يَقْضِيهِ إِذَا أَفْطَرَ قَالَ نَعَمْ لأَنَّهَا حَسَنَةٌ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَعْمَلَهَا فَلْيُتِمَّهَا قُلْتُ فَإِنَّ رَجُلاً أَرَادَ أَنْ يَصُومَ ارْتِفَاعَ النَّهَارِ أَ يَصُومُ قَالَ نَعَمْ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad ibn ‘Uthaman from al-Halabiy who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who with the intention to fast wakes up in the morning, then for a certain reason decides not to fast. He (the Imam) said, ‘Until midday it is his choice to fast or not to fast.’ I then asked, ‘Is he required to make Qada’ (compensatory fast) for such fast if he discontinues it?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is a valid deed that he intended to do and he should complete it.’ I then asked, ‘Can a man who, when the day is up, decide to fast, do so?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is permissible for him to do so.’” 

2ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ فَضَالَةَ بْنِ أَيُّوبَ عَنْ حُسَيْنِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنِ الصَّائِمِ الْمُتَطَوِّعِ تَعْرِضُ لَهُ الْحَاجَةُ قَالَ هُوَ بِالْخِيَارِ مَا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الْعَصْرِ وَإِنْ مَكَثَ حَتَّى الْعَصْرِ ثُمَّ بَدَا لَهُ أَنْ يَصُومَ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ نَوَى ذَلِكَ فَلَهُ أَنْ يَصُومَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ إِنْ شَاءَ.

2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Fadalah ibn Ayyub from al-Husayn ibn ‘Uthman from Sama‘ah ibn Mehran from abu Basir who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about a man who fasts an optional fast but he faces a certain issue of his needs.“ He (the Imam) replied, ‘He has the choice until al-‘Asr (later afternoon). If he waits until al-‘Asr and then it occurs to him to fast, if he did not have the intention for fasting, he can fast that day, if he wishes.’” 

3ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ مَعْرُوفٍ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنِ ابْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ عَمَّارِ بْنِ مَرْوَانَ عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فِي قَوْلِهِ الصَّائِمُ بِالْخِيَارِ إِلَى زَوَالِ الشَّمْسِ قَالَ ذَلِكَ فِي الْفَرِيضَةِ فَأَمَّا النَّافِلَةُ فَلَهُ أَنْ يُفْطِرَ أَيَّ سَاعَةٍ شَاءَ إِلَى غُرُوبِ الشَّمْسِ.

3. Ahmad ibn Muhammad from has narrated from al-‘Abbas ibn Ma‘ruf from Safwan ibn Yahya from ibn Sinan from ‘Ammar ibn Marwan from Sama‘ah ibn Mehran, from abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) regarding his saying, ‘A fasting person has the choice until Zawal (declining of the sun toward the west at noontime)’. He said: ‘It is about the obligatory (fast). In the case of the optional (fast), one has the choice to stop fasting any time up to sunset.’” 

4ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ الْحَجَّاجِ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ صَلَوَاتُ الله عَلَيْهِ فِي الرَّجُلِ يَبْدُو لَهُ بَعْدَ مَا يُصْبِحُ وَيَرْتَفِعُ النَّهَارُ فِي صَوْمِ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ لِيَقْضِيَهُ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ نَوَى ذَلِكَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ قَالَ نَعَمْ لِيَصُمْهُ وَلْيَعْتَدَّ بِهِ إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ أَحْدَثَ شَيْئاً.

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn ‘Isma‘il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from all from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Hajjaj who has said the following: “This is about the case of one who only after it is day light, decides to fast that day as Qada’ (compensatory fast) for the fast of the month of Ramadan. He did not have such intention in the night. Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said that he can fast that day and count it, if nothing invalidating has taken place before.” 

5ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ بُرَيْدٍ الْعِجْلِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فِي رَجُلٍ أَتَى أَهْلَهُ فِي يَوْمٍ يَقْضِيهِ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ قَالَ إِنْ كَانَ أَتَى أَهْلَهُ قَبْلَ زَوَالِ الشَّمْسِ فَلا شَيْ‏ءَ عَلَيْهِ إِلاَّ يَوْمٌ مَكَانَ يَوْمٍ وَإِنْ كَانَ أَتَى أَهْلَهُ بَعْدَ زَوَالِ الشَّمْسِ فَإِنَّ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَتَصَدَّقَ عَلَى عَشَرَةِ مَسَاكِينَ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَقْدِرْ صَامَ يَوْماً مَكَانَ يَوْمٍ وَصَامَ ثَلاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ كَفَّارَةً لِمَا صَنَعَ.

5. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-FIassan ibn Mahbub from al=FIarith ibn Muhammad from Burayd al- ‘ Ij liy who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about a man who when fasting as Qada’ (compensatory fast) for the fast of the month of Ramadan goes to his wife for sexual relation. He (the Imam) said, ‘If it takes place before Zawal (declining of the sun toward the west at noontime), he is not obligated for anything. It is only one day for one day. If it happens after Zawal (declining of the sun toward the west at noontime), he is required to pay charity to ten destitute people, and if he is not able to do so, he is required to fast one day for one day and fast three days as expiation for what he has done.’” 

6ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ فَضَالَةَ بْنِ أَيُّوبَ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنِ الْمَرْأَةِ تَقْضِي شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ فَيُكْرِهُهَا زَوْجُهَا عَلَى الإِفْطَارِ فَقَالَ لا يَنْبَغِي لَهُ أَنْ يُكْرِهَهَا بَعْدَ الزَّوَالِ.

6. Ahmad ibn Muhammad from has narrated from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Fadalah ibn Ayyub from al-Husayn ibn ‘Uthman from Sama‘ah, from abu Basir who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a woman who fasts as Qada’ (compensatory fast) for the fast of the month of Ramadan and her husband forces her to invalidate her fast. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not proper for him to do so after Zawal (declining of the sun toward the west at noontime)/” 

7ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله الْخَثْعَمِيِّ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَنْوِي الصَّوْمَ فَيَلْقَاهُ أَخُوهُ الَّذِي هُوَ عَلَى أَمْرِهِ أَ يُفْطِرُ قَالَ إِنْ كَانَ تَطَوُّعاً أَجْزَأَهُ وَحُسِبَ لَهُ وَإِنْ كَانَ قَضَاءَ فَرِيضَةٍ قَضَاهُ. 

7. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from ibn Faddal from Salih ibn ‘Abd Allah al-Khath’amiy who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who decides to fast, then he meets his brother who believes as he does; if he can discontinue his fast. He (the Imam) said, ‘If it is optional it will be counted as one day of fasting in his favor, but if it is obligatory Qada’ (compensatory fast), he must do its Qada’ (compensatory fast).”’ 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 2, Chapter 42