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 حَمَّادٍ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) أَنَّهُ سُئِلَ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَخْرُجُ مِنْ بَيْتِهِ يُرِيدُ السَّفَرَ وَهُوَ صَائِمٌ قَالَ فَقَالَ إِنْ خَرَجَ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَنْتَصِفَ النَّهَارُ فَلْيُفْطِرْ وَلْيَقْضِ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ وَإِنْ خَرَجَ بَعْدَ الزَّوَالِ فَلْيُتِمَّ يَوْمَهُ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad from al-Halabiy who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who comes out of his house to travel and he is fasting. He (the Imam) said, ‘If he has come out before midday he is required to stop fasting and complete its Qada’ (compensatory fast) but if he has come out after Zawal (declining of the sun toward the west at noontime), he is required to complete his fast (of that day).”’ 

2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنِ ابْنِ بُكَيْرٍ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ إِذَا خَرَجَ الرَّجُلُ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ بَعْدَ الزَّوَالِ أَتَمَّ الصِّيَامَ فَإِذَا خَرَجَ قَبْلَ الزَّوَالِ أَفْطَرَ.

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from ibn Bukayr from ‘Ubayd ibn Zurarah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one comes out for a journey in the month of Ramadan after Zawal (declining of the sun toward the west at noontime) one is required to complete his fast. If one comes out before Zawal (declining of the sun toward the west at noontime), then one must stop fasting.’” 

3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فِي الرَّجُلِ يُسَافِرُ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ يَصُومُ أَوْ يُفْطِرُ قَالَ إِنْ خَرَجَ قَبْلَ الزَّوَالِ فَلْيُفْطِرْ وَإِنْ خَرَجَ بَعْدَ الزَّوَالِ فَلْيَصُمْ وَقَالَ يُعْرَفُ ذَلِكَ بِقَوْلِ عَلِيٍّ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) أَصُومُ وَأُفْطِرُ حَتَّى إِذَا زَالَتِ الشَّمْسُ عُزِمَ عَلَيَّ يَعْنِي الصِّيَامَ.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad from ‘Ubayd ibn Zurarah who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who travels in the month of Ramadan, if he is required to fast or stop fasting. He (the Imam) said, ‘If he goes out before Zawal (declining of the sun toward the west at noontime), he stops fasting; and if he goes out after Zawal (declining of the sun toward the west at noontime), then he fasts.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘This comes from the words of Ali (a.s.), that say, “I fast and stop fasting until it is Zawal (declining of the sun toward the west at noontime), thereafter it is definitely obligatory on me, meaning thereby fasting.’”” 

4ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنِ الْعَلاءِ بْنِ رَزِينٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ إِذَا سَافَرَ الرَّجُلُ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَخَرَجَ بَعْدَ نِصْفِ النَّهَارِ فَعَلَيْهِ صِيَامُ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ وَيَعْتَدُّ بِهِ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَإِذَا دَخَلَ أَرْضاً قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الْفَجْرِ وَهُوَ يُرِيدُ الإِقَامَةَ بِهَا فَعَلَيْهِ صَوْمُ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ فَإِنْ دَخَلَ بَعْدَ طُلُوعِ الْفَجْرِ فَلا صِيَامَ عَلَيْهِ وَإِنْ شَاءَ صَامَ.

4. 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: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If a man travels in the month of Ramadan and goes out after midday, he is required to fast that day and count it as that of the month of Ramadan. If he enters a place before dawn and wants to stay there (for ten days), he must fast that day, but if he enters after dawn, there he is not obligated for anything but he can fast if he wants.’” 

5ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ رِفَاعَةَ بْنِ مُوسَى قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَقْدَمُ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ مِنْ سَفَرٍ حَتَّى يَرَى أَنَّهُ سَيَدْخُلُ أَهْلَهُ ضَحْوَةً أَوِ ارْتِفَاعَ النَّهَارِ فَقَالَ إِذَا طَلَعَ الْفَجْرُ وَهُوَ خَارِجٌ وَلَمْ يَدْخُلْ أَهْلَهُ فَهُوَ بِالْخِيَارِ إِنْ شَاءَ صَامَ وَإِنْ شَاءَ أَفْطَرَ.

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Rifa’ah ibn Musa who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who comes home from a journey in the month of Ramadan until he can see that he is about to arrive home at noon or when the day is high. He (the Imam) said, ‘If it is dawn and he has not yet arrived in his family, it then is up to him to fast or not to fast.’” 

6ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ النَّضْرِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ عَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ حُمَيْدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَقْدَمُ مِنْ سَفَرٍ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَيَدْخُلُ أَهْلَهُ حِينَ يُصْبِحُ أَوِ ارْتِفَاعَ النَّهَارِ قَالَ إِذَا طَلَعَ الْفَجْرُ وَهُوَ خَارِجٌ وَلَمْ يَدْخُلْ أَهْلَهُ فَهُوَ بِالْخِيَارِ إِنْ شَاءَ صَامَ وَإِنْ شَاءَ أَفْطَرَ.

6. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from ‘Asem ibn Hamid from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about a man who comes from his journey and arrives in his family when it is morning and the day is high. He (the Imam) said, ‘If it is dawn and he is not yet arrived in his family, then he has the choice to fast or not to fast.’” 

7ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنْ رَجُلٍ قَدِمَ مِنْ سَفَرٍ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَلَمْ يَطْعَمْ شَيْئاً قَبْلَ الزَّوَالِ قَالَ يَصُومُ.

7. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about a man who comes home from a journey in the month of Ramadan before Zawal (declining of the sun toward the west at noontime) and has not tasted any food as yet. He (the Imam) said, ’He is required to fast.’” 

8ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ مُسَافِرٍ دَخَلَ أَهْلَهُ قَبْلَ زَوَالِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَدْ أَكَلَ قَالَ لا يَنْبَغِي لَهُ أَنْ يَأْكُلَ يَوْمَهُ ذَلِكَ شَيْئاً وَلا يُوَاقِعُ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ إِنْ كَانَ لَهُ أَهْلٌ.

8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Sama‘ah, who has said the following: “I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about a man who arrives in his family before Zawal (declining of the sun toward the west at noontime) and has used food already. He (the Imam) said, ’It is not proper for him to eat anything that day and he must not fall (for sexual relation) on his wife, if he has a wife.’” 

9ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ عَنْ يُونُسَ قَالَ قَالَ فِي الْمُسَافِرِ الَّذِي يَدْخُلُ أَهْلَهُ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَقَدْ أَكَلَ قَبْلَ دُخُولِهِ قَالَ يَكُفُّ عَنِ الأَكْلِ بَقِيَّةَ يَوْمِهِ وَعَلَيْهِ الْقَضَاءُ وَقَالَ فِي الْمُسَافِرِ يَدْخُلُ أَهْلَهُ وَهُوَ جُنُبٌ قَبْلَ الزَّوَالِ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ أَكَلَ فَعَلَيْهِ أَنْ يُتِمَّ صَوْمَهُ وَلا قَضَاءَ عَلَيْهِ يَعْنِي إِذَا كَانَتْ جَنَابَتُهُ مِنِ احْتِلامٍ. 

9. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from ‘Ubayd from Yunus who has said the following: “He (the Imam) (a.s.), about a man who arrives from a journey in his family in the month of Ramadan and has already used food before his arrival, he (the Imam) said, that he must abstain from eating for the rest of the day and he is required to complete its Qada’ (compensatory fasting).’ About a traveler who arrives in his family before Zawal (declining of the sun toward the west at noontime) and has not used any food but has experienced a wet dream, he is required to complete that fast. He is not required to carry out Qada’ (compensatory fast) for it, that is, if his experience is because of wet dream.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 2, Chapter 52