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 عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يُسَافِرُ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ أَ لَهُ أَنْ يُصِيبَ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ قَالَ نَعَمْ.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad ibn ‘Uthman from ‘Umar ibn Yazid 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 can have sexual relation with women. He (the Imam) said, ’Yes, he can do so.’” 

2ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَهْلٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَتَى أَهْلَهُ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَهُوَ مُسَافِرٌ قَالَ لا بَأْسَ.

2. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad ibn Sahl [from his father] who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about a man who experiences sexual relation with his wife in the month of Ramadan during a journey. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’” 

3ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ الْهَاشِمِيِّ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ يَعْنِي مُوسَى (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يُجَامِعُ أَهْلَهُ فِي السَّفَرِ وَهُوَ فِي ��َهْرِ رَمَضَانَ قَالَ لا بَأْسَ بِهِ.

3. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ali ibn al-Hakam from ‘Abd al-Malik ibn ‘Utbah al-Hashimiy who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), about a man who experiences sexual relation with his wife during a journey in the month of Ramadan. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’” 

4ـ حُمَيْدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَمَاعَةَ عَنْ غَيْرِ وَاحِدٍ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ أَبِي الْعَبَّاسِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فِي الرَّجُلِ يُسَافِرُ وَمَعَهُ جَارِيَةٌ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ هَلْ يَقَعُ عَلَيْهَا قَالَ نَعَمْ.

4. Humayd ibn Ziyad has narrated from al-Hassan ibn Muhammad ibn Sama‘ah from more than one person from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from abu al-‘Abbas who has said the following: “This is about a man who experiences sexual relation with a slave-girl while on a journey in the month of Ramadan. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not harmful.’” 

5ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنِ ابْنِ سِنَانٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يُسَافِرُ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَمَعَهُ جَارِيَةٌ لَهُ فَلَهُ أَنْ يُصِيبَ مِنْهَا بِالنَّهَارِ فَقَالَ سُبْحَانَ الله أَ مَا تَعْرِفُ حُرْمَةَ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ إِنَّ لَهُ فِي اللَّيْلِ سَبْحاً طَوِيلاً قُلْتُ أَ لَيْسَ لَهُ أَنْ يَأْكُلَ وَيَشْرَبَ وَيُقَصِّرَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى قَدْ رَخَّصَ لِلْمُسَافِرِ فِي الإِفْطَارِ وَالتَّقْصِيرِ رَحْمَةً وَتَخْفِيفاً لِمَوْضِعِ التَّعَبِ وَالنَّصَبِ وَوَعْثِ السَّفَرِ وَلَمْ يُرَخِّصْ لَهُ فِي مُجَامَعَةِ النِّسَاءِ فِي السَّفَرِ بِالنَّهَارِ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَأَوْجَبَ عَلَيْهِ قَضَاءَ الصِّيَامِ وَلَمْ يُوجِبْ عَلَيْهِ قَضَاءَ تَمَامِ الصَّلاةِ إِذَا آبَ مِنْ سَفَرِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ وَالسُّنَّةُ لا تُقَاسُ وَإِنِّي إِذَا سَافَرْتُ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ مَا آكُلُ إِلاَّ الْقُوتَ وَمَا أَشْرَبُ كُلَّ الرِّيِّ.

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from ibn Sinan who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who travels in the month of Ramadan and with him there is his slave-girl: if he can experience sexual relation with her during the day in the month of Ramadan. He (the Imam) said, ‘Allah is free of all defects. Does he not recognize any respect for the month of Ramadan and that during the night there is a long time for him?’ I then asked, ‘Can he not eat, drink and reduce his Salat (prayer)?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Allah, most Blessed, most High, has granted permission to stop fasting and reduce one’s Salat (prayer) while on a journey. It is as a mercy and to provide ease for him; he becomes tired because of the difficulties of traveling. He has not granted permission to have sexual relation with a woman on a journey during the day in the month of Ramadan. He has made Qada’ (compensatory fast) of the fast of the month of Ramadan obligatory on him but He has not made Qada’ (compensatory) Salat (prayer) in complete form obligatory when he returns from his journey.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘It is not permissible to measure the Sunnah by means of analogy. When I travel in the month of Ramadan I do not eat more than bare necessities and do not drink to completely quench my thirst.’” 

6ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ الأَحْمَرِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ حَمَّادٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ سِنَانٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَأْتِي جَارِيَتَهُ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ بِالنَّهَارِ فِي السَّفَرِ فَقَالَ مَا عَرَفَ هَذَا حَقَّ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ إِنَّ لَهُ فِي اللَّيْلِ سَبْحاً طَوِيلاً. قَالَ الْكُلَيْنِيُّ الْفَضْلُ عِنْدِي أَنْ يُوَقِّرَ الرَّجُلُ شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ وَيُمْسِكَ عَنِ النِّسَاءِ فِي السَّفَرِ بِالنَّهَارِ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَكُونَ تَغْلِبُهُ الشَّهْوَةُ وَيَخَافُ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ فَقَدْ رُخِّصَ لَهُ أَنْ يَأْتِيَ الْحَلالَ كَمَا رُخِّصَ لِلْمُسَافِرِ الَّذِي لا يَجِدُ الْمَاءَ إِذَا غَلَبَهُ الشَّبَقُ أَنْ يَأْتِيَ الْحَلالَ قَالَ وَيُؤْجَرُ فِي ذَلِكَ كَمَا أَنَّهُ إِذَا أَتَى الْحَرَامَ أَثِمَ. 

6. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ibrahim ibn Ishaq al-Ahmar from ‘Abd Allah ibn Hammad from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about a man who experiences sexual relation with his slave-girl on a journey in the month of Ramadan during the day. He (the Imam) said, ‘He has not recognized any respect for the month of Ramadan even though there is a long time during the night.’” NOTE: Al-Kulayniy has said that it is better for one to pay respect to the month of Ramadan and abstain from sexual relation during the day. However, if one is overpowered by lust and is afraid from his soul in which case it is permissible to have what is lawful. It is as is permissible for a traveler who does not find water, when desire overpowers him, to have what is lawful. He has said that one receives rewards for it just as it is a sin when he commits something unlawful. 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 2, Chapter 54