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 وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ جَمِيلٍ وَمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حُمْرَانَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فِي الرَّجُلِ الْحُرِّ يَلْزَمُهُ صَوْمُ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ فِي ظِهَارٍ فَيَصُومُ شَهْراً ثُمَّ يَمْرَضُ قَالَ يَسْتَقْبِلُ وَإِنْ زَادَ عَلَى الشَّهْرِ الآخَرِ يَوْماً أَوْ يَوْمَيْنِ بَنَى عَلَى مَا بَقِيَ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from and Muhammad ibn ‘Isma‘il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from all from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Jamil and Muhammad ibn Humran who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who is free and owes two consecutive months of fasting because of Zihar (calling on oath the back of one’s wife as that of one’s mother). He fasts for one month, then becomes ill. He (the Imam) said, ‘One is required to start all over again; however, if one fasts one month and one day of the next month, then it is permissible to begin from where one has left.’” 

2ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ صِيَامُ كَفَّارَةِ الْيَمِينِ فِي الظِّهَارِ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ وَالتَّتَابُعُ أَنْ يَصُومَ شَهْراً وَيَصُومَ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ الآخَرِ أَيَّاماً أَوْ شَيْئاً مِنْهُ فَإِنْ عَرَضَ لَهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ يُفْطَرُ فِيهِ أَفْطَرَ ثُمَّ قَضَى مَا بَقِيَ عَلَيْهِ وَإِنْ صَامَ شَهْراً ثُمَّ عَرَضَ لَهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ فَأَفْطَرَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَصُومَ مِنَ الآخَرِ شَيْئاً فَلَمْ يُتَابِعْ أَعَادَ الصِّيَامَ كُلَّهُ.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad from al-Halabiy, from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.), who said, ‘In fasting, as expiation for an oath in the case of Dhihar which is two consecutive months of fasting, consecutive order is established by fasting one whole month and certain days of the next month or something thereof. Thereafter if something occurs to him he may eat and then carry out Qada’ (compensatory fast) of what remains of the two months. If one fasts for one month only, then something occurs before fasting even one day of the second month, because of which one stops fasting, consecutive order becomes invalid; thus one is required to start all over again.’” 

3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَكُونُ عَلَيْهِ صَوْمُ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ أَ يُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ الأَيَّامِ فَقَالَ إِذَا صَامَ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ شَهْرٍ فَوَصَلَهُ ثُمَّ عَرَضَ لَهُ أَمْرٌ فَأَفْطَرَ فَلا بَأْسَ فَإِنْ كَانَ أَقَلَّ مِنْ شَهْرٍ أَوْ شَهْراً فَعَلَيْهِ أَنْ يُعِيدَ الصِّيَامَ.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Sama‘ah ibn Mehran who has said the following: “I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about a man who owes two consecutive months of fasting if he can separate the days. He (the Imam) said, ‘If he fasts for more than one month consecutively, then something happens because of which he stops fasting, it is not harmful; but if it is one month or less than one month, then he is required to start all over again.’” 

4ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فِي رَجُلٍ كَانَ عَلَيْهِ صَوْمُ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ فِي ظِهَارٍ فَصَامَ ذَا الْقَعْدَةِ ثُمَّ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ ذُو الْحِجَّةِ قَالَ يَصُومُ ذَا الْحِجَّةِ كُلَّهُ إِلاَّ أَيَّامَ التَّشْرِيقِ يَقْضِيهَا فِي أَوَّلِ يَوْمٍ مِنَ الْمُحَرَّمِ حَتَّى يُتِمَّ ثَلاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ فَيَكُونُ قَدْ صَامَ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ قَالَ وَلا يَنْبَغِي لَهُ أَنْ يَقْرَبَ أَهْلَهُ حَتَّى يَقْضِيَ ثَلاثَةَ أَيَّامِ التَّشْرِيقِ الَّتِي لَمْ يَصُمْهَا وَلا بَأْسَ إِنْ صَامَ شَهْراً ثُمَّ صَامَ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ الآخَرِ الَّذِي يَلِيهِ أَيَّاماً ثُمَّ عَرَضَ لَهُ عِلَّةٌ أَنْ يَقْطَعَهَا ثُمَّ يَقْضِيَ مِنْ بَعْدِ تَمَامِ الشَّهْرَيْنِ.

4. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from abu Ayyub who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who owes two consecutive months of fasting because of Zihar and fasts the month of Dhu al-Qa’dah, then the month of Dhu al-Hajjah comes. He (the Imam) said, ‘He can fast the whole month of Dhu al-Hajjah except the days of tashriq (11, 12, 13) which he can make its Qada’ (compensatory fast) in the beginning of Muharram to complete three days, and in this way he has fasted two consecutive months.’ He (the Imam) said that it is not proper for him to go near his wife before completing Qada’ (compensatory fast) of the three days of tashriq, which he did not fast. It is not harmful to fast one month and certain days of the following month, and if something happens because of which fasting discontinues he can carry out its Qada’ (compensatory fast) after completing the two months.’” 

5ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ حَازِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) أَنَّهُ قَالَ فِي رَجُلٍ صَامَ فِي ظِهَارٍ شَعْبَانَ ثُمَّ أَدْرَكَهُ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ قَالَ يَصُومُ رَمَضَانَ وَيَسْتَأْنِفُ الصَّوْمَ فَإِنْ هُوَ صَامَ فِي الظِّهَارِ فَزَادَ فِي النِّصْفِ يَوْماً قَضَى بَقِيَّتَهُ.

5. Muhammad ibn ‘Isma‘il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from Safwan ibn Yahya from Mansur who has said the following: “About a man who fasts because of Zihar in the month of al-Sha‘ban, then the month of Ramadan comes; abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘He is required to fast the month of Ramadan, then resume the fast. If because of Zihar he fasted for more than half by one day he completes only Qada’ (compensatory fast) of the rest.’” 

6ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ بَكْرٍ عَنِ الْفُضَيْلِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ فِي رَجُلٍ جَعَلَ عَلَيْهِ صَوْمَ شَهْرٍ فَصَامَ مِنْهُ خَمْسَةَ عَشَرَ يَوْماً ثُمَّ عَرَضَ لَهُ أَمْرٌ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ صَامَ خَمْسَةَ عَشَرَ يَوْماً فَلَهُ أَنْ يَقْضِيَ مَا بَقِيَ وَإِنْ كَانَ أَقَلَّ مِنْ خَمْسَةَ عَشَرَ يَوْماً لَمْ يُجْزِئْهُ حَتَّى يَصُومَ شَهْراً تَامّاً.

6. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Musa ibn Bakr from al-Fudayl who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who makes it obligatory upon himself to fast one month. He fasts fifteen days then something happens. He (the Imam) said, ‘If he has fasted fifteen days he completes (compensatory fast) of the rest but if it is less than fifteen days, it is not sufficient until he fasts one whole month.”’ 

7ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنْ قَطْعِ صَوْمِ كَفَّارَةِ الْيَمِينِ وَكَفَّارَةِ الظِّهَارِ وَكَفَّارَةِ الْقَتْلِ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ عَلَى رَجُلٍ صِيَامُ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ فَأَفْطَرَ أَوْ مَرِضَ فِي الشَّهْرِ الأَوَّلِ فَإِنَّ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يُعِيدَ الصِّيَامَ وَإِنْ صَامَ الشَّهْرَ الأَوَّلَ وَصَامَ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ الثَّانِي شَيْئاً ثُمَّ عَرَضَ لَهُ مَا لَهُ فِيهِ عُذْرٌ فَإِنَّ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَقْضِيَ.

7. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn abu Hamzah from abu Basir who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about one’s discontinuing the fast which is for expiation due to an oath, Zihar or murder. He (the Imam) said, ‘If one owes fasting for two consecutive months, then stops fasting because of illness in the first month, he is required to resume the fast all over again. If one fasts the first month and also certain days from the second month then something happens which is good reason, he only is required to complete its Qada’ (compensatory fast).”’ 

8ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ رِئَابٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ قَتَلَ رَجُلاً خَطَأً فِي الشَّهْرِ الْحَرَامِ قَالَ تُغَلَّظُ عَلَيْهِ الدِّيَةُ وَعَلَيْهِ عِتْقُ رَقَبَةٍ أَوْ صِيَامُ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ مِنْ أَشْهُرِ الْحُرُمِ قُلْتُ فَإِنَّهُ يَدْخُلُ فِي هَذَا شَيْ‏ءٌ فَقَالَ مَا هُوَ قُلْتُ يَوْمُ الْعِيدِ وَأَيَّامُ التَّشْرِيقِ قَالَ يَصُومُهُ فَإِنَّهُ حَقٌّ يَلْزَمُهُ.

8. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Ali ibn Ri’ab from Zurarah who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about a man who kills a person by mistake in a sacred month. He (the Imam) said, ‘Blood money has become substantial on him. He is required to set a slave free or fast for two consecutive months of the sacred ones.’ I then asked, ‘What happens if something takes place in between?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Give an example.’ I said, ‘If ‘Id day or the days of tashriq (11, 12, and 13) come in between. He (the Imam) said, ‘He is required to fast because it is a binding right upon him.’” 

9ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ تَغْلِبَ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) رَجُلٌ قَتَلَ رَجُلاً فِي الْحَرَمِ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ دِيَةٌ وَثُلُثٌ وَيَصُومُ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ مِنْ أَشْهُرِ الْحُرُمِ وَيُعْتِقُ رَقَبَةً وَيُطْعِمُ سِتِّينَ مِسْكِيناً قَالَ قُلْتُ يَدْخُلُ فِي هَذَا شَيْ‏ءٌ قَالَ وَمَا يَدْخُلُ قُلْتُ الْعِيدَانِ وَأَيَّامُ التَّشْرِيقِ قَالَ يَصُومُهُ فَإِنَّهُ حَقٌّ لَزِمَهُ. 

9. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Aban ibn Taghlib from Zurarah who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about a man who kills a man in the sacred area. He (the Imam) said, ‘He owes one full and a half blood money, wergild. He fasts for two consecutive months of the sacred months, sets free a slave and feeds sixty destitute people.’ I then said, ‘What happens if something comes in between?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Give an example.’ I said, ‘The two ‘Id and the days of tashriq (11, 12, and 13).’ He (the Imam) said, ‘He is required to fast because it is an established right on him.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 2, Chapter 56