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 بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ كَرَّامٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) إِنِّي جَعَلْتُ عَلَى نَفْسِي أَنْ أَصُومَ حَتَّى يَقُومَ الْقَائِمُ (عجَّلَ الله تَعالى فَرَجَه) فَقَالَ صُمْ وَلا تَصُمْ فِي السَّفَرِ وَلا الْعِيدَيْنِ وَلا أَيَّامَ التَّشْرِيقِ وَلا الْيَوْمَ الَّذِي يُشَكُّ فِيهِ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Karram who has said the following: “Once, I said to abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), that I have placed upon myself to fast until the rise of al-Qa”im, (the one who rises with Divine Authority). He (the Imam) said, ’Fast but do not fast on a journey, or the two ‘Id, the days of tashriq (11, 12 and 13) and the day which is doubtful about its being of the month of Ramadan.”’ 

2ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَشْيَمَ قَالَ كَتَبَ الْحُسَيْنُ إِلَى الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ رَجُلٌ نَذَرَ أَنْ يَصُومَ أَيَّاماً مَعْلُومَةً فَصَامَ بَعْضَهَا ثُمَّ اعْتَلَّ فَأَفْطَرَ أَ يَبْتَدِئُ فِي صَوْمِهِ أَمْ يَحْتَسِبُ بِمَا مَضَى فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ يَحْتَسِبُ مَا مَضَى.

2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn Ahmad ibn ‘Ushaym who has said the following: “Al-Husayn once wrote to al-Rida’ (a.s.), saying, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, a man had vowed to fast for certain days and fasted a few days, then he became ill and stopped fasting. Is he required to start fasting all over again or are the days that he had fasted are counted?’ He (the Imam) wrote the answer that said, ‘The days that he had fasted are also counted.’” 

3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ عَلَيَّ صِيَامُ شَهْرٍ إِنْ خَرَجَ عَمِّي مِنَ الْحَبْسِ فَخَرَجَ فَأُصْبِحُ وَأَنَا أُرِيدُ الصِّيَامَ فَيَجِيئُنِي بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِنَا فَأَدْعُو بِالْغَدَاءِ وَأَتَغَدَّى مَعَهُ قَالَ لا بَأْسَ.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Salih ibn ‘Abdillah who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), saying, 'May I be sacrificed for you, it is upon me to fast for one month if my uncle is released from jail. He came out from jail and I decided to start the fast, but then someone from our companions came and I invited him for lunch, and I had lunch with him.' He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’” 

4ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ جَعَلَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ صَوْمَ شَهْرٍ بِالْكُوفَةِ وَشَهْرٍ بِالْمَدِينَةِ وَشَهْرٍ بِمَكَّةَ مِنْ بَلاءٍ ابْتُلِيَ بِهِ فَقُضِيَ أَنَّهُ صَامَ بِالْكُوفَةِ شَهْراً وَدَخَلَ الْمَدِينَةَ فَصَامَ بِهَا ثَمَانِيَةَ عَشَرَ يَوْماً وَلَمْ يُقِمْ عَلَيْهِ الْجَمَّالُ قَالَ يَصُومُ مَا بَقِيَ عَلَيْهِ إِذَا انْتَهَى إِلَى بَلَدِهِ.

4. 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 who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ibrahim (a.s.), about a man who has made obligatory upon himself to fast one month in al-Kufah, one month in al-Madinah and one month in Makkah because of an affliction whereby he suffered. He fasted one month in al-Kufah, then he entered al-Madinah and fasted for eighteen days, but then the camel man did not stay any longer. He (the Imam) said, ‘He can fast the remaining days at home when he comes back.’” 

5ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ آبَائِهِ (عَلَيْهِم السَّلاَم) أَنَّ عَلِيّاً صَلَوَاتُ الله عَلَيْهِ قَالَ فِي رَجُلٍ نَذَرَ أَنْ يَصُومَ زَمَاناً قَالَ الزَّمَانُ خَمْسَةُ أَشْهُرٍ وَالْحِينُ سِتَّةُ أَشْهُرٍ لأَنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَقُولُ تُؤْتِي أُكُلَها كُلَّ حِينٍ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّها.

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfaliy from al-Sakuniy who has said the following: “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has narrated from his ancestors who have narrated this Hadith: ‘Ali (a.s.), has said about a man, who had vowed to fast for a Zamanan (a certain amount of time), that Zaman is five months, al-Hin is six months; Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has said, ‘It gives its fruits kulla Hin (every time) by the permission of its Lord.’” 

6ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ خَالِدِ بْنِ جَرِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي الرَّبِيعِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) أَنَّهُ سُئِلَ عَنْ رَجُلٍ قَالَ لله عَلَيَّ أَنْ أَصُومَ حِيناً وَذَلِكَ فِي شُكْرٍ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَدْ أُتِيَ عَلِيٌّ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فِي مِثْلِ هَذَا فَقَالَ صُمْ سِتَّةَ أَشْهُرٍ فَإِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَقُولُ تُؤْتِي أُكُلَها كُلَّ حِينٍ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّها يَعْنِي سِتَّةَ أَشْهُرٍ.

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Khalid ibn Jarir from abu al-Rabi’ who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who has said, ‘It is from Allah upon me to fast a Hin (a certain amount of time) for thanksgiving.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said, ‘A similar case came to Ali (a.s.), and he said, ‘Fast for six months; Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has said, ‘It gives its fruits kulla Hin by the permission of its Lord’, that is six months.’” 

7ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ هَارُونَ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ مَسْعَدَةَ بْنِ صَدَقَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ آبَائِهِ (عَلَيْهِم السَّلاَم) فِي الرَّجُلِ يَجْعَلُ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ أَيَّاماً مَعْدُودَةً مُسَمَّاةً فِي كُلِّ شَهْرٍ ثُمَّ يُسَافِرُ فَتَمُرُّ بِهِ الشُّهُورُ أَنَّهُ لا يَصُومُ فِي السَّفَرِ وَلا يَقْضِيهَا إِذَا شَهِدَ.

7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Harun ibn Muslim from Mas’adah ibn Sadaqah who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has narrated from his ancestors, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, who have stated this Hadith. ’If a man places upon himself fasting of certain known days of every month, then he goes on a journey and many months pass, such person is not required to fast on a journey as well as at home when he comes back.’” 

8ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ سِنَانٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَصُومُ صَوْماً قَدْ وَقَّتَهُ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ أَوْ يَصُومُ مِنْ أَشْهُرِ الْحُرُمِ فَيَمُرُّ بِهِ الشَّهْرُ وَالشَّهْرَانِ لا يَقْضِيهِ فَقَالَ لا يَصُومُ فِي السَّفَرِ وَلا يَقْضِي شَيْئاً مِنْ صَوْمِ التَّطَوُّعِ إِلاَّ الثَّلاثَةَ الأَيَّامِ الَّتِي كَانَ يَصُومُهَا مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ وَلا يَجْعَلُهَا بِمَنْزِلَةِ الْوَاجِبِ إِلاَّ أَنِّي أُحِبُّ لَكَ أَنْ تَدُومَ عَلَى الْعَمَلِ الصَّالِحِ قَالَ وَصَاحِبُ الْحُرُمِ الَّذِي كَانَ يَصُومُهَا وَيُجْزِئُهُ أَنْ يَصُومَ مَكَانَ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ مِنْ أَشْهُرِ الْحُرُمِ ثَلاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ.

8. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “I once asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who fasts because of what he has timed upon himself or to fast of the sacred months and then one or two months pass during which he does not fast at all. He (the Imam) said, ‘He is not required to fast on a journey and there is not anything of Qada’ (compensatory fast) for optional fast except the three days that he would fast every month. He must not take it as obligatory except that I like you to continue with a good deed.’ He (the Imam) said, ’For the one committing himself to fast in the sacred months, fasting of three days, instead of fasting the whole of sacred month, is sufficient.’” 

9ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا صَلَوَاتُ الله عَلَيْهِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَجْعَلُ لله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَلَيْهِ صَوْمَ يَوْمٍ مُسَمًّى قَالَ يَصُومُهُ أَبَداً فِي السَّفَرِ وَالْحَضَرِ.

9. Muhammad ibn ‘Isma‘il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Ibrahim ibn ‘Abd al-Hamid who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), about a man who places upon himself for Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, fasting of a definite day. He (the Imam) said, ‘He is required to fast definitely, regardless of being on a journey or at home.’” 

10ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنِ ابْنِ بُكَيْرٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ إِنَّ أُمِّي كَانَتْ جَعَلَتْ عَلَى نَفْسِهَا لله عَلَيْهَا نَذْراً إِنْ كَانَ الله رَدَّ عَلَيْهَا بَعْضَ وُلْدِهَا مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ كَانَتْ تَخَافُ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ تَصُومَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ الَّذِي يَقْدَمُ فِيهِ مَا بَقِيَتْ فَخَرَجَتْ مَعَنَا مُسَافِرَةً إِلَى مَكَّةَ فَأَشْكَلَ عَلَيْنَا لَمْ نَدْرِ أَ تَصُومُ أَمْ تُفْطِرُ فَسَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنْ ذَلِكَ وَأَخْبَرْتُهُ بِمَا جَعَلَتْ عَلَى نَفْسِهَا فَقَالَ لا تَصُومُ فِي السَّفَرِ قَدْ وَضَعَ الله عَنْهَا حَقَّهُ وَتَصُومُ هِيَ مَا جَعَلَتْ عَلَى نَفْسِهَا قَالَ قُلْتُ مَا تَرَى إِذَا هِيَ قَدِمَتْ وَتَرَكَتْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ إِنِّي أَخَافُ أَنْ تَرَى فِي الَّذِي نَذَرَتْ مَا تَكْرَهُ. 

10. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal ibn Bukayr from Zurarah who has said the following: “My mother had placed upon herself from Allah to fast a certain day if Allah returned one of her children safely from the danger of which she was afraid, and she would then fast the day her child came back. She did not stay; instead came out with us for Makkah and it became difficult for us because we did not know whether she was required to fast or not. I then asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about it and explained to him (the Imam) what she had done. He (the Imam) said, ’She is not required to fast on a journey. Allah has exempted her of His rights: why then must she fast because of what she has placed from Allah upon herself?’ I then asked him (the Imam), ‘What will happen if she did not do it at all?’ He (the Imam) said, ’If so, I fear for her to experience in the matter for which she had vowed to see what she may dislike.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 2, Chapter 58