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 عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَهْلٍ عَنْ إِدْرِيسَ بْنِ زَيْدٍ وَعَلِيِّ بْنِ إِدْرِيسَ قَالا سَأَلْنَا الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنْ رَجُلٍ نَذَرَ نَذْراً إِنْ هُوَ تَخَلَّصَ مِنَ الْحَبْسِ أَنْ يَصُومَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ الَّذِي تَخَلَّصَ فِيهِ فَيَعْجِزُ عَنِ الصَّوْمِ لِعِلَّةٍ أَصَابَتْهُ أَوْ غَيْرِ ذَلِكَ فَمُدَّ لِلرَّجُلِ فِي عُمُرِهِ وَقَدِ اجْتَمَعَ عَلَيْهِ صَوْمٌ كَثِيرٌ مَا كَفَّارَةُ ذَلِكَ الصَّوْمِ قَالَ يُكَفِّرُ عَنْ كُلِّ يَوْمٍ بِمُدِّ حِنْطَةٍ أَوْ شَعِيرٍ.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad, from ibn Khalid from Muhammad ibn Sahl from Idris ibn Zayd and Ali ibn Idris who has said the following: “Once we asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), about a man who makes a vow that if he is released from jail, he will fast the same day but he is unable to do so because of illness or other reasons, and during his life time he becomes indebted to carry out many days of fasting. What is the expiation for such fast? He (the Imam) said, ‘He can expiate it with one mud (a certain measurement) of wheat or barley for every day.”’ 

2ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ بَكْرٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مَنْصُورٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنْ رَجُلٍ نَذَرَ نَذْراً فِي صِيَامٍ فَعَجَزَ فَقَالَ كَانَ أَبِي يَقُولُ عَلَيْهِ مَكَانَ كُلِّ يَوْمٍ مُدٌّ.

2. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ali ibn Ahmad from Musa ibn Bakr from Muhammad ibn Mansur who has said the following: “I once asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), about a man who makes a vow and then fails to fast. He (the Imam) said, ‘My father (a.s.), would say that he is required to pay one mud (a certain measurement) for every day.’” 

3ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فِي رَجُلٍ نَذَرَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ إِنْ هُوَ سَلِمَ مِنْ مَرَضٍ أَوْ تَخَلَّصَ مِنْ حَبْسٍ أَنْ يَصُومَ كُلَّ يَوْمِ أَرْبِعَاءَ وَهُوَ الْيَوْمُ الَّذِي تَخَلَّصَ فِيهِ فَعَجَزَ عَنِ الصَّوْمِ لِعِلَّةٍ أَصَابَتْهُ أَوْ غَيْرِ ذَلِكَ فَمُدَّ لِلرَّجُلِ فِي عُمُرِهِ وَاجْتَمَعَ عَلَيْهِ صَوْمٌ كَثِيرٌ مَا كَفَّارَةُ ذَلِكَ قَالَ تَصَدَّقَ لِكُلِّ يَوْمٍ بِمُدٍّ مِنْ حِنْطَةٍ أَوْ ثَمَنِ مُدٍّ.

3. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu Nasr who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), about a man who vows to fast, if he is released from jail, every Wednesday. It is the day when he was released but he fails to do so due to illness or other reasons; and during his lifetime a large number of days of such fast become due upon him. What is the expiation for such fast? He (the Imam) said, ‘He must pay charity of one mud (a certain measurement) of wheat or its price for every day of fast.’” 

4ـ أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأَشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ عِيصِ بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَمَّنْ لَمْ يَصُمِ الثَّلاثَةَ الأَيَّامِ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ وَهُوَ يَشُدُّ عَلَيْهِ الصِّيَامُ هَلْ فِيهِ فِدَاءٌ قَالَ مُدٌّ مِنْ طَعَامٍ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ.

4. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan ibn Yahya from ‘Is ibn al-Qasim who has said the following: “I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about a man who does not fast three days every month because fasting is difficult for him: if there is a ransom for it. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is one mud (a certain measurement) of food for everyday.’” 

5ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْوَشَّاءِ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) إِنَّ الصَّوْمَ يَشُدُّ عَلَيَّ فَقَالَ لِي لَدِرْهَمٌ تَصَدَّقُ بِهِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ صِيَامِ يَوْمٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ وَمَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ تَدَعَهُ.

5. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla’ ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Washsha’ from Hammad ibn ‘Uthaman from ‘Umar ibn Yazid who has said the following: “I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), fasting is difficult for me. He (the Imam) said, ‘One dirham given as charity is better than fasting for one day. He (the Imam) then said, ‘I do not like if you neglect it.’” 

6ـ أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأَشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ خَلِيفَةَ قَالَ شَكَوْتُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فَقُلْتُ إِنِّي أُصَدَّعُ إِذَا صُمْتُ هَذِهِ الثَّلاثَةَ الأَيَّامِ وَيَشُقُّ عَلَيَّ قَالَ فَاصْنَعْ كَمَا أَصْنَعُ إِذَا سَافَرْتُ فَإِنِّي إِذَا سَافَرْتُ تَصَدَّقْتُ عَنْ كُلِّ يَوْمٍ بِمُدٍّ مِنْ قُوتِ أَهْلِي الَّذِي أَقُوتُهُمْ بِهِ.

6. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan ibn Yahya from Yazid ibn Khalifah who has said the following: “I once complained before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘I get a headache if I fast the three days (recommended for every month) and it is difficult for me. He (the Imam) said, ‘You must do as I do when I travel. When traveling I pay charity for every day of one mud (a certain measurement) of the kind of food which is used in my family.’” 

7ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ بَزِيعٍ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ عُقْبَةَ عَنْ عُقْبَةَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنِّي قَدْ كَبِرْتُ وَضَعُفْتُ عَنِ الصِّيَامِ فَكَيْفَ أَصْنَعُ بِهَذِهِ الثَّلاثَةِ الأَيَّامِ فِي كُلِّ شَهْرٍ فَقَالَ يَا عُقْبَةُ تَصَدَّقْ بِدِرْهَمٍ عَنْ كُلِّ يَوْمٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ دِرْهَمٌ وَاحِدٌ قَالَ لَعَلَّهَا كَبُرَتْ عِنْدَكَ وَأَنْتَ تَسْتَقِلُّ الدِّرْهَمَ قَالَ قُلْتُ إِنَّ نِعَمَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَلَيَّ لَسَابِغَةٌ فَقَالَ يَا عُقْبَةُ لإِطْعَامُ مُسْلِمٍ خَيْرٌ مِنْ صِيَامِ شَهْرٍ. 

7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Muhammad ibn ‘Isma‘il ibn Bazi’ from Salih ibn ‘Uqbah who has said the following: “I once said to abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), that I have become old and weak to fast the three days every month. He (the Imam) said, ‘O ‘Uqbah, give one dirham as charity for every day.’ I then said, ‘Just one dirham!’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Perhaps it seems greatly strange to you and you think one dirham is small.’ I said, ‘The bounties of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, are plentiful with me.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘O ‘Uqbah, feeding one Muslim is better than fasting for one month.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 2, Chapter 59