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 مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى وَعَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنِ الْعَلاءِ بْنِ رَزِينٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَحَدِهِمَا (عَلَيْهِما السَّلاَم) أَنَّهُ سُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ فَقَالَ أَ مَا أَصُومُهُ الْيَوْمَ وَهُوَ يَوْمُ دُعَاءٍ وَمَسْأَلَةٍ.

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Safwan ibn Yahya and Ali ibn al-Hakam from al-’Ala’ ibn Razin from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “I once asked one of the two Imam, (abu Ja’far or abu ‘Abd Allah), ‘Alayhim al-Salam, about fasting on the ninth of Dhul Hajjah (day of ‘Arafah). He (the Imam) said, ‘I do not fast that day. It is the day of imploring and pleading before Allah.”’ 

2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ ثَعْلَبَةَ بْنِ مَيْمُونٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) يَقُولُ إِنَّ رَسُولَ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) لَمْ يَصُمْ يَوْمَ عَرَفَةَ مُنْذُ نَزَلَ صِيَامُ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ.

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad, from ibn Faddal from Tha’labah ibn Maymun from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: ““I once heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.), say, ‘The Messenger of Allah did not fast on the day of ‘Arafah from the time fasting of the month of Ramadan came down.’” 

3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ نُوحِ بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ النَّيْسَابُورِيِّ عَنْ يَاسِينَ الضَّرِيرِ عَنْ حَرِيزٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ وَأَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالا لا تَصُمْ فِي يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ وَلا عَرَفَةَ بِمَكَّةَ وَلا فِي الْمَدِينَةِ وَلا فِي وَطَنِكَ وَلا فِي مِصْرٍ مِنَ الأَمْصَارِ.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Nuh ibn Shu’ayb al-Naysaburiy, from Yasin al-Darir from Hariz from Zurarah who has said the following: “Abu Ja‘far, and abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), have said, ‘You must not fast on the day of ‘Ashura’ (tenth of Muharram) and on the day of ‘Arafah in Makkah, in al-Madinah, in your homeland or in any other city.’” 

4ـ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْهَاشِمِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُوسَى عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْوَشَّاءِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي نَجَبَةُ بْنُ الْحَارِثِ الْعَطَّارُ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ فَقَالَ صَوْمٌ مَتْرُوكٌ بِنُزُولِ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَالْمَتْرُوكُ بِدْعَةٌ قَالَ نَجَبَةُ فَسَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) مِنْ بَعْدِ أَبِيهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَأَجَابَنِي بِمِثْلِ جَوَابِ أَبِيهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَمَا إِنَّهُ صَوْمُ يَوْمٍ مَا نَزَلَ بِهِ كِتَابٌ وَلا جَرَتْ بِهِ سُنَّةٌ إِلاَّ سُنَّةُ آلِ زِيَادٍ بِقَتْلِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ صَلَوَاتُ الله عَلَيْهِمَا.

4. Al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Hashimiy has narrated from Muhammad ibn Musa from Ya’qub ibn Yazid from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Washsha’ who has said that narrated to me Najabah ibn al-Harith al-‘ Attar who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about fasting on the day of ‘Ashura’ (tenth of Muharram). He (the Imam) said, ‘It is a discarded fast after the coming of the month of Ramadan, and what is discarded and abandoned is heresy.’ Najabah has said that I then asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), after his father about it and he answered me just like the answer of his father. He (the Imam) then said, ‘It is a fast about which there is nothing in the book or an established Sunnah except the Sunnah of the family of Ziyad for their murdering al-Husayn ibn Ali (a.s.).’” 

5ـ عَنْهُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي جَعْفَرُ بْنُ عِيسَى أَخُوهُ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنْ صَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ وَمَا يَقُولُ النَّاسُ فِيهِ فَقَالَ عَنْ صَوْمِ ابْنِ مَرْجَانَةَ تَسْأَلُنِي ذَلِكَ يَوْمٌ صَامَهُ الأَدْعِيَاءُ مِنْ آلِ زِيَادٍ لِقَتْلِ الْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) وَهُوَ يَوْمٌ يَتَشَأَّمُ بِهِ آلُ مُحَمَّدٍ (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَيَتَشَأَّمُ بِهِ أَهْلُ الإِسْلامِ وَالْيَوْمُ الَّذِي يَتَشَأَّمُ بِهِ أَهْلُ الإِسْلامِ لا يُصَامُ وَلا يُتَبَرَّكُ بِهِ وَيَوْمُ الإِثْنَيْنِ يَوْمُ نَحْسٌ قَبَضَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِيهِ نَبِيَّهُ وَمَا أُصِيبَ آلُ مُحَمَّدٍ إِلاَّ فِي يَوْمِ الإِثْنَيْنِ فَتَشَأَّمْنَا بِهِ وَتَبَرَّكَ بِهِ عَدُوُّنَا وَيَوْمُ عَاشُورَاءَ قُتِلَ الْحُسَيْنُ صَلَوَاتُ الله عَلَيْهِ وَتَبَرَّكَ بِهِ ابْنُ مَرْجَانَةَ وَتَشَأَّمَ بِهِ آلُ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِمْ فَمَنْ صَامَهُمَا أَوْ تَبَرَّكَ بِهِمَا لَقِيَ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى مَمْسُوخَ الْقَلْبِ وَكَانَ حَشْرُهُ مَعَ الَّذِينَ سَنُّوا صَوْمَهُمَا وَالتَّبَرُّكَ بِهِمَا.

5. It is narrated from him (narrator of previous Hadith) from Muhammad ibn ’Isa ibn ‘Ubayd who has said that narrated to me Ja’far ibn ’Isa his brother who has said the following: “I once asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), about fasting on ‘Ashura’ and what people say about it. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is the fast of ibn Marjanah. You are asking me about the day in which the adopted ones of the family of Ziyad for their murdering al-Husayn (a.s.), were fasting. It is an ominous day for the family of Muhammad (a.s.). For people of Islam it is an ominous day. A day, which is ominous for the people of Islam is not a day of fasting or a day of blessing. Monday is an unblessed day because Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, took His Holy prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, from this world. The family of Muhammad, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, has been hurt on Monday, so we took it as an ominous day and our enemies took it as a day of blessing. On the day of ‘Ashura’ al-Husayn (a.s.), was murdered and ibn Marjanah took it for blessing but the family of Muhammad, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, took it as an ominous day. Whoever fasts on this day or takes it for blessing will come in the presence of Allah, most Blessed, most High, with metamorphosed heart and will be raised with those who established the Sunnah of fasting on that day and took it for blessing.’” 

6ـ وَعَنْهُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ زَيْدٍ النَّرْسِيِّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عُبَيْدَ بْنَ زُرَارَةَ يَسْأَلُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ فَقَالَ مَنْ صَامَهُ كَانَ حَظُّهُ مِنْ صِيَامِ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ حَظَّ ابْنِ مَرْجَانَةَ وَآلِ زِيَادٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَمَا كَانَ حَظُّهُمْ مِنْ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ قَالَ النَّارُ أَعَاذَنَا الله مِنَ النَّارِ وَمِنْ عَمَلٍ يُقَرِّبُ مِنَ النَّارِ.

6. It is narrated from him (narrator of previous Hadith) from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa who has said that narrated to us Muhammad Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Zayd al-Narsiy who has said the following: “I heard Zurarah asking abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the fast on the day of ‘Ashura’. He (the Imam) said, ‘Whoever fasts that day, his share for such fast is like the share of ibn Marjanah and the family of Ziyad.’ I then asked, ‘What was their share of that day? He (the Imam) said, ‘It is the fire, I seek protection with Allah against it and against the deeds that take one closer to the fire.’” 

7ـ وَعَنْهُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبَانٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنْ صَوْمِ تَاسُوعَاءَ وَعَاشُورَاءَ مِنْ شَهْرِ الْمُحَرَّمِ فَقَالَ تَاسُوعَاءُ يَوْمٌ حُوصِرَ فِيهِ الْحُسَيْنُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) وَأَصْحَابُهُ رَضِيَ الله عَنْهُمْ بِكَرْبَلاءَ وَاجْتَمَعَ عَلَيْهِ خَيْلُ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ وَأَنَاخُوا عَلَيْهِ وَفَرِحَ ابْنُ مَرْجَانَةَ وَعُمَرُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ بِتَوَافُرِ الْخَيْلِ وَكَثْرَتِهَا وَاسْتَضْعَفُوا فِيهِ الْحُسَيْنَ صَلَوَاتُ الله عَلَيْهِ وَأَصْحَابَهُ رَضِيَ الله عَنْهُمْ وَأَيْقَنُوا أَنْ لا يَأْتِيَ الْحُسَيْنَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) نَاصِرٌ وَلا يُمِدَّهُ أَهْلُ الْعِرَاقِ بِأَبِي الْمُسْتَضْعَفُ الْغَرِيبُ ثُمَّ قَالَ وَأَمَّا يَوْمُ عَاشُورَاءَ فَيَوْمٌ أُصِيبَ فِيهِ الْحُسَيْنُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) صَرِيعاً بَيْنَ أَصْحَابِهِ وَأَصْحَابُهُ صَرْعَى حَوْلَهُ عُرَاةً أَ فَصَوْمٌ يَكُونُ فِي ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ كَلاَّ وَرَبِّ الْبَيْتِ الْحَرَامِ مَا هُوَ يَوْمَ صَوْمٍ وَمَا هُوَ إِلاَّ يَوْمُ حُزْنٍ وَمُصِيبَةٍ دَخَلَتْ عَلَى أَهْلِ السَّمَاءِ وَأَهْلِ الأَرْضِ وَجَمِيعِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَيَوْمُ فَرَحٍ وَسُرُورٍ لابْنِ مَرْجَانَةَ وَآلِ زِيَادٍ وَأَهْلِ الشَّامِ غَضِبَ الله عَلَيْهِمْ وَعَلَى ذُرِّيَّاتِهِمْ وَذَلِكَ يَوْمٌ بَكَتْ عَلَيْهِ جَمِيعُ بِقَاعِ الأَرْضِ خَلا بُقْعَةِ الشَّامِ فَمَنْ صَامَهُ أَوْ تَبَرَّكَ بِهِ حَشَرَهُ الله مَعَ آلِ زِيَادٍ مَمْسُوخُ الْقَلْبِ مَسْخُوطٌ عَلَيْهِ وَمَنِ ادَّخَرَ إِلَى مَنْزِلِهِ ذَخِيرَةً أَعْقَبَهُ الله تَعَالَى نِفَاقاً فِي قَلْبِهِ إِلَى يَوْمِ يَلْقَاهُ وَانْتَزَعَ الْبَرَكَةَ عَنْهُ وَعَنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ وَوُلْدِهِ وَشَارَكَهُ الشَّيْطَانُ فِي جَمِيعِ ذَلِكَ. 

7. It is narrated from him (narrator of previous Hadith) from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Muhammad ibn Sinan from Aban from ‘Abd al-Malik who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the fast on the day of ‘Ashura’ of the month of Muharram. He (the Imam) said, ‘Tasu‘a’ (ninth of Muharram) was the day when they had surrounded al-Husayn (a.s.), and his friends, may Allah be pleased with them, in Karbala’. The horsemen of al-Sham had come together against him (a.s.), and had taken him under siege. Ibn Marjanah and ‘Umar ibn Sa‘d were happy because of the huge number of horsemen on their side, and they made al-Husayn (a.s.), and his friends, may Allah be pleased with them, very weak. They became certain that no one will come to help al-Husayn (a.s.), and people of Iraq will not support him. I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for the cause of my great-grandfather who had very few supporters.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘The day of ‘Ashura’ is the day on which al-Husayn (a.s.), was murdered and his friends around him were all murdered and looted. How can there be fast on that day! No, by the Lord of the sacred house there is no fasting on such a day. It is only a day of mourning and lamentation that came upon the inhabitants of the sky and earth and all believing people. It is a day of happiness and joy for ibn Marjanah and family of Ziyad and people of al-Sham, may Allah subject them to His anger as well as their offspring. This was a day when all locations of earth wept except al-Sham. Those who fast on this day or take it for blessing will be raised, by Allah, with the family of Ziyad with their hearts metamorphosed and subjected to anger. Whoever seeks any saving for their homes on this day will be made by Allah as a seed of hypocrisy in his heart up to the Day of Judgment, blessing is removed thereof, from his family, and children. Satan will share him in all of such savings.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 2, Chapter 61