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 عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ جَدِّهِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ رَاشِدٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ عِيدٌ غَيْرَ الْعِيدَيْنِ قَالَ نَعَمْ يَا حَسَنُ أَعْظَمُهُمَا وَأَشْرَفُهُمَا قُلْتُ وَأَيُّ يَوْمٍ هُوَ قَالَ هُوَ يَوْمٌ نُصِبَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ الله وَسَلامُهُ عَلَيْهِ فِيهِ عَلَماً لِلنَّاسِ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ وَمَا يَنْبَغِي لَنَا أَنْ نَصْنَعَ فِيهِ قَالَ تَصُومُهُ يَا حَسَنُ وَتُكْثِرُ الصَّلاةَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ وَتَبَرَّأُ إِلَى الله مِمَّنْ ظَلَمَهُمْ فَإِنَّ الأَنْبِيَاءَ صَلَوَاتُ الله عَلَيْهِمْ كَانَتْ تَأْمُرُ الأَوْصِيَاءَ بِالْيَوْمِ الَّذِي كَانَ يُقَامُ فِيهِ الْوَصِيُّ أَنْ يُتَّخَذَ عِيداً قَالَ قُلْتُ فَمَا لِمَنْ صَامَهُ قَالَ صِيَامُ سِتِّينَ شَهْراً وَلا تَدَعْ صِيَامَ يَوْمِ سَبْعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ مِنْ رَجَبٍ فَإِنَّهُ هُوَ الْيَوْمُ الَّذِي نَزَلَتْ فِيهِ النُّبُوَّةُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَثَوَابُهُ مِثْلُ سِتِّينَ شَهْراً لَكُمْ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Qasim ibn Yahya from his grandfather al-Hassan ibn Rashid from abu ‘ Abdillah (a.s.), I said to him: ’May I be sacrificed for you, is there another ‘Id for the Muslims, besides the two ‘Ids?‘ He replied, ‘Yes, O Hassan, there is a greater and more important ‘Id than these.’ I then asked, ‘And what day is that?’ He replied, ‘It is the day when ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) was appointed as the banner and lighthouse for people.’ I then said, ‘May I be sacrificed for you, what then should we do on this (day)?’ He replied, ‘Fast, O Hassan, increase your blessings upon Muhammad and his family, and denounce before Allah those who did injustice to them. Verily, the prophets, may the blessings of Allah be upon them, would command the successors to celebrate the day when they were appointed as a successor, as ‘Id.’ I then asked, ‘What happens if one fasts on such day?’ He replied, ‘Fasting on this day is equal to fasting for sixty months. Do not ignore fasting on the twenty-seventh of the month of Rajab, for it is the day when prophethood came down up on Muhammad (sw). Its reward is equal to sixty months (of fasting) for you.”’ 

2ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الأَوَّلِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ بَعَثَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مُحَمَّداً (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) رَحْمَةً لِلْعَالَمِينَ فِي سَبْعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ مِنْ رَجَبٍ فَمَنْ صَامَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ كَتَبَ الله لَهُ صِيَامَ سِتِّينَ شَهْراً وَفِي خَمْسَةٍ وَعِشْرِينَ مِنْ ذِي الْقَعْدَةِ وُضِعَ الْبَيْتُ وَهُوَ أَوَّلُ رَحْمَةٍ وُضِعَتْ عَلَى وَجْهِ الأَرْضِ فَجَعَلَهُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مَثَابَةً لِلنَّاسِ وَأَمْناً فَمَنْ صَامَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ كَتَبَ الله لَهُ صِيَامَ سِتِّينَ شَهْراً وَفِي أَوَّلِ يَوْمٍ مِنْ ذِي الْحِجَّةِ وُلِدَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ خَلِيلُ الرَّحْمَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فَمَنْ صَامَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ كَتَبَ الله لَهُ صِيَامَ سِتِّينَ شَهْراً.

2. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from certain individuals of our people who have said the following: “Abu al-Hassan, the 1st (a.s.), has said ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, sent Muhammad (SAW), as a mercy for the worlds on the twenty-seventh of the month of Rajab. Allah counts one’s fasting during this day as fasting for sixty months. On the twenty- fifth of Dhul al-Qa’dah, the House was established, and it was the first instance of mercy established on earth. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, made a place to gain rewards and a place of inviolability. Allah counts one’s fasting during this day as fasting for sixty months. On the first day of Dhul Hajjah, Ibrahim, the friend of the Beneficent was born. Allah counts one’s fasting during this day as fasting for sixty months.” 

3ـ سَهْلُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) هَلْ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ عِيدٌ غَيْرَ يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ وَالأَضْحَى وَالْفِطْرِ قَالَ نَعَمْ أَعْظَمُهَا حُرْمَةً قُلْتُ وَأَيُّ عِيدٍ هُوَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَالَ الْيَوْمُ الَّذِي نَصَبَ فِيهِ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) وَقَالَ مَنْ كُنْتُ مَوْلاهُ فَعَلِيٌّ مَوْلاهُ قُلْتُ وَأَيُّ يَوْمٍ هُوَ قَالَ وَمَا تَصْنَعُ بِالْيَوْمِ إِنَّ السَّنَةَ تَدُورُ وَلَكِنَّهُ يَوْمُ ثَمَانِيَةَ عَشَرَ مِنْ ذِي الْحِجَّةِ فَقُلْتُ وَمَا يَنْبَغِي لَنَا أَنْ نَفْعَلَ فِي ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ قَالَ تَذْكُرُونَ الله عَزَّ ذِكْرُهُ فِيهِ بِالصِّيَامِ وَالْعِبَادَةِ وَالذِّكْرِ لِمُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) أَوْصَى أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) أَنْ يَتَّخِذَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ عِيداً وَكَذَلِكَ كَانَتِ الأَنْبِيَاءُ (عَلَيْهِم السَّلاَم) تَفْعَلُ كَانُوا يُوصُونَ أَوْصِيَاءَهُمْ بِذَلِكَ فَيَتَّخِذُونَهُ عِيداً.

3. Sahl ibn Ziyad has narrated from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Salim from his father who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘Are there for Muslims other ‘Id besides, Friday, the tenth of the month of Dhul Hajjah and the first day of the month of Shawwal?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘Yes, there is such a day, in fact, it is of greater importance.’ I then asked, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, which days are they?’ He replied, ‘One is the day during which the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, announced the appointment of ’Amir al-Mu’minin (as the executor of his will), saying, “Whoever’ s guardian I am, Ali also is his guardian.’” I then asked, ‘Which day is this day?’ He replied, ‘What do you have to do with the day; the year goes around, however, it is the eighteenth of the month of Dhul Hajjah.’ I then asked, ‘What should we do during this day?’ He replied, ‘You should pay attention to Allah, majestic is whose mention, by fasting, worshipping and speaking of Muhammad and his family, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause. The Messenger of Allah advised ’Amir al-Mu’minin to celebrate this day as ‘Id. This is what the prophets would do. They would advise the executors (of their wills) to celebrate this day as a day of ’Id.’” 

4ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ يُوسُفَ بْنِ السُّخْتِ عَنْ حَمْدَانَ بْنِ النَّضْرِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله الصَّيْقَلِ قَالَ خَرَجَ عَلَيْنَا أَبُو الْحَسَنِ يَعْنِي الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فِي يَوْمِ خَمْسَةٍ وَعِشْرِينَ مِنْ ذِي الْقَعْدَةِ فَقَالَ صُومُوا فَإِنِّي أَصْبَحْتُ صَائِماً قُلْنَا جُعِلْنَا فِدَاكَ أَيُّ يَوْمٍ هُوَ فَقَالَ يَوْمٌ نُشِرَتْ فِيهِ الرَّحْمَةُ وَدُحِيَتْ فِيهِ الأَرْضُ وَنُصِبَتْ فِيهِ الْكَعْبَةُ وَهَبَطَ فِيهِ آدَمُ ع. 

4. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Yusuf al-Sukht from Hamdan ibn al-Nadr from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Allah al-Sayqal who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan, meaning al-Rida (a.s.), once came out to us on the twenty-fifth day of the month of Dhul Qa’dah and said, ‘Fast, for today I have awoken while fasting.’ We then said, ‘May we be sacrificed for you, which day is it?’ He replied, ‘It is the day during which the mercy (of Allah) was spread, the earth was extended, al-Ka‘bah was placed in it, and Adam (AS) descended therein.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 2, Chapter 63