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 111 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 سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ إِفْطَارُكَ لأَخِيكَ الْمُؤْمِنِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ صِيَامِكَ تَطَوُّعاً.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that your serving breakfasts to your brother (in belief) after sunset is more excellent than your fasting an optional fasting.” 

2ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْبَرْقِيِّ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْعِيصِ عَنْ نَجْمِ بْنِ حُطَيْمٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ مَنْ نَوَى الصَّوْمَ ثُمَّ دَخَلَ عَلَى أَخِيهِ فَسَأَلَهُ أَنْ يُفْطِرَ عِنْدَهُ فَلْيُفْطِرْ وَلْيُدْخِلْ عَلَيْهِ السُّرُورَ فَإِنَّهُ يُحْتَسَبُ لَهُ بِذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ عَشَرَةُ أَيَّامٍ وَهُوَ قَوْلُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مَنْ جاءَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ عَشْرُ أَمْثالِها.

2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Barqiy from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from al-‘Is from Najm ibn Hutaym who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘If one decides to fast, and then goes to visit his brother (in belief) who offers to serve him food, he should break his fast for the happiness of his host and due to his request. This will be counted equal to ten days of fasting as Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has said, ‘One who does one good deed will receive tenfold reward for the same.’ (6:161) ” 

3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ عُقْبَةَ عَنْ جَمِيلِ بْنِ دَرَّاجٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) مَنْ دَخَلَ عَلَى أَخِيهِ وَهُوَ صَائِمٌ فَأَفْطَرَ عِنْدَهُ وَلَمْ يُعْلِمْهُ بِصَوْمِهِ فَيَمُنَّ عَلَيْهِ كَتَبَ الله لَهُ صَوْمَ سَنَةٍ.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Muhammad ibn Isma‘il from Salih ibn ‘Uqbah from Jamil ibn Darraj who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If a fasting person visits his brother (in belief) who offers him food, and he accepts the offer without telling him about his fast, in order not to show that he is doing him a favor, Allah counts his fast as one year’s fasting.’” 

4ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الدِّينَوَرِيِّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ عُقْبَةَ قَالَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى جَمِيلِ بْنِ دَرَّاجٍ وَبَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ خِوَانٌ عَلَيْهِ غَسَّانِيَّةٌ يَأْكُلُ مِنْهَا فَقَالَ ادْنُ فَكُلْ فَقُلْتُ إِنِّي صَائِمٌ فَتَرَكَنِي حَتَّى إِذَا أَكَلَهَا فَلَمْ يَبْقَ مِنْهَا إِلاَّ الْيَسِيرُ عَزَمَ عَلَيَّ أَلاَّ أَفْطَرْتَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ أَلاَّ كَانَ هَذَا قَبْلَ السَّاعَةِ فَقَالَ أَرَدْتُ بِذَلِكَ أَدَبَكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) يَقُولُ أَيُّمَا رَجُلٍ مُؤْمِنٍ دَخَلَ عَلَى أَخِيهِ وَهُوَ صَائِمٌ فَسَأَلَهُ الأَكْلَ فَلَمْ يُخْبِرْهُ بِصِيَامِهِ لِيَمُنَّ عَلَيْهِ بِإِفْطَارِهِ كَتَبَ الله جَلَّ ثَنَاؤُهُ لَهُ بِذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ صِيَامَ سَنَةٍ.

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Daynawariy from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Salih ibn ‘Uqbah who has said the following: “Once I visited Jamil ibn Darraj while he was at a beautiful table having food. He said, ‘Come and join us for food.’ I said, ‘I am fasting.’ He continued eating until very little food remained. He then insisted that I discontinue my fast. I said, ‘Why did you not insist before?’ He said, ‘I wanted to discipline you.’ He then said, ‘I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say the following. “If a fasting person visits his brother (in belief), who offers him food, and he accepts the offer without telling him about his fast, in order not to show that he is doing him a favor by accepting his offering food, Allah, majestic is whose mention, counts his fast as one year’s fasting.’”” 

5ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ جُمْهُورٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ حَدِيدٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَبِي الْحَسَنِ الْمَاضِي (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) أَدْخُلُ عَلَى الْقَوْمِ وَهُمْ يَأْكُلُونَ وَقَدْ صَلَّيْتُ الْعَصْرَ وَأَنَا صَائِمٌ فَيَقُولُونَ أَفْطِرْ فَقَالَ أَفْطِرْ فَإِنَّهُ أَفْضَلُ.

5. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from ibn Jumhur from certain individuals of his people from Ali ibn Hadid who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), ‘I may visit a people after late afternoon prayer while I am fasting and they offer me food, saying, “discontinue your fast.’” He (the Imam) said, ‘Accept the offer; it is better.’” 

6ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ مُح��مَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ سُفْيَانَ عَنْ دَاوُدَ الرَّقِّيِّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) يَقُولُ لإِفْطَارُكَ فِي مَنْزِلِ أَخِيكَ الْمُسْلِمِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ صِيَامِكَ سَبْعِينَ ضِعْفاً أَوْ تِسْعِينَ ضِعْفاً. 

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ahmad from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Hassan ibn Ibrahim ibn Sufyan from Dawud al-Riqqiy who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘Your discontinuing your fast in the house of your brother in Islam is better than your fasting seventy or ninety times over.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 2, Chapter 64