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 عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ دَخَلْنَا عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو بَصِيرٍ مَا تَقُولُ فِي الصَّلاةِ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَقَالَ لِشَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ حُرْمَةٌ وَحَقٌّ لا يَشْبَهُهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ مِنَ الشُّهُورِ صَلِّ مَا اسْتَطَعْتَ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ تَطَوُّعاً بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ فَإِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَنْ تُصَلِّيَ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ وَلَيْلَةٍ أَلْفَ رَكْعَةٍ فَافْعَلْ إِنَّ عَلِيّاً (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فِي آخِرِ عُمُرِهِ كَانَ يُصَلِّي فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ وَلَيْلَةٍ أَلْفَ رَكْعَةٍ فَصَلِّ يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ زِيَادَةً فِي رَمَضَانَ فَقُلْتُ كَمْ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَقَالَ فِي عِشْرِينَ لَيْلَةً تُصَلِّي فِي كُلِّ لَيْلَةٍ عِشْرِينَ رَكْعَةً ثَمَانِيَ رَكَعَاتٍ قَبْلَ الْعَتَمَةِ وَاثْنَتَا عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً بَعْدَهَا سِوَى مَا كُنْتَ تُصَلِّي قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ فَإِذَا دَخَلَ الْعَشْرُ الأَوَاخِرُ فَصَلِّ ثَلاثِينَ رَكْعَةً فِي كُلِّ لَيْلَةٍ ثَمَانِيَ رَكَعَاتٍ قَبْلَ الْعَتَمَةِ وَاثْنَيْنِ وَعِشْرِينَ رَكْعَةً بَعْدَهَا سِوَى مَا كُنْتَ تَفْعَلُ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad, from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id who has narrated it from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad, from Ali ibn abu Hamzah, from abu Basir who has said the following: “Once we visited abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), and abu Basir asked, ’What do you say about al- salat (prayer) during the month of Ramadan?’ He (the Imam) replied, ’The month of Ramadan has a special respect and right, unlike the other months. You should perform salat (prayer) as much as you can in optional forms during the nights and days. If you can, perform a thousand Rak’at salat (prayer) every twenty-four hours you can. Imam Ali (a.s.), toward the end of his life would say one thousand Rak’at salat (prayer) in twenty-four hours. O abu Muhammad, you should perform more salat (prayer) during the month of Ramadan.’ I then asked, ’I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, how many Rak’ats (should one perform)?’ He said, ’During the first twenty nights, say twenty Rak’ats each night; eight Rak’ats before al-‘Atmah (late evening) and twelve Rak’ats thereafter, besides the prayers you would say before. During the last ten days, you should say thirty Rak’at every night; eight Rak’at before late evening, and twenty-two Rak’ats thereafter besides what you had been saying before these nights.’” 

2ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنْ أَبِي الْعَبَّاسِ الْبَقْبَاقِ وَعُبَيْدِ بْنِ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) يَزِيدُ فِي صَلاتِهِ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ إِذَا صَلَّى الْعَتَمَةَ صَلَّى بَعْدَهَا فَيَقُومُ النَّاسُ خَلْفَهُ فَيَدْخُلُ وَيَدَعُهُمْ ثُمَّ يَخْرُجُ أَيْضاً فَيَجِيئُونَ وَيَقُومُونَ خَلْفَهُ فَيَدَعُهُمْ وَيَدْخُلُ مِرَاراً قَالَ وَقَالَ لا تُصَلِّ بَعْدَ الْعَتَمَةِ فِي غَيْرِ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa ibn ‘Ubayd from Yunus from abu al-‘Abbas al-Baqbaq and ‘Ubayd ibn Zurarah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, would increase his salat (prayer) during the month of Ramadan. After al-‘Atmah (late evening salat [prayer]), he would perform more prayers. People behind would stand up (for prayer), but he would go inside and leave them. Then, after he came out, they would come and stand up behind him (for prayer), but he would leave them and go inside several times.’ He (the narrator) has said that the Imam then said, ‘You must not perform salat (prayer) after late evening prayer during the times other than the month of Ramadan.’” 

3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) كَانَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) إِذَا دَخَلَ الْعَشْرُ الأَوَاخِرُ شَدَّ الْمِئْزَرَ وَاجْتَنَبَ النِّسَاءَ وَأَحْيَا اللَّيْلَ وَتَفَرَّغَ لِلْعِبَادَةِ.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Uthman from ibn ‘Isa from Sama‘ah from abu Basir who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, during the last ten days of the month of Ramadan would prepare himself well, stay away from women, stay awake the whole night, and free himself for worship.’” 

4ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ الْجَعْفَرِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) صَلِّ لَيْلَةَ إِحْدَى وَعِشْرِينَ وَلَيْلَةَ ثَلاثٍ وَعِشْرِينَ مِائَةَ رَكْعَةٍ تَقْرَأُ فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَةٍ قُلْ هُوَ الله أَحَدٌ عَشْرَ مَرَّاتٍ.

4. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Hassan from Sulayman al-Ja’fariy who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘In the twenty- first and twenty-third nights, you should perform salat (prayer) of one hundred Rak’ats and in each Rak’at read Chapter 112 of the Holy Quran ten times.’” 

5ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ أَبِي حَمَّادٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنِ ابْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي شُعَيْبٍ الْمَحَامِلِيِّ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنِ الْفُضَيْلِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ قَالَ كَانَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) إِذَا كَانَتْ لَيْلَةُ إِحْدَى وَعِشْرِينَ وَلَيْلَةُ ثَلاثٍ وَعِشْرِينَ أَخَذَ فِي الدُّعَاءِ حَتَّى يَزُولَ اللَّيْلُ فَإِذَا زَالَ اللَّيْلُ صَلَّى.

5. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Salih ibn abu Hammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali from ibn Sinan from abu Shu’ayb al-Muhamiliy from Hammad ibn ‘Uthman from al-Fudayl ibn Yasar who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), during the twenty-first and twenty-third nights, would pray until the end of the night, then perform (the obligatory) salat (prayer).” 

6ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُطَهَّرٍ أَنَّهُ كَتَبَ إِلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) يُخْبِرُهُ بِمَا جَاءَتْ بِهِ الرِّوَايَةُ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) كَانَ يُصَلِّي فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَغَيْرِهِ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ ثَلاثَ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً مِنْهَا الْوَتْرُ وَرَكْعَتَا الْفَجْرِ فَكَتَبَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فَضَّ الله فَاهُ صَلَّى مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فِي عِشْرِينَ لَيْلَةً كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ عِشْرِينَ رَكْعَةً ثَمَانِيَ بَعْدَ الْمَغْرِبِ وَاثْنَتَيْ عَشْرَةَ بَعْدَ الْعِشَاءَ الآخِرَةِ وَاغْتَسَلَ لَيْلَةَ تِسْعَ عَشْرَةَ وَلَيْلَةَ إِحْدَى وَعِشْرِينَ وَلَيْلَةَ ثَلاثٍ وَعِشْرِينَ وَصَلَّى فِيهِمَا ثَلاثِينَ رَكْعَةً اثْنَتَيْ عَشْرَةَ بَعْدَ الْمَغْرِبِ وَثَمَانِيَ عَشْرَةَ بَعْدَ عِشَاءِ الآخِرَةِ وَصَلَّى فِيهِمَا مِائَةَ رَكْعَةٍ يَقْرَأُ فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَةٍ فَاتِحَةَ الْكِتَابِ وَقُلْ هُوَ الله أَحَدٌ عَشْرَ مَرَّاتٍ وَصَلَّى إِلَى آخِرِ الشَّهْرِ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ ثَلاثِينَ رَكْعَةً كَمَا فَسَّرْتُ لَكَ. 

6. “Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Mutahhar who wrote to abu Muhammad (a.s.), and informed him (the Imam) about a Hadith about the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause. It said that he (the Messenger of Allah) performed thirteen Rak‘at prayers including al-Witr and the two Rak‘at morning prayer during the nights in the month of Ramadan. He (the Imam) wrote, ‘May Allah break his (narrator’s) mouth. He (the Holy Prophet) during the month of Ramadan in the first twenty nights performed twenty Rak‘ats every night. He (the Messenger of Allah) performed eight Rak‘at after al-Maghrib prayer and twelve after ‘Isha’ (late evening) prayer. He would take a shower on the nineteenth, twenty-first and twenty-third nights. In those nights, he performed one hundred Rak‘at prayers in each Rak‘at, of which he read Chapter 1 and Chapter 112 of the Holy Quran ten times. He would perform thirty Rak‘at in the remaining nights to the end of the month, as I have explained for you.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 2, Chapter 68