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 أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ سَيْفِ بْنِ عَمِيرَةَ عَنْ حَسَّانَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ فَقَالَ الْتَمِسْهَا فِي لَيْلَةِ إِحْدَى وَعِشْرِينَ أَوْ لَيْلَةِ ثَلاثٍ وَعِشْرِينَ.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Sayf ibn ‘Amirah from Hassan ibn Mehran who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the night of destiny. He replied, ‘You should try to find it in the twenty- first or twenty-third nights (of the month of Ramadan).”’ 

2ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْجَوْهَرِيِّ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ الثُّمَالِيِّ قَالَ كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو بَصِيرٍ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ اللَّيْلَةُ الَّتِي يُرْجَى فِيهَا مَا يُرْجَى فَقَالَ فِي إِحْدَى وَعِشْرِينَ أَوْ ثَلاثٍ وَعِشْرِينَ قَالَ فَإِنْ لَمْ أَقْوَ عَلَى كِلْتَيْهِمَا فَقَالَ مَا أَيْسَرَ لَيْلَتَيْنِ فِيمَا تَطْلُبُ قُلْتُ فَرُبَّمَا رَأَيْنَا الْهِلالَ عِنْدَنَا وَجَاءَنَا مَنْ يُخْبِرُنَا بِخِلافِ ذَلِكَ مِنْ أَرْضٍ أُخْرَى فَقَالَ مَا أَيْسَرَ أَرْبَعَ لَيَالٍ تَطْلُبُهَا فِيهَا قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ لَيْلَةُ ثَلاثٍ وَعِشْرِينَ لَيْلَةُ الْجُهَنِيِّ فَقَالَ إِنَّ ذَلِكَ لَيُقَالُ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنَ خَالِدٍ رَوَى فِي تِسْعَ عَشْرَةَ يُكْتَبُ وَفْدُ الْحَاجِّ فَقَالَ لِي يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَفْدُ الْحَاجِّ يُكْتَبُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ وَالْمَنَايَا وَالْبَلايَا وَالأَرْزَاقُ وَمَا يَكُونُ إِلَى مِثْلِهَا فِي قَابِلٍ فَاطْلُبْهَا فِي لَيْلَةِ إِحْدَى وَعِشْرِينَ وَثَلاثٍ وَعِشْرِينَ وَصَلِّ فِي كُلِّ وَاحِدَةٍ مِنْهُمَا مِائَةَ رَكْعَةٍ وَأَحْيِهِمَا إِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ إِلَى النُّورِ وَاغْتَسِلْ فِيهِمَا قَالَ قُلْتُ فَإِنْ لَمْ أَقْدِرْ عَلَى ذَلِكَ وَأَنَا قَائِمٌ قَالَ فَصَلِّ وَأَنْتَ جَالِسٌ قُلْتُ فَإِنْ لَمْ أَسْتَطِعْ قَالَ فَعَلَى فِرَاشِكَ لا عَلَيْكَ أَنْ تَكْتَحِلَ أَوَّلَ اللَّيْلِ بِشَيْ‏ءٍ مِنَ النَّوْمِ إِنَّ أَبْوَابَ السَّمَاءِ تُفَتَّحُ فِي رَمَضَانَ وَتُصَفَّدُ الشَّيَاطِينُ وَتُقْبَلُ أَعْمَالُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ نِعْمَ الشَّهْرُ رَمَضَانُ كَانَ يُسَمَّى عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) الْمَرْزُوقَ.

2. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad al-Jawhariy from Ali ibn abu Hamzah al-Thumaliy who has said the following: “Once I was in the presence of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when abu Basir asked, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, when is the night during which one may hope that his wishes will come true?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘It is in the twenty-first or twenty-third nights.’ He (abu Basir) then asked, ‘What happens if I cannot (stay awake) on both nights?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘(Remaining awake for) just two nights is not difficult with a view to realizing your wishes.’ I (the narrator) then said, ‘We may see the new moon on a certain time and then receive information that people have seen the new moon on a different day at another place.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Remaining awake for four nights is not difficult with a view to realizing your wishes.’ I then said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, the twenty-third night is the night of al-Juhanniy.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘That is what it is called.’ I then said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, Sulayman ibn Khalid narrates that during the twenty-ninth night, the list of people (honored to) perform Hajj is prepared.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘O abu Muhammad, the list of people for Hajj is prepared during the night of destiny; so also are deaths, trials, sustenance and things that have to happen until the next night of destiny. You should try to pray for the realization of your wishes during the twenty-first or twenty-third nights. You should perform one hundred Rak‘at salat (prayer) during each of these nights and remain awake if you can, up to daylight, and take a shower during both nights.’ I (the narrator) then asked, ‘What should I do if I cannot do this in a standing position?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘You can say it in a sitting position.’ I then asked, ‘What should I do if I cannot do this also?’ He said, ‘You can say it while in your bed. It does not matter if you just slept very lightly at the beginning of the night. The doors of the sky remain open during the month of Ramadan, Satans are nailed down, and the deeds of believing people are accepted. The month of Ramadan is a very good month. During the time of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, it was called “provider of sustenance”.”’ 

3ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ فَضَالَةَ بْنِ أَيُّوبَ عَنِ الْعَلاءِ بْنِ رَزِينٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَحَدِهِمَا (عَلَيْهِما السَّلاَم) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ عَلامَةِ لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ فَقَالَ عَلامَتُهَا أَنْ تَطِيبَ رِيحُهَا وَإِنْ كَانَتْ فِي بَرْدٍ دَفِئَتْ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ فِي حَرٍّ بَرَدَتْ فَطَابَتْ قَالَ وَسُئِلَ عَنْ لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ فَقَالَ تَنْزِلُ فِيهَا الْمَلائِكَةُ وَالْكَتَبَةُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا فَيَكْتُبُونَ مَا يَكُونُ فِي أَمْرِ السَّنَةِ وَمَا يُصِيبُ الْعِبَادَ وَأَمْرُهُ عِنْدَهُ مَوْقُوفٌ لَهُ وَفِيهِ الْمَشِيئَةُ فَيُقَدِّمُ مِنْهُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَيُؤَخِّرُ مِنْهُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَيَمْحُو وَيُثْبِتُ وَعِنْدَهُ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ.

3. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Fadalah ibn Ayyub from al-‘Ala’ ibn Razin from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “Once I asked one of the two Imam, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, about signs of the night of destiny. He replied, ‘One of the signs of this night is sweet fragrance; during the cold season it is warm, and during the hot season it is cool and pleasant.’ Someone asked him about the night of destiny. He (the Imam) replied, ‘The angels and scribes come down to the sky above the world and then they write down all that has to happen during the year and what people will experience therein. Its affairs are withheld with Him. In it He has a wish and thus He brings forward whatever He wishes or delays whatever He wishes. He confirms whatever He wishes and deletes whatever He wishes; the mother book is with Him.’” 

4ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ غَيْرِ وَاحِدٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالُوا قَالَ لَهُ بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِنَا قَالَ وَلا أَعْلَمُهُ إِلاَّ سَعِيداً السَّمَّانَ كَيْفَ يَكُونُ لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْراً مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ قَالَ الْعَمَلُ فِيهَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْعَمَلِ فِي أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ لَيْسَ فِيهَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from more than one person who have said the following: “Certain individuals of our people - the only one of these people I know is Sa‘id al-Samman- asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘Why is it that the night of destiny is better than one thousand months? 5 He (the Imam) replied, ‘It is because doing good deeds during this night is better than doing good deeds in one thousand months that do not have the night of destiny.’” 

5ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ نَزَلَتِ التَّوْرَاةُ فِي سِتٍّ مَضَتْ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَنَزَلَ الإِنْجِيلُ فِي اثْنَتَيْ عَشْرَةَ لَيْلَةً مَضَتْ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَنَزَلَ الزَّبُورُ فِي لَيْلَةِ ثَمَانِيَ عَشَرَةَ مَضَتْ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَنَزَلَ الْقُرْآنُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ.

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn abu Hamzah from abu Basir who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Torah was revealed during the sixth night of the month of Ramadan. Injil (New Testament) was revealed during the twelfth night of the month of Ramadan. Al-Zabbur, (Psalms) was revealed during the eighteenth night of the month of Ramadan; and the Holy Quran was revealed during the night of destiny.’” 

6ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ عَنِ الْفُضَيْلِ وَزُرَارَةَ وَمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ حُمْرَانَ أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنْ قَوْلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِنَّا أَنْزَلْناهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُبارَكَةٍ قَالَ نَعَمْ لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ وَهِيَ فِي كُلِّ سَنَةٍ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فِي الْعَشْرِ الأَوَاخِرِ فَلَمْ يُنْزَلِ الْقُرْآنُ إِلاَّ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ قَالَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِيها يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ قَالَ يُقَدَّرُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ كُلُّ شَيْ‏ءٍ يَكُونُ فِي تِلْكَ السَّنَةِ إِلَى مِثْلِهَا مِنْ قَابِلٍ خَيْرٍ وَشَرٍّ وَطَاعَةٍ وَمَعْصِيَةٍ وَمَوْلُودٍ وَأَجَلٍ أَوْ رِزْقٍ فَمَا قُدِّرَ فِي تِلْكَ السَّنَةِ وَقُضِيَ فَهُوَ الْمَحْتُومُ وَلله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِيهِ الْمَشِيئَةُ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ أَيُّ شَيْ‏ءٍ عُنِيَ بِذَلِكَ فَقَالَ الْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ فِيهَا مِنَ الصَّلاةِ وَالزَّكَاةِ وَأَنْوَاعِ الْخَيْرِ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْعَمَلِ فِي أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ لَيْسَ فِيهَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ وَلَوْ لا مَا يُضَاعِفُ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَا بَلَغُوا وَلَكِنَّ الله يُضَاعِفُ لَهُمُ الْحَسَنَاتِ بِحُبِّنَا.

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ‘Umar ibn ‘Udhaynah from al-Fudayl, Zurarah and Muhammad ibn Muslim from Humran who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the following words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious: ‘We have revealed it during the blessed night.’ (44:3) He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is the night of destiny. Every year this night is during the last ten days in the month of Ramadan. It was the night of destiny and no other night when the Holy Quran was revealed. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has said, “During this night all matters of wisdom are differentiated.’” (44:4) He (Imam) said, ‘During the night of destiny, all things of good or evil, obedience or disobedience, birth or death, or sustenance that are to take place in the year up to the next month of Ramadan, are measured and determined. Whatever is measured and determined for that year becomes inevitable; however, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has a wish in it.’ He (the narrator) has said, ‘I then asked about the meaning of, “The night of destiny is better than one thousand nights?”’ He (Imam) replied, ‘Good deeds like salat (prayer), zakat and other forms of good are better than good deeds done in one thousand months wherein the night of destiny does not exist. Had it not been for the generosity of Allah, the most Blessed, the most High, toward the believing people, they could not gain any success, but Allah increases their good deeds (through our love).”’ 

7ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنِ السَّيَّارِيِّ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ فَرْقَدٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي يَعْقُوبُ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَجُلاً يَسْأَلُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنْ لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ فَقَالَ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ كَانَتْ أَوْ تَكُونُ فِي كُلِّ عَامٍ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) لَوْ رُفِعَتْ لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ لَرُفِعَ الْقُرْآنُ.

7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ahmad from af-Sayyariy from certain individuals of our people from Dawud ibn Farqad who has said that narrated to him Ya’qub who has said the following: “I once heard a man asking abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the night of destiny, saying, ‘Please tell me about the night of destiny. Was it only just for one night, or it comes every year?’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), replied, ‘Had the night of destiny been removed, most certainly, the Holy Quran would also had been removed.’” 

8ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله الْمُؤْمِنِ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ وَنَاسٌ يَسْأَلُونَهُ يَقُولُونَ الأَرْزَاقُ تُقَسَّمُ لَيْلَةَ النِّصْفِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ قَالَ فَقَالَ لا وَالله مَا ذَاكَ إِلاَّ فِي لَيْلَةِ تِسْعَ عَشْرَةَ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَإِحْدَى وَعِشْرِينَ وَثَلاثٍ وَعِشْرِينَ فَإِنَّ فِي لَيْلَةِ تِسْعَ عَشْرَةَ يَلْتَقِي الْجَمْعَانِ وَفِي لَيْلَةِ إِحْدَى وَعِشْرِينَ يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ وَفِي لَيْلَةِ ثَلاثٍ وَعِشْرِينَ يُمْضَى مَا أَرَادَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَهِيَ لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ الَّتِي قَالَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ مَا مَعْنَى قَوْلِهِ يَلْتَقِي الْجَمْعَانِ قَالَ يَجْمَعُ الله فِيهَا مَا أَرَادَ مِنْ تَقْدِيمِهِ وَتَأْخِيرِهِ وَإِرَادَتِهِ وَقَضَائِهِ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَمَا مَعْنَى يُمْضِيهِ فِي ثَلاثٍ وَعِشْرِينَ قَالَ إِنَّهُ يَفْرُقُهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ إِحْدَى وَعِشْرِينَ وَيَكُونُ لَهُ فِيهِ الْبَدَاءُ فَإِذَا كَانَتْ لَيْلَةُ ثَلاثٍ وَعِشْرِينَ أَمْضَاهُ فَيَكُونُ مِنَ الْمَحْتُومِ الَّذِي لا يَبْدُو لَهُ فِيهِ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى.

8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ahmad from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from abu ‘Abd Allah al-Mu’min from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “I heard him (the Imam) say- when people said, “Sustenance is divided during the night in the middle of the month of Sha‘ban”-, ‘No, by Allah, that is in no other time besides the nineteenth night of the month of Ramadan, or the twenty-first or twenty-third night of this month. During the nineteenth night of this month, two groups meet; in the twenty-first night, all matters of wisdom are differentiated; and in the twenty-third night, whatever Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, wishes of such matters is approved. It is the night of destiny about which Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has said, . . the night of destiny is better than one thousand months.’” He (the narrator) has said, ‘I then asked about the meaning of his words, “Two groups meet”?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘Allah brings together in that night what He has decided, in matters to be brought forward or delayed, to decide or to approve it.’ I then said, ‘What is the meaning of, “approves it during the twenty-third night”?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘During the twenty-first night, He differentiates the rule. Then al- Bada’ may take place, therefore, in the twenty-third night is the approval and thus it becomes inevitable in such issues where al-Bada’ does not happen, Allah is most Blessed, the most High.’” 

9ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنِ ابْنِ بُكَيْرٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) التَّقْدِيرُ فِي لَيْلَةِ تِسْعَ عَشْرَةَ وَالإِبْرَامُ فِي لَيْلَةِ إِحْدَى وَعِشْرِينَ وَالإِمْضَاءُ فِي لَيْلَةِ ثَلاثٍ وَعِشْرِينَ.

9. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from ibn Bukayr from Zurarah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Measurement and determination is on the night of the nineteenth, verification is on the twenty- first night and final approval is on the twenty-third night.’” 

10ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْوَلِيدِ وَمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عِيسَى الْقَمَّاطِ عَنْ عَمِّهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ رَأَى رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فِي مَنَامِهِ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ يَصْعَدُونَ عَلَى مِنْبَرِهِ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ وَيُضِلُّونَ النَّاسَ عَنِ الصِّرَاطِ الْقَهْقَرَى فَأَصْبَحَ كَئِيباً حَزِيناً قَالَ فَهَبَطَ عَلَيْهِ جَبْرَئِيلُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ الله مَا لِي أَرَاكَ كَئِيباً حَزِيناً قَالَ يَا جَبْرَئِيلُ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ فِي لَيْلَتِي هَذِهِ يَصْعَدُونَ مِنْبَرِي مِنْ بَعْدِي وَيُضِلُّونَ النَّاسَ عَنِ الصِّرَاطِ الْقَهْقَرَى فَقَالَ وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ نَبِيّاً إِنَّ هَذَا شَيْ‏ءٌ مَا اطَّلَعْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَعَرَجَ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَلَمْ يَلْبَثْ أَنْ نَزَلَ عَلَيْهِ بِآيٍ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ يُؤْنِسُهُ بِهَا قَالَ أَ فَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ مَتَّعْناهُمْ سِنِينَ ثُمَّ جاءَهُمْ ما كانُوا يُوعَدُونَ ما أَغْنى‏ عَنْهُمْ ما كانُوا يُمَتَّعُونَ وَأَنْزَلَ عَلَيْهِ إِنَّا أَنْزَلْناهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ وَما أَدْراكَ ما لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ جَعَلَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ لِنَبِيِّهِ (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) خَيْراً مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرِ مُلْكِ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ.

10. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ali ibn al-Husayn from Muhammad ibn al-Walid and Muhammad ibn Ahmad from Yunus ibn Ya’qub from Ali ibn ’Isa al-Qammat from his uncle who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that in his dream, the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, saw banu ‘Umayyah climb on his pulpit after him and mislead people from the right path and take them backward. He remained sad and depressed. Jibril came and asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, why are you sad and depressed?’ He replied, ‘O Jibril, in my dream last night, I saw banu ‘Umayyah climb my pulpit, mislead people from the right path and take them backward.’ He (Jibril) said, ‘I swear by the One who has sent you as a prophet in all truth that I have no information about this matter.’ The Messenger of Allah (Jibril) ascended to the heaven and, after a little while, came back with a verse of the Holy Quran to comfort him. “Consider, if We allow them to enjoy for a few years, then the thing about which they were warned comes upon them, and whatever they enjoyed will be of no benefit for them.” (26:205) He revealed to him, “We have revealed the Holy Quran in the night of destiny. What do you think you know about the night of destiny? The night of destiny is better than one thousand months.’ Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has made the night of destiny better than one thousand months for His prophet. It (one thousand nights) is equal to the life of the kingdom of banu ‘Umayyah.’” 

11ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَمِيلَةَ عَنْ رِفَاعَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ هِيَ أَوَّلُ السَّنَةِ وَهِيَ آخِرُهَا.

11. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from ibn Faddal from abu Jamilah from Rifa’ah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the night of destiny is the beginning of the year, and it also is the end of it (the year before).” 

12ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ رَبِيعٍ الْمُسْلِيِّ وَزِيَادِ بْنِ أَبِي الْحَلاَّلِ ذَكَرَاهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ فِي لَيْلَةِ تِسْعَ عَشْرَةَ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ التَّقْدِيرُ وَفِي لَيْلَةِ إِحْدَى وَعِشْرِينَ الْقَضَاءُ وَفِي لَيْلَةِ ثَلاثٍ وَعِشْرِينَ إِبْرَامُ مَا يَكُونُ فِي السَّنَةِ إِلَى مِثْلِهَا لله جَلَّ ثَنَاؤُهُ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَاءُ فِي خَلْقِهِ. 

12. A number of our people have narrated, from Sahl ibn Ziyad, from Ali ibn al-Hakam, from Rabi’ al-Musliy and Ziyad ibn abu al- Hallal who have narrated it, from a man who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that during the nineteenth night of the month of Ramadan is measurement and determination; in the twenty-first night is decision; and in the twenty-third night is verification of what has to take place during the coming year up to the next night of destiny. Allah, glorious is whose praise, does whatever He wills about His creature.” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 2, Chapter 69