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 عَنْ حَمْزَةَ بْنِ يَعْلَى عَنْ زَكَرِيَّا بْنِ آدَمَ عَنِ الْكَاهِلِيِّ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنِ الْيَوْمِ الَّذِي يُشَكُّ فِيهِ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ قَالَ لأَنْ أَصُومَ يَوْماً مِنْ شَعْبَانَ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أُفْطِرَ يَوْماً مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Hamzah ibn Ya‘liy from Zakariya ibn Adam from al- Kahiliy who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of the day that is not known to be of the month of al-Sha’ban. He (the Imam) said, ’Fasting one day of the month of al-Sha’ban is more beloved to me than losing one day of the month of Ramadan.”’ 

2ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْيَوْمِ الَّذِي يُشَكُّ فِيهِ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ لا يَدْرِي أَ هُوَ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ أَوْ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ فَصَامَهُ فَكَانَ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ قَالَ هُوَ يَوْمٌ وُفِّقَ لَهُ وَلا قَضَاءَ عَلَيْهِ.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from Sama‘ah who has said the following: “I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about the case of the day which is doubtful of being of the month of Ramadan and one does not know if it is of al-Sha’ban or of the month of Ramadan. He fasts that day and it was of the month of Ramadan. He (the Imam) said, ‘It was a day when he fortunately fasted and there is no Qada’ (compensatory fast) upon him.’” 

3ـ عَلِيٌّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ وَهْبٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) الرَّجُلُ يَصُومُ الْيَوْمَ الَّذِي يَشُكُّ فِيهِ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَيَكُونُ كَذَلِكَ فَقَالَ هُوَ شَيْ‏ءٌ وُفِّقَ لَهُ.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Mu‘awiyah ibn Wahab who has said the following: “I once asked Abu `Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who fasts on a day which is doubtful of its being from al-Sha‘ban or of the month of Ramadan, and it happens to be of the month of Ramadan. He (the Imam) said, ‘It was something in which he was fortunate.’” 

4ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي الصُّهْبَانِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ رِبَاطٍ عَنْ سَعِيدٍ الأَعْرَجِ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) إِنِّي صُمْتُ الْيَوْمَ الَّذِي يُشَكُّ فِيهِ فَكَانَ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ أَ فَأَقْضِيهِ قَالَ لا هُوَ يَوْمٌ وُفِّقْتَ لَهُ.

4. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn abu al-Suhban from Ali ibn al-Husayn ibn Ribat from Sa‘id al-’A‘raj who has said the following: “I once asked Abu `Abd Allah (a.s.), ’I have fasted on the day which is doubtful about its being of al-Sha £ ban or of the month of Ramadan, if there is Qada’ (compensatory fast) upon me.’ He (the Imam) said, £ No, Qada’ (compensatory fast) is not obligatory on you and it was a day in which you had a fortunate chance.’” 

5ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي الصُّهْبَانِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ بَكْرِ بْنِ جَنَاحٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ شَجَرَةَ عَنْ بَشِيرٍ النَّبَّالِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمِ الشَّكِّ فَقَالَ صُمْهُ فَإِنْ يَكُ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ كَانَ تَطَوُّعاً وَإِنْ يَكُ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَيَوْمٌ وُفِّقْتَ لَهُ.

5. Ahmad ibn Muhammad from has narrated from ibn abu al-Suhban from Muhammad ibn Bakr ibn Janah from Ali ibn Shajarah from Bashir al-Nabbal who has said the following: “I once asked Abu `Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a doubtful day. He (the Imam) said, ’Fast on such day, if it is of al-Sha £ ban, it is optional and if it is of the month of Ramadan then it is a day in which you have a fortunate chance.’” 

6ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) رَجُلٌ صَامَ يَوْماً وَلا يَدْرِي أَ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ هُوَ أَوْ مِنْ غَيْرِهِ فَجَاءَ قَوْمٌ فَشَهِدُوا أَنَّهُ كَانَ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَقَالَ بَعْضُ النَّاسِ عِنْدَنَا لا يُعْتَدُّ بِهِ فَقَالَ بَلَى فَقُلْتُ إِنَّهُمْ قَالُوا صُمْتَ وَأَنْتَ لا تَدْرِي أَ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ هَذَا أَمْ مِنْ غَيْرِهِ فَقَالَ بَلَى فَاعْتَدَّ بِهِ فَإِنَّمَا هُوَ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَفَّقَكَ الله لَهُ إِنَّمَا يُصَامُ يَوْمُ الشَّكِّ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ وَلا يَصُومُهُ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ لأَنَّهُ قَدْ نُهِيَ أَنْ يَنْفَرِدَ الإِنْسَانُ بِالصِّيَامِ فِي يَوْمِ الشَّكِّ وَإِنَّمَا يَنْوِي مِنَ اللَّيْلَةِ أَنَّهُ يَصُومُ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ فَإِنْ كَانَ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ أَجْزَأَ عَنْهُ بِتَفَضُّلِ الله تَعَالَى وَبِمَا قَدْ وَسَّعَ عَلَى عِبَادِهِ وَلَوْ لا ذَلِكَ لَهَلَكَ النَّاسُ.

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Sama‘ah, who has said the following: “I once asked Abu `Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who fasts a day and does not know if it is of the month of Ramadan or if it is of other days. Then certain people come and testify that it is of the month of Ramadan. Certain people say that it is not reliable. He (the Imam) said, £ Yes, that is true.’ I then said that they say, ‘You fasted and did not know if it was of the month of Ramadan or of other days.’ He (the Imam) said, ’Yes, that is true. You can depend on it; it is something in which Allah granted you a fortunate chance. A doubtful day is fasted as that of al-Sha’ban and not as that of the month of Ramadan; he prohibited one’s fasting alone on a doubtful day. During the night one forms his intention to fast as a day of al-Sha’ban and if it happens to be of the month of Ramadan, it is sufficient for it by the favor from Allah, most High, because of the ease He has granted to His servants; otherwise, they would have been destroyed.’” 

7ـ سَهْلُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ رِفَاعَةَ عَنْ رَجُلٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي الْعَبَّاسِ بِالْحِيرَةِ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الله مَا تَقُولُ فِي الصِّيَامِ الْيَوْمَ فَقُلْتُ ذَاكَ إِلَى الإِمَامِ إِنْ صُمْتَ صُمْنَا وَإِنْ أَفْطَرْتَ أَفْطَرْنَا فَقَالَ يَا غُلامُ عَلَيَّ بِالْمَائِدَةِ فَأَكَلْتُ مَعَهُ وَأَنَا أَعْلَمُ وَالله أَنَّهُ يَوْمٌ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَكَانَ إِفْطَارِي يَوْماً وَقَضَاؤُهُ أَيْسَرَ عَلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ يُضْرَبَ عُنُقِي وَلا يُعْبَدَ الله.

7. Sahl ibn Ziyad has narrated from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Rifa’ah from a man who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Once I went to abu al- ‘Abbas in al-Hirah and he asked, “O abu ‘Abd Allah, what do you say about today’s fast?” I replied, “It is up to the Imam to decide; if you fast we also fast, if you do not fast, we also will not fast.” He then said, “O slave, prepare the table.” I ate with him and I knew, by Allah, that it was a day of the month of Ramadan. My not fasting and instead Qada’ (compensatory fast) was easier for me than my neck being cut off and Allah is not worshipped.’” 

8ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ عُبَيْسِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ عَنِ الْخَضِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حَكِيمٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنِ الْيَوْمِ الَّذِي يُشَكُّ فِيهِ فَإِنَّ النَّاسَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّ مَنْ صَامَهُ بِمَنْزِلَةِ مَنْ أَفْطَرَ يَوْماً فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَقَالَ كَذَبُوا إِنْ كَانَ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَهُوَ يَوْمٌ وُفِّقَ لَهُ وَإِنْ كَانَ مِنْ غَيْرِهِ فَهُوَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ مَا مَضَى مِنَ الأَيَّامِ.

8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from ‘Ubays ibn Hisham from al-Hadramiy ibn ‘Abd al-Malik from Muhammad ibn Hakim who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about the case of a day about which people have doubts. People think if one fasts on such a day, it is like destroying one day of fasting in the month of Ramadan. He (the Imam) said, ‘They have spoken a lie. If it is of the month of Ramadan, it is a fortunate chance for him; and if it is of other days then it is like any of the past days.’” 

9ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ أَيُّوبَ بْنِ نُوحٍ عَنِ الْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ عَامِرٍ عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ الْحُصَيْنِ عَنْ رَجُلٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) أَنَّهُ قَالَ وَهُوَ بِالْحِيرَةِ فِي زَمَانِ أَبِي الْعَبَّاسِ إِنِّي دَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ وَقَدْ شَكَّ النَّاسُ فِي الصَّوْمِ وَهُوَ وَالله مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الله أَ صُمْتَ الْيَوْمَ فَقُلْتُ لا وَالْمَائِدَةُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ قَالَ فَادْنُ فَكُلْ قَالَ فَدَنَوْتُ فَأَكَلْتُ قَالَ وَقُلْتُ الصَّوْمُ مَعَكَ وَالْفِطْرُ مَعَكَ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ لأَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) تُفْطِرُ يَوْماً مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَقَالَ إِي وَالله أَنْ أُفْطِرَ يَوْماً مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ يُضْرَبَ عُنُقِي. 

9. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ayyub ibn Nuh from al-‘ Abbas ibn ‘Amir from Dawud ibn al-Husayn from a man of our people who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘I, in the time of abu al- ‘Abbas, once was in al-Hirah, when I went before him and people had doubts about the fast, and that day, by Allah, was of the month of Ramadan. I said Salam (the phrase of offering greeting of peace) to him and he asked, “O abu ‘Abd Allah, have you fasted today?” I replied, “No, I have not fasted;” the table was before him. He said, “Come close and eat.” He (the Imam) said, ‘I went close and ate, and said, “I fast with you and eat with you.’” A man then said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘Did you eat on the day of the month of Ramadan?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, by Allah, eating on one day of the month of Ramadan is more beloved to me than my neck being cut off.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 2, Chapter 9