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 ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ الْخَزَّازِ عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ مُحْرِزٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنْ رَجُلٍ وَقَعَ عَلَى أَهْلِهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَطُوفَ طَوَافَ النِّسَاءِ قَالَ لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ فَخَرَجْتُ إِلَى أَصْحَابِنَا فَأَخْبَرْتُهُمْ فَقَالُوا اتَّقَاكَ هَذَا مُيَسِّرٌ قَدْ سَأَلَهُ عَنْ مِثْلِ مَا سَأَلْتَ فَقَالَ لَهُ عَلَيْكَ بَدَنَةٌ قَالَ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنِّي أَخْبَرْتُ أَصْحَابَنَا بِمَا أَجَبْتَنِي فَقَالُوا اتَّقَاكَ هَذَا مُيَسِّرٌ قَدْ سَأَلَهُ عَمَّا سَأَلْتَ فَقَالَ لَهُ عَلَيْكَ بَدَنَةٌ فَقَالَ إِنَّ ذَلِكَ كَانَ بَلَغَهُ فَهَلْ بَلَغَكَ قُلْتُ لا قَالَ لَيْسَ عَلَيْكَ شَيْ‏ءٌ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from abu Ayyub al-Khazzaz from Salmah ibn Muhriz who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who performs sexual intercourse with his wife before Tawaf al-Nisa’. He (the Imam) said, ‘There is nothing on him.’ I then left and spoke about it to our people. They said, ‘He (the Imam) has used Taqiyah before you. This is Muyassir who had asked him (the Imam) what you have asked, and he (the Imam) said that you owe a badanah.’ I then went to see him (the Imam) and said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, I spoke of your answer to our people and they said that you have used Taqiyah before me. Muyassir had asked you the same question and you had said that there is one badanah. He (the Imam) said, ‘He knew the rules. Did you know the rules?’ I replied, ‘No, I did not know the rules.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘There is nothing on you.’” 

2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي خَالِدٍ الْقَمَّاطِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنْ رَجُلٍ وَقَعَ عَلَى امْرَأَتِهِ يَوْمَ النَّحْرِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَزُورَ قَالَ إِنْ كَانَ وَقَعَ عَلَيْهَا بِشَهْوَةٍ فَعَلَيْهِ بَدَنَةٌ وَإِنْ كَانَ غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ فَبَقَرَةٌ قُلْتُ أَوْ شَاةٌ قَالَ أَوْ شَاةٌ.

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Sinan from abu Khalid al-Qammat who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who involves himself in sexual intercourse with his wife on the day of al-Nahr (day of offering sacrifice) before performing Tawaf of Ziyarat. He (the Imam) said, ‘If he has done so with lust he owes a badanah, without it there is a cow.’ I said, ‘Or a sheep’ and he (the Imam) said, ‘Or a sheep.’” 

3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنْ مُتَمَتِّعٍ وَقَعَ عَلَى أَهْلِهِ وَلَمْ يَزُرْ قَالَ يَنْحَرُ جَزُوراً وَقَدْ خَشِيتُ أَنْ يَكُونَ قَدْ ثُلِمَ حَجُّهُ إِنْ كَانَ عَالِماً وَإِنْ كَانَ جَاهِلاً فَلا شَيْ‏ءَ عَلَيْهِ وَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ وَقَعَ عَلَى امْرَأَتِهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَطُوفَ طَوَافَ النِّسَاءِ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ جَزُورٌ سَمِينَةٌ وَإِنْ كَانَ جَاهِلاً فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ قَالَ وَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ قَبَّلَ امْرَأَتَهُ وَقَدْ طَافَ طَوَافَ النِّسَاءِ وَلَمْ تَطُفْ هِيَ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ دَمٌ يُهَرِيقُهُ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who is in al-Hajj al-Tamattu‘ (advantageous) and is involved in sexual intercourse with his wife before performing Tawaf of Ziyarat. He (the Imam) said, ‘He must offer Jazur (slaughter a camel), and I am afraid for his al-Hajj becoming invalid if he knows the rules; but if he does not know the rules there is nothing on him.’ I asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about a man who is involved in sexual intercourse with his wife before performing Tawaf al-Nisa’. He (the Imam) said, ‘He owes one healthy Jazur, but if he does not know the rules there is nothing on him.’ I then asked about a man who has completed Tawaf al-Nisa’ and kisses his wife who has not completed Tawaf al-Nisa’. He (the Imam) said, ‘He owes one animal offering.’” 

4ـ أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأَشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ عِيصِ بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنْ رَجُلٍ وَاقَعَ أَهْلَهُ حِينَ ضَحَّى قَبْلَ أَنْ يَزُورَ الْبَيْتَ قَالَ يُهَرِيقُ دَماً.

4. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan ibn Yahya from ‘Is ibn al-Qasim who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who is involved in sexual intercourse with his wife after offering sacrifice before Tawaf of Ziyarat. He (the Imam) said, ‘He must offer one animal offering.’” 

5ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ إِذَا وَاقَعَ الْمُحْرِمُ امْرَأَتَهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَأْتِيَ الْمُزْدَلِفَةَ فَعَلَيْهِ الْحَجُّ مِنْ قَابِلٍ.

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one performs sexual intercourse with his wife before coming to al-Muzdalifah, he is required to perform al-Hajj in future.’” 

6ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَسَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنِ ابْنِ رِئَابٍ عَنْ حُمْرَانَ بْنِ أَعْيَنَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ كَانَ عَلَيْهِ طَوَافُ النِّسَاءِ وَحْدَهُ فَطَافَ مِنْهُ خَمْسَةَ أَشْوَاطٍ ثُمَّ غَمَزَهُ بَطْنُهُ فَخَافَ أَنْ يَبْدُرَهُ فَخَرَجَ إِلَى مَنْزِلِهِ فَنَفَضَ ثُمَّ غَشِيَ جَارِيَتَهُ قَالَ يَغْتَسِلُ ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ فَيَطُوفُ بِالْبَيْتِ طَوَافَيْنِ تَمَامَ مَا كَانَ قَدْ بَقِيَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ طَوَافِهِ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُ الله وَلا يَعُودُ وَإِنْ كَانَ طَافَ طَوَافَ النِّسَاءِ فَطَافَ مِنْهُ ثَلاثَةَ أَشْوَاطٍ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ فَغَشِيَ فَقَدْ أَفْسَدَ حَجَّهُ وَعَلَيْهِ بَدَنَةٌ وَيَغْتَسِلُ ثُمَّ يَعُودُ فَيَطُوفُ أُسْبُوعاً.

6. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Sahl ibn Ziyad from ibn Mahbub from ibn Ri’ab from Humran ibn ‘A’yan who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who is required to perform Tawaf al- Nisa’ alone. He performs five times walking around the House, then he feels trouble in his stomach and fears its getting out of his control; so he goes to his lodging and after relieving himself becomes involved in sexual intercourse with his slave-girl. He (the Imam) said, ‘He must do Ghusl (bath), then go complete Tawaf around the House twice to complete what was left, and ask Allah to forgive him and must not repeat. If he has made three times walking around the House for Tawaf al-Nisa’, then goes and becomes involved in sexual intercourse his al-Hajj is destroyed, he owes one badanah; he takes Ghusl (bath) then goes to perform Tawaf of seven times, walking around the House.”’ 

7ـ ابْنُ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَبْدِيِّ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنْ رَجُلٍ طَافَ بِالْبَيْتِ أُسْبُوعاً طَوَافَ الْفَرِيضَةِ ثُمَّ سَعَى بَيْنَ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةِ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْوَاطٍ ثُمَّ غَمَزَهُ بَطْنُهُ فَخَرَجَ فَقَضَى حَاجَتَهُ ثُمَّ غَشِيَ أَهْلَهُ قَالَ يَغْتَسِلُ ثُمَّ يَعُودُ فَيَطُوفُ ثَلاثَةَ أَشْوَاطٍ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُ رَبَّهُ وَلا شَيْ‏ءَ عَلَيْهِ قُلْتُ فَإِنْ كَانَ طَافَ بِالْبَيْتِ طَوَافَ الْفَرِيضَةِ فَطَافَ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْوَاطٍ ثُمَّ غَمَزَهُ بَطْنُهُ فَخَرَجَ فَقَضَى حَاجَتَهُ فَغَشِيَ أَهْلَهُ فَقَالَ أَفْسَدَ حَجَّهُ وَعَلَيْهِ بَدَنَةٌ وَيَغْتَسِلُ ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ فَيَطُوفُ أُسْبُوعاً ثُمَّ يَسْعَى وَيَسْتَغْفِرُ رَبَّهُ قُلْتُ كَيْفَ لَمْ تَجْعَلْ عَلَيْهِ حِينَ غَشِيَ أَهْلَهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَفْرُغَ مِنْ سَعْيِهِ كَمَا جَعَلْتَ عَلَيْهِ هَدْياً حِينَ غَشِيَ أَهْلَهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَفْرُغَ مِنْ طَوَافِهِ قَالَ إِنَّ الطَّوَافَ فَرِيضَةٌ وَفِيهِ صَلاةٌ وَالسَّعْيَ سُنَّةٌ مِنْ رَسُولِ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) قُلْتُ أَ لَيْسَ الله يَقُولُ إِنَّ الصَّفا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعائِرِ الله قَالَ بَلَى وَلَكِنْ قَدْ قَالَ فِيهِمَا وَمَنْ تَطَوَّعَ خَيْراً فَإِنَّ الله شاكِرٌ عَلِيمٌ فَلَوْ كَانَ السَّعْيُ فَرِيضَةً لَمْ يَقُلْ فَمَنْ تَطَوَّعَ خَيْراً.

7. Ibn Mahbub has narrated from ‘Abd al-‘Aziz al-‘Abdiy from ‘Ubayd ibn Zurarah who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who performs seven time Tawaf around the House, then performs Sa‘y between al-Safa’ and al-Marwah four times, and feels trouble in his stomach. He then goes to his lodging and relieves himself; then he overwhelms his wife for (sexual intercourse). He (the Imam) said, ‘He must do Ghusl (bath) and return to complete his Sa‘y between al-Safa’ and al-Marwah with another three walking, ask his Lord for forgiveness and there is nothing on him.’ I then asked, ‘What is the rule if he performs obligatory Tawaf around the House, and after the fourth round of walking he feels trouble in his stomach, goes to relieve himself and overwhelms his wife for (sexual intercourse). He (the Imam) said, ‘His al-Hajj is destroyed, he owes one badanah. He must do Ghusl (bath), go back to perform Tawaf of seven times, then perform Sa‘y between al- Safa’ and al-Marwah and ask his Lord for forgiveness.’ I asked, ‘Why is there not anything on him when he performs sexual intercourse with his wife before completing Sa‘y of seven times walking for complete Sa‘y, as he owes one offering because of his sexual intercourse with his wife before completing Tawaf? He (the Imam) said, ‘Tawaf is obligatory and there is Salat (prayer) with it. Sa‘y is of the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause. I then said, ‘Has Allah not said, “Al-Safa’ and al-Marwah are of the reminders of Allah?”’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, He has done so, there are also these words of Allah (to consider), “If one volunteers goodness he will find Allah appreciative and all-Knowing.” Had Sa‘y been obligatory He would not say, “Those who volunteer”.”’ 

8ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ يَقْطِينٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ قَالَ لامْرَأَتِهِ أَوْ لِجَارِيَتِهِ بَعْدَ مَا حَلَقَ فَلَمْ يَطُفْ وَلَمْ يَسْعَ بَيْنَ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةِ اطْرَحِي ثَوْبَكِ وَنَظَرَ إِلَى فَرْجِهَا قَالَ لا شَيْ‏ءَ عَلَيْهِ إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ غَيْرَ النَّظَرِ.

8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Ali ibn Yaqtin who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about a man who before Tawaf and Sa‘y between al- Safa’ and al-Marwah and after shaving says to his wife or slave-girl to remove her clothes to one side and he looks at her vagina. He (the Imam) said, ‘There is nothing upon him if there is nothing else besides looking.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 3, Chapter 105