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 وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ جَمِيعاً عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى وَابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ إِذَا دَخَلْتَ الْمَسْجِدَ الْحَرَامَ فَادْخُلْهُ حَافِياً عَلَى السَّكِينَةِ وَالْوَقَارِ وَالْخُشُوعِ وَقَالَ وَمَنْ دَخَلَهُ بِخُشُوعٍ غَفَرَ الله لَهُ إِنْ شَاءَ الله قُلْتُ مَا الْخُشُوعُ قَالَ السَّكِينَةُ لا تَدْخُلْهُ بِتَكَبُّرٍ فَإِذَا انْتَهَيْتَ إِلَى بَابِ الْمَسْجِدِ فَقُمْ وَقُلِ السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ الله وَبَرَكَاتُهُ بِسْمِ الله وَبِالله وَمِنَ الله وَمَا شَاءَ الله وَالسَّلامُ عَلَى أَنْبِيَاءِ الله وَرُسُلِهِ وَالسَّلامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ الله وَالسَّلامُ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَالْحَمْدُ لله رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ فَإِذَا دَخَلْتَ الْمَسْجِدَ فَارْفَعْ يَدَيْكَ وَاسْتَقْبِلِ الْبَيْتَ وَقُلِ اللهمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ فِي مَقَامِي هَذَا فِي أَوَّلِ مَنَاسِكِي أَنْ تَقْبَلَ تَوْبَتِي وَأَنْ تَجَاوَزَ عَنْ خَطِيئَتِي وَتَضَعَ عَنِّي وِزْرِي الْحَمْدُ لله الَّذِي بَلَّغَنِي بَيْتَهُ الْحَرَامَ اللهمَّ إِنِّي أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ هَذَا بَيْتُكَ الْحَرَامُ الَّذِي جَعَلْتَهُ مَثَابَةً لِلنَّاسِ وَأَمْناً مُبَارَكاً وَهُدًى لِلْعَالَمِينَ اللهمَّ إِنِّي عَبْدُكَ وَالْبَلَدُ بَلَدُكَ وَالْبَيْتُ بَيْتُكَ جِئْتُ أَطْلُبُ رَحْمَتَكَ وَأَؤُمُّ طَاعَتَكَ مُطِيعاً لأَمْرِكَ رَاضِياً بِقَدَرِكَ أَسْأَلُكَ مَسْأَلَةَ الْمُضْطَرِّ إِلَيْكَ الْخَائِفِ لِعُقُوبَتِكَ اللهمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ وَاسْتَعْمِلْنِي بِطَاعَتِكَ وَمَرْضَاتِكَ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and Muhammad ibn Isma‘il from af-Fadf ibn Shadhan all from Safwan ibn Yahya and Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when you enter Masjid al-Haram (the Sacred Masjid), you should be barefoot, in a dignified, serene and humble manner.’ He (the Imam) said, ’One who enters in a humble manner, Allah forgives his sins by His will.’ I (the narrator) then asked, ’What is al-Khushu’ (humbleness)?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘It is al-Sakinah (a dignified manner). You must not enter with arrogance. When you reach the door of al-Masjid, stand up and say, “O Holy Prophet, you deserve peace, Allah’s kindness and blessings. (I commence) with the help of the name of Allah, with Allah, from Allah and with whatever Allah wishes. Peace and safety is due in favor of the prophets of Allah and His messengers. Peace and submission is due in favor of the Messenger of Allah and Ibrahim. All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds.” When you enter al-Masjid, raise your hands, face the House and say, “O Allah, I appeal before You, in this place where I am at the beginning of the acts of my Hajj, to accept my repentance, ignore my mistakes, and remove my burdens of sins. All thanks and praise belong to Allah for taking me to His Sacred House. O Allah, I testify that this is Your Sacred House, which You have made a place for people to earn rewards, a sanctuary, a blessed (House) and guidance for the worlds. O Allah, I am your servant, this town is Your town and this house is your House. I have come to seek Your kindness with the intention to obey You, submitted to your command and I agree with your measures. I appeal before You like a helpless person before You who is afraid of Your punishment. O Allah, open for me the doors to Your kindness and mercy and make me work in obedience to You and according to Your pleasure.’”” 

2ـ وَرَوَى أَبُو بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ تَقُولُ وَأَنْتَ عَلَى بَابِ الْمَسْجِدِ بِسْمِ الله وَبِالله وَمِنَ الله وَمَا شَاءَ الله وَعَلَى مِلَّةِ رَسُولِ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَخَيْرُ الأَسْمَاءِ لله وَالْحَمْدُ لله وَالسَّلامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) السَّلامُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ الله وَبَرَكَاتُهُ السَّلامُ عَلَى أَنْبِيَاءِ الله وَرُسُلِهِ السَّلامُ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلِ الرَّحْمَنِ السَّلامُ عَلَى الْمُرْسَلِينَ وَالْحَمْدُ لله رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ السَّلامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ الله الصَّالِحِينَ اللهمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَارْحَمْ مُحَمَّداً وَآلَ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ وَبَارَكْتَ وَتَرَحَّمْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَآلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ اللهمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَبْدِكَ وَرَسُولِكَ وَعَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلِكَ وَعَلَى أَنْبِيَائِكَ وَرُسُلِكَ وَسَلِّمْ عَلَيْهِمْ وَسَلامٌ عَلَى الْمُرْسَلِينَ وَالْحَمْدُ لله رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ اللهمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ وَاسْتَعْمِلْنِي فِي طَاعَتِكَ وَمَرْضَاتِكَ وَاحْفَظْنِي بِحِفْظِ الإِيمَانِ أَبَداً مَا أَبْقَيْتَنِي جَلَّ ثَنَاءُ وَجْهِكَ الْحَمْدُ لله الَّذِي جَعَلَنِي مِنْ وَفْدِهِ وَزُوَّارِهِ وَجَعَلَنِي مِمَّنْ يَعْمُرُ مَسَاجِدَهُ وَجَعَلَنِي مِمَّنْ يُنَاجِيهِ اللهمَّ إِنِّي عَبْدُكَ وَزَائِرُكَ فِي بَيْتِكَ وَعَلَى كُلِّ مَأْتِيٍّ حَقٌّ لِمَنْ أَتَاهُ وَزَارَهُ وَأَنْتَ خَيْرُ مَأْتِيٍّ وَأَكْرَمُ مَزُورٍ فَأَسْأَلُكَ يَا الله يَا رَحْمَانُ بِأَنَّكَ أَنْتَ الله الَّذِي لا إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ وَحْدَكَ لا شَرِيكَ لَكَ وَبِأَنَّكَ وَاحِدٌ أَحَدٌ صَمَدٌ لَمْ تَلِدْ وَلَمْ تُولَدْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُواً أَحَدٌ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُكَ وَرَسُولُكَ صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَى أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ يَا جَوَادُ يَا كَرِيمُ يَا مَاجِدُ يَا جَبَّارُ يَا كَرِيمُ أَسْأَلُكَ أَنْ تَجْعَلَ تُحْفَتَكَ إِيَّايَ بِزِيَارَتِي إِيَّاكَ أَوَّلَ شَيْ‏ءٍ تُعْطِينِي فَكَاكَ رَقَبَتِي مِنَ النَّارِ اللهمَّ فُكَّ رَقَبَتِي مِنَ النَّارِ تَقُولُهَا ثَلاثاً وَأَوْسِعْ عَلَيَّ مِنْ رِزْقِكَ الْحَلالِ الطَّيِّبِ وَادْرَأْ عَنِّي شَرَّ شَيَاطِينِ الإِنْسِ وَالْجِنِّ وَشَرَّ فَسَقَةِ الْعَرَبِ وَالْعَجَمِ. 

2. Abu Basir has narrated who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that you should say this when you are at the door of Masjid al-Haram (the Sacred Masjid). ‘(I begin) with the help of the name of Allah, with Allah, from Allah, with whatever Allah wishes and according to the religion of the Messenger of Allah, and that the best names belong to Allah and that all praise belongs to Allah. “Peace, obedience and submission to commandments are due in favor of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause. Peace, obedience and submission to commandments are due in favor of Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause. Peace, obedience and submission to commandments are due in Your favor of you, O Holy Prophet, along with His mercy and blessings. Peace and blessings is due in favor of the prophets of Allah and His messengers. Peace and blessings are due in favor of Ibrahim, the friend of the Beneficent. Peace and blessings are due in favor of all messengers and all praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds. May Allah grant us and the virtuous servants of Allah peace and blessings. O Allah, grant salawat (favors and compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause); grant blessings up on Muhammad and the family of Muhammad; grant mercy up on Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You have granted favors, blessings and mercy up on Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are praiseworthy and glorious. O Allah, grant salawat (favors and compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause) to Your servant, Your Messenger, and grant favors up on Ibrahim, Your friend, and on Your prophets, Your messengers; grant them peace and to the messengers. All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds. “O Allah, open for me the doors to Your kindness, make me to work in obedience to Your commandments and in accordance with Your pleasure. O Allah, protect me with the protection of belief as long as You keep me living. Glorious is praise of Your face. All praise belongs to Allah who has made me one of His delegates, visitors and has made me of those who build His Masjids and one of those who speak to Him. O Allah, I am Your servant, Your visitor in Your House. Every visitor has rights before the one whom he visits and You are the best of visited ones and the most honorable host. I appeal before You O Allah, O Beneficent, You are Allah, beside whom no one deserves worship. You alone deserve worship without partners. You are One, the only one and self-sufficient, who is not born and does not give birth to any one and there is no one like Him. Muhammad is Your servant, Your Messenger. O Allah, grant salawat (favors and compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause), O (Allah You are) generous, honorable, glorious, dominant and honorable one. I appeal before You to make my reward for visiting You the first to set my neck free from hellfire. O Allah, set my neck free from hellfire’- saying it three times - ‘and expand for me my sustenance of the lawful and pure. Keep away from me the wickedness of Satans of mankind and Jinn, and the evil of the sinful all Arab and non- Arab people.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 3, Chapter 119