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 الْحَسَنِ عَنْ زُرْعَةَ عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ السَّعْيِ بَيْنَ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةِ قَالَ إِذَا انْتَهَيْتَ إِلَى الدَّارِ الَّتِي عَلَى يَمِينِكَ عِنْدَ أَوَّلِ الْوَادِي فَاسْعَ حَتَّى تَنْتَهِيَ إِلَى أَوَّلِ زُقَاقٍ عَنْ يَمِينِكَ بَعْدَ مَا تُجَاوِزُ الْوَادِيَ إِلَى الْمَرْوَةِ فَإِذَا انْتَهَيْتَ إِلَيْهِ فَكُفَّ عَنِ السَّعْيِ وَامْشِ مَشْياً وَإِذَا جِئْتَ مِنْ عِنْدِ الْمَرْوَةِ فَابْدَأْ مِنْ عِنْدِ الزُّقَاقِ الَّذِي وَصَفْتُ لَكَ فَإِذَا انْتَهَيْتَ إِلَى الْبَابِ الَّذِي مِنْ قِبَلِ الصَّفَا بَعْدَ مَا تُجَاوِزُ الْوَادِيَ فَاكْفُفْ عَنِ السَّعْيِ وَامْشِ مَشْياً فَإِنَّمَا السَّعْيُ عَلَى الرِّجَالِ وَلَيْسَ عَلَى النِّسَاءِ سَعْيٌ.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Hassan from Zur‘ah from Sanaa ‘ah who has said the following: “About Sa‘y (walking faster like running slowly) between al-Safa’ and al-Marwah, I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.). He (the Imam) said, ‘When you reach the first house on your right side in the beginning of the valley, then walk faster like running slowly until the beginning of the lanes on your right side, then stop Sa‘y (walking faster like running slowly) after you pass the valley toward al- Marwah. When you reach it stop walking fast and walk normally. When you are coming back from al- Marwah then in the beginning of the lanes which I mentioned begin Sa‘y (walking faster like running slowly) and when you arrive at the door from the side of al-Safa’ after passing the valley then stop Sa‘y (walking faster like running slowly) and walk normally. Sa‘y (walking faster like running slowly) is for men only. Sa‘y in such manner is not for women.”’ 

2ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ غِيَاثِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ كَانَ أَبِي يَسْعَى بَيْنَ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةِ مَا بَيْنَ بَابِ ابْنِ عَبَّادٍ إِلَى أَنْ يَرْفَعَ قَدَمَيْهِ مِنَ الْمَسِيلِ لا يَبْلُغُ زُقَاقَ آلِ أَبِي حُسَيْنٍ.

2. Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ghiyath ibn Ibrahim who has said the following: “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘My father (a.s.), would perform Sa‘y (walking faster like running slowly) between al-Safa’ and al-Marwah between the door of ibn ‘Abbad up to where he stepped over the drain of the valley before the lane of Ale abu Husayn.’” (Ahadith 1-2 of this Chapter are best explained in the form of fatwa). 

3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) يَقُولُ مَا مِنْ بُقْعَةٍ أَحَبَّ إِلَى الله مِنَ الْمَسْعَى لأَنَّهُ يُذِلُّ فِيهَا كُلَّ جَبَّارٍ. وَرُوِيَ أَنَّهُ سُئِلَ لِمَ جُعِلَ السَّعْيُ فَقَالَ مَذَلَّةً لِلْجَبَّارِينَ.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Muhammad ibn Aslam from Yunus from abu Basir who said: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘No piece of land is more beloved to Allah than the area for walking (between al-Safa’ and al-Marwah); because it humbles every tyrant.’ It is narrated that he was asked, ‘Why was al-Sa‘y made to be?‘, so he said, ‘To humbles the tyrants.’” 

4ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ لَيْسَ لله مَنْسَكٌ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ السَّعْيِ وَذَلِكَ أَنَّهُ يُذِلُّ فِيهِ الْجَبَّارِينَ.

4. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad who in a marfu‘ manner has said the following: “He (the Imam) has said, ‘No act of Hajj is more beloved to Allah than ‘Sa‘y’ because it humbles the tyrants.’” 

5ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ التَّيْمُلِيِّ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ رَجُلٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ جُعِلَ السَّعْيُ بَيْنَ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةِ مَذَلَّةً لِلْجَبَّارِينَ.

5. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from al-Taymuliy from al-Husayn ibn Ahmad al-Halabiy from his father from a man who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Sa‘y (walking) between al-Safa’ and al-Marwah is made to humble the tyrants.” 

6ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ انْحَدِرْ مِنَ الصَّفَا مَاشِياً إِلَى الْمَرْوَةِ وَعَلَيْكَ السَّكِينَةَ وَالْوَقَارَ حَتَّى تَأْتِيَ الْمَنَارَةَ وَهِيَ عَلَى طَرَفِ الْمَسْعَى فَاسْعَ مِلأَ فُرُوجِكَ وَقُلْ بِسْمِ الله وَالله أَكْبَرُ وَصَلَّى الله عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ اللهمَّ اغْفِرْ وَارْحَمْ وَتَجَاوَزْ عَمَّا تَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتَ الأَعَزُّ الأَكْرَمُ حَتَّى تَبْلُغَ الْمَنَارَةَ الأُخْرَى فَإِذَا جَاوَزْتَهَا فَقُلْ يَا ذَا الْمَنِّ وَالْفَضْلِ وَالْكَرَمِ وَالنَّعْمَاءِ وَالْجُودِ اغْفِرْ لِي ذُنُوبِي إِنَّهُ لا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ ثُمَّ امْشِ وَعَلَيْكَ السَّكِينَةَ وَالْوَقَارَ حَتَّى تَأْتِيَ الْمَرْوَةَ فَاصْعَدْ عَلَيْهَا حَتَّى يَبْدُوَ لَكَ الْبَيْتُ وَاصْنَعْ عَلَيْهَا كَمَا صَنَعْتَ عَلَى الصَّفَا وَطُفْ بَيْنَهُمَا سَبْعَةَ أَشْوَاطٍ تَبْدَأُ بِالصَّفَا وَتَخْتِمُ بِالْمَرْوَةِ.

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that climb down from al-Safa’, walking to al-Marwah in a calm and dignified manner up to the sign; then walk faster and say, ‘I begin by the help of the name of Allah, Allah is great beyond description. O Allah, I appeal before You to grant salawat (favors and compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause). O Allah, forgive me, be kind and merciful to me and ignore what You know (about me) and You are majestic and honorable.’ Then walk until you reach the other sign. When you pass this sign say, ‘O munificent, generous, honorable, bountiful and benevolent, forgive my sins; no one is able to forgive sins except You.’ Then walk in a calm and dignified manner until you reach al-Marwah. Climb up until you can see the House, then do what you had done at al-Safa’, then walk between them seven times beginning from al-Safa’ to end at al-Marwah.’” 

7ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَسْبَاطٍ عَنْ مَوْلىً لأَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ قَالَ رَأَيْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) يَبْتَدِئُ بِالسَّعْيِ مِنْ دَارِ الْقَاضِي الْمَخْزُومِيِّ قَالَ وَيَمْضِي كَمَا هُوَ إِلَى زُقَاقِ الْعَطَّارِينَ.

7. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ali ibn Asbat from Mawla’ abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), from people of al-Madinah who has said the following: “I saw abu al-Hassan (a.s.), perform Sa‘y (walking faster like running slowly) from the house of al-Qadiy al-Makhzumiy.’ He has said that he (the Imam) continued until he reached the lane of al-‘Attarin (perfume sellers).”’ 

8ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ حُكَيْمٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الصَّيْرَفِيِّ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا قَالَ سُئِلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنِ السَّعْيِ بَيْنَ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةِ فَرِيضَةٌ أَمْ سُنَّةٌ فَقَالَ فَرِيضَةٌ قُلْتُ أَ وَلَيْسَ قَالَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَلا جُناحَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِما قَالَ كَانَ ذَلِكَ فِي عُمْرَةِ الْقَضَاءِ إِنَّ رَسُولَ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) شَرَطَ عَلَيْهِمْ أَنْ يَرْفَعُوا الأَصْنَامَ مِنَ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةِ فَتَشَاغَلَ رَجُلٌ وَتَرَكَ السَّعْيَ حَتَّى انْقَضَتِ الأَيَّامُ وَأُعِيدَتِ الأَصْنَامُ فَجَاءُوا إِلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ الله إِنَّ فُلاناً لَمْ يَسْعَ بَيْنَ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةِ وَقَدْ أُعِيدَتِ الأَصْنَامُ فَأَنْزَلَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَلا جُناحَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِما أَيْ وَعَلَيْهِمَا الأَصْنَامُ.

8. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Mu‘awiyah ibn Hakim from Muhammad Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Sayrafiy from certain persons of our people who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the Sa‘y between al-Safa’ and al-Marwah if it is obligatory or Sunnah. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is obligatory.’ I then asked, ‘What is the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘. . . then it is not harmful for him to perform Tawaf of them.’ (2:158). He (the Imam) said, ‘This was in al-‘Umrah of al-Qada’ when the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, set a condition on them to remove the idols from al-Safa’ and al-Marwah that distracted people from performing Sa‘y (walking faster like running slowly). Days passed and idols were brought back, and they came to the Messenger of Allah saying, ‘So and so did not perform Sa‘y (walking faster like running slowly) and the idols are brought back.’ Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, revealed, ‘. . . it is not harmful to perform Tawaf between al-Safa’ and al-Marwah,’ that is, even though there are idols on them.’” (Ahadith 7-8 of this Chapter are best explained in the form of fatwa) 

9ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ عَطِيَّةَ عَنْ سَعِيدٍ الأَعْرَجِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنْ رَجُلٍ تَرَكَ شَيْئاً مِنَ الرَّمَلِ فِي سَعْيِهِ بَيْنَ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةِ قَالَ لا شَيْ‏ءَ عَلَيْهِ وَرُوِيَ أَنَّ الْمَسْعَى كَانَ أَوْسَعَ مِمَّا هُوَ الْيَوْمَ وَلَكِنَّ النَّاسَ ضَيَّقُوهُ.

9. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Malik ibn ‘Atiyyah from Sa‘id al-’A‘raj who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who did not walk faster between the two signs during Sa‘y of al-Safa’ and al-Marwah. He (the Imam) replied, ‘It is not necessary for him to do anything.’ It is narrated that the area of “al-Mas‘a (the area for Sa‘y)’” was greater than it is today. People have reduced this area.’” 

10ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فِي رَجُلٍ تَرَكَ السَّعْيَ مُتَعَمِّداً قَالَ عَلَيْهِ الْحَجُّ مِنْ قَابِلٍ. 

10. 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 intentionally does not perform Sa‘y between al-Safa’ and al-Marwah. He (the Imam) said, ‘He owes al-Hajj in future.’” (Hadith 10 of this and the following Chapters are best explained in the form of fatwa). 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 3, Chapter 142