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 مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنِ ابْنِ بُكَيْرٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) إِنَّا نُرِيدُ أَنْ نَخْرُجَ إِلَى مَكَّةَ مُشَاةً فَقَالَ لَنَا لا تَمْشُوا وَاخْرُجُوا رُكْبَاناً قُلْتُ أَصْلَحَكَ الله إِنَّهُ بَلَغَنَا عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَحُجُّ مَاشِياً فَقَالَ كَانَ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ (عَلَيْهِما السَّلاَم) يَحُجُّ مَاشِياً وَتُسَاقُ مَعَهُ الْمَحَامِلُ وَالرِّحَالُ.

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from ibn Bukayr who has said the following: “I once said to abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), that we want to leave for Makkah on foot. He (the Imam) said, ‘You must not go on foot. Go riding/ I then said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep you well, we are told that al-Hassan ibn Ali (a.s.), would perform al-Hajj on foot.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Al-Hassan, ibn Ali (a.s.), performed al-Hajj on foot and accompanied carriages on camel’s backs and riding camels.’” 

2ـ أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأَشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ سَيْفٍ التَّمَّارِ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَبِي عَبْدِ الله إِنَّا كُنَّا نَحُجُّ مُشَاةً فَبَلَغَنَا عَنْكَ شَيْ‏ءٌ فَمَا تَرَى قَالَ إِنَّ النَّاسَ لَيَحُجُّونَ مُشَاةً وَيَرْكَبُونَ قُلْتُ لَيْسَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ أَسْأَلُكَ قَالَ فَعَنْ أَيِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ سَأَلْتَ قُلْتُ أَيُّهُمَا أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ أَنْ نَصْنَعَ قَالَ تَرْكَبُونَ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ أَقْوَى لَكُمْ عَلَى الدُّعَاءِ وَالْعِبَادَةِ.

2. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan ibn Yahya from Sayf al-Tammar who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about performing al-Hajj on foot, a Hadith that had been narrated from him (the Imam) and his view about it. He (the Imam) said, ‘People perform al-Hajj both on foot and riding.’ I then said that that is not my question.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘What was your question?’ I asked, ‘Which way is more desirable to you?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘I like that you travel riding because it preserves your strength for supplications and worship.’” 

3ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنِ الْمَشْيُ أَفْضَلُ أَوِ الرُّكُوبُ فَقَالَ إِذَا كَانَ الرَّجُلُ مُوسِراً فَمَشَى لِيَكُونَ أَقَلَّ لِنَفَقَتِهِ فَالرُّكُوبُ أَفْضَلُ.

3. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn abu Hamzah from abu Basir who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about traveling for al-Hajj if on foot is more virtuous or riding. He (the Imam) said, ‘If one is affluent and he travels on foot to reduce his expenses then riding is more virtuous.’” 

4ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ رِفَاعَةَ وَابْنِ بُكَيْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) أَنَّهُ سُئِلَ عَنِ الْحَجِّ مَاشِياً أَفْضَلُ أَوْ رَاكِباً قَالَ بَلْ رَاكِباً فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) حَجَّ رَاكِباً.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Rifa‘ah and ibn Bukayr who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about traveling for al-Hajj if on foot was more virtuous or riding. He (the Imam) said, ‘Riding is more virtuous because the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, traveled for al-Hajj riding.’” 

5ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ فَضَالَةَ بْنِ أَيُّوبَ عَنْ رِفَاعَةَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنْ مَشْيِ الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) مِنْ مَكَّةَ أَوْ مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ قَالَ مِنْ مَكَّةَ وَسَأَلْتُهُ إِذَا زُرْتُ الْبَيْتَ أَرْكَبُ أَوْ أَمْشِي فَقَالَ كَانَ الْحَسَنُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) يَزُورُ رَاكِباً وَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرُّكُوبُ أَفْضَلُ أَوِ الْمَشْيُ فَقَالَ الرُّكُوبُ قُلْتُ الرُّكُوبُ أَفْضَلُ مِنَ الْمَشْيِ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ لأَنَّ رَسُولَ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) رَكِبَ.

5. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Fadalah ibn Ayyub from Rifa‘ah who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of al-Hassan (a.s.), and his walking on foot; if it was from Makkah or al-Madinah. He (the Imam) said, ‘It was from Makkah.’ I then asked, ‘If I visit the House, should I walk on foot or riding?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Al-Hassan (a.s.), would visit riding.’ I then asked, ‘Is riding more virtuous or walking on foot?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Riding is more virtuous than walking on foot because the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, did so riding.’” 

6ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ مَتَى يَنْقَطِعُ مَشْيُ الْمَاشِي قَالَ إِذَا رَمَى جَمْرَةَ الْعَقَبَةِ وَحَلَقَ رَأْسَهُ فَقَدِ انْقَطَعَ مَشْيُهُ فَلْيَزُرْ رَاكِباً.

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-FIakam from Ali ibn abu Hamzah who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man traveling on foot; where it stops? He (the Imam) said, ‘When one throws the pebbles on Jamarah al-‘Aqabah and shaves his head his walking stops, and he must visit riding.”’ 

7ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ هَمَّامٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فِي الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ الْمَشْيُ فِي الْحَجِّ إِذَا رَمَى الْجِمَارَ زَارَ الْبَيْتَ رَاكِباً وَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ. 

7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Isma’il ibn Hammam who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), has said that abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the one who travels on foot for al-Hajj, has said, ‘When one throws pebbles on Jamar, he can visit the House riding; and he is not obligated for anything in this matter.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 3, Chapter 158