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 مُعَاوِيَةَ وَحَمَّادٍ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ قَالَ لا تُصَلِّ الْمَغْرِبَ حَتَّى تَأْتِيَ جَمْعاً فَتُصَلِّيَ بِهَا الْمَغْرِبَ وَالْعِشَاءَ الآخِرَةَ بِأَذَانٍ وَاحِدٍ وَإِقَامَتَيْنِ وَانْزِلْ بِبَطْنِ الْوَادِي عَنْ يَمِينِ الطَّرِيقِ قَرِيباً مِنَ الْمَشْعَرِ وَيُسْتَحَبُّ لِلصَّرُورَةِ أَنْ يَقِفَ عَلَى الْمَشْعَرِ الْحَرَامِ وَيَطَأَهُ بِرِجْلِهِ وَلا يُجَاوِزِ الْحِيَاضَ لَيْلَةَ الْمُزْدَلِفَةِ وَيَقُولُ اللهمَّ هَذِهِ جَمْعٌ اللهمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ أَنْ تَجْمَعَ لِي فِيهَا جَوَامِعَ الْخَيْرِ اللهمَّ لا تُؤْيِسْنِي مِنَ الْخَيْرِ الَّذِي سَأَلْتُكَ أَنْ تَجْمَعَهُ لِي فِي قَلْبِي وَأَطْلُبُ إِلَيْكَ أَنْ تُعَرِّفَنِي مَا عَرَّفْتَ أَوْلِيَاءَكَ فِي مَنْزِلِي هَذَا وَأَنْ تَقِيَنِي جَوَامِعَ الشَّرِّ وَإِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَنْ تُحْيِيَ تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ فَافْعَلْ فَإِنَّهُ بَلَغَنَا أَنَّ أَبْوَابَ السَّمَاءِ لا تُغْلَقُ تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ لأَصْوَاتِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ لَهُمْ دَوِيٌّ كَدَوِيِّ النَّحْلِ يَقُولُ الله جَلَّ ثَنَاؤُهُ أَنَا رَبُّكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ عِبَادِي أَدَّيْتُمْ حَقِّي وَحَقٌّ عَلَيَّ أَنْ أَسْتَجِيبَ لَكُمْ فَيَحُطُّ الله تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ عَمَّنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَحُطَّ عَنْهُ ذُنُوبَهُ وَيَغْفِرُ لِمَنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَغْفِرَ لَهُ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Mu‘awiyah and Hammad from al-Halabiy who has said the following: (NOTE: Fatwa best explains the beginning of this Hadith.)“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that you must not perform al-Maghrib Salat (prayer) until you arrive at al-Jam‘ so that you can perform both al-Maghrib and al-‘Isha’ al-’Akhirah with one Adhan and two ’Iqamah. You must disembark in valley on the right side of the road near al-Mash‘ar. One who performs al-Hajj for the first time should stay in al-Mash‘ar al-Haram, walk on foot but must not pass Hiyaz in the night of al-Muzdalifah, and should say, ‘O Allah, this is an assembly. O Allah, I appeal before You to accumulate for me all goodness. O Allah, do not deprive me of the goodness for which I have appealed before You, and accumulate all of it in my heart. I appeal before You to make me learn what You have made Your friends to learn at this place, and keep me safe from all wickedness and evil.’ You should remain, if you can, that night awake. It has come to us that the doors of the heaven remain open that night for the voices of the believing people, who express a humming voice like honey bees. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, says, ‘I am Your Lord and you are My servants. You have yielded to My rights and it is necessary for Me to answer your prayers.’ During that night Allah deletes the sins of whomever He wants and forgives whomever He decides to forgive.’” 

2ـ أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأَشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ عَنْبَسَةَ بْنِ مُصْعَبٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنِ الرَّكَعَاتِ الَّتِي بَعْدَ الْمَغْرِبِ لَيْلَةَ الْمُزْدَلِفَةِ فَقَالَ صَلِّهَا بَعْدَ الْعِشَاءِ أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ.

2. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan ibn Muskan from ‘Anbasah ibn Mus’ab who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the Rak‘ats of Salat (prayer) after al-Maghrib during the night of al-Muzdalifah. He (the Imam) said, ‘Perform them after al-‘Isha’ as four Rak‘at.’” 

3ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ رَجُلٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ يُسْتَحَبُّ لِلصَّرُورَةِ أَنْ يَطَأَ الْمَشْعَرَ الْحَرَامَ وَأَنْ يَدْخُلَ الْبَيْتَ.

3. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla’ ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from a man who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is preferable for al-Sarura (one who performs al-Hajj for the first time) to walk on al-Mash‘ar al-Haram (name of a place) and enter the House. ’’’(Fatwa best explains Hadith 2-3 of this Chapter.) 

4ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى وَابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ أَصْبِحْ عَلَى طُهْرٍ بَعْدَ مَا تُصَلِّي الْفَجْرَ فَقِفْ إِنْ شِئْتَ قَرِيباً مِنَ الْجَبَلِ وَإِنْ شِئْتَ حَيْثُ شِئْتَ فَإِذَا وَقَفْتَ فَاحْمَدِ الله وَأَثْنِ عَلَيْهِ وَاذْكُرْ مِنْ آلائِهِ وَبَلائِهِ مَا قَدَرْتَ عَلَيْهِ وَصَلِّ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَلْيَكُنْ مِنْ قَوْلِكَ اللهمَّ رَبَّ الْمَشْعَرِ الْحَرَامِ فُكَّ رَقَبَتِي مِنَ النَّارِ وَأَوْسِعْ عَلَيَّ مِنْ رِزْقِكَ الْحَلالِ وَادْرَأْ عَنِّي شَرَّ فَسَقَةِ الْجِنِّ وَالإِنْسِ اللهمَّ أَنْتَ خَيْرُ مَطْلُوبٍ إِلَيْهِ وَخَيْرُ مَدْعُوٍّ وَخَيْرُ مَسْئُولٍ وَلِكُلِّ وَافِدٍ جَائِزَةٌ فَاجْعَلْ جَائِزَتِي فِي مَوْطِنِي هَذَا أَنْ تُقِيلَنِي عَثْرَتِي وَتَقْبَلَ مَعْذِرَتِي وَأَنْ تَجَاوَزَ عَنْ خَطِيئَتِي ثُمَّ اجْعَلِ التَّقْوَى مِنَ الدُّنْيَا زَادِي ثُمَّ أَفِضْ حِينَ يُشْرِقُ لَكَ ثَبِيرٌ وَتَرَى الإِبِلُ مَوْضِعَ أَخْفَافِهَا.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr and Muhammad ibn Isma‘il from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan 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 you must remain with a valid Wudu’ in the morning. After performing the morning salat (prayer), stay if you like, near the hill, or wherever you like. Praise Allah and thank Him, speak of His bounties and of His trials as much as you can and say, ‘O Allah, grant salawat (favors and compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause). This should be of what you may say, ‘O Allah, Lord of al-Mash‘ar al-Haram, set my neck free from hellfire, increase my sustenance of the lawful kind, keep away from me wickedness of sinful Jinn and man. O Allah, You are the best of those who are sought, the best of those before whom appeals are made and the best of those who are asked for help. Every delegate receives a gift. As gifts for me, ignore my mistakes, accept my excuses and forgive my transgressions; thereafter make piety my supplies of this world.’ Then leave as soon as it becomes bright enough to see the footprints of camels.’” 

5ـ أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأَشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) أَيُّ سَاعَةٍ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ أَنْ أُفِيضَ مِنْ جَمْعٍ فَقَالَ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ بِقَلِيلٍ فَهِيَ أَحَبُّ السَّاعَاتِ إِلَيَّ قُلْتُ فَإِنْ مَكَثْنَا حَتَّى تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ قَالَ لَيْسَ بِهِ بَأْسٌ.

5. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan ibn Yahya from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ibrahim (a.s.), about the time in which he likes to leave al-Jam' (Mash’ar). He (the Imam) said, ‘It is a little before sunrise. That is the best hour to me.’ I asked, ‘Can we wait until sunrise?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’” 

6ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ لا تُجَاوِزْ وَادِيَ مُحَسِّرٍ حَتَّى تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ. 

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn al-Hakam who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘You must not cross Wadiy Muhassar (valley) until it is sunrise.’” (Fatwa best explains Ahadith 5-6 of this Chapter) 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 3, Chapter 167