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 وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ وَصَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ أَمَرَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) حِينَ نَحَرَ أَنْ تُؤْخَذَ مِنْ كُلِّ بَدَنَةٍ حُذْوَةٌ مِنْ لَحْمِهَا ثُمَّ تُطْرَحَ فِي بُرْمَةٍ ثُمَّ تُطْبَخَ وَأَكَلَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَعَلِيٌّ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) مِنْهَا وَحَسَوَا مِنْ مَرَقِهَا.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr Muhammad ibn ‘Isma‘il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr and from Safwan ibn Yahya from Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, commanded to take a share from the meat of each badanah, then cook it in a pot. The Messenger of Allah and Ali ‘Alayhim al-Salam, ate from the meat and sipped the broth thereof.” 

2ـ حُمَيْدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنِ ابْنِ سَمَاعَةَ عَنْ غَيْرِ وَاحِدٍ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فِي قَوْلِ الله تَعَالَى فَإِذا وَجَبَتْ جُنُوبُها قَالَ إِذَا وَقَعَتْ عَلَى الأَرْضِ فَكُلُوا مِنْها وَأَطْعِمُوا الْقانِعَ وَالْمُعْتَرَّ قَالَ الْقَانِعُ الَّذِي يَرْضَى بِمَا أَعْطَيْتَهُ وَلا يَسْخَطُ وَلا يَكْلَحُ وَلا يَلْوِي شِدْقَهُ غَضَباً وَالْمُعْتَرُّ الْمَارُّ بِكَ لِتُطْعِمَهُ.

2. Humayd ibn Ziyad has narrated from ibn Sama‘ah from more than one person from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn abu ‘Abd Allah who has said the following: “This is about the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘When their sides reach the ground.’ (22:36) Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that it means when they fall on the ground. ‘. . . use it for food and feed thereof to those contented and those who ask.’ (22:36) He (the Imam) said that al-Qani‘ are those who become gratified, do not become angry, frown or twist the corner of their mouths out of anger and al-Mu‘tar is one who passes by so you feed him.’” 

3ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْفُضَيْلِ عَنْ أَبِي الصَّبَّاحِ الْكِنَانِيِّ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنْ لُحُومِ الأَضَاحِيِّ فَقَالَ كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ وَأَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) يَتَصَدَّقَانِ بِثُلُثٍ عَلَى جِيرَانِهِمْ وَثُلُثٍ عَلَى السُّؤَّالِ وَثُلُثٌ يُمْسِكُونَهُ لأَهْلِ الْبَيْتِ.

3. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn ‘Isma‘il from Muhammad ibn al-Fudayl from abu al-Sabbah al-Kinaniy who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the meat of offering animals. He (the Imam) said, ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn and abu Ja‘far, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, would give one-third as charity to their neighbors, one-third to those who ask and beg and kept one-third for their household.’” 

4ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ وَحُمَيْدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنِ ابْنِ سَمَاعَةَ عَنْ غَيْرِ وَاحِدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنِ الْهَدْيِ مَا يَأْكُلُ مِنْهُ الَّذِي يُهْدِيهِ فِي مُتْعَتِهِ وَغَيْرِ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ كَمَا يَأْكُلُ مِنْ هَدْيِهِ.

4. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla’ ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali and Flumayd ibn Ziyad from ibn Sama‘ah from more than one person all from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from ‘Abd al-Rahman who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the meat of the offering animals and what is used thereof for food which is offered for al-Tamattu‘ (advantageous) and so on. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is just as one uses his offering for food.’” 

5ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنْ فِدَاءِ الصَّيْدِ يَأْكُلُ صَاحِبُهُ مِنْ لَحْمِهِ فَقَالَ يَأْكُلُ مِنْ أُضْحِيَّتِهِ وَيَتَصَدَّقُ بِالْفِدَاءِ.

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Flammad from al-Halabiy who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the expiation because of hunting; if one paying the expiation can eat thereof. He (the Imam) said, ‘He can eat from his offerings and he must give the expiation as charity.’” 

6ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فِي قَوْلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَإِذا وَجَبَتْ جُنُوبُها فَكُلُوا مِنْها وَأَطْعِمُوا الْقانِعَ وَالْمُعْتَرَّ قَالَ الْقَانِعُ الَّذِي يَقْنَعُ بِمَا أَعْطَيْتَهُ وَالْمُعْتَرُّ الَّذِي يَعْتَرِيكَ وَالسَّائِلُ الَّذِي يَسْأَلُكَ فِي يَدَيْهِ وَالْبَائِسُ هُوَ الْفَقِيرُ.

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and Muhammad ibn ‘Isma‘il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from Safwan from Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “This is about the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘When their sides reach the ground then eat thereof and feed to those contented and those who ask.’ (22:36) Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said al-Qani‘ is one who becomes satisfied with what you give them. Al-Mu‘tar are those who find you, al-Sa’il are those who beg you with their hands and al-Ba’is are the poor.’” 

7ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ جَمِيلٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ إِخْرَاجِ لُحُومِ الأَضَاحِيِّ مِنْ مِنًى فَقَالَ كُنَّا نَقُولُ لا يُخْرَجْ مِنْهَا شَيْ‏ءٌ لِحَاجَةِ النَّاسِ إِلَيْهِ فَأَمَّا الْيَوْمَ فَقَدْ كَثُرَ النَّاسُ فَلا بَأْسَ بِإِخْرَاجِهِ.

7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Jamil from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘ Abdillah (a.s.), about taking out from Mina the meat of the offering animals. He (the Imam) said, ‘We would say that it must not be taken out of Mina because people needed. Today, however, the number of people has increased, thus it is not harmful to take out of Mina.” 

8ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ مَرَّارٍ عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَهْدَى هَدْياً فَانْكَسَرَ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ مَضْمُوناً وَالْمَضْمُونُ مَا كَانَ فِي يَمِينٍ يَعْنِي نَذْراً أَوْ جَزَاءً فَعَلَيْهِ فِدَاؤُهُ قُلْتُ أَ يَأْكُلُ مِنْهُ فَقَالَ لا إِنَّمَا هُوَ لِلْمَسَاكِينِ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ مَضْمُوناً فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ قُلْتُ أَ يَأْكُلُ مِنْهُ قَالَ يَأْكُلُ مِنْهُ وَرُوِيَ أَيْضاً أَنَّهُ يَأْكُلُ مِنْهُ مَضْمُوناً كَانَ أَوْ غَيْرَ مَضْمُونٍ.

8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ‘Isma‘il ibn Marrar from Yunus from ibn Muskan from abu Basir who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who offers an offering but it sustains damage. He (the Imam) said, ‘If it is binding and obligatory such as because of swearing, or vow or as penalty, he owes ransom.’ I then asked, ‘Can he eat thereof?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘No, because it is for the destitute, if it is not binding and obligatory, he is not obligated for anything in this matter.’ I asked, ‘Can he eat thereof?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, he can eat.’” NOTE: It is also narrated that he can eat thereof, regardless of its being of binding and obligatory or non- obligatory reasons. 

9ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَسْبَاطٍ عَنْ مَوْلىً لأَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ رَأَيْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الأَوَّلَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) دَعَا بِبَدَنَةٍ فَنَحَرَهَا فَلَمَّا ضَرَبَ الْجَزَّارُونَ عَرَاقِيبَهَا فَوَقَعَتْ إِلَى الأَرْضِ وَكَشَفُوا شَيْئاً عَنْ سَنَامِهَا قَالَ اقْطَعُوا وَكُلُوا مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا فَإِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَقُولُ فَإِذا وَجَبَتْ جُنُوبُها فَكُلُوا مِنْها وَأَطْعِمُوا.

9. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ali ibn Asbat from a slave of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), who has said the following: “I saw abu al-Hassan, al-Awwal (a.s.), ask for a badanah and he slaughtered it. When the butchers cut off its veins and it fell on the ground and they uncovered its hump he (the Imam) told them to get something thereof and eat; Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has said, ‘When their sides reach the ground eat and feed thereof.’” 

10ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ حَنَانِ بْنِ سَدِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) وَعَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْفُضَيْلِ عَنْ أَبِي الصَّبَّاحِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالا نَهَانَا رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) عَنْ لُحُومِ الأَضَاحِيِّ بَعْدَ ثَلاثٍ ثُمَّ أَذِنَ فِيهَا وَقَالَ كُلُوا مِنْ لُحُومِ الأَضَاحِيِّ بَعْدَ ثَلاثٍ وَادَّخِرُوا. 

10. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn ‘Isma‘il from Hanan ibn Sadir from abu Ja‘far (a.s.), and from Muhammad ibn al-Fudayl from abu al-Sabbah al-Kinaniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, prohibited us from the meat of offering after three days then he granted permission, saying ‘Eat of the meat of offerings after three days and preserve.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 3, Chapter 186