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 عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي شِبْلٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ إِذَا حَلَقَ رَأْسَهُ بِمِنًى ثُمَّ دَفَنَهُ جَاءَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَكُلُّ شَعْرَةٍ لَهَا لِسَانٌ طَلْقٌ تُلَبِّي بِاسْمِ صَاحِبِهَا.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan from Ibrahim ibn Muslim from abu Shibl who has said the following: “When a believing person shaves his head and buries his hairs in Mina, on the Day of Judgment every hair comes with a clear tongue, saying Talbiyah (here I am, O Lord, to obey Your command) for the one to whom they belonged.” 

2ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ مُفَضَّلِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ تَغْلِبَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) لِلرَّجُلِ أَنْ يَغْسِلَ رَأْسَهُ بِالْخِطْمِيِّ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَحْلِقَهُ قَالَ يُقَصِّرُ وَيَغْسِلُهُ.

2. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr from Mufaddal ibn Salih from Aban ibn Taghlib who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about a person who wants to wash his head with marshmallow. He (the Imam) said, ‘He should shorten his hair, then wash.”’ 

3ـ 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) قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) يَوْمَ النَّحْرِ يَحْلِقُ رَأْسَهُ وَيُقَلِّمُ أَظْفَارَهُ وَيَأْخُذُ مِنْ شَارِبِهِ وَمِنْ أَطْرَافِ لِحْيَتِهِ.

3. 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: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, on the day of al-Nahr (slaughtering the offering, 10th of Dhu al-Hajjah) shaved his head, cut his finger nails, trimmed his mustache and the sides (edges) of his beard.’” 

4ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ إِذَا اشْتَرَيْتَ أُضْحِيَّتَكَ وَوَزَنْتَ ثَمَنَهَا وَصَارَتْ فِي رَحْلِكَ فَقَدْ بَلَغَ الْهَدْيُ مَحِلَّهُ فَإِنْ أَحْبَبْتَ أَنْ تَحْلِقَ فَاحْلِقْ.

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Ali ibn abu Hamzah who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘When you buy your offering animal, measure its price and it becomes as part of your luggage, the offering now has reached its destination, and if you like you can shave your head.’” 

5ـ وَبِإِسْنَادِهِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ جَهِلَ أَنْ يُقَصِّرَ مِنْ رَأْسِهِ أَوْ يَحْلِقَ حَتَّى ارْتَحَلَ مِنْ مِنًى قَالَ فَلْيَرْجِعْ إِلَى مِنًى حَتَّى يَحْلِقَ بِهَا شَعْرَهُ أَوْ يُقَصِّرَ وَعَلَى الصَّرُورَةِ أَنْ يَحْلِقَ.

5. Through the same chain of narrators as that of the previous Hadith the following is narrated Ali ibn abu Hamzah from abu Basir who has said the following: “I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about a man who because of ignorance does not do Taqsir (cutting some hair or finger nails and so on) or does not shave his head until he leaves Mina’. He (the Imam) said, ‘He must return to Mina’ to shave his hair or do Taqsir (cutting some hair or finger nails and so on) and a Sarurah (first time performing al-Hajj) man must shave his head.’” 

6ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ يَنْبَغِي لِلصَّرُورَةِ أَنْ يَحْلِقَ وَإِنْ كَانَ قَدْ حَجَّ فَإِنْ شَاءَ قَصَّرَ وَإِنْ شَاءَ حَلَقَ قَالَ وَإِذَا لَبَّدَ شَعْرَهُ أَوْ عَقَصَهُ فَإِنَّ عَلَيْهِ الْحَلْقَ وَلَيْسَ لَهُ التَّقْصِيرُ.

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar who has narrated the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is proper for al-Sarura (one who performs al-Hajj for the first time) to shave his head, but if he has already performed al-Hajj he then may shave or do Taqsir (cutting some hair or fingernails and so on).’ He (the Imam) has said that if one has felted or braided his hairs, he must shave.’” 

7ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ عَلَى الصَّرُورَةِ أَنْ يَحْلِقَ رَأْسَهُ وَلا يُقَصِّرَ وَإِنَّمَا التَّقْصِيرُ لِمَنْ حَجَّ حَجَّةَ الإِسْلامِ.

7. 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: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Al-Sarura (one who performs al-Hajj for the first time) must shave his head and must not do Taqsir (cutting some hair or finger nails and so on); it is for those who have already performed Hajjahta al-Islam.’” 

8ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْفُضَيْلِ عَنْ أَبِي الصَّبَّاحِ الْكِنَانِيِّ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنْ رَجُلٍ نَسِيَ أَنْ يُقَصِّرَ مِنْ شَعْرِهِ وَهُوَ حَاجٌّ حَتَّى ارْتَحَلَ مِنْ مِنًى قَالَ مَا يُعْجِبُنِي أَنْ يُلْقِيَ شَعْرَهُ إِلاَّ بِمِنًى وَقَالَ فِي قَوْلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ثُمَّ لْيَقْضُوا تَفَثَهُمْ قَالَ هُوَ الْحَلْقُ وَمَا فِي جِلْدِ الإِنْسَانِ.

8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has 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 a man who forgets to do Taqsir (cutting some hair or finger nails and so on) and he is for al-Hajj, until he leaves Mina He (the Imam) said, ’I do not like throwing the hairs in places other than MinaV About the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, . . thereafter they must spruce up themselves . . .’(22:29) he (the Imam) said that it refers to shaving and things on a man’s skin.’” 

9ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَفْصِ بْنِ الْبَخْتَرِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فِي رَجُلٍ يَحْلِقُ رَأْسَهُ بِمَكَّةَ قَالَ يَرُدُّ الشَّعْرَ إِلَى مِنًى.

9. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘ Umayr from Hafs ibn al-Bakhtariy who has said the following: “About a man who shaves in Makkah abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘He must return (take) his hairs to Mina’.’” 

10ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ غِيَاثِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ آبَائِهِ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ (عَلَيْهِم السَّلاَم) قَالَ السُّنَّةُ فِي الْحَلْقِ أَنْ يَبْلُغَ الْعَظْمَيْنِ.

10. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ghiyath ibn Ibrahim who has said the following: “Ja‘far (a.s.), has narrated from his ancestors, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, who have said, ‘The sunnah about shaving is that it must reach the two bones (down to both temple bones).”’ 

11ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ تُقَصِّرُ الْمَرْأَةُ مِنْ شَعْرِهَا لِعُمْرَتِهَا قَدْرَ أَنْمُلَةٍ.

11. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from certain persons of our people who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Taqsir (cutting some hair or finger nails and so on) in the case of women is from her hairs of the size of a finger tip.’” 

12ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) إِنَّا حِينَ نَفَرْنَا مِنْ مِنًى أَقَمْنَا أَيَّاماً ثُمَّ حَلَقْتُ رَأْسِي طَلَبَ التَّلَذُّذِ فَدَخَلَنِي مِنْ ذَلِكَ شَيْ‏ءٌ فَقَالَ كَانَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) إِذَا خَرَجَ مِنْ مَكَّةَ فَأُتِيَ بِثِيَابِهِ حَلَقَ رَأْسَهُ قَالَ وَقَالَ فِي قَوْلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ثُمَّ لْيَقْضُوا تَفَثَهُمْ وَلْيُوفُوا نُذُورَهُمْ قَالَ التَّفَثُ تَقْلِيمُ الأَظْفَارِ وَطَرْحُ الْوَسَخِ وَطَرْحُ الإِحْرَامِ.

12. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from ibn abu Nasr who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), about our case of leaving Mina’ and staying several days, then shaving my head for pleasure that raised a question in my mind. He (the Imam) said that when abu al-Hassan ‘Alayhi al-Salam, left Makkah, his clothes were brought to him and he shaved his head and said that in the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘. . . then they must spruce up and fulfill their vows. . .’ (22:29) ‘Tafath’ means cutting the finger nails, removing dirt and (clothes of) Ihram.’” 

13ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يَاسِينَ الضَّرِيرِ عَنْ حَرِيزٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ أَنَّ رَجُلاً مِنْ أَهْلِ خُرَاسَانَ قَدِمَ حَاجّاً وَكَانَ أَقْرَعَ الرَّأْسِ لا يُحْسِنُ أَنْ يُلَبِّيَ فَاسْتُفْتِيَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فَأَمَرَ أَنْ يُلَبَّى عَنْهُ وَيُمَرَّ الْمُوسَى عَلَى رَأْسِهِ فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ يُجْزِئُ عَنْهُ. 

13. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yasin al-Darir from Hariz from Zurarah who has said the following: “Once a man from Khurasan came for al-Hajj, his head had baldness and could not pronounce Talbiyah correctly. A fatwa was requested about it from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and he (the Imam) said that Talbiyah must be said on his behalf, and he must pass the blade over his head. It will be sufficient for him.’” NOTE: Fatwa best explains Hadith 3-13 of this and all of the following Chapters. 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 3, Chapter 188