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 وَسَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ شَيْبَةَ قَالَ كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) أَسْأَلُهُ عَنْ إِتْمَامِ الصَّلاةِ فِي الْحَرَمَيْنِ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيَّ كَانَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) يُحِبُّ إِكْثَارَ الصَّلاةِ فِي الْحَرَمَيْنِ فَأَكْثِرْ فِيهِمَا وَأَتِمَّ.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad and Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr from Ibrahim ibn Shaybah who has said the following: “I once wrote to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), asking him about performing salat (prayer) in complete form in the two sacred places. He (the Imam) wrote back for me, ‘The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, liked to perform a great deal of salat (prayer) in the two sacred places. You should also do so, that is, you should perform in complete form.’” 

2ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنْ إِتْمَامِ الصَّلاةِ وَالصِّيَامِ فِي الْحَرَمَيْنِ فَقَالَ أَتِمَّهَا وَلَوْ صَلاةً وَاحِدَةً.

2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about performing Salat (prayer) in complete form and fasting in the two al-Haram (the sacred places); Masjid al-Haram and Masjid of al-Madinah. He (the Imam) said, ‘You should perform Salat (prayer) in complete form, even if it is one Salat (prayer).”’ 

3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ مَرَّارٍ عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ يَقْطِينٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنِ التَّقْصِيرِ بِمَكَّةَ فَقَالَ أَتِمَّ وَلَيْسَ بِوَاجِبٍ إِلاَّ أَنِّي أُحِبُّ لَكَ مَا أُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِي.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ‘Isma‘il ibn Marrar from Yunus from Ali ibn Yaqtin who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ibrahim (a.s.), about performing Salat (prayer) in reduced form in Makkah. He (the Imam) said, ‘You should perform in complete form; but it is not obligatory, except that I like for you what I like for myself.’” 

4ـ يُونُسُ عَنْ زِيَادِ بْنِ مَرْوَانَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنْ إِتْمَامِ الصَّلاةِ فِي الْحَرَمَيْنِ فَقَالَ أُحِبُّ لَكَ مَا أُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِي أَتِمَّ الصَّلاةَ.

4. Yunus has narrated from Ziyad ibn Marwan who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ibrahim (a.s.), about performing Salat (prayer) in complete form in the two al-Haram (the sacred places), (Masjid al-Haram and Masjid of al-Madinah). He (the Imam) said, ‘I like for you what I like for myself. You should perform Salat (prayer) in complete form.’” 

5ـ يُونُسُ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) أَنَّ مِنَ الْمَذْخُورِ الإِتْمَامَ فِي الْحَرَمَيْنِ.

5. Yunus has narrated from Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is a saving to perform Salat (prayer) in complete form in the two al-Haram (the sacred places), (Masjid al-Haram and Masjid of al-Madinah).”’ 

6ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ الْمُخْتَارِ عَنْ أَبِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّا إِذَا دَخَلْنَا مَكَّةَ وَالْمَدِينَةَ نُتِمُّ أَوْ نَقْصُرُ قَالَ إِنْ قَصَرْتَ فَذَاكَ وَإِنْ أَتْمَمْتَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ يَزْدَادُ.

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Al-Husayn ibn al-Mukhtar who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ibrahim (a.s.), ‘When we enter Makkah or al-Madinah, should we perform Salat (prayer) in complete or reduced form?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If you perform in reduced form it is what it is; and if you perform in complete form it, then is an increasing good.’” 

7ـ حُمَيْدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنِ ابْنِ سَمَاعَةَ عَنْ غَيْرِ وَاحِدٍ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ مِسْمَعٍ عَنْ أَبِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ كَانَ أَبِي يَرَى لِهَذَيْنِ الْحَرَمَيْنِ مَا لا يَرَاهُ لِغَيْرِهِمَا وَيَقُولُ إِنَّ الإِتْمَامَ فِيهِمَا مِنَ الأَمْرِ الْمَذْخُورِ.

7. Humayd ibn Ziyad from ibn Sama‘ah from more than one person from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from Misma’ who has said the following: “Abu Ibrahim (a.s.), has said, ‘My father (a.s.), would see for these two al- Haram (the sacred area) what he would not see for other places and say that performing Salat (prayer) therein in complete form is of the saving matters.’” 

8ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ وَأَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مَهْزِيَارَ قَالَ كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) أَنَّ الرِّوَايَةَ قَدِ اخْتَلَفَتْ عَنْ آبَائِكَ (عَلَيْهِم السَّلاَم) فِي الإِتْمَامِ وَالتَّقْصِيرِ فِي الْحَرَمَيْنِ فَمِنْهَا بِأَنْ يُتِمَّ الصَّلاةَ وَلَوْ صَلاةً وَاحِدَةً وَمِنْهَا أَنْ يُقَصِّرَ مَا لَمْ يَنْوِ مُقَامَ عَشَرَةِ أَيَّامٍ وَلَمْ أَزَلْ عَلَى الإِتْمَامِ فِيهَا إِلَى أَنْ صَدَرْنَا فِي حَجِّنَا فِي عَامِنَا هَذَا فَإِنَّ فُقَهَاءَ أَصْحَابِنَا أَشَارُوا عَلَيَّ بِالتَّقْصِيرِ إِذْ كُنْتُ لا أَنْوِي مُقَامَ عَشَرَةِ أَيَّامٍ فَصِرْتُ إِلَى التَّقْصِيرِ وَقَدْ ضِقْتُ بِذَلِكَ حَتَّى أَعْرِفَ رَأْيَكَ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيَّ بِخَطِّهِ قَدْ عَلِمْتَ يَرْحَمُكَ الله فَضْلَ الصَّلاةِ فِي الْحَرَمَيْنِ عَلَى غَيْرِهِمَا فَإِنِّي أُحِبُّ لَكَ إِذَا دَخَلْتَهُمَا أَنْ لا تَقْصُرَ وَتُكْثِرَ فِيهِمَا الصَّلاةَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ بِسَنَتَيْنِ مُشَافَهَةً إِنِّي كَتَبْتُ إِلَيْكَ بِكَذَا وَأَجَبْتَنِي بِكَذَا فَقَالَ نَعَمْ فَقُلْتُ أَيَّ شَيْ‏ءٍ تَعْنِي بِالْحَرَمَيْنِ فَقَالَ مَكَّةَ وَالْمَدِينَةَ. 

8. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Ahmad ibn Muhammad from all from Ali ibn Mahziyar from who has said the following: “I once wrote to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), that Ahadith from your ancestors about performing Salat (prayer) in the two al-Haram (the Sacred places) in complete form exist in disagreement. Certain ones say that it is in complete form even if it is just one Salat (prayer) and others say that it is in reduced form unless you decide to stay there for ten days. I however continue to perform in complete form until this year during our al-Hajj, when our scholars of fiqh advised me to perform in reduced form because I did not intend to stay for ten days; so I turned to reduced form and I remain stressed until I receive your instruction. He (the Imam) wrote to me with his own hand writing, ‘You have come to know, may Allah grant you blessings, of the virtue of the performing Salat (prayer) in the two al-Haram (the Sacred places), over the other places; thus I like for you that when you enter them not to perform your Salat (prayer) in reduced form. You should perform a great deal of Salat (prayer) therein.’ I then after two years spoke to him about it face to face saying, ‘I wrote to you about such and such issues and you answered as such and such.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, so it was.’ I then asked, ‘What do you mean by the two al-Haram (the Sacred places)?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is Makkah and al-Madinah.’” NOTE: Fatwa best explains Hadith 2-8 of this Chapter) 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 3, Chapter 200