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 عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ الْجَهْمِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنْ أَفْضَلِ مَوْضِعٍ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ يُصَلَّى فِيهِ قَالَ الْحَطِيمُ مَا بَيْنَ الْحَجَرِ وَبَابِ الْبَيْتِ قُلْتُ وَالَّذِي يَلِي ذَلِكَ فِي الْفَضْلِ فَذَكَرَ أَنَّهُ عِنْدَ مَقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قُلْتُ ثُمَّ الَّذِي يَلِيهِ فِي الْفَضْلِ قَالَ فِي الْحِجْرِ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ الَّذِي يَلِي ذَلِكَ قَالَ كُلَّمَا دَنَا مِنَ الْبَيْتِ.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from al-Hassan ibn al-Jahm who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan, al-Rida (a.s.), about the most excellent place for salat (prayer) in Masjid al-Haram (the Sacred Masjid). He (the Imam) replied, ’It is al-Hatim, between the Black Stone and the door of the house.’ I then asked, ‘Which place is excellent thereafter?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is Maqam of Ibrahim (a.s.) .’ I then asked which one is excellent thereafter?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is inside al-Hijr.’ I then asked, ‘Which is excellent thereafter?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Whichever is closer to the House.’” 

2ـ أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأَشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ الْخَزَّازِ عَنْ أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) الصَّلاةُ فِي الْحَرَمِ كُلِّهِ سَوَاءٌ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا عُبَيْدَةَ مَا الصَّلاةُ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ كُلِّهِ سَوَاءً فَكَيْفَ يَكُونُ فِي الْحَرَمِ كُلِّهِ سَوَاءً قُلْتُ فَأَيُّ بِقَاعِهِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ مَا بَيْنَ الْبَابِ إِلَى الْحَجَرِ الأَسْوَدِ.

2. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan ibn Yahya abu Ayyub al-Khazzaz from abu ‘Ubaydah who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), if performing Salat (prayer) in all of al-Haram (the sacred area) is of the same degree of virtue. He (the Imam) said, ‘O abu ‘Ubaydah, all Salat (prayer) in Masjid al-Haram are not of the same degree of virtue; then how can it be the same in all of al-Haram (the sacred area)?’ I then asked, ‘Which part of it is more excellent?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is between the door and the Black Stone.’” 

3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ يُونُسَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنِ الْمُلْتَزَمِ لأَيِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ يُلْتَزَمُ وَأَيُّ شَيْ‏ءٍ يُذْكَرُ فِيهِ فَقَالَ عِنْدَهُ نَهَرٌ مِنْ أَنْهَارِ الْجَنَّةِ تُلْقَى فِيهِ أَعْمَالُ الْعِبَادِ عِنْدَ كُلِّ خَمِيسٍ.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from Yunus who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about al-Multazam, for what reason it is held and what is said in it. He (the Imam) said, ‘Nearby there is a canal of the canals of paradise in which the deeds of the servants (of Allah) are thrown every Thursday.’” 

4ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنِ الْكَاهِلِيِّ قَالَ كُنَّا عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فَقَالَ أَكْثِرُوا مِنَ الصَّلاةِ وَالدُّعَاءِ فِي هَذَا الْمَسْجِدِ أَمَا إِنَّ لِكُلِّ عَبْدٍ رِزْقاً يُجَازُ إِلَيْهِ جَوْزاً.

4. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ali ibn al-Hakam from al-Kahiliy who has said the following: “Once we were with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and he said, ‘You must say a great deal of Salat (prayer) and supplications in this Masjid. There is no doubt that for every servant (of Allah) there is a certain share of sustenance that is passed to him undeniably.’” 

5ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ عَنْ هَارُونَ بْنِ خَارِجَةَ عَنْ صَامِتٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ آبَائِهِ (عَلَيْهِم السَّلاَم) قَالَ الصَّلاةُ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ تَعْدِلُ مِائَةَ أَلْفِ صَلاةٍ.

5. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ali ibn abu Salmah from Flarun ibn Kharijah from Samet who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has narrated from his ancestors, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, who have said that performing Salat (prayer) in Masjid al-Haram is equal to one hundred thousand Salat (prayer) elsewhere.” 

6ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ آبَائِهِ (عَلَيْهِم السَّلاَم) قَالَ الصَّلاةُ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ تَعْدِلُ مِائَةَ أَلْفِ صَلاةٍ.

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfaliy from al-Sakuniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has narrated from his ancestors, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, who have said that performing Salat (prayer) in Masjid al-Haram is equal to one hundred thousand Salat (prayer) elsewhere.” 

7ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) أَقُومُ أُصَلِّي بِمَكَّةَ وَالْمَرْأَةُ بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ جَالِسَةٌ أَوْ مَارَّةٌ فَقَالَ لا بَأْسَ إِنَّمَا سُمِّيَتْ بَكَّةَ لأَنَّهَا تَبُكُّ فِيهَا الرِّجَالُ وَالنِّسَاءُ.

7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘ Umayr from Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘I stand up for Salat (prayer) in Makkah and a woman is sitting in front of me or is passing. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful. It is called Bakkah because men and women weep there.’” 

8ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ جَمِيلِ بْنِ دَرَّاجٍ قَالَ قَالَ لَهُ الطَّيَّارُ وَأَنَا حَاضِرٌ هَذَا الَّذِي زِيدَ هُوَ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ إِنَّهُمْ لَمْ يَبْلُغُوا بَعْدُ مَسْجِدَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه).

8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘ Umayr from Jamil ibn Darraj who has said the following: “Al-Tayyar once said to him (the Imam) (a.s.), when I also was present, ‘This thing which is added, is it of Masjid? He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is of Masjid, they still have not reached Masjid of Ibrahim and ‘Isma‘il, May Allah grant both of them favors.’” 

9ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ فَضَالَةَ بْنِ أَيُّوبَ عَنْ أَبَانٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يُصَلِّي بِمَكَّةَ يَجْعَلُ الْمَقَامَ خَلْفَ ظَهْرِهِ وَهُوَ مُسْتَقْبِلُ الْقِبْلَةِ فَقَالَ لا بَأْسَ يُصَلِّي حَيْثُ شَاءَ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ بَيْنَ يَدَيِ الْمَقَامِ أَوْ خَلْفَهُ وَأَفْضَلُهُ الْحَطِيمُ وَالْحِجْرُ وَعِنْدَ الْمَقَامِ وَالْحَطِيمُ حِذَاءَ الْبَابِ.

9. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Fadalah ibn Ayyub from Aban from Zurarah who has said the following: “I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about a man who performs Salat (prayer) in Makkah with Maqam (station) of Ibrahim ‘Alayhi al-Salam, behind him, facing al-Qiblah (al-Ka‘bah). He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful. He can perform Salat (prayer) anywhere in the Masjid, in front or behind Maqam (station) of Ibrahim ‘Alayhi al-Salam. More virtuous is al-Hatim and al-Hijr, near Maqam (station) of Ibrahim ‘Alayhi al-Salam and al-Hatim is in front of the door.’” 

10ـ فَضَالَةُ بْنُ أَيُّوبَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ كَانَ حَقُّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) بِمَكَّةَ مَا بَيْنَ الْحَزْوَرَةِ إِلَى الْمَسْعَى فَذَلِكَ الَّذِي كَانَ خَطَّهُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) يَعْنِي الْمَسْجِدَ.

10. Fadalah ibn Ayyub has narrated from ‘ Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The right of Ibrahim ‘Alayhi al-Salam was from al- Hazwarah to al-Mas‘a’; so it is the quarter which Ibrahim ‘Alayhi al-Salam had marked, that is, the area of the Masjid.’” 

11ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يُصَلِّي فِي جَمَاعَةٍ فِي مَنْزِلِهِ بِمَكَّةَ أَفْضَلُ أَوْ وَحْدَهُ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ فَقَالَ وَحْدَهُ.

11. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu Nasr who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), if a man performs Salat (prayer) in congregation in his home in Makkah is better or his performing Salat (prayer) in Masjid al-Haram alone. He (the Imam) said, ‘His performing Salat (prayer) in Masjid al-Haram alone is better.’” 

12ـ أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأَشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ ثَعْلَبَةَ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنِ الْحَطِيمِ فَقَالَ هُوَ مَا بَيْنَ الْحَجَرِ الأَسْوَدِ وَبَيْنَ الْبَابِ وَسَأَلْتُهُ لِمَ سُمِّيَ الْحَطِيمَ فَقَالَ لأَنَّ النَّاسَ يَحْطِمُ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضاً هُنَاكَ. 

12. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from ibn Faddal from Tha’labah from Mu‘awiyah who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about al-Hatim as to why it is called al-Hatim (clashing). He (the Imam) said, ‘It is because people there collide against each other.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 3, Chapter 201