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 سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنِ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ صَبِيحٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) بَلَغَنَا أَنَّ عُمْرَةً فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ تَعْدِلُ حَجَّةً فَقَالَ إِنَّمَا كَانَ ذَلِكَ فِي امْرَأَةٍ وَعَدَهَا رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَقَالَ لَهَا اعْتَمِرِي فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَهِيَ لَكِ حَجَّةٌ.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Hammad ibn ‘Uthman from al-Walid ibn Sabih who has said the following: “I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘It is narrated to us that performing al-‘Umrah in the month of Ramadan is equal to al-Hajj. He (the Imam) said, ‘This was only about a woman to whom the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, had promised saying, “Perform al-‘Umrah in the month of Ramadan; it will be al-Hajj for you.’”” 

2ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ وَأَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مَهْزِيَارَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ حَدِيدٍ قَالَ كُنْتُ مُقِيماً بِالْمَدِينَةِ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ سَنَةَ ثَلاثَ عَشْرَةَ وَمِائَتَيْنِ فَلَمَّا قَرُبَ الْفِطْرُ كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) أَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الْخُرُوجُ فِي عُمْرَةِ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ أَفْضَلُ أَوْ أُقِيمُ حَتَّى يَنْقَضِيَ الشَّهْرُ وَأُتِمَّ صَوْمِي فَكَتَبَ إِلَيَّ كِتَاباً قَرَأْتُهُ بِخَطِّهِ سَأَلْتَ رَحِمَكَ الله عَنْ أَيُّ الْعُمْرَةِ أَفْضَلُ عُمْرَةُ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ أَفْضَلُ يَرْحَمُكَ الله.

2. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Ahmad ibn Muhammad all from Ali ibn Mahziyar from Ali ibn Hadid who has said the following: “I had decided to stay in al-Madinah in the month of Ramadan in the year two hundred thirteen. When al-Fitr came close I wrote to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), and asked if leaving for al-‘Umrah in the month of Ramadan is better or to stay to complete fasting. He (the Imam) wrote to me a letter that I read was in his own handwriting that said, ‘You have asked, may Allah grant you blessing, about which al-‘Umrah is more excellent. Al-’Umrah in the month of Ramadan is more excellent. May Allah grant you blessings.’” 

3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنِ ابْنِ بُكَيْرٍ عَنْ عِيسَى الْفَرَّاءِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ إِذَا أَهَلَّ بِالْعُمْرَةِ فِي رَجَبٍ وَأَحَلَّ فِي غَيْرِهِ كَانَتْ عُمْرَتُهُ لِرَجَبٍ وَإِذَا أَهَلَّ فِي غَيْرِ رَجَبٍ وَطَافَ فِي رَجَبٍ فَعُمْرَتُهُ لِرَجَبٍ.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from ibn Bukayr from ‘Isa al-Farra’ who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one says Talbiyah for al-‘Umrah in the month of Rajab and comes out of the state of Ihram in another month, his al-‘Umrah is considered as al-‘Umrah in the month of Rajab. If one says Talbiyah for al-‘Umrah in another month and comes out of the state of Ihram in the month of Rajab, his al-‘Umrah is al-‘Umrah in the month of Rajab.’” 

4ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ قَالَ كَانَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) إِذَا أَرَادَ الْعُمْرَةَ انْتَظَرَ إِلَى صَبِيحَةِ ثَلاثٍ وَعِشْرِينَ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ ثُمَّ يَخْرُجُ مُهِلاًّ فِي ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ.

4. Al-FIusayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla’ ibn Muhammad from al-FIassan ibn Ali from Flammad ibn ‘Uthaman who has said the following: “When abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), wanted to perform al-‘Umrah he (the Imam) would wait until the morning of the twenty-third of the month of Ramadan, then saying Talbiyah leave on that day.” (Fatwa best explains Hadith 1-4 of this Chapter) 

5ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَفْصِ بْنِ الْبَخْتَرِيِّ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ الْحَجَّاجِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فِي رَجُلٍ أَحْرَمَ فِي شَهْرٍ وَأَحَلَّ فِي آخَرَ فَقَالَ يُكْتَبُ لَهُ فِي الَّذِي قَدْ نَوَى أَوْ يُكْتَبُ لَهُ فِي أَفْضَلِهِمَا.

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Flafs ibn al-Bakhtariy from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Hajjaj who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that a man who assumes the state of Ihram during a month and comes out of it during the next month, the Imam said, ‘This is counted al-‘Umrah in the month in which he has made his intention or al-‘Umrah in the more virtuous month.’” 

6ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ الْمُعْتَمِرُ يَعْتَمِرُ فِي أَيِّ شُهُورِ السَّنَةِ شَاءَ وَأَفْضَلُ الْعُمْرَةِ عُمْرَةُ رَجَبٍ.

6. Muhammad ibn Isma‘il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from Safwan ibn Yahya from Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who said: “One may perform al-‘Umrah during any month of the year. The best al-‘Umrah is the al-'Umrah of (the month of) Rajab.” 

7ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْوَشَّاءِ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ الْعُمْرَةُ بَعْدَ الْحَجِّ قَالَ إِذَا أَمْكَنَ الْمُوسَى مِنَ الرَّأْسِ. 

7. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla’ ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Washsha’ from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from ‘ Abd al-Rahman ibn abu ‘ Abd Allah who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘Is al-‘Umrah after al-Hajj?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If that is the case then the shaving blade is enabled to work over the head/” NOTE: (Fatwa best explains Hadith 7 of this Chapter) 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 3, Chapter 208