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 مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ جَهْمٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) أَيُّمَا أَفْضَلُ الْمُقَامُ بِمَكَّةَ أَوْ بِالْمَدِينَةِ فَقَالَ أَيَّ شَيْ‏ءٍ تَقُولُ أَنْتَ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ وَمَا قَوْلِي مَعَ قَوْلِكَ قَالَ إِنَّ قَوْلَكَ يَرُدُّكَ إِلَى قَوْلِي قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ أَمَّا أَنَا فَأَزْعُمُ أَنَّ الْمُقَامَ بِالْمَدِينَةِ أَفْضَلُ مِنَ الْمُقَامِ بِمَكَّةَ قَالَ فَقَالَ أَمَا لَئِنْ قُلْتَ ذَلِكَ لَقَدْ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) ذَاكَ يَوْمَ فِطْرٍ وَجَاءَ إِلَى رَسُولِ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ ثُمَّ قَالَ قَدْ فَضَلْنَا النَّاسَ الْيَوْمَ بِسَلامِنَا عَلَى رَسُولِ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه).

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from al-Hassan ibn Jahm who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), ‘Is staying in Makkah more virtuous or in al- Madinah?’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘What do you say about it?’ I (the narrator) replied, ‘My words are not of any significance before your words.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Your words return you to my words.’ I (the narrator) then said, ‘I believe staying in al-Madinah is more virtuous than in Makkah.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘What you said is the same as what abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said on a day of ‘Id al-Fitr during his visit of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause. He offered his al-Salam in the Masjid and said, ‘We today have been given preference over people due to our offering al-Salam to the Messenger of Allah.’” 

2ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ حَدِيدٍ عَنْ مُرَازِمٍ قَالَ دَخَلْتُ أَنَا وَعَمَّارٌ وَجَمَاعَةٌ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) بِالْمَدِينَةِ فَقَالَ مَا مُقَامُكُمْ فَقَالَ عَمَّارٌ قَدْ سَرَّحْنَا ظَهْرَنَا وَأَمَرْنَا أَنْ نُؤْتَى بِهِ إِلَى خَمْسَةَ عَشَرَ يَوْماً فَقَالَ أَصَبْتُمُ الْمُقَامَ فِي بَلَدِ رَسُولِ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَالصَّلاةَ فِي مَسْجِدِهِ وَاعْمَلُوا لآِخِرَتِكُمْ وَأَكْثِرُوا لأَنْفُسِكُمْ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ قَدْ يَكُونُ كَيِّساً فِي الدُّنْيَا فَيُقَالُ مَا أَكْيَسَ فُلاناً وَإِنَّمَا الْكَيِّسُ كَيِّسُ الآخِرَةِ.

2. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ali ibn Hadid from Murazim who has said the following: “Once ‘Ammar, a group and I went to visit abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), in al-Madinah and he asked, ‘For how long have you decided to stay in al-Madinah?’ ‘Ammar said, ‘We have sent our camels to pasture for fifteen days.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Your decision to stay in the town of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and performing salat (prayer) in the Masjid is a proper one. You should work for your next life for yourselves a great deal. A man can be very intelligent in the worldly matters and people say, “How intelligent he is!” In fact, a true intelligent person is one who is intelligent in matters of the next life.’” 

3ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو الزَّيَّاتِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ مَنْ مَاتَ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ بَعَثَهُ الله فِي الآمِنِينَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مِنْهُمْ يَحْيَى بْنُ حَبِيبٍ وَأَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ الْحَذَّاءُ وَعَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ الْحَجَّاجِ.

3. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Muhammad ibn ‘Amr al- Zayyat who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that if one dies in al-Madinah, Allah will raise him on the Day of Judgment among those who have received immunity. Of such people are Yahya ibn Habib, abu ‘Ubaydah al-Hadhdha’ and ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Hajjaj.” 

4ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ إِذَا دَخَلْتَ الْمَسْجِدَ فَإِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَنْ تُقِيمَ ثَلاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ الأَرْبِعَاءَ وَالْخَمِيسَ وَالْجُمُعَةَ فَصَلِّ مَا بَيْنَ الْقَبْرِ وَالْمِنْبَرِ يَوْمَ الأَرْبِعَاءِ عِنْدَ الأُسْطُوَانَةِ الَّتِي تَلِي الْقَبْرَ فَتَدْعُو الله عِنْدَهَا وَتَسْأَلُهُ كُلَّ حَاجَةٍ تُرِيدُهَا فِي آخِرَةٍ أَوْ دُنْيَا وَالْيَوْمَ الثَّانِيَ عِنْدَ أُسْطُوَانَةِ التَّوْبَةِ وَيَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ عِنْدَ مَقَامِ النَّبِيِّ (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) مُقَابِلَ الأُسْطُوَانَةِ الْكَثِيرَةِ الْخَلُوقِ فَتَدْعُو الله عِنْدَهُنَّ لِكُلِّ حَاجَةٍ وَتَصُومُ تِلْكَ الثَّلاثَةَ الأَيَّامِ.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad from al-Halabiy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when you enter the Masjid, if you can stay three days, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, perform salat (prayer) between the grave and the pulpit. On Wednesday, perform salat (prayer) near the pillar next to the grave. Appeal before Allah and ask Him for your wishes for the matters of the next life or the worldly matters. On the second day, perform salat (prayer) near al-Tawbah pillar and on Friday near the Maqam of the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, opposite to the pillar of abundant fragrance. Appeal before Allah for your wishes and fast during these three days.” 

5ـ ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) صُمِ الأَرْبِعَاءَ وَالْخَمِيسَ وَالْجُمُعَةَ وَصَلِّ لَيْلَةَ الأَرْبِعَاءِ وَيَوْمَ الأَرْبِعَاءِ عِنْدَ الأُسْطُوَانَةِ الَّتِي تَلِي رَأْسَ النَّبِيِّ (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَلَيْلَةَ الْخَمِيسِ وَيَوْمَ الْخَمِيسِ عِنْدَ أُسْطُوَانَةِ أَبِي لُبَابَةَ وَلَيْلَةَ الْجُمُعَةِ وَيَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ عِنْدَ الأُسْطُوَانَةِ الَّتِي تَلِي مَقَامَ النَّبِيِّ (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَادْعُ بِهَذَا الدُّعَاءِ لِحَاجَتِكَ وَهُوَ اللهمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ بِعِزَّتِكَ وَقُوَّتِكَ وَقُدْرَتِكَ وَجَمِيعِ مَا أَحَاطَ بِهِ عِلْمُكَ أَنْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَأَنْ تَفْعَلَ بِي كَذَا وَكَذَا. 

5. Ibn abu ‘Umayr has narrated from Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘You should fast on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Perform salat (prayer) during Wednesday night and day near the pillar next to the head of the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause. During Thursday night and day, perform salat (prayer) near the pillar of abu Lubabah. During Friday night and day, perform salat (prayer) near the pillar next to Maqam of the Holy Prophet and say this prayer for your wishes. “O Allah, I appeal before You through Your majesty, through Your power, through Your measures and through all things which are encompassed in Your knowledge to grant salawat (favors and compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause) and make my so and so wishes come true.’”” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 3, Chapter 219