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 عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ زِيَادِ بْنِ أَبِي الْحَلاَّلِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ مَا مِنْ نَبِيٍّ وَلا وَصِيِّ نَبِيٍّ يَبْقَى فِي الأَرْضِ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ثَلاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ حَتَّى تُرْفَعَ رُوحُهُ وَعَظْمُهُ وَلَحْمُهُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ وَإِنَّمَا تُؤْتَى مَوَاضِعُ آثَارِهِمْ وَيُبَلِّغُونَهُمْ مِنْ بَعِيدٍ السَّلامَ وَيَسْمَعُونَهُمْ فِي مَوَاضِعِ آثَارِهِمْ مِنْ قَرِيبٍ.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Ziyad ibn abu al-Hallal who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that no one of the prophets and the executors of the will of the prophets remain on earth for more than three days, within which time his Ruh (spirit), bones and flesh are taken to the heaven. People come only to the places where their marks are left. They convey and express their al-Salam from distant places and they hear them nearby in the places where their marks are left.” 

2ـ أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأَشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ مُوسَى عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْوَشَّاءِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) يَقُولُ إِنَّ لِكُلِّ إِمَامٍ عَهْداً فِي عُنُقِ أَوْلِيَائِهِ وَشِيعَتِهِ وَإِنَّ مِنْ تَمَامِ الْوَفَاءِ بِالْعَهْدِ وَحُسْنِ الأَدَاءِ زِيَارَةَ قُبُورِهِمْ فَمَنْ زَارَهُمْ رَغْبَةً فِي زِيَارَتِهِمْ وَتَصْدِيقاً بِمَا رَغِبُوا فِيهِ كَانَ أَئِمَّتُهُمْ شُفَعَاءَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ.

2. Abu Ali al-Ash'ari narrated from Abdullah ibn Musa, from al-Hasan ibn Ali al-Washsha', who said that he heard Imam al-Ridha (as) say: "Indeed, every Imam has a covenant upon his supporters and followers. And among the complete fulfillment of the covenant and good performance is the visitation of their graves. So whoever visits them out of desire for visiting them and in affirmation of what they desired will have their Imams as their intercessors on the Day of Resurrection."

3ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ أَبِي هَاشِمٍ الْجَعْفَرِيِّ قَالَ بَعَثَ إِلَيَّ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فِي مَرَضِهِ وَإِلَى مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حَمْزَةَ فَسَبَقَنِي إِلَيْهِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَمْزَةَ وَأَخْبَرَنِي مُحَمَّدٌ مَا زَالَ يَقُولُ ابْعَثُوا إِلَى الْحَيْرِ ابْعَثُوا إِلَى الْحَيْرِ فَقُلْتُ لِمُحَمَّدٍ أَ لا قُلْتَ لَهُ أَنَا أَذْهَبُ إِلَى الْحَيْرِ ثُمَّ دَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ وَقُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَنَا أَذْهَبُ إِلَى الْحَيْرِ فَقَالَ انْظُرُوا فِي ذَاكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي إِنَّ مُحَمَّداً لَيْسَ لَهُ سِرٌّ مِنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ وَأَنَا أَكْرَهُ أَنْ يَسْمَعَ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لِعَلِيِّ بْنِ بِلالٍ فَقَالَ مَا كَانَ يَصْنَعُ بِالْحَيْرِ وَهُوَ الْحَيْرُ فَقَدِمْتُ الْعَسْكَرَ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لِي اجْلِسْ حِينَ أَرَدْتُ الْقِيَامَ فَلَمَّا رَأَيْتُهُ أَنِسَ بِي ذَكَرْتُ لَهُ قَوْلَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ بِلالٍ فَقَالَ لِي أَ لا قُلْتَ لَهُ إِنَّ رَسُولَ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) كَانَ يَطُوفُ بِالْبَيْتِ وَيُقَبِّلُ الْحَجَرَ وَحُرْمَةُ النَّبِيِّ وَالْمُؤْمِنِ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ حُرْمَةِ الْبَيْتِ وَأَمَرَهُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَنْ يَقِفَ بِعَرَفَةَ وَإِنَّمَا هِيَ مَوَاطِنُ يُحِبُّ الله أَنْ يُذْكَرَ فِيهَا فَأَنَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ يُدْعَى الله لِي حَيْثُ يُحِبُّ الله أَنْ يُدْعَى فِيهَا وَذَكَرَ عَنْهُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ وَلَمْ أَحْفَظْ عَنْهُ قَالَ إِنَّمَا هَذِهِ مَوَاضِعُ يُحِبُّ الله أَنْ يُتَعَبَّدَ لَهُ فِيهَا فَأَنَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ يُدْعَى لِي حَيْثُ يُحِبُّ الله أَنْ يُعْبَدَ هَلاَّ قُلْتَ لَهُ كَذَا [وَ كَذَا] قَالَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ لَوْ كُنْتُ أُحْسِنُ مِثْلَ هَذَا لَمْ أَرُدَّ الأَمْرَ عَلَيْكَ هَذِهِ أَلْفَاظُ أَبِي هَاشِمٍ لَيْسَتْ أَلْفَاظَهُ.

3. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from abu Hashim al-Ja’fariy who has said the following: “Once, abu al-Hassan (a.s.), during his illness, called me and Muhammad ibn Hamzah. Muhammad ibn Hamzah went to him before me. Muhammad told me that he (the Imam) still says, ‘You must send someone to al-Hayr (shrine of Imam al-Husayn) to pray there so I get well soon.’ I then asked Muhammad, ‘Did you not tell him (the Imam) that I am going to al-Hayr?’ I then went to the Imam and said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, I am going to al-Hayr.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘You must consider it properly.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Muhammad does not possess the secret (belief in the divine authority of Imam) from Zayd ibn Ali, (his father) and I do not like that he hears this.’ He (the narrator) has said that he mentioned this to Ali ibn Bilal. He said, ‘What does he (Imam) want from al-Hayr (shrine of Imam al-Hassan)? He himself is al-Hayr.’ I then went to the army camp near his home. He (the Imam) said, ‘Sit down’, when I wanted to stand up to leave. When I found that he was comfortable with me, I then mentioned to him the words of Ali ibn Bilal. He (the Imam) said to me, ‘Why did you not tell him that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, would perform Tawaf around the House and kiss the Black Stone? The greatness of the prophet and believers is greater than the greatness of the House. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, commanded him to stay in ‘Arafah. Allah loves wherein He loves to be spoken of. I love that prayer is made for me before Allah wherein Allah loves prayers that are made before Him.’ He (the narrator) has said that he mentioned certain things from the Imam that I did not save from him. He (the Imam) said, ‘These are places wherein Allah loves that He is worshipped. I thus love that prayers be made for me wherein Allah loves to be worshipped. Why did you not say so and so to him.’ He, abu Hashim has said that I then said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause. Could I do as good as this (what you said), I would not bring the matter before you.’ These are the words of abu Hashim, not the words of Imam.” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 3, Chapter 226