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 أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنْ رَجُلٍ يَحُجُّ بِدَيْنٍ وَقَدْ حَجَّ حَجَّةَ الإِسْلامِ قَالَ نَعَمْ إِنَّ الله سَيَقْضِي عَنْهُ إِنْ شَاءَ الله.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from his father from abu Talib from Ya’qub ibn Shu’ayb who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who performs al-Hajj with money that he has borrowed and has already performed Hajjata al-Islam. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, he can do so; Allah will pay it off for him if Allah so wills.”’ 

2ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْفُضَيْلِ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ بَكْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الأَوَّلِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ هَلْ يَسْتَقْرِضُ الرَّجُلُ وَيَحُجُّ إِذَا كَانَ خَلْفَ ظَهْرِهِ مَا يُؤَدَّى عَنْهُ إِذَا حَدَثَ بِهِ حَدَثٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ.

2. Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ali from Muhammad ibn al-Fudayl from Musa ibn Bakr who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about one’s borrowing for expenses of al-Hajj, if behind him there is an asset that can pay off the loan, in case something happens to him. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, he can do so.’” 

3ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنِ الرَّجُلِ عَلَيْهِ دَيْنٌ يَسْتَقْرِضُ وَيَحُجُّ قَالَ إِنْ كَانَ لَهُ وَجْهٌ فِي مَالٍ فَلا بَأْسَ.

3. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ali ibn al-Hakam from ‘Abd al-Malik ibn ‘Utbah who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about a man who owes a loan already; if he can borrow for al-Hajj expenses. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful if he has an asset that can pay off the loan.’” 

4ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ أَبِي هَمَّامٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِلرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) الرَّجُلُ يَكُونُ عَلَيْهِ الدَّيْنُ وَيَحْضُرُهُ الشَّيْ‏ءُ أَ يَقْضِي دَيْنَهُ أَوْ يَحُجُّ قَالَ يَقْضِي بِبَعْضٍ وَيَحُجُّ بِبَعْضٍ قُلْتُ فَإِنَّهُ لا يَكُونُ إِلاَّ بِقَدْرِ نَفَقَةِ الْحَجِّ فَقَالَ يَقْضِي سَنَةً وَيَحُجُّ سَنَةً فَقُلْتُ أُعْطِيَ الْمَالَ مِنْ نَاحِيَةِ السُّلْطَانِ قَالَ لا بَأْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ.

4. Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa has narrated from abu Hammam who has said the following: “I once asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), about a man who owes a debt and he earns a certain amount; if he must pay the debt or perform al-Hajj. He (the Imam) said, ‘With a certain part he pays the debt and with other part performs al-Hajj.’ I then asked, ‘What happens if it is only enough for al-Hajj?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘One year he pays the debt, and one year performs al-Hajj.’ I then asked, ‘Can an amount be received from Sultan?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful in the case of all of you.’” 

5ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ وَهْبٍ عَنْ غَيْرِ وَاحِدٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) يَكُونُ عَلَيَّ الدَّيْنُ فَيَقَعُ فِي يَدِيَ الدَّرَاهِمُ فَإِنْ وَزَّعْتُهَا بَيْنَهُمْ لَمْ يَبْقَ شَيْ‏ءٌ أَ فَأَحُجُّ بِهَا أَوْ أُوَزِّعُهَا بَيْنَ الْغُرَّامِ فَقَالَ تَحُجُّ بِهَا وَادْعُ الله أَنْ يَقْضِيَ عَنْكَ دَيْنَكَ.

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Mu‘awiyah ibn Wahab from more than one person who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the debt that I owe and I have a certain amount of dirham, which if I divide among the creditors, not anything will be left for al-Hajj expenses. He (the Imam) said, ‘Perform al-Hajj with it and appeal before Allah to pay off your debts.’” 

6ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْبَرْقِيِّ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ بَكْرٍ الْوَاسِطِيِّ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَسْتَقْرِضُ وَيَحُجُّ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ خَلْفَ ظَهْرِهِ مَالٌ إِنْ حَدَثَ بِهِ حَدَثٌ أُدِّيَ عَنْهُ فَلا بَأْسَ. 

6. Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa has narrated from al-Barqiy from Ja’far ibn Bashir from Musa ibn Bakr al-Wasitiy who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about a man who borrows for al-Hajj. He (the Imam) said, ‘If he leaves behind an asset that can pay off his debt in case something happens to him, then it is not harmful.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 3, Chapter 40