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 مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ مُثَنًّى الْحَنَّاطِ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَحَدِهِمَا (عَلَيْهِما السَّلاَم) قَالَ إِذَا حَجَّ الرَّجُلُ بِابْنِهِ وَهُوَ صَغِيرٌ فَإِنَّهُ يَأْمُرُهُ أَنْ يُلَبِّيَ وَيَفْرِضَ الْحَجَّ فَإِنْ لَمْ يُحْسِنْ أَنْ يُلَبِّيَ لُبِّيَ عَنْهُ وَيُطَافُ بِهِ وَيُصَلَّى عَنْهُ قُلْتُ لَيْسَ لَهُمْ مَا يَذْبَحُونَ قَالَ يُذْبَحُ عَنِ الصِّغَارِ وَيَصُومُ الْكِبَارُ وَيُتَّقَى عَلَيْهِمْ مَا يُتَّقَى عَلَى الْمُحْرِمِ مِنَ الثِّيَابِ وَالطِّيبِ فَإِنْ قَتَلَ صَيْداً فَعَلَى أَبِيهِ.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu Nasr from Muthanna’ al- Hannat from Zurarah who has said the following: “One of the two Imam, (abu Ja’far or abu ‘Abd Allah), ‘Alayhim al-Salam, has said, ’If a man performs al-Hajj along with his small son, he must instruct him to say Talbiyah and make al-Hajj obligatory. If he cannot say Talbiyah correctly, he (the father) must say it on his behalf, make him to perform Tawaf and perform Salat (prayer) on his behalf.’ I then asked, are they not required to offer al-Hady (sacrifice)?’ He (the Imam) said, ’Sacrifice is required for small ones and fast is required from grown up people, and they must stay away in the state of Ihram from whatever the grown up people must stay away, and if he kills a prey his father must pay the expiation.’” 

2ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْكَرِيمِ عَنْ أَيُّوبَ أَخِي أُدَيْمٍ قَالَ سُئِلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) مِنْ أَيْنَ يُجَرَّدُ الصِّبْيَانُ فَقَالَ كَانَ أَبِي يُجَرِّدُهُمْ مِنْ فَخٍّ.

2. Ahmad ibn abu Nasr has narrated from ‘Abd al-Karim from Ayyub brother of ’Udaym who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked, ‘Where from are children required to assume the state of Ihram?’ He (the Imam) said, ’My father would make them to assume the state of Ihram from Fakhkh (name of a place).”’ 

3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) إِنَّ مَعِي صِبْيَةً صِغَاراً وَأَنَا أَخَافُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْبَرْدَ فَمِنْ أَيْنَ يُحْرِمُونَ قَالَ ائْتِ بِهِمُ الْعَرْجَ فَيُحْرِمُوا مِنْهَا فَإِنَّكَ إِذَا أَتَيْتَ الْعَرْجَ وَقَعْتَ فِي تِهَامَةَ ثُمَّ قَالَ فَإِنْ خِفْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَائْتِ بِهِمُ الْجُحْفَةَ.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from al-Hassan ibn Ali from Yunus ibn Ya’qub from his father who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of small children with me and I am afraid for them of cold. Where from must they assume the state of Ihram? He (the Imam) said, ‘Bring them to al-‘Arj (a place) and you are in Tihamah (a place).’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘If you are afraid for them, bring them to al-Juhfah.’” 

4ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ انْظُرُوا مَنْ كَانَ مَعَكُمْ مِنَ الصِّبْيَانِ فَقَدِّمُوهُ إِلَى الْجُحْفَةِ أَوْ إِلَى بَطْنِ مَرٍّ وَيُصْنَعُ بِهِمْ مَا يُصْنَعُ بِالْمُحْرِمِ وَيُطَافُ بِهِمْ وَيُرْمَى عَنْهُمْ وَمَنْ لا يَجِدُ مِنْهُمْ هَدْياً فَلْيَصُمْ عَنْهُ وَلِيُّهُ وَكَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيْهِما السَّلاَم) يَضَعُ السِّكِّينَ فِي يَدِ الصَّبِيِّ ثُمَّ يَقْبِضُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ الرَّجُلُ فَيَذْبَحُ.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘See if there are children with you, bring them to al- Juhfah or to Batn Marr and do for them what a person in the state of Ihram must do. They are made to perform Tawaf, throw pebbles; and if one cannot find offering animal for them, his guardian must fast for them. Ali ibn Al-Husayn (a.s.), would place the knife in the hand of the child and a grown up person, then place his hand on the hand of the child to complete slaughtering.’” 

5ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ يُونُسَ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ لَيْسَ عَلَى الْمَمْلُوكِ حَجٌّ وَلا عُمْرَةٌ حَتَّى يُعْتَقَ.

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from al-Fadl ibn Yunus who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘A slave is not obligated to perform al-Hajj or al-‘Umrah until he is free.’” 

6ـ أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأَشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنْ غِلْمَانٍ لَنَا دَخَلُوا مَعَنَا مَكَّةَ بِعُمْرَةٍ وَخَرَجُوا مَعَنَا إِلَى عَرَفَاتٍ بِغَيْرِ إِحْرَامٍ قَالَ قُلْ لَهُمْ يَغْتَسِلُونَ ثُمَّ يُحْرِمُونَ وَاذْبَحُوا عَنْهُمْ كَمَا تَذْبَحُونَ عَنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ.

6. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of boys who have come with us to Makkah for al-‘Umrah and then to Arafat without assuming the state of Ihram. He (the Imam) said, ‘Instruct them to take Ghusl (bath), assume the state of Ihram, slaughter for them as you slaughter (the offering animal) for yourself.’” 

7ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنْ حَرِيزٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ كُلُّ مَا أَصَابَ الْعَبْدُ وَهُوَ مُحْرِمٌ فِي إِحْرَامِهِ فَهُوَ عَلَى السَّيِّدِ إِذَا أَذِنَ لَهُ فِي الإِحْرَامِ.

7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad from Hariz who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Whatever a slave may commit in the state of Ihram is on his master, if he gives him permission to assume the state of Ihram.’” 

8ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ غُلامٍ لَنَا خَرَجْتُ بِهِ مَعِي وَأَمَرْتُهُ فَتَمَتَّعَ وَأَهَلَّ بِالْحَجِّ يَوْمَ التَّرْوِيَةِ وَلَمْ أَذْبَحْ عَنْهُ أَ لَهُ أَنْ يَصُومَ بَعْدَ النَّفْرِ وَقَدْ ذَهَبَتِ الأَيَّامُ الَّتِي قَالَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَقَالَ أَلا كُنْتَ أَمَرْتَهُ أَنْ يُفْرِدَ الْحَجَّ قُلْتُ طَلَبْتُ الْخَيْرَ فَقَالَ كَمَا طَلَبْتَ الْخَيْرَ فَاذْبَحْ شَاةً سَمِينَةً وَكَانَ ذَلِكَ يَوْمَ النَّفْرِ الأَخِيرِ.

8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from af-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn abu Hamzah who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ibrahim (a.s.), about the case of our slave who came with us with his wife, performed al-Hajj al-Tamattu‘ (advantageous) and said Talbiyah for al-Hajj on the day of al- Tarwiyah (eight of Dhu al-Hajj ah), but I did not offer sacrifice for him. Is he required to fast after leaving when the days have passed, about which Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has spoken? He (the Imam) said, ‘Why did you not instruct him to perform in Ifrad manner (al-Hajj without al-‘Umrah)?’ I replied, ‘I sought goodness.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Just as you sought goodness, slaughter for him a fat sheep’ and that was the last day to leave.’” 

9ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ أَنَّهُ سُئِلَ عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَمَرَ غِلْمَانَهُ أَنْ يَتَمَتَّعُوا قَالَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يُضَحِّيَ عَنْهُمْ قُلْتُ فَإِنَّهُ أَعْطَاهُمْ دَرَاهِمَ فَبَعْضُهُمْ ضَحَّى وَبَعْضُهُمْ أَمْسَكَ الدَّرَاهِمَ وَصَامَ قَالَ قَدْ أَجْزَأَ عَنْهُمْ وَهُوَ بِالْخِيَارِ إِنْ شَاءَ تَرَكَهَا قَالَ وَلَوْ أَنَّهُ أَمَرَهُمْ وَصَامُوا كَانَ قَدْ أَجْزَأَ عَنْهُمْ. 

9. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu Nasr from Sama‘ah who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who instructed his slaves to perform al- Hajj al-Tamattu‘ (advantageous). He (the Imam) said, ‘He must offer al-Hady (sacrifice) for them.’ I then said, ‘He gave them dirham. Certain ones among them offered sacrifice and others kept the dirham and fasted.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is sufficient for them and he has the choice; if he wants he can leave them (dirham) alone. If he were to instruct them to fast, it would have been sufficient.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 3, Chapter 58