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 الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْكَرْخِيِّ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَحْرَمَ بِحَجَّةٍ فِي غَيْرِ أَشْهُرِ الْحَجِّ دُونَ الْوَقْتِ الَّذِي وَقَّتَهُ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) قَالَ لَيْسَ إِحْرَامُهُ بِشَيْ‏ءٍ إِنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَرْجِعَ إِلَى مَنْزِلِهِ فَلْيَرْجِعْ وَلا أَرَى عَلَيْهِ شَيْئاً وَإِنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَمْضِيَ فَلْيَمْضِ فَإِذَا انْتَهَى إِلَى الْوَقْتِ فَلْيُحْرِمْ مِنْهُ وَيَجْعَلُهَا عُمْرَةً فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ رُجُوعِهِ لأَنَّهُ أَعْلَنَ الإِحْرَامَ بِالْحَجِّ.

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Ibrahim al-Karkhiy who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who assumes the state of Ihram for al- Hajj. He does it in a month, which is other than the months of al-Hajj. It is at a place other than those designated by the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause. He (the Imam) said, ‘His Ihram is not valid. If he likes, he can go to his home; and I do not see anything against him, or to continue and upon arriving at Miqat (place for assuming the state of Ihram), assume the state of Ihram at that point, and make it an al-‘Umrah. It is more virtuous than his returning home when he has already announced his state of Ihram for al- Hajj.’” 

2ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ مُثَنًّى عَنْ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ الْحَجُّ أَشْهُرٌ مَعْلُومَاتٌ شَوَّالٌ وَذُو الْقَعْدَةِ وَذُو الْحِجَّةِ لَيْسَ لأَحَدٍ أَنْ يُحْرِمَ بِالْحَجِّ فِي سِوَاهُنَّ وَلَيْسَ لأَحَدٍ أَنْ يُحْرِمَ دُونَ الْوَقْتِ الَّذِي وَقَّتَهُ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَإِنَّمَا مَثَلُ ذَلِكَ مَثَلُ مَنْ صَلَّى فِي السَّفَرِ أَرْبَعاً وَتَرَكَ الثِّنْتَيْنِ.

2. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu Nasr from Muthanna’ from Zurarah who has said the following: “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘The months of al-Hajj are well known; they are Shawwal, Dhu al-Qa’dah and Dhu al-Hajj ah. One must not assume the state of Ihram for al-Hajj in other months and one must not assume the state of Ihram before Mawaqit (places for assuming the state of Ihram) designated by the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause. To do so is like performing four Rak‘ats Salat (prayer) on a journey and ignoring the fact that one’s duty is to perform two Rak‘ats only.’” 

3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ جَمِيلِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ عَنْ فُضَيْلِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنْ رَجُلٍ اشْتَرَى بَدَنَةً قَبْلَ أَنْ يَنْتَهِيَ إِلَى الْوَقْتِ الَّذِي يُحْرِمُ فِيهِ فَأَشْعَرَهَا وَقَلَّدَهَا أَ يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِ حِينَ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ مَا يَجِبُ عَلَى الْمُحْرِمِ قَالَ لا وَلَكِنْ إِذَا انْتَهَى إِلَى الْوَقْتِ فَلْيُحْرِمْ ثُمَّ لْيُشْعِرْهَا وَيُقَلِّدْهَا فَإِنَّ تَقْلِيدَهُ الأَوَّلَ لَيْسَ بِشَيْ‏ءٍ.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad, from ibn Mahbub from Jamil ibn Salih from Fudayl ibn Yasar who has said the following: I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who buys a Badanah before Miqat (place for assuming the state of Ihram) of his location, then marks and tags it: if it is obligatory on him thereafter to follow what a person in the state of Ihram does. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, when he arrives at Miqat, assumes the state of Ihram, then marks and tags his badanah because the first marking and tags are not valid.’” 

4ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) مَنْ أَحْرَمَ بِالْحَجِّ فِي غَيْرِ أَشْهُرِ الْحَجِّ فَلا حَجَّ لَهُ وَمَنْ أَحْرَمَ دُونَ الْمِيقَاتِ فَلا إِحْرَامَ لَهُ.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ibn ‘Udhaynah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘One who assumes the state of Ihram for al-Hajj in the months that are not for al-Hajj; his Hajj is not valid, and one who assumes the state of Ihram from a non-Miqat (place for assuming the state of Ihram), his Ihram is not valid.’” 

5ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ مِهْرَانَ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ أَخِيهِ رَبَاحٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) إِنَّا نُرَوَّى بِالْكُوفَةِ أَنَّ عَلِيّاً صَلَوَاتُ الله عَلَيْهِ قَالَ إِنَّ مِنْ تَمَامِ الْحَجِّ وَالْعُمْرَةِ أَنْ يُحْرِمَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْ دُوَيْرَةِ أَهْلِهِ فَهَلْ قَالَ هَذَا عَلِيٌّ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فَقَالَ قَدْ قَالَ ذَلِكَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) لِمَنْ كَانَ مَنْزِلُهُ خَلْفَ الْمَوَاقِيتِ وَلَوْ كَانَ كَمَا يَقُولُونَ مَا كَانَ يَمْنَعُ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) أَنْ لا يَخْرُجَ بِثِيَابِهِ إِلَى الشَّجَرَةِ.

5. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu Nasr from Mehran ibn abu Nasr from his brother Rabah who has said the following: “I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), in al-Kufah, we narrate that Ali (a.s.), has said, ‘It is of the completion of al-Hajj and al-‘Umrah for one to assume the state of Ihram from the (sweet) home of his family.’ Is this what he (the Imam) has said?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said it about those whose homes are behind Miqat (place for assuming the state of Ihram) (closer to Makkah than Miqat to Makkah). Had it been as they say it is, the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, would prohibit saying, ‘You must not go with your clothes to al-Shajarah (Miqat (place for assuming the state of Ihram for people of al-Madinah)).”’ 

6ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عُقْبَةَ عَنْ مَيْسَرَةَ قَالَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) وَأَنَا مُتَغَيِّرُ اللَّوْنِ فَقَالَ لِي مِنْ أَيْنَ أَحْرَمْتَ قُلْتُ مِنْ مَوْضِعِ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَقَالَ رُبَّ طَالِبِ خَيْرٍ تَزِلُّ قَدَمُهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَسُرُّكَ إِنْ صَلَّيْتَ الظُّهْرَ فِي السَّفَرِ أَرْبَعاً قُلْتُ لا قَالَ فَهُوَ وَالله ذَاكَ.

6. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad and Ali ibn al-Nu’man from Ali ibn ‘Uqbah from Maysarah who has said the following: “I once went to see abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.). My color had changed and he (the Imam) asked, ‘From where did you assume the state of Ihram?’ I replied, ‘From such and such place.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘There are many who seek goodness but their feet slip.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Will it make you happy to perform four Rak‘at for al-Zuhr Salat (prayer) on a journey?’ I replied, ‘No, it does not make me happy.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘This (your assuming the state of Ihram) by Allah is like that (four Rak‘at on a journey).”’ 

7ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنْ حَرِيزٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ مَنْ أَحْرَمَ دُونَ الْوَقْتِ وَأَصَابَ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ وَالصَّيْدِ فَلا شَيْ‏ءَ عَلَيْهِ.

7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad from Hariz from certain persons of our people who has said the following: “If one assumes the state of Ihram before Miqat (place for assuming the state of Ihram) and then involves with woman or hunting, there is nothing upon him.’” 

8ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) يَقُولُ لَيْسَ يَنْبَغِي لأَحَدٍ أَنْ يُحْرِمَ دُونَ الْمَوَاقِيتِ الَّتِي وَقَّتَهَا رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) إِلاَّ أَنْ يَخَافَ فَوْتَ الشَّهْرِ فِي الْعُمْرَةِ.

8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘ Umayr from Mu‘awiyah who has said the following: “I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say this Hadith. ‘It is not proper to assume the state of Ihram before Miqat. They are (places for assuming the state of Ihram) designated by the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, except when one is afraid of missing the month of al-‘Umrah.’” 

9ـ أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأَشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَجِي‏ءُ مُعْتَمِراً عُمْرَةَ رَجَبٍ فَيَدْخُلُ عَلَيْهِ هِلالُ شَعْبَانَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَبْلُغَ الْوَقْتَ أَ يُحْرِمُ قَبْلَ الْوَقْتِ وَيَجْعَلُهَا لِرَجَبٍ أَوْ يُؤَخِّرُ الإِحْرَامَ إِلَى الْعَقِيقِ وَيَجْعَلُهَا لِشَعْبَانَ قَالَ يُحْرِمُ قَبْلَ الْوَقْتِ فَيَكُونُ لِرَجَبٍ لأَنَّ لِرَجَبٍ فَضْلَهُ وَهُوَ الَّذِي نَوَى. 

9. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about a man who travels for al-‘Umrah in the month of Rajab. It becomes the month of al-Sha‘ban before his reaching the Miqat (place for assuming the state of Ihram); should he assume the state of Ihram before Miqat, to make it al-‘Umrah of Rajab, or delay it until his reaching al-‘Aqiq and make it al-‘Umrah of the month of al-Sha‘ban? He (the Imam) said, ‘He can assume the state of Ihram, before Miqat, for al-‘Umrah of Rajab because Rajab has its virtue and that is what he had intended.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 3, Chapter 75