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 عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْفُضَيْلِ عَنْ أَبِي الصَّبَّاحِ الْكِنَانِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ إِذَا اشْتَكَى الْمُحْرِمُ فَلْيَتَدَاوَ بِمَا يَأْكُلُ وَهُوَ مُحْرِمٌ.

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Isma‘il ibn Muhammad ibn al-Fadl from abu al-Sabbah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one in the state of Ihram becomes ill one must treat the illness with edible items while he is in the state of Ihram.”’ 

2ـ عَلِيٌّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنْ حَرِيزٍ عَمَّنْ أَخْبَرَهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ مَرَّ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) عَلَى كَعْبِ بْنِ عُجْرَةَ وَالْقَمْلُ يَتَنَاثَرُ مِنْ رَأْسِهِ وَهُوَ مُحْرِمٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَ تُؤْذِيكَ هَوَامُّكَ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ فَأُنْزِلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ فَمَنْ كانَ مِنْكُمْ مَرِيضاً أَوْ بِهِ أَذىً مِنْ رَأْسِهِ فَفِدْيَةٌ مِنْ صِيامٍ أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ أَوْ نُسُكٍ فَأَمَرَهُ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) أَنْ يَحْلِقَ وَجَعَلَ الصِّيَامَ ثَلاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ وَالصَّدَقَةَ عَلَى سِتَّةِ مَسَاكِينَ لِكُلِّ مِسْكِينٍ مُدَّيْنِ وَالنُّسُكَ شَاةً قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) وَكُلُّ شَيْ‏ءٍ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ أَوْ فَصَاحِبُهُ بِالْخِيَارِ يَخْتَارُ مَا شَاءَ وَكُلُّ شَيْ‏ءٍ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ كَذَا فَعَلَيْهِ كَذَا فَالأُولَى الْخِيَارُ.

2. Ali has narrated from his father from Hammad from Hariz from those who narrated to him who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, passed by Ka‘b ibn ‘Ujrah. Lice spread from his head and he was in the state of Ihram. He (the Messenger of Allah) asked, ‘Do your bugs annoy you?’ He replied, ‘Yes, they annoy me.’ This verse of al-Quran was then revealed. ‘Those of you who become ill or find annoyance in their head expiate it by fasting or charity or an act of worship.’ (2:195) The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, commanded him to shave his head and made the fasting to be three days, charity to six destitute people two mud (a certain measurement) for each one and one sheep as an act of worship.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Wherever in al-Quran it is ‘or’ it is a reference to one’s having the choice to do what he likes, and wherever in al-Quran it says, ‘if one does not find then so and so’, then the first preference is one’s having the choice.’” 

3ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ يَحْيَى الْكَاهِلِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ سَأَلَهُ رَجُلٌ ضَرِيرُ الْبَصَرِ وَأَنَا حَاضِرٌ فَقَالَ أَكْتَحِلُ إِذَا أَحْرَمْتُ قَالَ لا وَلِمَ تَكْتَحِلُ قَالَ إِنِّي ضَرِيرُ الْبَصَرِ فَإِذَا أَنَا اكْتَحَلْتُ نَفَعَنِي وَإِذَا لَمْ أَكْتَحِلْ ضَرَّنِي قَالَ فَاكْتَحِلْ قَالَ فَإِنِّي أَجْعَلُ مَعَ الْكُحْلِ غَيْرَهُ قَالَ مَا هُوَ قَالَ آخُذُ خِرْقَتَيْنِ فَأُرَبِّعُهُمَا فَأَجْعَلُ عَلَى كُلِّ عَيْنٍ خِرْقَةً وَأُعَصِّبُهُمَا بِعِصَابَةٍ إِلَى قَفَايَ فَإِذَا فَعَلْتُ ذَلِكَ نَفَعَنِي وَإِذَا تَرَكْتُهُ ضَرَّنِي قَالَ فَاصْنَعْهُ.

3. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from ‘Abd Allah ibn Yahya al-Kahiliy who has said the following: “Once, a blind man asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when I was there, saying, ‘I use kohl when I assume the state of Ihram.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘No, do not use kohl.’ He said, ‘I am blind. If I use kohl it benefits me but if I do not use, it harms me.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If that is the case then you can use kohl.’ He then said, ‘With kohl I use a certain other thing.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘What is it?’ He said, ‘I take two pieces of cloth, fold them and place them on my eyes, then secure them in place by a strip behind my head. If I did this it benefits me; if I did not do, it harms me. He (the Imam) said, ‘If that is the case then you can do it.’” 

4ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ أَبَانٍ عَمَّنْ أَخْبَرَهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ سُئِلَ عَنْ رَجُلٍ تَشَقَّقَتْ يَدَاهُ وَرِجْلاهُ وَهُوَ مُحْرِمٌ أَ يَتَدَاوَى قَالَ نَعَمْ بِالسَّمْنِ وَالزَّيْتِ وَقَالَ إِذَا اشْتَكَى الْمُحْرِمُ فَلْيَتَدَاوَ بِمَا يَحِلُّ لَهُ أَنْ يَأْكُلَهُ وَهُوَ مُحْرِمٌ.

4. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla’ ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali from Aban from those who narrated to him who has said the following: “A man once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man in whose hands and feet cracks appear while he is in the state of Ihram; if he can use medicine. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, he can do so with oil and ghee.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If one in the state of Ihram becomes ill, one must treat the illness with what is lawful for him to eat in the state of Ihram.’” 

5ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْمُحْرِمِ يَعْصِرُ الدُّمَّلَ وَيَرْبِطُ عَلَى الْقَرْحَةِ قَالَ لا بَأْسَ.

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Um ay r from Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who is in the state of Ihram; if he can squeeze a pimple or bandage a wound. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’” 

6ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ النَّضْرِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ إِنْ خَرَجَ بِالرَّجُلِ مِنْكُمُ الْخُرَاجُ أَوِ الدُّمَّلُ فَلْيَرْبِطْهُ وَلْيَتَدَاوَ بِزَيْتٍ أَوْ سَمْنٍ.

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from Hisham ibn Salim who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If something appears on your skin like a pimple or so, you can bandage it and use ghee or oil as medicine.’” 

7ـ أَحْمَدُ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ عَنْ سَعِيدٍ الأَعْرَجِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنِ الْمُحْرِمِ يَكُونُ بِهِ شَجَّةٌ أَ يُدَاوِيهَا أَوْ يُعَصِّبُهَا بِخِرْقَةٍ قَالَ نَعَمْ وَكَذَلِكَ الْقَرْحَةُ تَكُونُ فِي الْجَسَدِ.

7. Ahmad has narrated from Ali ibn al-Nu’man from Sa‘id al-’A‘raj who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who is in the state of Ihram and has a head wound; if he can treat it with medicine or use bandage. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, he can do so and so also with a sore on the body.’” 

8ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ عِمْرَانَ الْحَلَبِيِّ قَالَ سُئِلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنِ الْمُحْرِمِ يَكُونُ بِهِ الْجُرْحُ فَيَتَدَاوَى بِدَوَاءٍ فِيهِ زَعْفَرَانٌ قَالَ إِنْ كَانَ الْغَالِبَ عَلَى الدَّوَاءِ فَلا وَإِنْ كَانَتِ الأَدْوِيَةُ الْغَالِبَةَ عَلَيْهِ فَلا بَأْسَ.

8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from ‘Imran al-Halabiy who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who is in the state of Ihram with a wound and treats it with a medicine which has saffron. He (the Imam) said, ‘If saffron is overwhelming, it is not permissible; but if the medicine is overwhelming, it is not harmful.’” 

9ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ نَاجِيَةَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ مَرْوَانَ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْمُحْرِمِ يُصِيبُ أُذُنَهُ الرِّيحُ فَيَخَافُ أَنْ يَمْرَضَ هَلْ يَصْلُحُ لَهُ أَنْ يَسُدَّ أُذُنَيْهِ بِالْقُطْنِ قَالَ نَعَمْ لا بَأْسَ بِذَلِكَ إِذَا خَافَ ذَلِكَ وَإِلاَّ فَلا.

9. Muhammad ibn Yahya Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Najiyah from Muhammad ibn Ali from Marwan ibn Muslim from who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who is in the state of Ihram, his ears are affected by winds and is afraid of illness; if he can place cotton in his ears. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful if he is afraid of illness, otherwise, it is not permissible.’” 

10ـ أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأَشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ وَهْبٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) أَنَّهُ قَالَ لا بَأْسَ بِأَنْ يُعَصِّبَ الْمُحْرِمُ رَأْسَهُ مِنَ الصُّدَاعِ.

10. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn “Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan from Mu‘awiyah ibn Wahab who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not harmful if one in the state of Ihram ties a strip around his head because of a headache.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 3, Chapter 94