Virtue and Excellence of Serving in the Army

Jihad of Man and Woman

Kinds of Jihad (struggle)

To Whom Does the Obligation of Jihad Apply, and to Whom it Does not Apply

Mobilization Along with People when there is Fear for al-Islam

Under Whose Command Obligatory Jihad Takes Place?

‘Amr ibn ‘Ubayd and al-Mu’taziliy Groups’ Visiting abu ‘Abd Allah ‘Alayhi al-Salam

The Recommendations of the Messenger of Allah and Amir al-Mu’minin, about Smaller Armed Expeditions

Chapter 9(a) - Granting Immunity

Chapter 9(b)

Chapter 9(c)

Challenging the Enemy for a Fight

Kindness to the Prisoners and Providing Him Food

Calling to al-Islam before Fighting

Chapter 13(a) - Matters about which Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s), Recommended at the Time of War

Chapter 13(b)

It is not Lawful for a Muslim to Reside in a War Zone

Chapter 15(a) - Distribution of the Properties Captured from the Enemy

Chapter 15(b)

Chapter 15(c)

The Slogan

The Virtue of Maintaining Horses, Racing and Sharp Shooting Contests

Man’s Defending Himself Against the Thief

The Case of one Murdered over His Stolen Property

Chapter 20(a) - The Excellence of Martyrdom

Chapter 20(b)

Chapter 20(c)

Commanding others what is Obligatory and to Prohibit them from doing Evil

Chapter 22(a) - Rejecting Evil in one’s Heart

Chapter 22(b)

The Case of those who Displease the Creator to Please the Creatures

It is Detestable to Expose One’s Self to What He Cannot Endure

Al-Sufiy People’s Visiting Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam

The Meaning of Zuhd (Asceticism)

Using the Worldly Resources as Means for Success in the Hereafter

The Degree Of Efforts Which One Must Make In Search For One’s Sustenance To Follow In the Footsteps of ‘A’immah ‘Alayhim al-Salam

Promoting The Quest For Sustenance And Work To Make A Living

Al^Ibla’ (Trying) in the Work for Living

Meticulous Effort to Make a Living

Receiving Sustenance from Unexpected Sources

The Detestability of Sleeping and Passing Time without Work

Detestability of Laziness

One’s Working in His House

Amending one’s Properties and Planning for one’s Living

Hard Work for the Family

Earning Lawful kind of Sustenance

Saving for One’s Living Expenses

Detestability of Offering Oneself for Hire

Performing Personally one’s Business Tasks

Buying and Selling Real Estate

Debts and Borrowing

Payment of Debts

To Retaliate and Offset for Debts

When a Man Dies Payment of his Debts becomes Due

The Case of One Who Borrows But Does Not Intend To Pay Back

Sell off Debts in Exchange for Debts

Etiquette of Asking for Payment

The Case of Delaying Due Payment

Lodging With a Borrower When Demanding Payment

Chapter 28(a) - The Case of Gift to a Creditor

Chapter 28(b) - Bail out and Assignment or Referral

Working for al-Sultan and his Rewards

The Conditions to Work for al-Sultan

Selling Arms to al- Sultan

The Crafts (Technologies)

The Legal Status of Income from Cupping Operation

Income from Eulogizing Someone to Make People Mourn

The Legal Status of Income from Hairdressing and Circumcising

The Legal Status of the Income of Female Singer from Singing and Selling Singers (Slave-girls)

The Legal Status of Income from Teaching

The legal Status of Income from Selling Copies of the Holy Quran

Gambling and Looting

Earning in Unlawful ways

Unlawful Earnings in the form of al-Suht such as Buying and Selling of Intoxicating Liquors . . .

Consuming the Properties of Orphans

The Amount a Supervisor of the Properties of Orphans Can Lawfully Use

Using the Properties of Orphans in Business and Lending

Safe Return of Trust

A Father and Son’s Using Each Others Properties

A Husband and Wife’s Using Each Other’s Properties

Found and Lost Properties

Gifts and Presents

Rule about Unlawful Interest

Unlawful Interest Does Not Apply Between a Father and Son

The Excellence of Doing Business and Giving It Proper Attention

Etiquettes of Doing Business

Excellence of Keeping Accounts and Books

Entering the Market Before Others

Speaking of Allah, Most High, in the Market

Words to Say When Buying for Resale Purposes

People With Whom Doing Business Is Not Recommended

Using Proper and Improper Measurements in Business

Cheating in Business

Swearing at the Time of Buying and Selling

The Case of Prices of Goods

The Case of Monopolization (Hoarding) Goods in Public Demand

Another Chapter

Excellence of Buying Wheat and Food

Detestability of Estimating and Preferability of Using Measurements

Continuing Profitable Businesses

1- أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ عِظَامِ الْفِيلِ يَحِلُّ بَيْعُهُ أَوْ شِرَاؤُهُ الَّذِي يُجْعَلُ مِنْهُ الأمْشَاطُ فَقَالَ لا بَأْسَ قَدْ كَانَ لأبِي مِنْهُ مُشْطٌ أَوْ أَمْشَاطٌ.

1. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan ibn Yahya from ‘Abd al-Hamid ibn Sa‘d who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ibrahim (a.s.), about the bones of elephants; if it was permissible to sell or buy the combs which were made thereof. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful. My father (a.s.), had such a comb or combs.”’ 

2- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ قَالَ كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَسْأَلُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ لَهُ خَشَبٌ فَبَاعَهُ مِمَّنْ يَتَّخِذُ مِنْهُ بَرَابِطَ فَقَالَ لا بَأْسَ وَعَنْ رَجُلٍ لَهُ خَشَبٌ فَبَاعَهُ مِمَّنْ يَتَّخِذُهُ صُلْبَانَ قَالَ لا.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ‘Umar ibn ‘Udhaynah who has said the following: “I once wrote to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and asked about a man who had a piece of wood and sold it to those who make barbat (musical tool) out of it. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful.’ 

3- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَجَّالِ عَنْ ثَعْلَبَةَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُضَارِبٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لا بَأْسَ بِبَيْعِ الْعَذِرَةِ.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Hajjal from Tha’labah from Muhammad ibn Mudarib who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Selling animal dung is not unlawful.’” 

4- أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ عَنْ عِيصِ بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنِ الْفُهُودِ وَسِبَاعِ الطَّيْرِ هَلْ يُلْتَمَسُ التِّجَارَةُ فِيهَا قَالَ نَعَمْ‏.

4. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan from ‘Is ibn al-Qasim who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about Cheetah and predator birds; if business could be sought with them. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is possible.’” 

5- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ أَبَانٍ عَنْ عِيسَى الْقُمِّيِّ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ جَرِيرٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنِ التُّوتِ أَبِيعُهُ يُصْنَعْ بِهِ الصَّلِيبُ وَالصَّنَمُ قَالَ لا.

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from Aban from ‘Isa al-Qummiy from ‘Amr ibn Jarir who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about my selling mulberry wood from which they made crosses and idols. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, it is not permissible.’” 

6- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ قَالَ كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يُؤَاجِرُ سَفِينَتَهُ وَدَابَّتَهُ مِمَّنْ يَحْمِلْ فِيهَا أَوْ عَلَيْهَا الْخَمْرَ وَالْخَنَازِيرَ قَالَ لا بَأْسَ.

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ‘Umar ibn ‘Udhaynah who has said the following: “I once wrote to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and asked about the case of a man who rented his ship or stumper to those who carried wine and pigs on them. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful.’” 

7- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ شَمُّونٍ عَنِ الأصَمِّ عَنْ مِسْمَعٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) نَهَى عَنِ الْقِرَدِ أَنْ تُشْتَرَى أَوْ تُبَاعَ.

7. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan ibn Shammun from Al-‘Asamm from Misma’ who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, prohibited buying and selling of monkeys.’” 

8- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمُؤْمِنِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يُؤَاجِرُ بَيْتَهُ يُبَاعُ فِيهَا الْخَمْرُ قَالَ حَرَامٌ أُجْرَتُهُ.

8. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn ‘Isma’il from Ali ibn al-Nu’man from ibn Muskan from ‘Abd al-Mu’min from Jabir who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who rented his house to those who used it for selling wine. He (the Imam) said, ‘Its rent is unlawful.’” 

9- بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَسْبَاطٍ عَنْ أَبِي مَخْلَدٍ السَّرَّاجِ قَالَ كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِذْ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ مُعَتِّبٌ فَقَالَ رَجُلانِ بِالْبَابِ فَقَالَ أَدْخِلْهُمَا فَدَخَلا فَقَالَ أَحَدُهُمَا إِنِّي رَجُلٌ سَرَّاجٌ أَبِيعُ جُلُودَ النَّمِرِ فَقَالَ مَدْبُوغَةٌ هِيَ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ لَيْسَ بِهِ بَأْسٌ.

9. Certain persons of our people have narrated from A number of our people have narrated from abu Mukhallad al-Sarraj who has said the following: “I once was with abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), when Mu‘attib came in and said, There are two people at the door.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Bring them inside.’ They came inside and one of them said, ‘I am a saddle maker and I sell skins of tigers.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘Are they (skins) tanned?’ He replied, ‘Yes, they are tanned.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful.’” 

10- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ أَبِي الْقَاسِمِ الصَّيْقَلِ قَالَ كَتَبْتُ إِلَيْهِ قَوَائِمُ السُّيُوفِ الَّتِي تُسَمَّى السَّفَنَ أَتَّخِذُهَا مِنْ جُلُودِ السَّمَكِ فَهَلْ يَجُوزُ الْعَمَلُ لَهَا وَلَسْنَا نَأْكُلُ لُحُومَهَا فَكَتَبَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) لا بَأْسَ. 

10. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn ‘Isa from abu al-Qasim al-Sayqal who has said the following: “I once wrote to him (the Imam) (a.s.), and asked, ‘There is a certain sheathing of swords called al-Safan (sandpaper) which is from skin of fish; if it is permissible to work with and we do not eat its meat.’ He (the Imam) wrote back, ‘It is not unlawful.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 5

Book 2, Chapter 103