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- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ عَنِ ابْنِ بُكَيْرٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِذَا أَرَدْتَ أَنْ تَزْرَعَ زَرْعاً فَخُذْ قَبْضَةً مِنَ الْبَذْرِ وَاسْتَقْبِلِ الْقِبْلَةَ وَقُلْ أَفَرَأَيْتُمْ ما تَحْرُثُونَ أَأَنْتُمْ تَزْرَعُونَهُ أَمْ نَحْنُ الزَّارِعُونَ ثَلاثَ مَرَّاتٍ ثُمَّ تَقُولُ بَلِ اللهُ الزَّارِعُ ثَلاثَ مَرَّاتٍ ثُمَّ قُلِ اللهُمَّ اجْعَلْهُ حَبّاً مُبَارَكاً وَارْزُقْنَا فِيهِ السَّلامَةَ ثُمَّ انْثُرِ الْقَبْضَةَ الَّتِي فِي يَدِكَ فِي الْقَرَاحِ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ibn ‘Udhaynah from ibn Bukayr who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When you like to plant something, take a handful of seed, face al-Qiblah (al-Ka’bah) and say, “Have you seen what you cultivate? Do you cultivate it or We are the ones who cultivate.” (56:62-63) Then say, “In fact Allah is the cultivator” three times then say, “O Lord, make it blessed grain and provide us safety in it.” Then spread the handful from your hand on the plain ground.’” 

2- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ شُعَيْبٍ الْعَقَرْقُوفِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ لِي إِذَا بَذَرْتَ فَقُلِ اللهُمَّ قَدْ بَذَرْتُ وَأَنْتَ الزَّارِعُ فَاجْعَلْهُ حَبّاً مُتَرَاكِماً.

2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Shu’ayb al-‘Aqarqufiy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘At the time of spreading seed say, “O Lord, I have spread the seed and You are the cultivator; so make it to produce plentiful grains.”’” 

3- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ عُمَرَ الْجَلابِ عَنِ الْحُضَيْنِيِّ عَنِ ابْنِ عَرَفَةَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مَنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يُلْقِحَ النَّخِيلَ إِذَا كَانَتْ لا يَجُودُ حَمْلُهَا وَلا يَتَبَعَّلُ النَّخْلُ فَلْيَأْخُذْ حِيتَاناً صِغَاراً يَابِسَةً فَلْيَدُقَّهَا بَيْنَ الدَّقَّيْنِ ثُمَّ يَذُرُّ فِي كُلِّ طَلْعَةٍ مِنْهَا قَلِيلا وَيَصُرُّ الْبَاقِيَ فِي صُرَّةٍ نَظِيفَةٍ ثُمَّ يَجْعَلُ فِي قَلْبِ النَّخْلَةِ يَنْفَعُ بِإِذْنِ اللهِ.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ahmad ‘Umar al-Jallab from al- Hudayniy from ibn ‘Arfah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one wants to pollinate palm trees which are not good in their conception and do not accept pollens, he can take small fish, crush them between the two grinding plates and place a little of it in every sprouting element, keep the remaining in a bag and place in the center of the tree, it will be useful by the permission of ‘Allah.’” 

4- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ عُقْبَةَ قَالَ قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَدْ رَأَيْتُ حَائِطَكَ فَغَرَسْتَ فِيهِ شَيْئاً بَعْدُ قَالَ قُلْتُ قَدْ أَرَدْتُ أَنْ آخُذَ مِنْ حِيطَانِكَ وَدِيّاً قَالَ أَفَلا أُخْبِرُكَ بِمَا هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكَ مِنْهُ وَأَسْرَعُ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ إِذَا أَيْنَعَتِ الْبُسْرَةُ وَهَمَّتْ أَنْ تُرْطِبَ فَاغْرِسْهَا فَإِنَّهَا تُؤَدِّي إِلَيْكَ مِثْلَ الَّذِي غَرَسْتُهَا سَوَاءً فَفَعَلْتُ ذَلِكَ فَنَبَتَتْ مِثْلَهُ سَوَاءً.

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Muhammad ibn ‘Isma’il from Salih ibn ‘Uqbah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to me, ‘I saw your garden, have you planted anything in it yet?’ I said, ‘I wanted to take small stems from your garden and plant them.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Allow me to tell you what is better than this and quicker.’ I replied, ‘Yes please do so.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘When dates ripen and you are about to pick them as fresh dates, plant them, it (the crop) will produce just like what you planted.’ I followed the instruction and it (the crop) grew exactly like it.’” 

5- عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ قَالَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِذَا غَرَسْتَ غَرْساً أَوْ نَبْتاً فَاقْرَأْ عَلَى كُلِّ عُودٍ أَوْ حَبَّةٍ سُبْحَانَ الْبَاعِثِ الْوَارِثِ فَإِنَّهُ لا يَكَادُ يُخْطِئُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللهُ.

5. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from in a marfu’ manner the following: “He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said, ‘When you plant a tree or plantation, say with every twig or deed, “Free of all defect is One who raises and inherits”, it then cannot fail, by the will of Allah.’” 

6- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى رَفَعَهُ عَنْ أَحَدِهِمَا (عَلَيْهِما السَّلام) قَالَ تَقُولُ إِذَا غَرَسْتَ أَوْ زَرَعْتَ وَمَثَلُ كَلِمَةً طَيِّبَةً كَشَجَرَةٍ طَيِّبَةٍ أَصْلُها ثابِتٌ وَفَرْعُها فِي السَّماءِ تُؤْتِي أُكُلَها كُلَّ حِينٍ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّها.

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from in a marfu’ manner the following: “One of the two Imam, (abu Ja’far or abu ‘Abd Allah), ‘Alayhim al-Salam, has said, ‘When you plant or cultivate read, “The likeness of the blessed word is like that of a blessed tree with firmly established roots and branches that rise into the sky. It produces fruits all the time, by the will of its Lord.’”” 

7- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ قَطْعِ السِّدْرِ فَقَالَ سَأَلَنِي رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِكَ عَنْهُ فَكَتَبْتُ إِلَيْهِ قَدْ قَطَعَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) سِدْراً وَغَرَسَ مَكَانَهُ عِنَباً.

7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu Nasr who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about cutting down a lotus tree. He (the Imam) said, ‘One of your people asked me about it and I wrote to him that abu al-Hassan (a.s.), once cut down a lotus tree and planted in its place grape-vines.’” 

8- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ مُصَدِّقِ بْنِ صَدَقَةَ عَنْ عَمَّارِ بْنِ مُوسَى عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنَّهُ قَالَ مَكْرُوهٌ قَطْعُ النَّخْلِ وَسُئِلَ عَنْ قَطْعِ الشَّجَرَةِ قَالَ لا بَأْسَ قُلْتُ فَالسِّدْرِ قَالَ لا بَأْسَ بِهِ إِنَّمَا يُكْرَهُ قَطْعُ السِّدْرِ بِالْبَادِيَةِ لأنَّهُ بِهَا قَلِيلٌ وَأَمَّا هَاهُنَا فَلا يُكْرَهُ.

8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ahmad from Ahmad ibn al-Hassan from ‘Amr ibn Sa‘id from Musaddiq ibn Sadaqah from ‘Ammar ibn Musa who has narrated the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that cutting down of palm trees is detestable. He (the Imam) was asked about cutting down of trees. He (the Imam) replied, ‘It is not unlawful.’ I then asked about cutting down of lotus trees. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful. It is detestable to cut them down in the wilderness because it is very rare there, however, here it is plentiful.’” 

9- عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مُضَارِبٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لا تَقْطَعُوا الثِّمَارَ فَيَبْعَثَ اللهُ عَلَيْكُمُ الْعَذَابَ صَبّاً. 

9. It is narrated from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Al-Husayn ibn Bashir from ibn Mudarib who has narrated the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘You must not cut down a fruit bearing tree; Allah will send on you a great suffering.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 5

Book 2, Chapter 126