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- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ وَأَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ خَالِدِ بْنِ جَرِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي الرَّبِيعِ الشَّامِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَتَقَبَّلُ الأرْضَ مِنَ الدَّهَاقِينِ فَيُؤَاجِرُهَا بِأَكْثَرَ مِمَّا يَتَقَبَّلُهَا وَيَقُومُ فِيهَا بِحَظِّ السُّلْطَانِ قَالَ لا بَأْسَ بِهِ إِنَّ الأرْضَ لَيْسَتْ مِثْلَ الأجِيرِ وَلا مِثْلَ الْبَيْتِ إِنَّ فَضْلَ الأجِيرِ وَالْبَيْتِ حَرَامٌ.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Ahmad ibn Muhammad from all from ibn Mahbub from Khalid ibn Jarir from abu al-Rabi‘ al-Shamiy who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who contracted land from farmers, then rented it for more to others and undertook the share of al- Sultan. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful because land is not like wages or a house. The increase of wages and house rent is unlawful.”’ 

2- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ أَبَانٍ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ الْفَضْلِ الْهَاشِمِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ اسْتَأْجَرَ مِنَ السُّلْطَانِ مِنْ أَرْضِ الْخَرَاجِ بِدَرَاهِمَ مُسَمَّاةٍ أَوْ بِطَعَامٍ مُسَمًّى ثُمَّ آجَرَهَا وَشَرَطَ لِمَنْ يَزْرَعُهَا أَنْ يُقَاسِمَهُ النِّصْفَ أَوْ أَقَلَّ مِنْ ذَلِكَ أَوْ أَكْثَرَ وَلَهُ فِي الأرْضِ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَضْلٌ أَيَصْلُحُ لَهُ ذَلِكَ قَالَ نَعَمْ إِذَا حَفَرَ نَهَراً أَوْ عَمِلَ لَهُمْ شَيْئاً يُعِينُهُمْ بِذَلِكَ فَلَهُ ذَلِكَ قَالَ وَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ اسْتَأْجَرَ أَرْضاً مِنْ أَرْضِ الْخَرَاجِ بِدَرَاهِمَ مُسَمَّاةٍ أَوْ بِطَعَامٍ مَعْلُومٍ فَيُؤَاجِرُهَا قِطْعَةً قِطْعَةً أَوْ جَرِيباً جَرِيباً بِشَيْ‏ءٍ مَعْلُومٍ فَيَكُونُ لَهُ فَضْلٌ فِيمَا اسْتَأْجَرَهُ مِنَ السُّلْطَانِ وَلا يُنْفِقُ شَيْئاً أَوْ يُؤَاجِرُ تِلْكَ الأرْضَ قِطَعاً عَلَى أَنْ يُعْطِيَهُمُ الْبَذْرَ وَالنَّفَقَةَ فَيَكُونُ لَهُ فِي ذَلِكَ فَضْلٌ عَلَى إِجَارَتِهِ وَلَهُ تُرْبَةُ الأرْضِ أَوْ لَيْسَتْ لَهُ فَقَالَ إِذَا اسْتَأْجَرْتَ أَرْضاً فَأَنْفَقْتَ فِيهَا شَيْئاً أَوْ رَمَمْتَ فِيهَا فَلا بَأْسَ بِمَا ذَكَرْتَ.

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Aban from ‘Isma’il ibn al-Fadl al- Hashimiy who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who leased from al-Sultan al-Kharaj (tax) land for a known amount of dirham or foodstuff of known amount, then rented to someone with the condition to cultivate it and to divide the produce in half and half or more or less and still something extra remained for him from the land; if it was valid for him. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes it is valid, provided, he digs a canal or a certain work to help them, then it is for him.’ I then asked him (the Imam) about the case of a man who leased a piece of land of Kharaj (tax) land for a certain amount of dirham or foodstuff, then rented it in pieces or by Jirib (a certain unit of measurement) for a known amount, then a certain amount extra remained for him after payment to al-Sultan but he did not spend anything, or that he leased that land in pieces with the condition to give them seed and expenses, then extra remained for him over the rent; if the soil was for him or not. He (the Imam) said, ‘If you rent a land and spend on it or do mending work in it, then the matters you have mentioned are not unlawful.’” 

3- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْمَغْرَاءِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي الرَّجُلِ يَسْتَأْجِرُ الأرْضَ ثُمَّ يُؤَاجِرُهَا بِأَكْثَرَ مِمَّا اسْتَأْجَرَهَا فَقَالَ لا بَأْسَ إِنَّ هَذَا لَيْسَ كَالْحَانُوتِ وَلا الأجِيرِ إِنَّ فَضْلَ الأجِيرِ وَالْحَانُوتِ حَرَامٌ.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from abu al-Mighra’ who has said the following: “About the case of a man who leases a piece of land, then rents it to someone for more than what he has leased for, he (the Imam) (a.s.), said, ‘It is not unlawful because it is not like a shop or wages; increase of wages and rent of shop is not lawful.’” 

4- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لَوْ أَنَّ رَجُلا اسْتَأْجَرَ دَاراً بِعَشَرَةِ دَرَاهِمَ فَسَكَنَ ثُلُثَيْهَا وَآجَرَ ثُلُثَهَا بِعَشَرَةِ دَرَاهِمَ لَمْ يَكُنْ بِهِ بَأْسٌ وَلا يُؤَاجِرْهَا بِأَكْثَرَ مِمَّا اسْتَأْجَرَهَا إِلا أَنْ يُحْدِثَ فِيهَا شَيْئاً.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad from al-Halabiy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If a man rents a house for ten dirham and lives in it, but uses only two-thirds and rents the other one-third for ten dirhams, it is not unlawful but he must not rent out for more than what has rented (which is ten dirham) unless he introduces something in it.’” 

5- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْمَغْرَاءِ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ مَيْمُونٍ أَنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنَ الْمُثَنَّى سَأَلَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَهُوَ يَسْمَعُ عَنِ الأرْضِ يَسْتَأْجِرُهَا الرَّجُلُ ثُمَّ يُؤَاجِرُهَا بِأَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ لَيْسَ بِهِ بَأْسٌ إِنَّ الأرْضَ لَيْسَتْ بِمَنْزِلَةِ الْبَيْتِ وَالأجِيرِ إِنَّ فَضْلَ الْبَيْتِ حَرَامٌ وَفَضْلَ الأجِيرِ حَرَامٌ‏.

5. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from ibn Faddal from abu al-Mighra’ from Ibrahim ibn Maymun who has said the following: “Ibrahim ibn al-Muthanna’ once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), this, when I was listening, ‘A man leases land, then rents to someone else for more than what he pays.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful because land is not like a house or a worker on hire. Extra in the rent of a house is unlawful and extra in hiring is unlawful.’” 

6- سَهْلُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْكَرِيمِ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَتَقَبَّلُ الأرْضَ بِالثُّلُثِ أَوِ الرُّبُعِ فَأُقَبِّلُهَا بِالنِّصْفِ قَالَ لا بَأْسَ بِهِ قُلْتُ فَأَتَقَبَّلُهَا بِأَلْفِ دِرْهَمٍ فَأُقَبِّلُهَا بِأَلْفَيْنِ قَالَ لا يَجُوزُ قُلْتُ كَيْفَ جَازَ الأوَّلُ وَلَمْ يَجُزِ الثَّانِي قَالَ لأنَّ هَذَا مَضْمُونٌ وَذَلِكَ غَيْرُ مَضْمُونٍ.

6. Sahl ibn Ziyad has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Abd al-Karim from al-Halabiy who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about leasing saying, ‘There is a piece of land and it leased for one-third or one-fourth, then to someone else for one-half.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful.’ I then asked, ‘What happens if I lease for one thousand dirhams and then lease it to someone else for two thousand dirhams?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not lawful.’ I then asked, ‘How is it that it is lawful in the first case and unlawful in the second case?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is because in this case it is guaranteed and in that case it is not guaranteed.’” 

7- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِذَا تَقَبَّلْتَ أَرْضاً بِذَهَبٍ أَوْ فِضَّةٍ فَلا تُقَبِّلْهَا بِأَكْثَرَ مِمَّا تَقَبَّلْتَهَا بِهِ وَإِنْ تَقَبَّلْتَهَا بِالنِّصْفِ وَالثُّلُثِ فَلَكَ أَنْ تُقَبِّلَهَا بِأَكْثَرَ مِمَّا تَقَبَّلْتَهَا بِهِ لأنَّ الذَّهَبَ وَالْفِضَّةَ مَضْمُونَانِ.

7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Safwan from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If you lease a piece of land in exchange for gold or silver, then do not lease it to someone else for more than what you have leased; but if you lease it in exchange for one-half or one-third of the produce you can lease it to someone else for more, because gold and silver are guaranteed.’” 

8- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي الرَّجُلِ يَسْتَأْجِرُ الدَّارَ ثُمَّ يُؤَاجِرُهَا بِأَكْثَرَ مِمَّا اسْتَأْجَرَهَا قَالَ لا يَصْلُحُ ذَلِكَ إِلا أَنْ يُحْدِثَ فِيهَا شَيْئاً.

8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘ Umayr from Hammad from al-Halabiy who has said the following: “About the case of a man who leases a house then rents to someone else for more than what he has rented for, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not valid unless he introduces something in it.’” 

9- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنِّي لأكْرَهُ أَنْ أَسْتَأْجِرَ رَحًى وَحْدَهَا ثُمَّ أُؤَاجِرَهَا بِأَكْثَرَ مِمَّا اسْتَأْجَرْتُهَا بِهِ إِلا أَنْ يُحْدَثَ فِيهَا حَدَثٌ أَوْ تُغْرَمَ فِيهَا غَرَامَةٌ.

9. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Sama‘ah from abu Basir who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘I dislike renting a grinding stone, then renting it out to someone else for more than what I has rented for, unless some improvement is made or loss has taken place.’” 

10- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ أَخِيهِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ زُرْعَةَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ اشْتَرَى مَرْعًى يَرْعَى فِيهِ بِخَمْسِينَ دِرْهَماً أَوْ أَقَلَّ أَوْ أَكْثَرَ فَأَرَادَ أَنْ يُدْخِلَ مَعَهُ مَنْ يَرْعَى فِيهِ وَيَأْخُذَ مِنْهُمُ الثَّمَنَ قَالَ فَلْيُدْخِلْ مَعَهُ مَنْ شَاءَ بِبَعْضِ مَا أَعْطَى وَإِنْ أَدْخَلَ مَعَهُ بِتِسْعَةٍ وَأَرْبَعِينَ وَكَانَتْ غَنَمُهُ بِدِرْهَمٍ فَلا بَأْسَ وَإِنْ هُوَ رَعَى فِيهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُدْخِلَهُ بِشَهْرٍ أَوْ شَهْرَيْنِ أَوْ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ بَعْدَ أَنْ يُبَيِّنَ لَهُمْ فَلا بَأْسَ وَلَيْسَ لَهُ أَنْ يَبِيعَهُ بِخَمْسِينَ دِرْهَماً وَيَرْعَى مَعَهُمْ وَلا بِأَكْثَرَ مِنْ خَمْسِينَ وَلا يَرْعَى مَعَهُمْ إِلا أَنْ يَكُونَ قَدْ عَمِلَ فِي الْمَرْعَى عَمَلا حَفَرَ بِئْراً أَوْ شَقَّ نَهَراً أَوْ تَعَنَّى فِيهِ بِرِضَا أَصْحَابِ الْمَرْعَى فَلا بَأْسَ بِبَيْعِهِ بِأَكْثَرَ مِمَّا اشْتَرَاهُ بِهِ لأنَّهُ قَدْ عَمِلَ فِيهِ عَمَلا فَبِذَلِكَ يَصْلُحُ لَهُ. 

10. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from his brother, al-Hassan from Zur’ah ibn Muhammad from Sama‘ah who has said the following: “Upon asking him (the Imam) (a.s.), about the case of a man who buys a pasture for fifty dirham or less or more and he wants to allow entering the pasture whoever wants to enter so that he charges them for it. He (the Imam) said, ‘He can allow whomever he wants with a payment of part of what he has paid. If he enters the pasture with a payment of forty-nine and his sheep (graze) for one dirham, it is not unlawful. He cannot receive payment of fifty dirham and his sheep graze along with them or for more than fifty but his sheep do not graze with them, unless he has done a certain work in the pasture, like digging a well, or a canal or has experienced fatigue in it with the consent of the owners of the pasture, in which case it is not unlawful to sell it for more than for what he has bought, because he has done certain work in it and with this it becomes valid for him.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 5

Book 2, Chapter 132