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 عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنِ ابْنِ رِئَابٍ عَنْ عَمَّارِ بْنِ مَرْوَانَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنِ الْغُلُولِ قَالَ كُلُّ شَيْ‏ءٍ غُلَّ مِنَ الإمَامِ فَهُوَ سُحْتٌ وَأَكْلُ مَالِ الْيَتِيمِ وَشِبْهُهُ سُحْتٌ وَالسُّحْتُ أَنْوَاعٌ كَثِيرَةٌ مِنْهَا أُجُورُ الْفَوَاجِرِ وَثَمَنُ الْخَمْرِ وَالنَّبِيذِ الْمُسْكِرِ وَالرِّبَا بَعْدَ الْبَيِّنَةِ فَأَمَّا الرِّشَا فِي الْحُكْمِ فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ الْكُفْرُ بِاللهِ الْعَظِيمِ وَبِرَسُولِهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه).

1. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from ibn Ri’ab from ‘Ammar ibn Marwan who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja’far (a.s.), about seizing (other’s assets). He (the Imam) said, ‘Whatever of the belonging of the Imam seized is Suht (unlawful like filth), consuming the properties of orphans is Suht, involvement in doubtful matters is Suht and there are many forms of Suht. Of such matters is payment for indecent (sexual) relation, payment for wine and intoxicating beer and receiving unlawful interest, after having clear proof, is Suht. A bribe, however, is disbelief in Allah, most Great and His Messenger, ‘O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause.”’ 

2- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ السُّحْتُ ثَمَنُ الْمَيْتَةِ وَثَمَنُ الْكَلْبِ وَثَمَنُ الْخَمْرِ وَمَهْرُ الْبَغِيِّ وَالرِّشْوَةُ فِي الْحُكْمِ وَأَجْرُ الْكَاهِنِ.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfaliy from al-Sakuniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Receiving payment for carcasses, dogs, wine, indecent (sexual) relation and a bribe to issue a judgment and payment for foretelling is Suht (unlawful and filthy).”’ 

3- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ عَنِ الْجَامُورَانِيِّ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ زُرْعَةَ عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) السُّحْتُ أَنْوَاعٌ كَثِيرَةٌ مِنْهَا كَسْبُ الْحَجَّامِ إِذَا شَارَطَ وَأَجْرُ الزَّانِيَةِ وَثَمَنُ الْخَمْرِ فَأَمَّا الرِّشَا فِي الْحُكْمِ فَهُوَ الْكُفْرُ بِاللهِ الْعَظِيمِ.

3. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from al-Jamuraniy from al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn abu Hamzah from Zur’ah from Sanaa ‘ah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘There are many kinds of Suht (unlawful and filthy). Of such matters is income from cupping on the basis of a condition (for payment), payment for indecent acts of (sexual) relation and payment for wine. Accepting a bribe is however, disbelief in Allah, most Great.’” 

4- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ فَرْقَدٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ السُّحْتِ فَقَالَ الرِّشَا فِي الْحُكْمِ.

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Sinan from ibn Muskan from Yazid ibn Farqad who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about Suht (unlawful and filthy). He (the Imam) said, ‘It is accepting a bribe to issue a judgment.’” 

5- عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ بُنْدَارَ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي هَاشِمٍ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ الْوَلِيدِ الْعَمَّارِيِّ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الأصَمِّ عَنْ مِسْمَعِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ الْعَامِرِيِّ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ ثَمَنِ الْكَلْبِ الَّذِي لا يَصِيدُ فَقَالَ سُحْتٌ فَأَمَّا الصَّيُودُ فَلا بَأْسَ.

5. Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Bandar has narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from Muhammad ibn Ali from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn abu Hashim from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn al-Walid al-‘Ammariy from Ibrahim al-Asamm from Misma’ ibn ‘Abd al-Malik from abu ‘Abd Allah al-‘Amiriy who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about payment for dogs that do not hunt. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is Suht (unlawful and filthy), however, payment for a hunting dog is not Suht (unlawful and filthy).”’ 

6- عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ أَبِي حَمَّادٍ عَنْ غَيْرِ وَاحِدٍ عَنِ الشَّعِيرِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ مَنْ بَاتَ سَاهِراً فِي كَسْبٍ وَلَمْ يُعْطِ الْعَيْنَ حَظَّهَا مِنَ النَّوْمِ فَكَسْبُهُ ذَلِكَ حَرَامٌ.

6. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Salih ibn abu Hammad from more than one person from al-Shu’ayriy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one works the whole night without giving the eyes their share of sleep, such earning is unlawful.’” 

7- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ شَمُّونٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الأصَمِّ عَنْ مِسْمَعِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ الصُّنَّاعُ إِذَا سَهِرُوا اللَّيْلَ كُلَّهُ فَهُوَ سُحْتٌ.

7. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan ibn Shammun from ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Asamm from Misma’ ibn ‘Abd al-Malik who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If a technician remains awake the whole night working, his earning becomes Suht (unlawful and filthy).’” 

8- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ نَهَى رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) عَنْ كَسْبِ الإمَاءِ فَإِنَّهَا إِنْ لَمْ تَجِدْ زَنَتْ إِلا أَمَةً قَدْ عُرِفَتْ بِصَنْعَةِ يَدٍ وَنَهَى عَنْ كَسْبِ الْغُلامِ الَّذِي لا يُحْسِنُ صِنَاعَةً بِيَدِهِ فَإِنَّهُ إِنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ سَرَقَ. 

8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfaliy from al-Sakuniy 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 earning of slave-girls because if they cannot find work, they fornicate, except for a slave-girl who knows a skill and she is better than a slave-boy who due to not knowing any skills, when unable to find work steals.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 5

Book 2, Chapter 42