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- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ أَسْبَاطِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) كَانَ لِي أَخٌ هَلَكَ فَأَوْصَى إِلَى أَخٍ أَكْبَرَ مِنِّي وَأَدْخَلَنِي مَعَهُ فِي الْوَصِيَّةِ وَتَرَكَ ابْناً لَهُ صَغِيراً وَلَهُ مَالٌ فَيَضْرِبُ بِهِ أَخِي فَمَا كَانَ مِنْ فَضْلٍ سَلَّمَهُ لِلْيَتِيمِ وَضَمِنَ لَهُ مَالَهُ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ لأخِيكَ مَالٌ يُحِيطُ بِمَالِ الْيَتِيمِ إِنْ تَلِفَ فَلا بَأْسَ بِهِ وَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ مَالٌ فَلا يَعْرِضْ لِمَالِ الْيَتِيمِ.

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Asbat ibn Salim who has said the following: “I once said to abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘I had a brother who has died and made a will in which he appointed my brother who is elder to me and myself as executors. He has left behind a small son and has left behind a certain amount of assets. My brother uses that asset in business and gives the extra to the orphan and has taken the responsibility for the assets of the orphan. He (the Imam) said, ‘If your brother’s own asset is sufficient to cover the assets of the orphan, then it is not harmful; but if he does not have that much asset he must not bother with the assets of the orphan.’” 

2- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ حَرِيزٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي مَالِ الْيَتِيمِ قَالَ الْعَامِلُ بِهِ ضَامِنٌ وَلِلْيَتِيمِ الرِّبْحُ إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ لِلْعَامِلِ بِهِ مَالٌ وَقَالَ إِنْ أُعْطِبَ أَدَّاهُ.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Hariz from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “About the case of the assets of orphans, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘One who uses the assets of the orphan in business is responsible and the profit belongs to the orphan, if the worker does not have anything of his own assets in it.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘This person is responsible to pay for any damage caused.’” 

3- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ رِبْعِيِّ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ فِي رَجُلٍ عِنْدَهُ مَالُ الْيَتِيمِ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ مُحْتَاجاً وَلَيْسَ لَهُ مَالٌ فَلا يَمَسَّ مَالَهُ وَإِنْ [هُوَ] اتَّجَرَ بِهِ فَالرِّبْحُ لِلْيَتِيمِ وَهُوَ ضَامِنٌ.

3. Muhammad ibn ‘Isma’il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Rib’iy ibn ‘Abd Allah who has said the following: “About the case of a man who has the assets of an orphan with him, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If he is poor and has no assets of his own, he must not touch the assets of the orphan; and if he uses it in business, he is responsible for it and the profit belongs to the orphan.’” 

4- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَسْبَاطٍ عَنْ أَسْبَاطِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقُلْتُ أَمَرَنِي أَخِي أَنْ أَسْأَلَكَ عَنْ مَالِ يَتِيمٍ فِي حَجْرِهِ يَتَّجِرُ بِهِ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ لأخِيكَ مَالٌ يُحِيطُ بِمَالِ الْيَتِيمِ إِنْ تَلِفَ أَوْ أَصَابَهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ غَرِمَهُ لَهُ وَإِلا فَلا يَتَعَرَّضْ لِمَالِ الْيَتِيمِ.

4. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ali ibn Asbat from Asbat ibn Salim who has said the following: “I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), that my brother has told me to ask you about the assets of an orphan who is under his (my brother’s) guardianship and he uses the assets of the orphan in business. He (the Imam) said, ‘If your brother’s assets are sufficient to cover the assets of the orphan in case it is destroyed, it is permissible; otherwise, it is not permissible and he must not hassle with the assets of the orphan.’” 

5- أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ حَازِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي رَجُلٍ وُلِّيَ مَالَ يَتِيمٍ أَيَسْتَقْرِضُ مِنْهُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيْهِما السَّلام) قَدْ كَانَ يَسْتَقْرِضُ مِنْ مَالِ أَيْتَامٍ كَانُوا فِي حَجْرِهِ فَلا بَأْسَ بِذَلِكَ.

5. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan ibn Yahya from Mansur ibn Hazim who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who is the person in charge of the assets of an orphan; if he can borrow from such assets. He (the Imam) said, ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), would borrow from the assets of orphans under his guardianship, thus, it is not harmful.’” 

6- الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ حَازِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ رَجُلٌ وُلِّيَ مَالَ يَتِيمٍ أَيَسْتَقْرِضُ مِنْهُ قَالَ كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيْهِما السَّلام) يَسْتَقْرِضُ مِنْ مَالِ يَتِيمٍ كَانَ فِي حَجْرِهِ.

6. Al-Husayn from Muhammad has narrated from Mu’alla’ ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from Mansur ibn Hazim who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who is the person in charge of the assets of orphans; if he can borrow from such assets. He (the Imam) said, ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), would borrow from the assets of orphans under his guardianship.’” 

7- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ وَصَفْوَانَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ الْحَجَّاجِ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي الرَّجُلِ يَكُونُ عِنْدَ بَعْضِ أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ مَالٌ لأيْتَامٍ فَيَدْفَعُهُ إِلَيْهِ فَيَأْخُذُ مِنْهُ دَرَاهِمَ يَحْتَاجُ إِلَيْهَا وَلا يُعْلِمُ الَّذِي كَانَ عِنْدَهُ الْمَالُ لِلأيْتَامِ أَنَّهُ أَخَذَ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ شَيْئاً ثُمَّ تَيَسَّرَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ أَيُّ ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ لَهُ أَيُعْطِيهِ الَّذِي كَانَ فِي يَدِهِ أَمْ يَدْفَعُهُ إِلَى الْيَتِيمِ وَقَدْ بَلَغَ وَهَلْ يُجْزِئُهُ أَنْ يَدْفَعَهُ إِلَى صَاحِبِهِ عَلَى وَجْهِ الصِّلَةِ وَلا يُعْلِمُهُ أَنَّهُ أَخَذَ لَهُ مَالا فَقَالَ يُجْزِئُهُ أَيُّ ذَلِكَ فَعَلَ إِذَا أَوْصَلَهُ إِلَى صَاحِبِهِ فَإِنَّ هَذَا مِنَ السَّرَائِرِ إِذَا كَانَ مِنْ نِيَّتِهِ إِنْ شَاءَ رَدَّهُ إِلَى الْيَتِيمِ إِنْ كَانَ قَدْ بَلَغَ عَلَى أَيِّ وَجْهٍ شَاءَ وَإِنْ لَمْ يُعْلِمْهُ أَنْ كَانَ قَبَضَ لَهُ شَيْئاً وَإِنْ شَاءَ رَدَّهُ إِلَى الَّذِي كَانَ فِي يَدِهِ وَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ صَاحِبُ الْمَالِ غَائِباً فَلْيَدْفَعْهُ إِلَى الَّذِي كَانَ الْمَالُ فِي يَدِهِ.

7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and Muhammad ibn ‘Isma’il has narrated from af-Fadf ibn Shadhan from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr and Safwan from ‘Abd al- Rahman ibn al-Hajjaj who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about the case of a man in whose family someone has the assets of orphans and he gives a certain amount of dirham to him that he needs; and the person with whom there are the assets of orphans does not know if he has taken anything from their assets. He thereafter becomes affluent. Is it better for him to give it back to the one who had given him such assets or to the orphan who has reached maturity? Is it sufficient if he gives it to the one from whom he had received the amount in the form of gifts without informing him about his borrowing anything from him? He (the Imam) said, ’Either way is sufficient. To give it as gift to his friend is sufficient because it is of the secret matters, if he had the intention to return to the orphan who has become mature, and in whatever manners he returns even if he does not inform him about his borrowing or if he wants he can return to the one from whom he had received the amount.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If his friend is absent, he then must return it to the one from whom he had received the amount.’” 

8- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ خَالِدِ بْنِ جَرِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي الرَّبِيعِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سُئِلَ عَنْ رَجُلٍ وُلِّيَ مَالَ يَتِيمٍ فَاسْتَقْرَضَ مِنْهُ شَيْئاً فَقَالَ إِنَّ عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيْهِما السَّلام) كَانَ اسْتَقْرَضَ مَالا لأيْتَامٍ فِي حَجْرِهِ. 

8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from Khalid ibn Jarir from abu al-Rabi‘ who has said the following: “Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about the case of a man who becomes the person in charge of the assets of orphans and borrows a certain amount thereof. He (the Imam) said, ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn, would borrow from the assets of orphans under his guardianship.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 5

Book 2, Chapter 45