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 الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ مُصْعَبٍ الْهَمْدَانِيِّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ ثَلاثَةٌ لا عُذْرَ لأحَدٍ فِيهَا أَدَاءُ الأمَانَةِ إِلَى الْبَرِّ وَالْفَاجِرِ وَالْوَفَاءُ بِالْعَهْدِ إِلَى الْبَرِّ وَالْفَاجِرِ وَبِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ بَرَّيْنِ كَانَا أَوْ فَاجِرَيْنِ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from al-Husayn ibn Mus’ab af-Hamadaniy who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘There are three issues in which one has no choice: They are safe return of trust of a virtuous or sinful person, keeping one’s promise to a virtuous or sinful person, and kindness to parents, regardless, of their being virtuous or sinful ones.’” 

2- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنِ ابْنِ بُكَيْرٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ الشَّيْبَانِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ مَوَالِيكَ يَسْتَحِلُّ مَالَ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ وَدِمَاءَهُمْ وَإِنَّهُ وَقَعَ لَهُمْ عِنْدَهُ وَدِيعَةٌ فَقَالَ أَدُّوا الأمَانَاتِ إِلَى أَهْلِهَا وَإِنْ كَانُوا مَجُوسِيّاً فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ لا يَكُونُ حَتَّى يَقُومَ قَائِمُنَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ (عَلَيْهِم السَّلام) فَيُحِلَّ وَيُحَرِّمَ.

2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from ibn Bukayr from al-Hassan al- Shaybaniy who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘One of your Mawaliy (followers) considers use of the properties of Amawide people lawful as well as their lives. Something that they had left with him for safe-keeping is in his possession.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘You must return trusts to the rightful people even if they are of Zoroastrian people. Such matters will happen only when the one with Divine Authority from us, Ahl al-Bayt will rise. He will decide what is lawful and what is not lawful.’” 

3- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ جَدِّهِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ رَاشِدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) أَدُّوا الأمَانَةَ وَلَوْ إِلَى قَاتِلِ وُلْدِ الأنْبِيَاءِ.

3. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Khalid from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Yahya from his grandfather, al-Hassan ibn Rashid from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘You must return a trust even if an assassin of the children of the prophet has left it with you.’” 

4- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ مَرَّارٍ عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أَبِي حَفْصٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ اتَّقُوا اللهَ وَعَلَيْكُمْ بِأَدَاءِ الأمَانَةِ إِلَى مَنِ ائْتَمَنَكُمْ وَلَوْ أَنَّ قَاتِلَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) ائْتَمَنَنِي عَلَى أَمَانَةٍ لأدَّيْتُهَا إِلَيْهِ.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ‘Isma’il ibn Marrar from Yunus from ‘Umar ibn abu Hafs who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘You must maintain piety before Allah and you must return a trust to the one who has entrusted you with it. Even if the assassin of Ali ibn abu Talib entrusted me with something, I had to return it to him safely.’” 

5- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ عَمَّارِ بْنِ مَرْوَانَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي وَصِيَّةٍ لَهُ اعْلَمْ أَنَّ ضَارِبَ عَلِيٍّ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) بِالسَّيْفِ وَقَاتِلَهُ لَوِ ائْتَمَنَنِي وَاسْتَنْصَحَنِي وَاسْتَشَارَنِي ثُمَّ قَبِلْتُ ذَلِكَ مِنْهُ لأدَّيْتُ إِلَيْهِ الأمَانَةَ.

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Sinan from ‘Ammar ibn Marwan who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said in one of his advices, ‘You must take notice that even if the assassin of Ali (a.s.), who struck him (the Imam) with his sword had entrusted me with something, asked for my opinion and consultation and I had accepted, I most certainly had to return his trust safely.’” 

6- أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ حَفْصِ بْنِ قُرْطٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) امْرَأَةٌ بِالْمَدِينَةِ كَانَ النَّاسُ يَضَعُونَ عِنْدَهَا الْجَوَارِيَ فَتُصْلِحُهُنَّ وَقُلْنَا مَا رَأَيْنَا مِثْلَ مَا صُبَّ عَلَيْهَا مِنَ الرِّزْقِ فَقَالَ إِنَّهَا صَدَقَتِ الْحَدِيثَ وَأَدَّتِ الأمَانَةَ وَذَلِكَ يَجْلِبُ الرِّزْقَ. قَالَ صَفْوَانُ وَسَمِعْتُهُ مِنْ حَفْصٍ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ.

6. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan ibn Yahya from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar from Hafs ibn Qurt who has said the following: “I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘There was a woman in al-Madinah and people left their slave-girls with her to train them. We said that there is no one on whom wealth is poured as it is poured before her.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is because she spoke the truth, returned the trust safely and that is what attracts wealth.’ Safwan has said, ‘I heard this Hadith from Hafs later on.’” 

7- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) لَيْسَ مِنَّا مَنْ أَخْلَفَ بِالأمَانَةِ وَقَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) الأمَانَةُ تَجْلِبُ الرِّزْقَ وَالْخِيَانَةُ تَجْلِبُ الْفَقْرَ.

7. 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, has said, ‘One who does not keep a trust safely is not of our people/ The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Trustworthiness attracts wealth and treachery attracts poverty.’” 

8- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ يَعْنِي مُوسَى (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ رَجُلٍ اسْتَوْدَعَ رَجُلا مَالا لَهُ قِيمَةٌ وَالرَّجُلُ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ الْمَالُ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْعَرَبِ يَقْدِرُ عَلَى أَنْ لا يُعْطِيَهُ شَيْئاً وَلا يَقْدِرُ لَهُ عَلَى شَيْ‏ءٍ وَالرَّجُلُ الَّذِي اسْتَوْدَعَهُ خَبِيثٌ خَارِجِيٌّ فَلَمْ أَدَعْ شَيْئاً فَقَالَ لِي قُلْ لَهُ رُدَّهُ عَلَيْهِ فَإِنَّهُ ائْتَمَنَهُ عَلَيْهِ بِأَمَانَةِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قُلْتُ فَرَجُلٌ اشْتَرَى مِنِ امْرَأَةٍ مِنَ الْعَبَّاسِيِّينَ بَعْضَ قَطَائِعِهِمْ فَكَتَبَ عَلَيْهَا كِتَاباً أَنَّهَا قَدْ قَبَضَتِ الْمَالَ وَلَمْ تَقْبِضْهُ فَيُعْطِيهَا الْمَالَ أَمْ يَمْنَعُهَا قَالَ لِي قُلْ لَهُ يَمْنَعُهَا أَشَدَّ الْمَنْعِ فَإِنَّهَا بَاعَتْهُ مَا لَمْ تَمْلِكْهُ.

8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Muhammad ibn Khalid from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn al-Qasim who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), about a man who entrusted another man with a certain amount of property. The man with whom goods were left was from Arab people and he was not able to return anything. The other man was not able to do anything against him. The entrusting man was a filthy foreigner and has not asked for anything.’ He (the Imam) said to me, ‘Tell him to return his trust; he entrusted him with trust of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious.’ I then said, ‘Ali ibn al- Nu’man has purchased from an ‘Abbaside woman a certain piece of their (land) and he has a document that says she has received payment; but in fact she has not received any payment. Should he pay her or refuse to pay?’ He (the Imam) said to me, ‘Tell him to deny paying her with strongest denial; she has sold what did not belong to her.’” 

9- الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ النَّهْدِيِّ عَنْ كَثِيرِ بْنِ يُونُسَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ سَيَابَةَ قَالَ لَمَّا هَلَكَ أَبِي سَيَابَةُ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ إِخْوَانِهِ إِلَيَّ فَضَرَبَ الْبَابَ عَلَيَّ فَخَرَجْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَعَزَّانِي وَقَالَ لِي هَلْ تَرَكَ أَبُوكَ شَيْئاً فَقُلْتُ لَهُ لا فَدَفَعَ إِلَيَّ كِيساً فِيهِ أَلْفُ دِرْهَمٍ وَقَالَ لِي أَحْسِنْ حِفْظَهَا وَكُلْ فَضْلَهَا فَدَخَلْتُ إِلَى أُمِّي وَأَنَا فَرِحٌ فَأَخْبَرْتُهَا فَلَمَّا كَانَ بِالْعَشِيِّ أَتَيْتُ صَدِيقاً كَانَ لأبِي فَاشْتَرَى لِي بَضَائِعَ سَابِرِيٍّ وَجَلَسْتُ فِي حَانُوتٍ فَرَزَقَ اللهُ جَلَّ وَعَزَّ فِيهَا خَيْراً كَثِيراً وَحَضَرَ الْحَجُّ فَوَقَعَ فِي قَلْبِي فَجِئْتُ إِلَى أُمِّي وَقُلْتُ لَهَا إِنَّهَا قَدْ وَقَعَ فِي قَلْبِي أَنْ أَخْرُجَ إِلَى مَكَّةَ فَقَالَتْ لِي فَرُدَّ دَرَاهِمَ فُلانٍ عَلَيْهِ فَهَاتِهَا وَجِئْتُ بِهَا إِلَيْهِ فَدَفَعْتُهَا إِلَيْهِ فَكَأَنِّي وَهَبْتُهَا لَهُ فَقَالَ لَعَلَّكَ اسْتَقْلَلْتَهَا فَأَزِيدَكَ قُلْتُ لا وَلَكِنْ قَدْ وَقَعَ فِي قَلْبِيَ الْحَجُّ فَأَحْبَبْتُ أَنْ يَكُونَ شَيْئُكَ عِنْدَكَ ثُمَّ خَرَجْتُ فَقَضَيْتُ نُسُكِي ثُمَّ رَجَعْتُ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ فَدَخَلْتُ مَعَ النَّاسِ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَكَانَ يَأْذَنُ إِذْناً عَامّاً فَجَلَسْتُ فِي مَوَاخِيرِ النَّاسِ وَكُنْتُ حَدَثاً فَأَخَذَ النَّاسُ يَسْأَلُونَهُ وَيُجِيبُهُمْ فَلَمَّا خَفَّ النَّاسُ عَنْهُ أَشَارَ إِلَيَّ فَدَنَوْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لِي أَلَكَ حَاجَةٌ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ سَيَابَةَ فَقَالَ لِي مَا فَعَلَ أَبُوكَ فَقُلْتُ هَلَكَ قَالَ فَتَوَجَّعَ وَتَرَحَّمَ قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي أَفَتَرَكَ شَيْئاً قُلْتُ لا قَالَ فَمِنْ أَيْنَ حَجَجْتَ قَالَ فَابْتَدَأْتُ فَحَدَّثْتُهُ بِقِصَّةِ الرَّجُلِ قَالَ فَمَا تَرَكَنِي أَفْرُغُ مِنْهَا حَتَّى قَالَ لِي فَمَا فَعَلْتَ فِي الألْفِ قَالَ قُلْتُ رَدَدْتُهَا عَلَى صَاحِبِهَا قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي قَدْ أَحْسَنْتَ وَقَالَ لِي أَلا أُوصِيكَ قُلْتُ بَلَى جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَقَالَ عَلَيْكَ بِصِدْقِ الْحَدِيثِ وَأَدَاءِ الأمَانَةِ تَشْرَكُ النَّاسَ فِي أَمْوَالِهِمْ هَكَذَا وَجَمَعَ بَيْنَ أَصَابِعِهِ قَالَ فَحَفِظْتُ ذَلِكَ عَنْهُ فَزَكَّيْتُ ثَلاثَمِائَةِ أَلْفِ دِرْهَمٍ. 

9. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Nahdiy from Kathir ibn Yunus from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Sayabah who has said the following: “When my father, Sayabah, passed away, one of his brothers came to me and knocked at the door. I went out to meet him. He offered me condolence and asked, ‘Has your father left anything?’ I replied, ‘No, he has not left anything.’ He then gave to me a bag with a thousand dirham in it and said, ‘Keep it (the capital) safe and use its profits.’ I went to my mother while I was very happy and informed her about it. During the night I visited a friend of my father and he purchased for me certain Sabiriy goods. I then opened a shop and Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, granted me a great deal of good things. The time for Hajj came and I felt in my heart about performing Hajj. I went to my mother and informed her of my feeling about performing Hajj . She then told me to return the dirhams of so and so. I then took the dirhams and gave it to him. He became so happy as if he had received a gift. He said, ‘Perhaps, it is not enough. I am ready to give you more dirhams.’ I replied, ‘No, I thank you. I desire to perform Hajj and I like that your thing is in your own possession.’ I left for Hajj and completed the acts of Hajj. I then returned to al-Madinah and along with people went to visit abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.). Appointment was not required for visitation. I sat in the last rows of people; I was young. People asked him questions and he (the Imam) answered them. When many people left and the gathering was reduced he (the Imam) pointed to me and I went closer. He (the Imam) asked, ‘Do you need anything?’ I replied, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, I am ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Sayabah.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘What has your father done?’ I replied, ‘He has passed away.’ He (the narrator) has said, ‘He (the Imam) expressed sorrow and sympathy.’ He (the narrator) has said, ‘He (the Imam) then asked, ‘Has he left anything?’ I replied, ‘No, he has not left any thing.’ He (the Imam) then asked, ‘By what means then were you able to perform Hajj?’ He (the narrator) has said, ‘I explained to him the story of the man with dirham. He (the Imam) did not allow me to finish the story and asked, ’What did you do with the thousand dirhams?’ He (the narrator) has said, ‘I said, “I returned it to its owner.’” He (the narrator) has said that he (the Imam) said, ‘You have done a very good deed’ and he said to me, ‘Would you like if I give a good advice?’ I replied, ‘Yes, I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘You must speak the truth and return a trust safely; you will share people in their wealth like this’ -he joined his fingers side by side. I followed his advice and was able to pay in charity three hundred thousand dirham.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 5

Book 2, Chapter 46