Gifts and Presents

Al-Kāfi|Volume 5|Book 2|Chapter 50

Al-Kāfi

Volume 5, Book 2, Chapter 50

Gifts and Presents
14 Aḥadīth
Ḥadīth 1

1- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) الْهَدِيَّةُ عَلَى ثَلاثَةِ أَوْجُهٍ هَدِيَّةُ مُكَافَأَةٍ وَهَدِيَّةُ مُصَانَعَةٍ وَهَدِيَّةٌ للهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from af-Nawfafiy from af-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, ‘Gifts are of three kinds: One is a gift to compensate a favor, another is a gift for understanding (bribing) someone, and another gift is a gift from Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious.’”

Ḥadīth 2

2- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ وَأَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْكَرْخِيِّ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنِ الرَّجُلِ تَكُونُ لَهُ الضَّيْعَةُ الْكَبِيرَةُ فَإِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْمِهْرَجَانِ أَوِ النَّيْرُوزِ أَهْدَوْا إِلَيْهِ الشَّيْ‏ءَ لَيْسَ هُوَ عَلَيْهِمْ يَتَقَرَّبُونَ بِذَلِكَ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ أَلَيْسَ هُمْ مُصَلِّينَ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ فَلْيَقْبَلْ هَدِيَّتَهُمْ وَلْيُكَافِهِمْ فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) قَالَ لَوْ أُهْدِيَ إِلَيَّ كُرَاعٌ لَقَبِلْتُ وَكَانَ ذَلِكَ مِنَ الدِّينِ وَلَوْ أَنَّ كَافِراً أَوْ مُنَافِقاً أَهْدَى إِلَيَّ وَسْقاً مَا قَبِلْتُ وَكَانَ ذَلِكَ مِنَ الدِّينِ أَبَى اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لِي زَبْدَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ وَالْمُنَافِقِينَ وَطَعَامَهُمْ.

2. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Ahmad ibn Muhammad from all from ibn Mahbub from Ibrahim al- Karkhiy who has said the following: “I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who possesses a great deal of goods. On the times of festivities or the day of Nawroz, they give him as gifts which they did not have to give him but they wanted to become nearer to him. He (the Imam) asked, ‘Are they not the ones who perform prayers?’ I (the narrator) replied, ‘Yes, they perform prayer.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘He must accept their gift and reciprocate. The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, “Even if a foot of sheep is given to me as a gift I accept it. It is part of the discipline of religion. On the other hand, if an unbeliever or hypocrite gives me as gift, a whole load of goods, I do not accept. It is of the discipline of religion. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, disdains my accepting gifts of unbelievers and hypocrites.’””

Ḥadīth 3

3- ابْنُ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ سَيْفِ بْنِ عَمِيرَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ كَانَتِ الْعَرَبُ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ عَلَى فِرْقَتَيْنِ الْحُلِّ وَالْحُمْسِ فَكَانَتِ الْحُمْسُ قُرَيْشاً وَكَانَتِ الْحُلُّ سَائِرَ الْعَرَبِ فَلَمْ يَكُنْ أَحَدٌ مِنَ الْحُلِّ إِلا وَلَهُ حَرَمِيٌّ مِنَ الْحُمْسِ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ حَرَمِيٌّ مِنَ الْحُمْسِ لَمْ يُتْرَكْ أَنْ يَطُوفَ بِالْبَيْتِ إِلا عُرْيَاناً وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) حَرَمِيّاً لِعِيَاضِ بْنِ حِمَارٍ الْمُجَاشِعِيِّ وَكَانَ عِيَاضٌ رَجُلا عَظِيمَ الْخَطَرِ وَكَانَ قَاضِياً لأهْلِ عُكَاظٍ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ فَكَانَ عِيَاضٌ إِذَا دَخَلَ مَكَّةَ أَلْقَى عَنْهُ ثِيَابَ الذُّنُوبِ وَالرَّجَاسَةِ وَأَخَذَ ثِيَابَ رَسُولِ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) لِطُهْرِهَا فَلَبِسَهَا وَطَافَ بِالْبَيْتِ ثُمَّ يَرُدُّهَا عَلَيْهِ إِذَا فَرَغَ مِنْ طَوَافِهِ فَلَمَّا أَنْ ظَهَرَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) أَتَاهُ عِيَاضٌ بِهَدِيَّةٍ فَأَبَى رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) أَنْ يَقْبَلَهَا وَقَالَ يَا عِيَاضُ لَوْ أَسْلَمْتَ لَقَبِلْتُ هَدِيَّتَكَ إِنَّ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَبَى لِي زَبْدَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ ثُمَّ إِنَّ عِيَاضاً بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ أَسْلَمَ وَحَسُنَ إِسْلامُهُ فَأَهْدَى إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) هَدِيَّةً فَقَبِلَهَا مِنْهُ.

3. Ibn Mahbub has narrated from Sayf ibn ‘ Amirah from abu Bakr al-Hadramiy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Arabs during pre-Islamic age of ignorance were of two groups. One was al-Hull and the other al-Hums. Al-Hums were Quraysh and al-Hull was the rest of Arabs. Everyone of al-Hull group had to have a protector from al-Hums people; otherwise, they could not perform Tawaf except in a naked condition. The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, was the protector of ‘Iyad ibn Himar al-Mujashi‘iy. ‘Iyad was a person of great importance. He was a judge for the people in ‘Ukaz during the age of ignorance. When visiting Makkah ‘Iyad removed his dress of sins and filth. He dressed up with the dress of the Messenger of Allah for being clean. He dressed up and performed Tawaf around the house, then returned them to him after completing Tawaf. When the Messenger of Allah declared his mission, ‘Iyad brought a gift for him. The Messenger of Allah refused to accept it saying, ‘O ‘Iyad, if you accept Islam I accept your gift. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, disdains my accepting gifts from pagans.’ ‘Iyad then afterwards accepted Islam and made it to be good. He then gave a gift to the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and he accepted his gift.’”

Ḥadīth 4

4- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ أَبِي جَرِيرٍ الْقُمِّيِّ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي الرَّجُلِ يُهْدِي بِالْهَدِيَّةِ إِلَى ذِي قَرَابَتِهِ يُرِيدُ الثَّوَابَ وَهُوَ سُلْطَانٌ فَقَالَ مَا كَانَ للهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَلِصِلَةِ الرَّحِمِ فَهُوَ جَائِزٌ وَلَهُ أَنْ يَقْبِضَهَا إِذَا كَانَ لِلثَّوَابِ.

4. Several of our companions narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad, from Isma'il ibn Mihran, from Abi Jarir al-Qummi that Abu al-Hasan (al-Kadhim or al-Ridha) (as) was asked about: A man gives a gift to a relative, but seeks a reward while that relative is in a position of authority. He said regarding this, "If it is for the sake of Allah, the Mighty and Exalted, and for maintaining family ties, then it is permissible, and he may accept it as long as it is given with the intention of seeking reward."

Ḥadīth 5

5- سَهْلُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ لَهُ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللهِ الْقُمِّيُّ إِنَّ لَنَا ضِيَاعاً فِيهَا بُيُوتُ النِّيرَانِ تُهْدِي إِلَيْهَا الْمَجُوسُ الْبَقَرَ وَالْغَنَمَ وَالدَّرَاهِمَ فَهَلْ لأرْبَابِ الْقُرَى أَنْ يَأْخُذُوا ذَلِكَ وَلِبُيُوتِ نِيرَانِهِمْ قُوَّامٌ يَقُومُونَ عَلَيْهَا قَالَ لِيَأْخُذْهُ صَاحِبُ الْقُرَى لَيْسَ بِهِ بَأْسٌ.

5. Sahl ibn Ziyad has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Mughirah who has said the following: “Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Allah al-Qummiy once said to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), ‘On our land there are facilities that house firehouses of al-Majus (Zoroastrians) who offer cows and sheep and dirham. Can the owners of these villages receive such things and these facilities have keepers who maintain them?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘The owners of these villages must take it and there is no offense in it.’” (Consult Fatwa also)

Ḥadīth 6

6- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَمَّنْ حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ الْمُبَارَكِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ جَبَلَةَ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ الرَّجُلُ الْفَقِيرُ يُهْدِي إِلَيَّ الْهَدِيَّةَ يَتَعَرَّضُ لِمَا عِنْدِي فَأَخَذَهَا وَلا أُعْطِيهِ شَيْئاً أَيَحِلُّ لِي قَالَ نَعَمْ هِيَ لَكَ حَلالٌ وَلَكِنْ لا تَدَعْ أَنْ تُعْطِيَهُ.

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from those whom he has mentioned from Yahya al-Mubarak from ‘Abd Allah ibn Jabalah from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “I once asked him (the Imam) about a poor man who presents to me a gift seeking nearness to me thereby and I accept it and do not give him anything as a gift. Is this lawful for me?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘It is lawful for you, however, you must not neglect to give him something.’”

Ḥadīth 7

7- عِدَّة مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ سَيْفِ بْنِ عَمِيرَةَ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شِمْرٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) يَأْكُلُ الْهَدِيَّةَ وَلا يَأْكُلُ الصَّدَقَةَ وَيَقُولُ تَهَادَوْا فَإِنَّ الْهَدِيَّةَ تَسُلُّ السَّخَائِمَ وَتُجْلِي ضَغَائِنَ الْعَدَاوَةِ وَالأحْقَادِ.

7. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from ‘Isma’il ibn Mehran from Sayf ibn ‘Amirah from ‘Amr ibn Shamir from Jabir who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (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, would use gifts for food but not charity and he would say, “You must exchange gifts, it gently removes resentment and clears grudges due to animosity and malice.’””

Ḥadīth 8

8- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) مِنْ تَكْرِمَةِ الرَّجُلِ لأخِيهِ الْمُسْلِمِ أَنْ يَقْبَلَ تُحْفَتَهُ وَيُتْحِفَهُ بِمَا عِنْدَهُ وَلا يَتَكَلَّفَ لَهُ شَيْئاً.

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, has said, ‘Of a believer’s upholding the honor of his Muslim brother is to accept his gifts and present him a gift of whatever is possible for him without over-burdening himself.’”

Ḥadīth 9

9- وَبِإِسْنَادِهِ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) لَوْ أُهْدِيَ إِلَيَّ كُرَاعٌ لَقَبِلْتُهُ.

9. Through the same chain of narrators as the previous Hadith he has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘Even if a gift as small as the foot of a sheep is presented to me I accept it.’”

Ḥadīth 10

10- عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ عَنْ أَبَانٍ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ عُمَرَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ قَالَ جُلَسَاءُ الرَّجُلِ شُرَكَاؤُهُ فِي الْهَدِيَّةِ.

10. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from certain persons of his people from Aban from Ibrahim ibn ‘Umar from Muhammad ibn Muslim in a Maqtu’ manner who have said the following: “He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said, ‘People in the meeting with the recipient of a gift all have a share in that gift.’”

Ḥadīth 11

11- أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى رَفَعَهُ قَالَ إِذَا أُهْدِيَ إِلَى الرَّجُلِ هَدِيَّةُ طَعَامٍ وَعِنْدَهُ قَوْمٌ فَهُمْ شُرَكَاؤُهُ فِيهَا الْفَاكِهَةُ وَغَيْرُهَا.

11. Ahmad ibn Muhammad from has narrated from ‘Uthman ibn ’Isa in a marfu’ manner who has said the following: “He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said, ‘If one receives a gift such as food or fruits and so on, during a meeting with people around him they also have a share in such gift.’”

Ḥadīth 12

12- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) لأنْ أُهْدِيَ لأخِي الْمُسْلِمِ هَدِيَّةً تَنْفَعُهُ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أَتَصَدَّقَ بِمِثْلِهَا.

12. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Al-Nawfaliy from al-Sakuniy, who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘Presenting a gift to my Muslim brother which can benefit him is more beloved to me than giving charity.’”

Ḥadīth 13

13- الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْكُوفِيِّ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) تَهَادَوْا بِالنَّبِقِ تَحْيَا الْمَوَدَّةُ وَالْمُوَالاةُ.

13. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ja’far ibn Muhammad from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Ibrahim al-Kufiy from Al-Husayn ibn Zayd 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, ‘You should exchange gifts of berries; it revives affection and friendship.’”

Ḥadīth 14

14- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) تَهَادَوْا تَحَابُّوا تَهَادَوْا فَإِنَّهَا تَذْهَبُ بِالضَّغَائِنِ.

14. 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, ‘You should exchange gifts; you will find affection. You should exchange gifts; it removes malice.’”