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 أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ دِرْهَمٌ رِبًا أَشَدُّ مِنْ سَبْعِينَ زَنْيَةً كُلُّهَا بِذَاتِ مَحْرَمٍ.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn Salim that Abu ‘Abdillah (al-Sadiq) (as) said, “The sin of receiving one dirham of [unlawful] interest is more serious than having seventy carnal relations with one’s mahrams."

2- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نَجْرَانَ عَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ حُمَيْدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) آكِلُ الرِّبَا وَمُؤْكِلُهُ وَكَاتِبُهُ وَشَاهِدُهُ فِيهِ سَوَاءٌ.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu Najran from ‘Asim ibn Hamid from m h ibn Qays, who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘One who consumes Riba’, one who feeds Riba ’ and one who documents it, are all the same (in committing this sins).”’ 

3- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَأْكُلُ الرِّبَا وَهُوَ يَرَى أَنَّهُ لَهُ حَرَامٌ قَالَ لا يَضُرُّهُ حَتَّى يُصِيبَهُ مُتَعَمِّداً فَإِذَا أَصَابَهُ مُتَعَمِّداً فَهُوَ بِالْمَنْزِلَةِ الَّتِي قَالَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Mansur from Hisham ibn Salim who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who consumes Riba ’ and he considers it lawful. He (the Imam) replied, ‘It does not harm him as long as he does not consume it knowing that it is unlawful, in which case he will face the condition of one who is mentioned in the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious. 

4- أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْوَشَّاءِ عَنْ أَبِي الْمَغْرَاءِ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) كُلُّ رِبًا أَكَلَهُ النَّاسُ بِجَهَالَةٍ ثُمَّ تَابُوا فَإِنَّهُ يُقْبَلُ مِنْهُمْ إِذَا عُرِفَ مِنْهُمُ التَّوْبَةُ وَقَالَ لَوْ أَنَّ رَجُلا وَرِثَ مِنْ أَبِيهِ مَالا وَقَدْ عَرَفَ أَنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ الْمَالِ رِبًا وَلَكِنْ قَدِ اخْتَلَطَ فِي التِّجَارَةِ بِغَيْرِهِ حَلالٍ كَانَ حَلالا طَيِّباً فَلْيَأْكُلْهُ وَإِنْ عَرَفَ مِنْهُ شَيْئاً أَنَّهُ رِبًا فَلْيَأْخُذْ رَأْسَ مَالِهِ وَلْيَرُدَّ الرِّبَا وَأَيُّمَا رَجُلٍ أَفَادَ مَالا كَثِيراً قَدْ أَكْثَرَ فِيهِ مِنَ الرِّبَا فَجَهِلَ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ عَرَفَهُ بَعْدُ فَأَرَادَ أَنْ يَنْزِعَهُ فِيمَا مَضَى فَلَهُ وَيَدَعُهُ فِيمَا يَسْتَأْنِفُ.

4. Ahmad ibn Muhammad from has narrated from al-Washsha’ from abu al-Mighra’ from al-Halabiy, who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Any kind of Riba ’ people have consumed in ignorance then repented, such repentance is accepted if such repentance is found in them.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘If a man inherits goods, from his father and knows that there is Riba ’ in it but is mixed in trade with other lawful goods it is lawful and clean for him and he has permission to consume such properties. If however, he comes to know the Riba ’ item, he then must separate his capital and return the Riba’ property. If one earns a great deal of property in which there is a great deal of Riba’ but does not know such property exactly and afterwards comes to know it and wants to remove it, what is passed is for him but he must stay away from Riba ’ in coming times.’” 

5- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ أَتَى رَجُلٌ أَبِي فَقَالَ إِنِّي وَرِثْتُ مَالا وَقَدْ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّ صَاحِبَهُ الَّذِي وَرِثْتُهُ مِنْهُ قَدْ كَانَ يَرْبُو وَقَدْ أَعْرِفُ أَنَّ فِيهِ رِبًا وَأَسْتَيْقِنُ ذَلِكَ وَلَيْسَ يَطِيبُ لِي حَلالُهُ لِحَالِ عِلْمِي فِيهِ وَقَدْ سَأَلْتُ فُقَهَاءَ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ وَأَهْلِ الْحِجَازِ فَقَالُوا لا يَحِلُّ أَكْلُهُ فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ بِأَنَّ فِيهِ مَالا مَعْرُوفاً رِبًا وَتَعْرِفُ أَهْلَهُ فَخُذْ رَأْسَ مَالِكَ وَرُدَّ مَا سِوَى ذَلِكَ وَإِنْ كَانَ مُخْتَلِطاً فَكُلْهُ هَنِيئاً مَرِيئاً فَإِنَّ الْمَالَ مَالُكَ وَاجْتَنِبْ مَا كَانَ يَصْنَعُ صَاحِبُهُ فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) قَدْ وَضَعَ مَا مَضَى مِنَ الرِّبَا وَحَرَّمَ عَلَيْهِمْ مَا بَقِيَ فَمَنْ جَهِلَهُ وَسِعَ لَهُ جَهْلُهُ حَتَّى يَعْرِفَهُ فَإِذَا عَرَفَ تَحْرِيمَهُ حَرُمَ عَلَيْهِ وَوَجَبَتْ عَلَيْهِ فِيهِ الْعُقُوبَةُ إِذَا رَكِبَهُ كَمَا يَجِبُ عَلَى مَنْ يَأْكُلُ الرِّبَا.

5. 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 that once a man came to my father and said, ‘I have inherited a certain amount of property and I knew the owner from whom I inherited received Raba’ and I know with certainty there is Riba’ in it and I do not feel happy to consume it because of my knowledge about it. I asked the scholars of law of Iraq about it and they said, ‘It is not lawful to consume it.’ Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), said, ‘If you know exactly Riba’ property in it and you know the owner also, you must separate it and return to the owner. If it is mixed you can consume it in good health and pleasure. It is your property but you must stay away from what the previous owner would do. The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, granted relief to what is passed and prohibited from Riba ’ in coming times. If one is ignorant he is exempt, until he comes to know of the unlawfulness of Riba  Once a person learns that Riba ’ is unlawful and punishment becomes necessary if one consumes Riba’ just as it (punishment) is necessary for one who has consumed Riba’.’” 

6- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ عُمَرَ الْيَمَانِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ الرِّبَا رِبَاءَانِ رِبًا يُؤْكَلُ وَرِبًا لا يُؤْكَلُ فَأَمَّا الَّذِي يُؤْكَلُ فَهَدِيَّتُكَ إِلَى الرَّجُلِ تَطْلُبُ مِنْهُ الثَّوَابَ أَفْضَلَ مِنْهَا فَذَلِكَ الرِّبَا الَّذِي يُؤْكَلُ وَهُوَ قَوْلُهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَما آتَيْتُمْ مِنْ رِباً لِيَرْبُوَا فِي أَمْوالِ النَّاسِ فَلا يَرْبُوا عِنْدَ اللهِ وَأَمَّا الَّذِي لا يُؤْكَلُ فَهُوَ الرِّبَا الَّذِي نَهَى اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَنْهُ وَأَوْعَدَ عَلَيْهِ النَّارَ.

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Ibrahim ibn ‘Umar af-Yamaniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Riba’ is of two kinds: One kind is that which is consumed and the other kind is not consumed. The gift that one presents to someone in order to receive Thawab (rewards from Allah) is better. Of this kind is the Riba’ which is consumed as it is mentioned in the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ’The Riba’ in which you are involved so it increases in people’s property does not increase before Allah.’ (30:38) The other kind of Riba’ is that which Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has prohibited and has warned those involved in it with punishment in the fire.” 

7- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ اللهَ تَعَالَى قَدْ ذَكَرَ الرِّبَا فِي غَيْرِ آيَةٍ وَكَرَّرَهُ فَقَالَ أَوَتَدْرِي لِمَ ذَاكَ قُلْتُ لا قَالَ لِئَلا يَمْتَنِعَ النَّاسُ مِنِ اصْطِنَاعِ الْمَعْرُوفِ.

7. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from ‘Uthman ibn ’Isa from Sama‘ah who has said the following: “I once said to abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘I have noticed that Allah, most High, has mentioned Riba’ in more than one passages of the Holy Quran. He (the Imam) asked, ’Do you know why He has done so?’ I (the narrator) replied, ’No, I do not know.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is because He wants people not to deny performing good and benevolent deeds.’” 

8- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ الرِّبَا لِكَيْلا يَمْتَنِعَ النَّاسُ مِنِ اصْطِنَاعِ الْمَعْرُوفِ.

8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn Salim who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has prohibited receiving Riba’ so that people do not deny acts of benevolence and compassion.” 

9- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ وَأَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ خَالِدِ بْنِ جَرِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي الرَّبِيعِ الشَّامِيِّ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَرْبَى بِجَهَالَةٍ ثُمَّ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَتْرُكَهُ فَقَالَ أَمَّا مَا مَضَى فَلَهُ وَلْيَتْرُكْهُ فِيمَا يَسْتَقْبِلُ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ رَجُلا أَتَى أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقَالَ إِنِّي قَدْ وَرِثْتُ مَالا وَقَدْ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّ صَاحِبَهُ كَانَ يَرْبُو وَقَدْ سَأَلْتُ فُقَهَاءَ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ وَفُقَهَاءَ أَهْلِ الْحِجَازِ فَذَكَرُوا أَنَّهُ لا يَحِلُّ أَكْلُهُ فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْرِفُ مِنْهُ شَيْئاً مَعْزُولا تَعْرِفُ أَهْلَهُ وَتَعْرِفُ أَنَّهُ رِبًا فَخُذْ رَأْسَ مَالِكَ وَدَعْ مَا سِوَاهُ وَإِنْ كَانَ الْمَالُ مُخْتَلِطاً فَكُلْهُ هَنِيئاً مَرِيئاً فَإِنَّ الْمَالَ مَالُكَ وَاجْتَنِبْ مَا كَانَ يَصْنَعُ صَاحِبُكَ فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) قَدْ وَضَعَ مَا مَضَى مِنَ الرِّبَا فَمَنْ جَهِلَهُ وَسِعَهُ أَكْلُهُ فَإِذَا عَرَفَهُ حَرُمَ عَلَيْهِ أَكْلُهُ فَإِنْ أَكَلَهُ بَعْدَ الْمَعْرِفَةِ وَجَبَ عَلَيْهِ مَا وَجَبَ عَلَى آكِلِ الرِّبَا.

9. 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 received Riba’ in ignorance, then he wanted to stay away from Riba’. He (the Imam) said ’What is passed is for him and he must stay away in the coming times.’ He (the Imam) then said, ’Once a man visited abu Ja’far (a.s.), and said, “I have inherited a certain amount of property and noticed that the owner of that property was involved in Riba’. I asked the scholars of law of Iraq and Hijaz and they said that consuming it is not lawful.” Abu Ja’far (a.s.), said, “If you know the Riba’ item distinctly and know the owners of such property, you must return it to them, if you know it is Riba’, take away your capital and leave the rest. If the property is mixed, you can consume them in good health and with pleasure; the property is your property and stay away from what your companion was involved in. The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, exempted what had passed of Riba’. One who is ignorant is exempt and is allowed to consume such property. Once he comes to know then it becomes unlawful for him to consume. If he consumes after knowing, it becomes necessary on him what has become necessary on one who consumes Riba’.’”” 

10- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنِ ابْنِ بُكَيْرٍ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ لا يَكُونُ الرِّبَا إِلا فِيمَا يُكَالُ أَوْ يُوزَنُ.

10. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from ibn Bukayr from ‘Ubayd ibn Zurarah who has said the following: “I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘Riba’ comes in existence only in what is measured or is weighed.” 

11- أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنِ ابْنِ بُكَيْرٍ [عَنْ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ زُرَارَةَ] قَالَ بَلَغَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَأْكُلُ الرِّبَا وَيُسَمِّيهِ اللِّبَأَ فَقَالَ لَئِنْ أَمْكَنَنِي اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ [مِنْهُ] لأضْرِبَنَّ عُنُقَهُ.

11. Ahmad ibn Muhammad from has narrated from ibn Faddal from ibn Bukayr from ‘Ubayd ibn Zurarah from who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was informed about a man who consumed Riba ’ and called it fresh milk. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said, ‘Had Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, made it possible for me I most certainly would strike his neck.’” 

12- أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَمِيلَةَ عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ طَرِيفٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ أَخْبَثُ الْمَكَاسِبِ كَسْبُ الرِّبَا. 

12. Ahmad ibn Muhammad from has narrated from ibn Faddal from abu Jamilah from Sa‘d ibn Tarif who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘The filthiest earning is earning by means of Riba , . ,,, 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 5

Book 2, Chapter 51