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 مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ غِيَاثِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لَيْسَ الْحُكْرَةُ إِلا فِي الْحِنْطَةِ وَالشَّعِيرِ وَالتَّمْرِ وَالزَّبِيبِ وَالسَّمْنِ.

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ghiyath ibn Ibrahim who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Monopolization (Hoarding) of goods in public demand applies to wheat, barley, dates, raisins and cooking butter only.’” 

2- مُحَمَّدٌ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ بْنِ مَنْصُورٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ نَفِدَ الطَّعَامُ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَأَتَاهُ الْمُسْلِمُونَ فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ قَدْ نَفِدَ الطَّعَامُ وَلَمْ يَبْقَ مِنْهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ إِلا عِنْدَ فُلانٍ فَمُرْهُ يَبِيعُهُ النَّاسَ قَالَ فَحَمِدَ اللهَ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا فُلانُ إِنَّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ ذَكَرُوا أَنَّ الطَّعَامَ قَدْ نَفِدَ إِلا شَيْئاً عِنْدَكَ فَأَخْرِجْهُ وَبِعْهُ كَيْفَ شِئْتَ وَلا تَحْبِسْهُ.

2. Muhammad ibn Ahmad has narrated from Muhammad ibn Sinan from Hudhayfah ibn Mansur who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Once during the times of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, a severe shortage of food took place and the Muslims came to the Messenger of Allah saying, “O Messenger of Allah, food supplies are exhausted and there is no food left except that which so and so has hoarded; so command him to sell to people.” He, the Messenger of Allah praised Allah and glorified Him and then said, “O so and so, the Muslims have informed me that food supplies have become serious. Food is not available except that which is with you. You must bring it in public and sell them as you like, but you must not keep it in hoarding.’”” 

3- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ الْحُكْرَةُ أَنْ يَشْتَرِيَ طَعَاماً لَيْسَ فِي الْمِصْرِ غَيْرُهُ فَيَحْتَكِرَهُ فَإِنْ كَانَ فِي الْمِصْرِ طَعَامٌ أَوْ يُبَاعُ غَيْرُهُ فَلا بَأْسَ بِأَنْ يَلْتَمِسَ بِسِلْعَتِهِ الْفَضْلَ قَالَ وَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الزَّيْتِ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ عِنْدَ غَيْرِكَ فَلا بَأْسَ بِإِمْسَاكِهِ.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘ Umayr from Hammad from al-Halabiy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Hoarding means buying such food supplies of a city beside which no other food supplies are available. If other food supplies are available in a city or someone else sells food, then it is permissible to buy food supplies and keep them hoarded to sell later with higher prices.’ He (the narrator) has said, I asked him about oil and he replied, ‘If it is available with people other than you then there is no offense in it.’” 

4- أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ عَنْ أَبِي الْفَضْلِ سَالِمٍ الْحَنَّاطِ قَالَ قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مَا عَمَلُكَ قُلْتُ حَنَّاطٌ وَرُبَّمَا قَدِمْتُ عَلَى نَفَاقٍ وَرُبَّمَا قَدِمْتُ عَلَى كَسَادٍ فَحَبَسْتُ فَقَالَ فَمَا يَقُولُ مَنْ قِبَلَكَ فِيهِ قُلْتُ يَقُولُونَ مُحْتَكِرٌ فَقَالَ يَبِيعُهُ أَحَدٌ غَيْرُكَ قُلْتُ مَا أَبِيعُ أَنَا مِنْ أَلْفِ جُزْءٍ جُزْءاً قَالَ لا بَأْسَ إِنَّمَا كَانَ ذَلِكَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ يُقَالُ لَهُ حَكِيمُ بْنُ حِزَامٍ وَكَانَ إِذَا دَخَلَ الطَّعَامُ الْمَدِينَةَ اشْتَرَاهُ كُلَّهُ فَمَرَّ عَلَيْهِ النَّبِيُّ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَقَالَ يَا حَكِيمَ بْنَ حِزَامٍ إِيَّاكَ أَنْ تَحْتَكِرَ.

4. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan from abu al-Fadl Salim al-Hannat who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once asked me, ‘What is your business?’ I replied, ‘It is selling wheat. At times business is good and sometimes it is not good so I hold selling.’ He (the Imam) then asked, ‘What do people who visit you say about it?’ I replied, ‘They say, “He is a hoarder.’” He (the Imam) asked, ‘Does anyone else sell wheat besides you?’ I replied, ‘I sell only one out of a thousandth of what is sold in the market.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Then there is no offense in what you do. The person who hoarded food was Hakim ibn Hizam. He would buy all food supplies that came to al- Madinah. The Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, passed by his place and said, “O Hakim ibn Hizam, you must not hoard (food supplies).””’ 

5- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَحْتَكِرُ الطَّعَامَ وَيَتَرَبَّصُ بِهِ هَلْ يَجُوزُ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ الطَّعَامُ كَثِيراً يَسَعُ النَّاسَ فَلا بَأْسَ بِهِ وَإِنْ كَانَ الطَّعَامُ قَلِيلا لا يَسَعُ النَّاسَ فَإِنَّهُ يُكْرَهُ أَنْ يَحْتَكِرَ الطَّعَامَ وَيَتْرُكَ النَّاسَ لَيْسَ لَهُمْ طَعَامٌ.

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad from al-Halabiy who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who hoarded food supplies and waited for higher prices. Is it permissible?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘If there is plenty of food available to people to buy, then there is no offense in it; but if there are food shortages and people are not able to buy from other places, then it (such hoarding) is undesirable to leave people without food.’” 

6- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الأشْعَرِيِّ عَنِ ابْنِ الْقَدَّاحِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) الْجَالِبُ مَرْزُوقٌ وَالْمُحْتَكِرُ مَلْعُونٌ.

6. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ja’far ibn Muhammad al-Ash’ariy from ibn al-Qaddah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah has said, ’One who supplies the market receives his sustenance and a hoarder is condemned.’” 

7- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ الْحُكْرَةُ فِي الْخِصْبِ أَرْبَعُونَ يَوْماً وَفِي الشِّدَّةِ وَالْبَلاءِ ثَلاثَةُ أَيَّامٍ فَمَا زَادَ عَلَى الأرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً فِي الْخِصْبِ فَصَاحِبُهُ مَلْعُونٌ وَمَا زَادَ عَلَى ثَلاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ فِي الْعُسْرَةِ فَصَاحِبُهُ مَلْعُونٌ. 

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, ’At a time when food is abundantly available, keeping food for forty days is considered hoarding, but at the time of shortages of food holding back food supplies for three days is considered hoarding. After forty days at a time when food is abundant a hoarder is condemned and at the time of scarcity of food after three days the hoarder is condemned.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 5

Book 2, Chapter 64