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 عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ مَا كَانَ مِنْ طَعَامٍ سَمَّيْتَ فِيهِ كَيْلا فَلا يَصْلُحُ مُجَازَفَةً هَذَا مِمَّا يُكْرَهُ مِنْ بَيْعِ الطَّعَامِ.

1. 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, ‘In the case of foodstuff of known measurement venturous estimation is not valid and it is of undesirable matters in the case of foodstuff.”’ 

2- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَكُونُ لَهُ عَلَى الآخَرِ مِائَةُ كُرِّ تَمْرٍ وَلَهُ نَخْلٌ فَيَأْتِيهِ فَيَقُولُ أَعْطِنِي نَخْلَكَ هَذَا بِمَا عَلَيْكَ فَكَأَنَّهُ كَرِهَهُ قَالَ وَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلَيْنِ يَكُونُ بَيْنَهُمَا النَّخْلُ فَيَقُولُ أَحَدُهُمَا لِصَاحِبِهِ إِمَّا أَنْ تَأْخُذَ هَذَا النَّخْلَ بِكَذَا وَكَذَا كَيْلا مُسَمًّى أَوْ تُعْطِيَنِي نِصْفَ هَذَا الْكَيْلِ إِمَّا زَادَ أَوْ نَقَصَ وَإِمَّا أَنْ آخُذَهُ أَنَا بِذَلِكَ قَالَ نَعَمْ لا بَأْسَ بِهِ.

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Safwan from Ya’qub ibn Shu’ayb who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man to whom another man owes one hundred kur of dates and he has palm trees. He comes and says, ‘Give to me your palm trees for what you owe to me.’ It seemed as if he (the Imam) disliked it. I then asked about two men who have palm trees. One of them says to the other, ‘You can take the trees for such and such amount and give to me one-half more or less or I take the trees with the same condition. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’” 

3- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنَّهُ سُئِلَ عَنِ الْجَوْزِ لا يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَعُدَّ فَيُكَالُ بِمِكْيَالٍ فَيُعَدُّ مَا فِيهِ ثُمَّ يُكَالُ مَا بَقِيَ عَلَى حِسَابِ ذَلِكَ مِنَ الْعَدَدِ فَقَالَ لا بَأْسَ بِهِ.

3. 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.), was asked about walnuts that cannot be counted. The owner weighs a certain measurement, then counts the rest according to that measurement. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’” 

4- حُمَيْدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَمَاعَةَ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَشْتَرِي بَيْعاً فِيهِ كَيْلٌ أَوْ وَزْنٌ يُعَيِّرُهُ ثُمَّ يَأْخُذُهُ عَلَى نَحْوِ مَا فِيهِ قَالَ لا بَأْسَ بِهِ.

4. Humayd ibn Ziyad has narrated from al-Hassan ibn Muhammad ibn Sama‘ah from those whom he has mentioned from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from ‘Abd al- Rahman ibn abu ‘Abd Allah who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who buys something which is sold by measure or weight and takes it according to that standard. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’” 

5- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ عِيصِ بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ رَجُلٍ لَهُ نَعَمٌ يَبِيعُ أَلْبَانَهَا بِغَيْرِ كَيْلٍ قَالَ نَعَمْ حَتَّى يَنْقَطِعَ أَوْ شَيْ‏ءٌ مِنْهَا.

5. Muhammad ibn ‘Isma’il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from Safwan ibn Yahya from ‘Is ibn al-Qasim who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who has cattle; if he can sell their milk without measurement. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, he can do so until it stops (coming through the udder) or something similar.’” 

6- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ أَخِيهِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ زُرْعَةَ عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ اللَّبَنِ يُشْتَرَى وَهُوَ فِي الضَّرْعِ قَالَ لا إِلا أَنْ يَحْلُبَ لَكَ سُكُرُّجَةً فَيَقُولَ اشْتَرِ مِنِّي هَذَا اللَّبَنَ الَّذِي فِي السُّكُرُّجَةِ وَمَا فِي ضُرُوعِهَا بِثَمَنٍ مُسَمًّى فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي الضُّرُوعِ شَيْ‏ءٌ كَانَ مَا فِي السُّكُرُّجَةِ.

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from his brother al-Hassan from Zurarah from Sanaa ‘ah who has said the following: “I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), if milk which still is in the udder can be purchased. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, until it is milked in al-Sukurrujah (a bowl) and the seller can say, “Buy what is in al-Sukurruajah and that which is in the udder for the named price” and if there is nothing in the udder that which is in al-Sukurruajah is what is sold.’” 

7- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو قَالَ قُلْتُ لأبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَشْتَرِي مِائَةَ رَاوِيَةٍ مِنْ زَيْتٍ فَأَعْرِضُ رَاوِيَةً وَاثْنَتَيْنِ فَأَزِنُهُمَا ثُمَّ آخُذُ سَائِرَهُ عَلَى قَدْرِ ذَلِكَ قَالَ لا بَأْسَ.

7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Safwan from abu Sa‘id from ‘Abd al-Malik ibn ‘Amr who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about buying a hundred Rawiyah (a certain unit of measurement) of oil, then weigh one or two Rawiyah then accept the rest according to such weighing. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’” 

8- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْكَرْخِيِّ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مَا تَقُولُ فِي رَجُلٍ اشْتَرَى مِنْ رَجُلٍ أَصْوَافَ مِائَةِ نَعْجَةٍ وَمَا فِي بُطُونِهَا مِنْ حَمْلٍ بِكَذَا وَكَذَا دِرْهَماً قَالَ لا بَأْسَ بِذَلِكَ إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي بُطُونِهَا حَمْلٌ كَانَ رَأْسُ مَالِهِ فِي الصُّوفِ.

8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub Ibrahim al-Karkhiy who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who buys wool of a hundred sheep from another man and what is in their womb for so amount of dirham. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful; in case there is nothing in their womb he has his capital in the wool.’” 

9- أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ رِفَاعَةَ النَّخَّاسِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قُلْتُ لَهُ أَيَصْلُحُ لِي أَنْ أَشْتَرِيَ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الْجَارِيَةَ الآبِقَةَ وَأُعْطِيَهُمُ الثَّمَنَ وَأَطْلُبَهَا أَنَا قَالَ لا يَصْلُحُ شِرَاؤُهَا إِلا أَنْ تَشْتَرِيَ مِنْهُمْ مَعَهَا شَيْئاً ثَوْباً أَوْ مَتَاعاً فَتَقُولَ لَهُمْ أَشْتَرِي مِنْكُمْ جَارِيَتَكُمْ فُلانَةَ وَهَذَا الْمَتَاعَ بِكَذَا وَكَذَا دِرْهَماً فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ جَائِزٌ.

9. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from ibn Mahbub from Rifa’ah al-Nakhkhas who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), if my buying a runaway slave-girl from a people and paying them the price but myself search to find her, is valid. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not valid unless you buy from them a certain other item, like cloths or so and say to them, “I buy your so slave- girl and this item of goods for so and so amount of dirham.” This is permissible.’” 

10- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ شَمُّونٍ عَنِ الأصَمِّ عَنْ مِسْمَعٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللهِ عَلَيْهِ نَهَى أَنْ يُشْتَرَى شَبَكَةُ الصَّيَّادِ يَقُولَ اضْرِبْ بِشَبَكَتِكَ فَمَا خَرَجَ فَهُوَ مِنْ مَالِي بِكَذَا وَكَذَا.

10. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan ibn Shammun from al-Assam from Misma’ who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), prohibited buying the net of the fisherman by saying, ‘Spread your net and whatever comes in is mine for so and so amount.’” 

11- سَهْلُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِذَا كَانَتْ أَجَمَةٌ لَيْسَ فِيهَا قَصَبٌ أُخْرِجَ شَيْ‏ءٌ مِنَ السَّمَكِ فَيُبَاعُ وَمَا فِي الأجَمَةِ.

11. Sahl ibn Ziyad has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu Nasr from certain persons of his people who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If there is a bunch of trees without reeds with a few fish taken out along with what is in the bunch of trees, it can (lawfully) be sold.’” 

12- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ وَحُمَيْدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَمَاعَةَ عَنْ غَيْرِ وَاحِدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ الْفَضْلِ الْهَاشِمِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي الرَّجُلِ يَتَقَبَّلُ بِجِزْيَةِ رُءُوسِ الرِّجَالِ وَبِخَرَاجِ النَّخْلِ وَالآجَامِ وَالطَّيْرِ وَهُوَ لا يَدْرِي لَعَلَّهُ لا يَكُونُ مِنْ هَذَا شَيْ‏ءٌ أَبَداً أَوْ يَكُونُ قَالَ إِذَا عَلِمَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ شَيْئاً وَاحِداً أَنَّهُ قَدْ أَدْرَكَ فَاشْتَرِهِ وَتَقَبَّلْ بِهِ.

12. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from and Humayd ibn Ziyad from al- Hassan ibn Muhammad ibn Sama‘ah from more than one person all from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from ‘Isma’il ibn al-Fadl al-Hashimiy who has said the following: “About the case of a man who accepts in a transaction, in exchange for what he pays, the taxes due on non-Muslim taxpayers, taxes on palm trees, on groves, on birds and does not know if any such items exist or not, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If he knows that at least one thing of it exists that he can have, he can buy and accept the deal with it.’” 

13- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنِ ابْنِ بُكَيْرٍ عَنْ رَجُلٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ رَجُلٍ يَشْتَرِي الْجِصَّ فَيَكِيلُ بَعْضَهُ وَيَأْخُذُ الْبَقِيَّةَ بِغَيْرِ كَيْلٍ فَقَالَ إِمَّا أَنْ يَأْخُذَ كُلَّهُ بِتَصْدِيقِهِ وَإِمَّا أَنْ يَكِيلَهُ كُلَّهُ. 

13. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from ibn Faddal from ibn Bukayr from a man from a certain persons of his people who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who buys lime. He weighs a certain portion then accepts the rest without measurement. He (the Imam) said, ‘He can accept all of it with his certification or measure all of it.��” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 5

Book 2, Chapter 83