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 مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ بَكْرٍ عَنْ حَدِيدِ بْنِ حَكِيمٍ الأزْدِيِّ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَجِيئُنِي الرَّجُلُ يَطْلُبُ مِنِّي الْمَتَاعَ بِعَشَرَةِ آلافِ دِرْهَمٍ أَوْ أَقَلَّ أَوْ أَكْثَرَ وَلَيْسَ عِنْدِي إِلا بِأَلْفِ دِرْهَمٍ فَأَسْتَعِيرُ مِنْ جَارِي وَآخُذُ مِنْ ذَا وَذَا فَأَبِيعُهُ مِنْهُ ثُمَّ أَشْتَرِيهِ مِنْهُ أَوْ آمُرُ مَنْ يَشْتَرِيهِ فَأَرُدُّهُ عَلَى أَصْحَابِهِ قَالَ لا بَأْسَ بِهِ.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Safwan from Musa ibn Bakr from Hadid ibn Hakim al- Azdiy who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who comes to me and asks me for certain goods at the price of ten thousand dirham or less or more but I have only what is worth one thousand dirham. I then borrow from my neighbor and take from this and that person to complete the amount and sell to him; then buy from him or ask someone else to buy from him so that I then can return to the people from whom I had borrowed. He (the Imam) said, It is lawful.’” 

2- أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سُئِلَ عَنْ رَجُلٍ بَاعَ بَيْعاً لَيْسَ عِنْدَهُ إِلَى أَجَلٍ وَضَمِنَ لَهُ الْبَيْعَ قَالَ لا بَأْسَ بِهِ.

2. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Mansur from Hisham ibn Salim who has said the following: “Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about the case of a man who makes a sale for an appointed time without having the merchandise with him and guarantees the sale for the buyer. He (the Imam) said, It is not unlawful.’”. 

3- أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ اشْتَرَى مَتَاعاً لَيْسَ فِيهِ كَيْلٌ وَلا وَزْنٌ أَيَبِيعُهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَقْبِضَهُ قَالَ لا بَأْسَ.

3. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ali ibn al-Hakam from abu Hamzah who has said the following: I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the case of a man who has bought certain goods which are not exchanged by measurement or weighing; if he can sell them before receiving delivery. He (the Imam) said, It is lawful.’” 

4- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ الْحَجَّاجِ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) الرَّجُلُ يَجِيئُنِي يَطْلُبُ الْمَتَاعَ فَأُقَاوِلُهُ عَلَى الرِّبْحِ ثُمَّ أَشْتَرِيهِ فَأَبِيعُهُ مِنْهُ فَقَالَ أَلَيْسَ إِنْ شَاءَ أَخَذَ وَإِنْ شَاءَ تَرَكَ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ لا بَأْسَ بِهِ قُلْتُ فَإِنَّ مَنْ عِنْدَنَا يُفْسِدُهُ قَالَ وَلِمَ قُلْتُ بَاعَ مَا لَيْسَ عِنْدَهُ قَالَ فَمَا يَقُولُ فِي السَّلَمِ قَدْ بَاعَ صَاحِبُهُ مَا لَيْسَ عِنْدَهُ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ فَإِنَّمَا صَلَحَ مِنْ أَجْلِ أَنَّهُمْ يُسَمُّونَهُ سَلَماً إِنَّ أَبِي كَانَ يَقُولُ لا بَأْسَ بِبَيْعِ كُلِّ مَتَاعٍ كُنْتَ تَجِدُهُ فِي الْوَقْتِ الَّذِي بِعْتَهُ فِيهِ.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘ Umayr from ‘Abd al- Rahman ibn al-Hajjaj who has said the following: “I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘A man comes to me and asks for certain goods. I contract with him for a certain profit, then buy it to sell to him. He (the Imam) asked, ‘Does he have the choice to take or leave it?’ I replied, ‘Yes, he does.’ He (the Imam) said, Tt is lawful.’ I then said, ‘There are those among us who destroy it.’. He (the Imam) asked, ‘Why is that?’ I replied, ‘He sells what is not with him.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘What does he say about advance payment to receive goods in future in which case he sells what is not with him?’ I replied, ‘Yes, it happens.’ He (the Imam) said, Tt is valid because they call it advance payment. My father would say, “It is lawful to sell all kinds of goods that you can find at the time you sell.’”” 

5- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ فَضَالَةَ بْنِ أَيُّوبَ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) الرَّجُلُ يَجِيئُنِي يَطْلُبُ الْمَتَاعَ الْحَرِيرَ وَلَيْسَ عِنْدِي مِنْهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ فَيُقَاوِلُنِي وَأُقَاوِلُهُ فِي الرِّبْحِ وَالأجَلِ حَتَّى يَجْتَمِعَ عَلَيَّ شَيْ‏ءٌ ثُمَّ أَذْهَبُ فَأَشْتَرِي لَهُ الْحَرِيرَ وَأَدْعُوهُ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ وَجَدَ بَيْعاً هُوَ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْهِ مِمَّا عِنْدَكَ أَيَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَنْصَرِفَ إِلَيْهِ وَيَدَعَكَ أَوْ وَجَدْتَ أَنْتَ ذَلِكَ أَتَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ تَنْصَرِفَ عَنْهُ وَتَدَعَهُ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ لا بَأْسَ.

5. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Fadalah ibn Ayyub from Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who comes to me and asks for certain goods of silk but I do not have anything as such, ‘Consider if he finds a better deal than this; can he change and go for that deal instead of the deal with you and can the same thing apply to you also?’ I replied, ‘Yes, - that can happen.’ He (the Imam) said, Tt then is lawful.’” 

6- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ الْحَجَّاجِ عَنْ خَالِدِ بْنِ نَجِيحٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) الرَّجُلُ يَجِي‏ءُ فَيَقُولُ اشْتَرِ هَذَا الثَّوْبَ وَأُرْبِحَكَ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَقَالَ أَلَيْسَ إِنْ شَاءَ أَخَذَ وَإِنْ شَاءَ تَرَكَ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ لا بَأْسَ بِهِ إِنَّمَا يُحَلِّلُ الْكَلامُ وَيُحَرِّمُ الْكَلامُ.

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Yahya ibn al-Hajjaj from Khalid ibn Najih who has said the following: “I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘A man comes to me and says, “Buy this cloth and I give you so and so much profit.’” He (the Imam) asked, ‘Can he take or leave it if he so wants?’ I replied, ‘Yes, he can do so.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is lawful. It is statements that make it lawful as well as unlawful.’” 

7- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ النَّضْرِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لا بَأْسَ بِأَنْ تَبِيعَ الرَّجُلَ الْمَتَاعَ لَيْسَ عِنْدَكَ تُسَاوِمُهُ ثُمَّ تَشْتَرِي لَهُ نَحْوَ الَّذِي طَلَبَ ثُمَّ تُوجِبُهُ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ ثُمَّ تَبِيعُهُ مِنْهُ بَعْدُ.

7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is lawful for a man to sell goods which are not with him in the form of Musawamah (fixed price regardless of capital), then buy for him the goods he demands and make it necessary for yourself thereafter to ask him to sell it to you.’” 

8- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ رَجُلٍ بَاعَ بَيْعاً لَيْسَ عِنْدَهُ إِلَى أَجَلٍ وَضَمِنَ الْبَيْعَ قَالَ لا بَأْسَ.

8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘ Urn ay r from Hammad from al-Halabiy who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who makes a sale and the merchandise is not with him for an appointed time but he guarantees the sale. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful.’” 

9- بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَسْبَاطٍ عَنْ أَبِي مَخْلَدٍ السَّرَّاجِ قَالَ كُنَّا عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَدَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ مُعَتِّبٌ فَقَالَ بِالْبَابِ رَجُلانِ فَقَالَ أَدْخِلْهُمَا فَدَخَلا فَقَالَ أَحَدُهُمَا إِنِّي رَجُلٌ قَصَّابٌ وَإِنِّي أَبِيعُ الْمُسُوكَ قَبْلَ أَنْ أَذْبَحَ الْغَنَمَ قَالَ لَيْسَ بِهِ بَأْسٌ وَلَكِنِ انْسُبْهَا غَنَمَ أَرْضِ كَذَا وَكَذَا. 

9. Certain persons of our people have narrated from Ali ibn Asbat from abu Mukhallad al-Sarraj who has said the following: “Once, we were with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when Mu‘attib came in and said, ‘There are two people at the door.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Bring them inside.’ The two men came inside and one of them said, ‘I am a butcher. Can I sell the skin before I slaughter the sheep?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful. However, say from the sheep is from so and so land.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 5

Book 2, Chapter 87