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 سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الأشْعَرِيِّ عَنِ ابْنِ الْقَدَّاحِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ جَاءَتِ امْرَأَةُ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ مَظْعُونٍ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنَّ عُثْمَانَ يَصُومُ النَّهَارَ وَيَقُومُ اللَّيْلَ فَخَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) مُغْضَباً يَحْمِلُ نَعْلَيْهِ حَتَّى جَاءَ إِلَى عُثْمَانَ فَوَجَدَهُ يُصَلِّي فَانْصَرَفَ عُثْمَانُ حِينَ رَأَى رَسُولَ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا عُثْمَانُ لَمْ يُرْسِلْنِي اللهُ تَعَالَى بِالرَّهْبَانِيَّةِ وَلَكِنْ بَعَثَنِي بِالْحَنِيفِيَّةِ السَّهْلَةِ السَّمْحَةِ أَصُومُ وَأُصَلِّي وَأَلْمِسُ أَهْلِي فَمَنْ أَحَبَّ فِطْرَتِي فَلْيَسْتَنَّ بِسُنَّتِي وَمِنْ سُنَّتِيَ النِّكَاحُ.

1. 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 once wife of ‘Uthman ibn Maz‘un came to the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, ‘Uthman, fasts during the day and stands up for Salat (prayer) during the night.’ The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, came out with anger carrying his shoes until he reached ‘Uthman and found him performing Salat (prayer). When ‘Uthman completed, he saw the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, who said to him, “O ‘Uthman, why did Allah not sent me to behave like a monk, however, He has sent me to be right-minded, planner and magnanimous. I fast, perform Salat (prayer) and touch my wife. Whoever likes my nature (culture) must adopt my Sunnah (manners) and of my Sunnah is marriage.’” 

2- جَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ الْقَدَّاحِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ لِرَجُلٍ أَصْبَحْتَ صَائِماً قَالَ لا قَالَ فَأَطْعَمْتَ مِسْكِيناً قَالَ لا قَالَ فَارْجِعْ إِلَى أَهْلِكَ فَإِنَّهُ مِنْكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَدَقَةٌ.

2. Ja’far ibn Muhammad has narrated from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Qaddah 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, once asked a man, ‘Are you fasting this morning?’ The man replied, ‘No, I am not fasting.’ He (the Messenger of Allah) asked, ‘Have you fed a destitute person?’ He replied, ‘No, I have not done so.’ He (the Messenger of Allah) then said, ‘Go to your family, it will be a charity from you to them.’” 

3- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَأَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَكُونُ مَعَهُ أَهْلُهُ فِي السَّفَرِ لا يَجِدُ الْمَاءَ أَيَأْتِي أَهْلَهُ قَالَ مَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ يَفْعَلَ إِلا أَنْ يَخَافَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ قَالَ قُلْتُ طَلَبَ بِذَلِكَ اللَّذَّةَ أَوْ يَكُونُ شَبِقاً إِلَى النِّسَاءِ قَالَ إِنَّ الشَّبِقَ يَخَافُ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ قُلْتُ يَطْلُبُ بِذَلِكَ اللَّذَّةَ قَالَ هُوَ حَلالٌ قُلْتُ فَإِنَّهُ يُرْوَى عَنِ النَّبِيِّ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) أَنَّ أَبَا ذَرٍّ رَحِمَهُ اللهُ سَأَلَهُ عَنْ هَذَا فَقَالَ ائْتِ أَهْلَكَ تُؤْجَرْ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ آتِيهِمْ وَأُوجَرُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) كَمَا أَنَّكَ إِذَا أَتَيْتَ الْحَرَامَ أُزِرْتَ فَكَذَلِكَ إِذَا أَتَيْتَ الْحَلالَ أُوجِرْتَ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَلا تَرَى أَنَّهُ إِذَا خَافَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ فَأَتَى الْحَلالَ أُوجِرَ.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan from Ishaq 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 is on a journey with his wife and they cannot find water; if he can go to bed with his wife. He (the Imam) said, ‘I do not like it unless he is afraid for himself.’ I then asked, ‘Is it about the case of seeking to satisfy one’s lust or is about the case of pressing desire for women?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Pressing desire for women of one’s fear for one’s self.’ I then asked, ‘Can one seek thereby pleasure?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is lawful.’ I then asked, ‘It is narrated from the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, that once abu Dharr, may Allah grant him mercy, asked him about it and he (the Messenger of Allah) said, “You can go to your wife; you will be rewarded.” He asked, “O Messenger of Allah, I go to my wife and receive reward?” The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, said, “It is like when you commit an unlawful act; you have sinned, so also is the case of your doing a lawful act; you receive rewards.’” Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Consider when one fears his soul, then performs a lawful act; he then is rewarded.’” 

4- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْجَوْهَرِيِّ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْجُعْفِيِّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) دَخَلَ بَيْتَ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ فَشَمَّ رِيحاً طَيِّبَةً فَقَالَ أَتَتْكُمُ الْحَوْلاءُ فَقَالَتْ هُوَ ذَا هِيَ تَشْكُو زَوْجَهَا فَخَرَجَتْ عَلَيْهِ الْحَوْلاءُ فَقَالَتْ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَأُمِّي إِنَّ زَوْجِي عَنِّي مُعْرِضٌ فَقَالَ زِيدِيهِ يَا حَوْلاءُ قَالَتْ مَا أَتْرُكُ شَيْئاً طَيِّباً مِمَّا أَتَطَيَّبُ لَهُ بِهِ وَهُوَ عَنِّي مُعْرِضٌ فَقَالَ أَمَا لَوْ يَدْرِي مَا لَهُ بِإِقْبَالِهِ عَلَيْكِ قَالَتْ وَمَا لَهُ بِإِقْبَالِهِ عَلَيَّ فَقَالَ أَمَا إِنَّهُ إِذَا أَقْبَلَ اكْتَنَفَهُ مَلَكَانِ فَكَانَ كَالشَّاهِرِ سَيْفَهُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ فَإِذَا هُوَ جَامَعَ تَحَاتُّ عَنْهُ الذُّنُوبُ كَمَا يَتَحَاتُّ وَرَقُ الشَّجَرِ فَإِذَا هُوَ اغْتَسَلَ انْسَلَخَ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ.

4. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from his father from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad al-Jawhariy from Ishaq ibn Ibrahim al-Al-Ju‘fiy who has said the following: “I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, once went to the house of ‘Umm Salamah, smelled a fine fragrance and asked, ’Had al-Hawla’ come to you?’ She replied, ’She is here, complaining against her husband.’ Al-Hawla then came out and said, ’I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, my husband turns away from me.’ He (the Messenger of Allah) said, ‘Use more perfume, O Hawla’. She said, ‘I have not left any perfume without being tried to make him happy but he turns away from me.’ He (the Messenger of Allah) then said, ’I wish he learns what he receives by coming forward to you.’ She asked, ’What can he receive by being forthcoming to me?’ He (the Messenger of Allah) said, ‘If he comes to you he will be circled by two angels and he will be like one who has pulled his sword from its sheath in the way of Allah; and when he goes to bed with his wife, sins fall off of him like the falling of leaves from the tree and when he takes Ghusl (bath), he comes clean out of sins.”’ 

5- الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَبِي دَاوُدَ الْمُسْتَرِقِّ عَنْ بَعْضِ رِجَالِهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ ثَلاثَ نِسْوَةٍ أَتَيْنَ رَسُولَ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَقَالَتْ إِحْدَاهُنَّ إِنَّ زَوْجِي لا يَأْكُلُ اللَّحْمَ وَقَالَتِ الأخْرَى إِنَّ زَوْجِي لا يَشَمُّ الطِّيبَ وَقَالَتِ الأخْرَى إِنَّ زَوْجِي لا يَقْرَبُ النِّسَاءَ فَخَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) يَجُرُّ رِدَاءَهُ حَتَّى صَعِدَ الْمِنْبَرَ فَحَمِدَ اللهَ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ مَا بَالُ أَقْوَامٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِي لا يَأْكُلُونَ اللَّحْمَ وَلا يَشَمُّونَ الطِّيبَ وَلا يَأْتُونَ النِّسَاءَ أَمَا إِنِّي آكُلُ اللَّحْمَ وَأَشَمُّ الطِّيبَ وَآتِي النِّسَاءَ فَمَنْ رَغِبَ عَنْ سُنَّتِي فَلَيْسَ مِنِّي.

5. Al-Husayn from Muhammad has narrated from Mu’alla’ ibn Muhammad from abu Dawud al-Mustariq from certain persons of his people who have said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Three women came to the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and one of them said, “My husband does not eat meat.” The other one said, “My husband does not smell perfume.” The other one said, “My husband does not go near the woman.” The Messenger of Allah came out while his gown dragged behind him until he climbed on the pulpit, praised Allah and glorified Him; then said, “What has happened to certain people of my companions who do not eat meat, smell perfume and do not go near women. I however, eat meat, smell perfumes and go to women, thus, those who disregard my Sunnah are not of my people.’”” 

6- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ شَمُّونٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ مِسْمَعٍ أَبِي سَيَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَكُونَ عَلَى فِطْرَتِي فَلْيَسْتَنَّ بِسُنَّتِي وَإِنَّ مِنْ سُنَّتِيَ النِّكَاحَ. 

6. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan al-Shammun from ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Abd al- Rahman from Misma’ abu Sayyar 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, ‘Whoever loves to follow my nature (culture), he must follow my Sunnah; and of my Sunnah is marriage.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 5

Book 3, Chapter 139