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 عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ وَهْبٍ وَغَيْرِهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي الرَّجُلِ الْمُؤْمِنِ يَتَزَوَّجُ الْيَهُودِيَّةَ وَالنَّصْرَانِيَّةَ قَالَ إِذَا أَصَابَ الْمُسْلِمَةَ فَمَا يَصْنَعُ بِالْيَهُودِيَّةِ وَالنَّصْرَانِيَّةِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَكُونُ لَهُ فِيهَا الْهَوَى فَقَالَ إِنْ فَعَلَ فَلْيَمْنَعْهَا مِنْ شُرْبِ الْخَمْرِ وَأَكْلِ لَحْمِ الْخِنْزِيرِ وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ عَلَيْهِ فِي دِينِهِ غَضَاضَةً.

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Mu‘awiyah ibn Wahab and others who has said the following: “About the case of a man who marries a Jewish or a Christian woman, abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘What has he to do with a Jewish or Christian woman if he can find a Muslim woman?’ I (the narrator) asked, ‘What happens if he loves her?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If he marries, he must stop her from drinking wine and eating pork and you must take notice that he will have deficiency in his religion.”’ 

2- الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْوَشَّاءِ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ بْنِ أَعْيَنَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ نِكَاحِ الْيَهُودِيَّةِ وَالنَّصْرَانِيَّةِ فَقَالَ لا يَصْلُحُ لِلْمُسْلِمِ أَنْ يَنْكِحَ يَهُودِيَّةً وَلا نَصْرَانِيَّةً وَإِنَّمَا يَحِلُّ لَهُ مِنْهُنَّ نِكَاحُ الْبُلْهِ.

2. Al-Husayn from Muhammad has narrated from Mu’alla’ ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Washsha’ from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from Zurarah ibn ‘A‘yan who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about marriage with a Jewish or Christian woman. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not proper for a Muslim to marry a Jewish or Christian woman; only with the simple-minded ones of them marriage is lawful.’” 

3- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنِ الْعَلاءِ بْنِ رَزِينٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَيَتَزَوَّجُ الْمَجُوسِيَّةَ قَالَ لا وَلَكِنْ إِنْ كَانَتْ لَهُ أَمَةً.

3. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from al-‘Ala’ ibn Razin from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), if it is lawful to marry a Zoroastrian woman. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, however, she can be his slave-girl.’” 

4- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنِ الْعَلاءِ بْنِ رَزِينٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لا يَتَزَوَّجُ الْيَهُودِيَّةَ وَلا النَّصْرَانِيَّةَ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمَةِ.

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from al-‘Ala’ ibn Razin from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘A Jewish or a Christian woman cannot become a second wife, the first being a Muslim woman.’” 

5- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ الْبَرْقِيِّ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْيَهُودِيَّةِ وَالنَّصْرَانِيَّةِ أَيَتَزَوَّجُهَا الرَّجُلُ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمَةِ قَالَ لا وَيَتَزَوَّجُ الْمُسْلِمَةَ عَلَى الْيَهُودِيَّةِ وَالنَّصْرَانِيَّةِ.

5. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Khalid al-Barqiy from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Sama‘ah ibn Mehran who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before him (the Imam) (a.s.), if one can marry a Jewish or a Christian woman as a second wife, the first being a Muslim woman. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, but a Muslim woman can become a second wife, the first being a Jewish or a Christian woman.’” 

6- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ جَهْمٍ قَالَ قَالَ لِي أَبُو الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ مَا تَقُولُ فِي رَجُلٍ يَتَزَوَّجُ نَصْرَانِيَّةً عَلَى مُسْلِمَةٍ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ وَمَا قَوْلِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ قَالَ لَتَقُولَنَّ فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ يُعْلَمُ بِهِ قَوْلِي قُلْتُ لا يَجُوزُ تَزْوِيجُ النَّصْرَانِيَّةِ عَلَى مُسْلِمَةٍ وَلا غَيْرِ مُسْلِمَةٍ قَالَ وَلِمَ قُلْتُ لِقَوْلِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَلا تَنْكِحُوا الْمُشْرِكاتِ حَتَّى يُؤْمِنَّ قَالَ فَمَا تَقُولُ فِي هَذِهِ الآيَةِ وَالْمُحْصَناتُ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتابَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ قُلْتُ فَقَوْلُهُ وَلا تَنْكِحُوا الْمُشْرِكاتِ نَسَخَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ فَتَبَسَّمَ ثُمَّ سَكَتَ.

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from al-Hassan ibn al-Jahm who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), once said to me, ‘O abu Muhammad, what do you say about a man who marries a Jewish or a Christian woman, as a second wife, the first being a Muslim woman?’ I replied, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, my words have no meaning in your presence.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘You must say it; with it my words will come to light.’ I said, ‘It is not lawful to marry a Christian woman as a second wife, the first being a Muslim woman or non-Muslim woman.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘Why is it so?’ I replied, ‘It is because of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, “You must not marry the pagan women until they become believers.’” (2:221) He (the Imam) then asked, ‘What do you say about, “Marry of the chaste woman of the followers of the book (bible) which was before you” (5:5)?’ I replied, ‘Verse 221 of Chapter 2 has cancelled verse 5:5.’ He (the Imam) smiled and remained quiet.’” 

7- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ عُمَرَ عَنْ دُرُسْتَ الْوَاسِطِيِّ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ رِئَابٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ بْنِ أَعْيَنَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لا يَنْبَغِي نِكَاحُ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ وَأَيْنَ تَحْرِيمُهُ قَالَ قَوْلُهُ وَلا تُمْسِكُوا بِعِصَمِ الْكَوافِرِ.

7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from Ahmad ibn ‘Umar from Durust al-Wasitiy from ibn Ri’ab from Zurarah ibn ‘A‘yan who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not proper to marry a woman of the people of the book (bible).’ I then asked, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, where is its unlawfulness mentioned?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is in His words, ‘You must not hold on to your unbelieving wives.’ (60:10)” 

8- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ رِئَابٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ بْنِ أَعْيَنَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ قَوْلِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَالْمُحْصَناتُ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتابَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ فَقَالَ هَذِهِ مَنْسُوخَةٌ بِقَوْلِهِ وَلا تُمْسِكُوا بِعِصَمِ الْكَوافِرِ.

8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn Mahbub from ibn Ri’ab from Zurarah ibn ‘A‘yan who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja’far (a.s.), about the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘Marry of the chaste women of those to whom the book was given before you.’ (5:5) He (the Imam) said, ‘It is cancelled by, ‘You must not hold on to your unbelieving wives.’ (60:10)” 

9- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ وَجَمِيعَ مَنْ لَهُ ذِمَّةٌ إِذَا أَسْلَمَ أَحَدُ الزَّوْجَيْنِ فَهُمَا عَلَى نِكَاحِهِمَا وَلَيْسَ لَهُ أَنْ يُخْرِجَهَا مِنْ دَارِ الإسْلامِ إِلَى غَيْرِهَا وَلإ؛ت‏ت يَبِيتَ مَعَهَا وَلَكِنَّهُ يَأْتِيهَا بِالنَّهَارِ فَأَمَّا الْمُشْرِكُونَ مِثْلُ مُشْرِكِي الْعَرَبِ وَغَيْرِهِمْ فَهُمْ عَلَى نِكَاحِهِمْ إِلَى انْقِضَاءِ الْعِدَّةِ فَإِنْ أَسْلَمَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ ثُمَّ أَسْلَمَ الرَّجُلُ قَبْلَ انْقِضَاءِ عِدَّتِهَا فَهِيَ امْرَأَتُهُ وَإِنْ لَمْ يُسْلِمْ إِلا بَعْدَ انْقِضَاءِ الْعِدَّةِ فَقَدْ بَانَتْ مِنْهُ وَلا سَبِيلَ لَهُ عَلَيْهَا وَكَذَلِكَ جَمِيعُ مَنْ لا ذِمَّةَ لَهُ وَلا يَنْبَغِي لِلْمُسْلِمِ أَنْ يَتَزَوَّجَ يَهُودِيَّةً وَلا نَصْرَانِيَّةً وَهُوَ يَجِدُ مُسْلِمَةً حُرَّةً أَوْ أَمَةً.

9. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from certain persons of his people from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Of the non-Muslim taxpayers, if one spouse becomes a Muslim, their marriage remains valid and he cannot take her out of the Muslim domain to other areas or spend a night with her but he can meet her during the day. The pagans, like Arab pagans or others live with their marriage until the time the waiting period is complete. If the woman becomes a Muslimah then the man becomes a Muslim before the waiting period is over. She remains his wife; but if he did not become a Muslim before the waiting period is complete then she becomes stranger for him and he cannot approach her. This applies to all non-tax payers. It is not proper for a Muslim to marry a Jewish or a Christian woman if he can find a Muslim woman.’” 

10- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ مَرَّارٍ عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لا يَنْبَغِي لِلْمُسْلِمِ أَنْ يَتَزَوَّجَ يَهُودِيَّةً وَلا نَصْرَانِيَّةً وَهُوَ يَجِدُ مُسْلِمَةً حُرَّةً أَوْ أَمَةً.

10. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ‘Isma’il ibn Marrar from Yunus ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not proper for a Muslim to marry a Jewish or a Christian woman if he can find a free Muslim woman or a slave-girl.’” 

11- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنِ ابْنِ رِئَابٍ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سَأَلْتُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ لَهُ امْرَأَةٌ نَصْرَانِيَّةٌ لَهُ أَنْ يَتَزَوَّجَ عَلَيْهَا يَهُودِيَّةً فَقَالَ إِنَّ أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ مَمَالِيكُ لِلإمَامِ وَذَلِكَ مُوَسَّعٌ مِنَّا عَلَيْكُمْ خَاصَّةً فَلا بَأْسَ أَنْ يَتَزَوَّجَ قُلْتُ فَإِنَّهُ يَتَزَوَّجُ أَمَةً قَالَ لا لا يَصْلُحُ أَنْ يَتَزَوَّجَ ثَلاثَ إِمَاءٍ فَإِنْ تَزَوَّجَ عَلَيْهِمَا حُرَّةً مُسْلِمَةً وَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّ لَهُ امْرَأَةً نَصْرَانِيَّةً وَيَهُودِيَّةً ثُمَّ دَخَلَ بِهَا فَإِنَّ لَهَا مَا أَخَذَتْ مِنَ الْمَهْرِ فَإِنْ شَاءَتْ أَنْ تُقِيمَ بَعْدُ مَعَهُ أَقَامَتْ وَإِنْ شَاءَتْ تَذْهَبُ إِلَى أَهْلِهَا ذَهَبَتْ وَإِذَا حَاضَتْ ثَلاثَةَ حِيَضٍ أَوْ مَرَّتْ لَهَا ثَلاثَةُ أَشْهُرٍ حَلَّتْ لِلأزْوَاجِ قُلْتُ فَإِنْ طَلَّقَ عَلَيْهَا الْيَهُودِيَّةَ وَالنَّصْرَانِيَّةَ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَنْقَضِيَ عِدَّةُ الْمُسْلِمَةِ لَهُ عَلَيْهَا سَبِيلٌ أَنْ يَرُدَّهَا إِلَى مَنْزِلِهِ قَالَ نَعَمْ. 

11. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn Mahbub from ibn Ri’ab from abu Basir who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the case of a man who has a Christian wife; if he can marry a Jewish woman as a second wife. He (the Imam) said, ‘People of the book are under the domain of the Imam and there is permission from us for you especially, so it is not unlawful to marry.’ I then asked, ‘Can he marry a slave-girl?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not proper to marry three slave-girls. If he marries a Muslim woman who does not know about his non-Muslim wives and he goes to bed with her, she can demand the mahr (dower) whatever it is, and it is up to her to live with him or go to her family. If she decides to go; after three cycles of menses or three months she can lawfully marry.’ I then asked, ‘Can he bring her back if he divorces the Jewish and Christian women before her waiting periods is complete?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, he can do so.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 5

Book 3, Chapter 33