Excellence of Son

Resemblance of a Child

Excellence of Daughters

Prayer and Appeal before Allah for a Son

If When Pregnant one Keeps Her Intention to Name the Child Muhammad or Ali the Child will be a Boy: and the Prayer for it

Beginning of the Creation of a Human Being and His Turning in His Mother’s Womb

When a Woman Gives Birth to More than one Child

Discipline to Follow During Childbirth

Congratulation for Childbirth

Names and Titles

Complete Creation

Foods Preferable for a Pregnant or a Woman during Childbirth to Eat

Special Treatments for the Newborn

Al-’Aqiqah and its Being Obligatory

‘Aqiqah for Boys or Girls is the Same

‘Aqiqah is not Obligatory on One who Cannot Find

On the Seventh Day from Birth the Newborn’s Head is Shaved and a Name is Given to Him

‘Aqiqah is not Equal to al-’Adhiyah (animal offered as sacrificial offering during al-Hajj) and it is Sufficient in Place of ‘Aqiqah

Words to Say on ‘Aqiqah

The Mother should not Eat from the Meat of ‘Aqiqah

The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and Fatimah, ‘Alayha al-Salam, Offered ‘Aqiqah for al-Hassan and al-Husayn

Abu Talib Offered ‘Aqiqah for the Holy Prophet, O Allah , Grant Compensation to Muhammad and his Family Worthy of their Services to Your Cause

Cleansing, Circumcision

Lowering for Girls

After Seven Days from Birth Shaving is not Required

The Rare Ahadith

Shaving Certain Parts of the Head of a Newborn and Leaving other Parts

Breastfeeding

The Liability of the Breastfeeder

The Preferable and Non-preferable Milk

The One Who has More Priority for the Custody of a Small Child

Growth of a Child

Disciplines for a Child

The Rights of Children

Kindness to Children

Giving Preference to One Child Over the Others

Intelligence of a Boy and Signs of his Nobility

Rare Ahadith

Detestability of Divorcing a Cooperating Wife

Divorcing an Uncooperative Wife

People Do not Remain Straight in Matters of Divorce without the Sword

The Divorces Not According to the Book and Sunnah

Divorce Does not Take Place unless Once has the Intention to Divorce

There Cannot be Divorce before Marriage

Divorce in Writing

Explanation of Divorce with Waiting Period and what Makes Divorce Binding

The Necessary Expressions to Pronounce with the Decision to Divorce

Three Talaq (Divorce) in Hayd (menses) Free Period in the Presence of Witnesses in One place and Time or More is One Talaq

The Case of One who Arranges Witnesses Separately or Divorces in the Presence of a People but Does not Ask them to Bear Witness

Appointing Witness to Divorce Two Women with One word

Arranging Witness for Revocation of Divorce

Revocation of Divorce without Going to Bed is not Valid

No name

One Who is not Lawful for her Husband without Marriage to another Man

Issues that Validate and Invalidate Divorce

An Absent Man Returns and Divorces at that Time that Divorce Does not Take Place until She Experiences Hayd (menses)

Women who Can be Divorced in all Conditions

Divorce by an Absent Husband

Divorce of a Pregnant Woman

Divorce of a Woman whose Marriage is not Consummated

Divorce of One who is not Mature yet and Divorce of One after Menopause

Women Whose Hayd (menses) is Confusing

The Time when a Divorced Woman in the Manner of Divorce with Waiting Period and Revocable Form Becomes Stranger to him

Meaning of al^Iqra’ (Hayd-free period)

Waiting Period for a Divorced Woman and Where She must have it

The Difference between one Divorced in Non-Sunnah manner and the One who Goes out in her Waiting Period or is Sent out by the Husband

Explanation of the words of Allah, most, High, ‘You must not send them out of their homes and they must not go out. .

Divorce of a Woman whose Hayd (menses) is Confusing

Divorce of Women Who Hide Their Experiencing Hayd (menses)

The Case of a Woman who Experiences Hayd (menses) after Every Two or Three Months

Waiting Period of a Woman whose Hayd (menses) is Confused

The Word of Women are Accepted in Matters of Hayd (menses)

A Woman Confused about Pregnancy

Maintenance of Pregnant Divorced Women

A Woman Divorcee Three Times Does not have the Right for Lodging or Maintenance

Benefits for a Divorced Woman

The Rights of a Divorced Woman of mahr (dower) with Whom He has not Gone to Bed

The Issue that Completes Mahr (dower)

The Divorced Woman Whose Husband is Absent Commences Her ‘Iddah (waiting period) from the Day She is Divorced

Waiting period of a Widow whose Husband is Absent

Reason for Difference about Waiting Period and Waiting Period of a Widow

Waiting Period of a Pregnant Widow and Her Expenses

Waiting Period of a Widow with whom he has Gone to Bed and where she must Complete her Waiting Period and Her Obligations

The Case of a Woman whose Husband Dies before Going to Bed with her and that there is no Waiting Period and Mahr (dower) for her

The Case of a Man who Divorces his Wife and Dies before her Waiting period Ends

Divorce and Marriage during one’s Illness

About words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, . do not harm them (women) to make it Difficult for them

Divorce of Children

Divorce of People with Mental Condition and Insane Ones and their Guardian

Divorce by a Drunk Man

Divorce of One Compelled and Coerced

Divorce by a Speechless Man

Appointing an Attorney for Divorce

Swearing and Taking an Oath

’Ila’ (swearing) does not Take Place except after Going to Bed with one’s Wife

If a Man Says to his Wife, ‘You are Unlawful for me”

The Free, Cleared and Severed Woman

The Choices

How the Choice originally was

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) الْوَلَدُ الصَّالِحُ رَيْحَانَةٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ قَسَمَهَا بَيْنَ عِبَادِهِ وَ إِنَّ رَيْحَانَتَيَّ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا الْحَسَنُ وَ الْحُسَيْنُ سَمَّيْتُهُمَا بِاسْمِ سِبْطَيْنِ مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ شَبَّراً وَ شَبِيراً .

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from af-Nawfafiy from af-Sakuniy 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, ‘A virtuous son is a sweet smelling flower from Allah which Allah distributes among His servants. My sweet smelling flowers in this world are al-Hassan and al-Husayn whom I have named after the names of two grandsons in banu Israel, called Shabbar and Shabiyr.’” 

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ أَنَّهُ قَالَ قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ لْحُسَيْنِ ( عليه السلام ) مِنْ سَعَادَةِ الرَّجُلِ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُ وُلْدٌ يَسْتَعِينُ بِهِمْ .

2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from ibn Muskan from certain persons of our people who has said the following: “Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), has said, ‘It is of prosperity and good fortune of a man to have sons who help and support him.’” 

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ جَدِّهِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ رَاشِدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) أَكْثِرُوا الْوَلَدَ أُكَاثِرْ بِكُمُ الْأُمَمَ غَداً .

3. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Qasim ibn Yahya from his grandfather al-Hassan ibn Rashid from Muhammad ibn Muslim 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, ‘You (my followers) should bring up more children because I will claim to have the majority with you among the nations tomorrow (on the Day of Judgment).”’ 

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ لَمَّا لَقِيَ يُوسُفُ أَخَاهُ قَالَ لَهُ يَا أَخِي كَيْفَ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَنْ تَتَزَوَّجَ النِّسَاءَ بَعْدِي قَالَ إِنَّ أَبِي أَمَرَنِي وَ قَالَ إِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَنْ تَكُونَ لَكَ ذُرِّيَّةٌ تُثْقِلُ الْأَرْضَ بِالتَّسْبِيحِ فَافْعَلْ .

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When Yusuf ‘Alayhi al-Salam, met his brother, he asked him, ‘How could you marry women after me?’ He replied, ‘My father commanded me and said, ‘If you like to have such a number of children who can make the earth heavy with Tasbih (Allah is free of all defects) you must do so.’” 

أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الْأَشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ إِنَّ فُلَاناً رَجُلًا سَمَّاهُ قَالَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ زَاهِداً فِي الْوَلَدِ حَتَّى وَقَفْتُ بِعَرَفَةَ فَإِذَا إِلَى جَانِبِي غُلَامٌ شَابٌّ يَدْعُو وَ يَبْكِي وَ يَقُولُ يَا رَبِّ وَالِدَيَّ وَالِدَيَّ فَرَغَّبَنِي فِي الْوَلَدِ حِينَ سَمِعْتُ ذَلِكَ .

5. Abu Ali al-Ash‘ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan ibn Yahya from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that so and so -whose name he (the Imam) mentioned- once said, ‘I was not interested in children until I stood in al-‘Arafat and there was a young man next to me who prayed and wept, saying, “O Lord, my parents, (grant blessings to) my parents.” Hearing this made me interested in children.’” 

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ مُرْسَلًا عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) مِنْ سَعَادَةِ الرَّجُلِ الْوَلَدُ الصَّالِحُ .

6. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Khalid from his father in a mursal manner 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, ‘Of good fortune and prosperity of a man is his having the virtuous son.’” 

وَ عَنْهُ عَنْ بَكْرِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ قَالَ كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ( عليه السلام ) أَنِّي اجْتَنَبْتُ طَلَبَ الْوَلَدِ مُنْذُ خَمْسِ سِنِينَ وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ أَهْلِي كَرِهَتْ ذَلِكَ وَ قَالَتْ إِنَّهُ يَشْتَدُّ عَلَيَّ تَرْبِيَتُهُمْ لِقِلَّةِ الشَّيْ‏ءِ فَمَا تَرَى فَكَتَبَ ( عليه السلام ) إِلَيَّ اطْلُبِ الْوَلَدَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَرْزُقُهُمْ .

7. It is narrated from the narrator of the previous Hadith from Bakr ibn Salih who has said the following: “I once wrote to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), saying, ‘I have avoided praying for a son for five years because my wife dislikes it and says that bringing up a child is very difficult because of lack of resources.’ He (the Imam) (a.s.), wrote to me, ‘Ask for them (children): Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, will grant them sustenance.’” 

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ طَلْحَةَ بْنِ زَيْدٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ إِنَّ أَوْلَادَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مَوْسُومُونَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ شَافِعٌ وَ مُشَفَّعٌ فَإِذَا بَلَغُوا اثْنَتَيْ عَشْرَةَ سَنَةً كَانَتْ لَهُمُ الْحَسَنَاتُ فَإِذَا بَلَغُوا الْحُلُمَ كُتِبَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّيِّئَاتُ .

8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Muhammad ibn Yahya from Talhah ibn Zayd who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Children of believing people are named before Allah, as intercessors with accepted intercession. When they become twelve years old they can have good deeds and when they mature then sins are written against them.’” 

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) أَنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( عليه السلام ) كَانَ يَقْرَأُ وَ إِنِّي خِفْتُ الْمَوالِيَ مِنْ وَرائِي يَعْنِي أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ وَارِثٌ حَتَّى وَهَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ بَعْدَ الْكِبَرِ .

9. 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 that ’Amir al-Mu’minin would read, ‘. . . I am afraid for my dependents after me,’ (19:6) meaning that he had no heirs until Allah granted him (an heir) after his becoming very old.’” 

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) إِنَّ الْوَلَدَ الصَّالِحَ رَيْحَانَةٌ مِنْ رَيَاحِينِ الْجَنَّةِ .

10. 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 that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘A virtuous son is a sweet smelling flower from the flowers of paradise.’” 

وَ بِهَذَا الْإِسْنَادِ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) مِنْ سَعَادَةِ الرَّجُلِ الْوَلَدُ الصَّالِحُ .

11. Through the same chain of narrators as that of the previous Hadith, the following is narrated: “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, ‘It is of the prosperity and good fortune of a man to have the virtuous son.’” 

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ شَرِيفِ بْنِ سَابِقٍ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ أَبِي قُرَّةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) مَرَّ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ ( عليه السلام ) بِقَبْرٍ يُعَذَّبُ صَاحِبُهُ ثُمَّ مَرَّ بِهِ مِنْ قَابِلٍ فَإِذَا هُوَ لَا يُعَذَّبُ فَقَالَ يَا رَبِّ مَرَرْتُ بِهَذَا الْقَبْرِعَامَ أَوَّلَ فَكَانَ يُعَذَّبُ وَ مَرَرْتُ بِهِ الْعَامَ فَإِذَا هُوَ لَيْسَ يُعَذَّبُ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ أَدْرَكَ لَهُ وَلَدٌ صَالِحٌ فَأَصْلَحَ طَرِيقاً وَ آوَى يَتِيماً فَلِهَذَا غَفَرْتُ لَهُ بِمَا فَعَلَ ابْنُهُثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) مِيرَاثُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِنْ عَبْدِهِ الْمُؤْمِنِ وَلَدٌ يَعْبُدُهُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِثُمَّ تَلَا أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) آيَةَ زَكَرِيَّا ( عليه السلام ) رَبِّ فَهَبْ لِي مِنْ لَدُنْكَ وَلِيًّا. يَرِثُنِي وَ يَرِثُ مِنْ آلِ يَعْقُوبَ وَ اجْعَلْهُ رَبِّ رَضِيًّا .

12. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Khalid from Sharif ibn Sabiq from al-Fadl ibn abu al- Qurrah 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 the following: ‘Jesus, son of Marry, once passed by a grave wherein its dweller suffered a great suffering. He passed by the same grave afterward but found the dweller was not suffering. He asked, “O Lord, I passed by this grave a year ago when he was suffering a great suffering and this year I passed by his grave but he did not suffer.” Allah then revealed to him that his virtuous son became mature who repaired a road and gave shelter to an orphan, so I forgave him because of what his son has done.’ The Messenger of Allah then said, ‘It is of the inheritance of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, for His believing servant in the form of a virtuous son who worships Him after the death of his father’ and he (the Imam) then read the verse of the Quran about Zakariya, ‘. . . O Lord, grant me from You an heir who will inherit me and the people of Ya‘qub. O Lord, make him to please You.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 6

Book 1, Chapter 1