Virtue of Charity

Giving Charity Repels Misfortune

The Virtue of Giving Charity Out of Public Sight

Giving Charity During the Night

Giving Charity Increases One’s Wealth

Giving Charity to Relatives

Providing for the Family to Improve the Quality of Their Lives

One’s Dependents

Giving Charity to Those Whom One Does Not Know

Giving Charity to Bedouins and People Who Live in Desolate Areas

Undesirability of Turning Away One Asking for Help

The Amount of Charity for One Asking for Help

The Prayer of the Recipient of Charity

One Who Distributes Charity Has a Share in Rewards with the Donor of Charity

Self-Abnegation (Giving Preference to Others Over One’s Self)

One Who Asks for Help Without Actually Needing Help

Unpleasantness of Begging

Embarrassing the Recipient of a Favor

Giving Charity After an Appeal From a Recipient

Benevolent Assistance (Optional Charity as Opposed to Compulsory Ones)

The Virtue of Benevolent Assistance

Another Chapter about the Subject of the Previous Chapter

Providing Benevolent Assistance Repels Wicked Encounters

Providers of Benevolent Assistance Will be Identified as Such on the Day of Judgment

Completion of Benevolent Assistance

Finding a Proper Recipient of Benevolent Assistance

Disciplines for Providing Benevolent Assistance

Refusing to Appreciate a Benevolent Assistance

Providing a Loan

Extending Due Date of Payment in Favor of the Borrower

Waiving a Loan in Favor of a Dead Person

The Cost of Maintenance of Wealth

Appreciation of Bounties

Understanding Generosity and Munificence

Spending on Deserving Causes

Stinginess and Greed

Rare Ahadith about Charity

Virtue of Serving Food

The Excellence of Moderation

Detestability of Over-Spending and Living in Austerity

Providing Water for Drinking

Charity for Descendents of al-Hashim and the People of Their Household (Servants) and Compensation to Them

The Rare Ahadith

The Excellence of Fast and Fasting

The Excellence of the Month of Ramadan

About the One Who Serves Food to a Fasting Person

Prohibition of Saying ‘Ramadan’ Instead of the ‘Month of Ramadan’

The Words to Say When the Month of Ramadan is About to Begin

Verifying the Rise of the New Moon and Finding Witnesses for It

Another Chapter about the Previous Subject

The Day That Is Doubtful About Its Being of the Month of Sha‘ban or the Month of Ramadan

Kinds of Fasts

Disciplines During Fasting

The Fasting of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause

Excellence of Fasting in the Month of Shaman, Continuing Such Fast to Connect it with the Month of Ramadan, and Three Days of Fasting Every Month

Breakfast before Dawn

The Prayer to Say During Breakfast after Sunset

Fasting Continuously and All the Time

The Case of One Who Eats or Drinks but Has Doubts About Its Taking Place before or after Dawn

What Is Dawn, When Does It Come and When Is It Unlawful to Eat?

The Case of One Who Eats, Thinking it to Be after Sunset, when It Is Not yet Sunset

The Time of Breaking Fast after Sunset

The Case of One who Eats or Drinks out of Forgetfulness During the Month of Ramadan

The Case of One Who Knowingly Eats or Is Involved in Carnal Relation During the Month of Ramadan

The Case of a Person Involved in Carnal Relations in the Form of Kissing or Foreplay

The Case of One Who Experiences a Wet-Dream During the Night in the Month of Ramadan or at Other Times and Does Not Shower before Dawn or It Occurs During the Night or Day

The Undesirability of Immersing One’s Head in Water while Fasting

Rinsing One’s Mouth and Nostrils while Fasting

The Case of a Fasting Person’s Vomiting, Nauseating or Burping

The Case of a Fasting Person’s Use of Bath Room and Apply Cupping

The Case of a Fasting Person’s Sniffling or Use of Eardrops or Enema

The Case of a Fasting Person’s Use of Kohl (Eye Drops or powder)

A Fasting Person’s Use of Tooth Brush

A Fasting Person’s Use of Perfumes

A Fasting Person’s Use of Chewing Gum

The Case of a Fasting Person Tasting the Salt in Cooking Pot and Chews for the Fledgling

The Case of a Fly or Mucus Entering the Throat of a Fasting Person

The Case of a Fasting Person’s Keeping a Ring, a Pebble or a Date Stone in His Mouth while Fasting

The Case of Seniors Who Feel Weak when Fasting

The Case of a Pregnant or Breastfeeding Woman Who Feels Weak when Fasting

The Limit of Illness That Exempts One from Fasting

The Case of One Who Remains Ill for Two Consecutive Months of Ramadan

Remedy and Compensatory Fast for the Missed Fasting During the Month of Ramadan

The Case of One Who Wakes up in the Morning with an Intention to Fast, but Who Does Not Do So or Vice Versa when Fasting Is a Compensatory Fast for the Missed Fast in the Month of Ramadan or Other Days

The Case of One Who Fasts Optionally while He Is Obligated to Make Up for Fasting of the Month of Ramadan He Has Missed

The Case of a Person Who Passes Away Owing Fasting of the Month of Ramadan or Other Times

Children’s Fasting and When They Owe Fasting

The Case of One Who Becomes a Muslim during the Month of Ramadan

Undesirability of Traveling in the Month of Ramadan

Undesirability (unlawfulness) of Fast on a Journey

The Case of One Who Fasts on a Journey out of Ignorance

Those Who Do or Do Not Have to Break Their Fast on a Journey 

Optional Fasting on a Journey and Qada’ (compensatory fast) of Fasting Missed on a Journey

The Case of One Who Begins a Journey or Returns from a Journey in the Month of Ramadan

The Case of a Traveler Who Enters His Town or a Place where He Wants to Stay for Ten Days

The Case of One Who Involves Himself in Carnal Relations with His Wife on a Journey or Returns from a Journey in the Month of Ramadan

The Case of Fasting during Menses: Major or Minor One

The Case of One Who Owes Fasting of Two Consecutive Months but an Obstacle Prevents Him 

Fasting As Expiation for Swearing

1ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) أَنَّهُ سُئِلَ عَنْ رَجُلٍ تَسَحَّرَ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ مِنْ بَيْتِهِ وَقَدْ طَلَعَ الْفَجْرُ وَتَبَيَّنَ قَالَ يُتِمُّ صَوْمَهُ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ لْيَقْضِهِ فَإِنْ تَسَحَّرَ فِي غَيْرِ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ بَعْدَ الْفَجْرِ أَفْطَرَ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ أَبِي كَانَ لَيْلَةً يُصَلِّي وَأَنَا آكُلُ فَانْصَرَفَ فَقَالَ أَمَّا جَعْفَرٌ فَقَدْ أَكَلَ وَشَرِبَ بَعْدَ الْفَجْرِ فَأَمَرَنِي فَأَفْطَرْتُ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ فِي غَيْرِ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad from al-Halabiy who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who eats Suhur (breakfast in the morning before dawn), then comes out of his house to find out when it has already become dawn. He (the Imam) said, ‘He is required to complete that fast then make Qada’ (compensatory fast) for it; however if such breakfast is in a time other than the month of Ramadan and after dawn one must not fast.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Once during the night my father was performing Salat (prayer) and I was eating Suhur (breakfast in the morning before dawn). He ended and said, ‘Ja’far has eaten and drunk after dawn.’ So he commanded me and I did not fast that day which was not of the month of Ramadan.”’ 

2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَكَلَ وَشَرِبَ بَعْدَ مَا طَلَعَ الْفَجْرُ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ قَامَ فَنَظَرَ فَلَمْ يَرَ الْفَجْرَ فَأَكَلَ ثُمَّ عَادَ فَرَأَى الْفَجْرَ فَلْيُتِمَّ صَوْمَهُ وَلا إِعَادَةَ عَلَيْهِ وَإِنْ كَانَ قَامَ فَأَكَلَ وَشَرِبَ ثُمَّ نَظَرَ إِلَى الْفَجْرِ فَرَأَى أَنَّهُ قَدْ طَلَعَ الْفَجْرُ فَلْيُتِمَّ صَوْمَهُ وَيَقْضِي يَوْماً آخَرَ لأَنَّهُ بَدَأَ بِالأَكْلِ قَبْلَ النَّظَرِ فَعَلَيْهِ الإِعَادَةُ.

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Sama‘ah ibn Mehran who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who eats and drinks after dawn in the month of Ramadan. He (the Imam) said, ‘If he got up and looked but did not see the dawn then ate then returned and saw that it was dawn, he is required to complete that fast and there is no Qada’ (compensatory fast) on him. If he gets up, eats and drinks, and then looks to the dawn that is already there, he is required to complete that fast and make Qada’ (compensatory fast) for one other day because he ate first, then went to find out about dawn, thus fast of one day is necessary.’” 

3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) آمُرُ الْجَارِيَةَ أَنْ تَنْظُرَ طَلَعَ الْفَجْرُ أَمْ لا فَتَقُولُ لَمْ يَطْلُعْ فَآكُلُ ثُمَّ أَنْظُرُهُ فَأَجِدُهُ قَدْ طَلَعَ حِينَ نَظَرَتْ قَالَ تُتِمُّ يَوْمَكَ ثُمَّ تَقْضِيهِ أَمَا إِنَّكَ لَوْ كُنْتَ أَنْتَ الَّذِي نَظَرْتَ مَا كَانَ عَلَيْكَ قَضَاؤُهُ.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of my fasting when I asked the girl to look if it was dawn yet and she said that it was not dawn, yet and I ate; then I looked and saw that it was dawn. He (the Imam) said, ‘You are required to complete that fast and make Qada’ (compensatory fast for it); however, if you yourself had looked first before eating there would have been no Qada’ (compensatory fast) upon you.’” 

4ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ عِيصِ بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنْ رَجُلٍ خَرَجَ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَأَصْحَابُهُ يَتَسَحَّرُونَ فِي بَيْتٍ فَنَظَرَ إِلَى الْفَجْرِ وَنَادَاهُمْ فَكَفَّ بَعْضُهُمْ وَظَنَّ بَعْضُهُمْ أَنَّهُ يَسْخَرُ فَأَكَلَ فَقَالَ يُتِمُّ صَوْمَهُ وَيَقْضِي.

4. 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: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who along with his friends go for Suhur (breakfast in the morning before dawn) in a house. He looks toward dawn and asks them to stop eating. Certain ones among them stop and others think that he is joking and he eats. He (the Imam) said, ‘He completes that fast and makes its Qada’ (compensatory fast) also.’” 

5ـ صَفْوَانُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَبِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) يَكُونُ عَلَيَّ الْيَوْمُ وَالْيَوْمَانِ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَأَتَسَحَّرُ مُصْبِحاً أُفْطِرُ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ وَأَقْضِي مَكَانَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ يَوْماً آخَرَ أَوْ أُتِمُّ عَلَى صَوْمِ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ وَأَقْضِي يَوْماً آخَرَ فَقَالَ لا بَلْ تُفْطِرُ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ لأَنَّكَ أَكَلْتَ مُصْبِحاً وَتَقْضِي يَوْماً آخَرَ.

5. From Safwan ibn Yahya has narrated from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ibrahim (a.s.), about the case of my fasting that I owe one or two days of the month of Ramadan. I eat Suhur (breakfast in the morning before dawn) but it is already dawn. Is it necessary for me to eat that day instead of fasting and make Qada’ (compensatory fast) of that day on another day or complete that fast and then make Qada’ (compensatory fast) on another day? He (the Imam) said, ‘No, but you eat in that day; you ate after dawn. You must make Qada’ (compensatory fast) for it on another day.’” 

6ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ شَرِبَ بَعْدَ مَا طَلَعَ الْفَجْرُ وَهُوَ لا يَعْلَمُ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ قَالَ يَصُومُ يَوْمَهُ ذَلِكَ وَيَقْضِي يَوْماً آخَرَ وَإِنْ كَانَ قَضَاءً لِرَمَضَانَ فِي شَوَّالٍ أَوْ فِي غَيْرِهِ فَشَرِبَ بَعْدَ الْفَجْرِ فَلْيُفْطِرْ يَوْمَهُ ذَلِكَ وَيَقْضِي.

6. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn abu Hamzah who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ibrahim (a.s.), about a man who drinks after dawn and he does not know that it is the month of Ramadan. He (the Imam) said, ‘He is required to fast that day and make Qada’ (compensatory fast) on another day, and if it is a Qada’ of the month of Ramadan in (the month of) Shawwal or other times and he drinks after dawn, let him break his fast that day and make Qada'.‘“

7ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلَيْنِ قَامَا فَنَظَرَا إِلَى الْفَجْرِ فَقَالَ أَحَدُهُمَا هُوَ ذَا وَقَالَ الآخَرُ مَا أَرَى شَيْئاً قَالَ فَلْيَأْكُلِ الَّذِي لَمْ يَسْتَبِنْ لَهُ الْفَجْرُ وَقَدْ حَرُمَ عَلَى الَّذِي زَعَمَ أَنَّهُ رَأَى الْفَجْرَ إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَقُولُ كُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الأَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ. 

7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Sama‘ah ibn Mehran who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of two men who both look toward dawn and one of them say, ‘There is dawn/ but the other one says, ‘I do not see anything/ He (the Imam) said, ‘The one who does not see any dawn, eats but eating is unlawful for one who thinks he has seen the dawn. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, says, ‘Eat and drink until the white thread appears from the dark thread of dawn/ (2:187)” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 2, Chapter 17