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 عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فِي رَجُلٍ أَفْطَرَ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ مُتَعَمِّداً يَوْماً وَاحِداً مِنْ غَيْرِ عُذْرٍ قَالَ يُعْتِقُ نَسَمَةً أَوْ يَصُومُ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ أَوْ يُطْعِمُ سِتِّينَ مِسْكِيناً فَإِنْ لَمْ يَقْدِرْ تَصَدَّقَ بِمَا يُطِيقُ.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Hassan fbn Mahbub from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “This is about a man who knowingly eats without good reason in the month of Ramadan one day. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘He for one day (of destroying his fast) is required to either set free a slave, fast for two consecutive months, or feed sixty destitute people. If he cannot do any of the above, he must give charity of whatever amount he is able to do.’” 

2ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ جَمِيلِ بْنِ دَرَّاجٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) أَنَّهُ سُئِلَ عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَفْطَرَ يَوْماً مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ مُتَعَمِّداً فَقَالَ إِنَّ رَجُلاً أَتَى النَّبِيَّ (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَقَالَ هَلَكْتُ يَا رَسُولَ الله فَقَالَ مَا لَكَ فَقَالَ النَّارَ يَا رَسُولَ الله قَالَ وَمَا لَكَ قَالَ وَقَعْتُ عَلَى أَهْلِي قَالَ تَصَدَّقْ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ فَوَ الَّذِي عَظَّمَ حَقَّكَ مَا تَرَكْتُ فِي الْبَيْتِ شَيْئاً لا قَلِيلاً وَلا كَثِيراً قَالَ فَدَخَلَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ بِمِكْتَلٍ مِنْ تَمْرٍ فِيهِ عِشْرُونَ صَاعاً يَكُونُ عَشَرَةَ أَصْوُعٍ بِصَاعِنَا فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) خُذْ هَذَا التَّمْرَ فَتَصَدَّقْ بِهِ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ الله عَلَى مَنْ أَتَصَدَّقُ بِهِ وَقَدْ أَخْبَرْتُكَ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ فِي بَيْتِي قَلِيلٌ وَلا كَثِيرٌ قَالَ فَخُذْهُ وَأَطْعِمْهُ عِيَالَكَ وَاسْتَغْفِرِ الله قَالَ فَلَمَّا خَرَجْنَا قَالَ أَصْحَابُنَا إِنَّهُ بَدَأَ بِالْعِتْقِ فَقَالَ أَعْتِقْ أَوْ صُمْ أَوْ تَصَدَّقْ.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from and Muhammad ibn ‘Isma‘il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from all from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Jamil ibn Darraj who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who purposely destroys one day of the fast of the month of Ramadan. He (the Imam) said, ‘Once a man 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!” He (the Messenger of Allah) replied, “What is the matter with you?” He replied, “I fell on my wife.” He (the Messenger of Allah) said, “Give charity and repent.” He (the man) said, “I swear by the One who has made your right great, there is nothing in my house small and very little or large and a great deal.” He (the Imam) said that a man then came with a massive bushel of dates which was twenty Sa‘, each of which was equal to ten of our Sa‘. The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, said to him (the man), “Take this and give it as charity.” He (the man) said, “O Messenger of Allah, to whom should I give this charity when I have told you that in my house there is nothing little or a great deal.” He (the Messenger of Allah) said, “Take it and feed your family and ask Allah for forgiveness.’” He (the narrator) has said that when we came out (of the meeting) our people told us that expiation is to set free a slave saying, ‘Set free a slave, fast or give charity.’” 

3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فِي رَجُلٍ وَقَعَ عَلَى أَهْلِهِ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَلَمْ يَجِدْ مَا يَتَصَدَّقُ بِهِ عَلَى سِتِّينَ مِسْكِيناً قَالَ يَتَصَدَّقُ بِقَدْرِ مَا يُطِيقُ.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who falls upon his wife (performs sexual relation) and does not find anything to give as charity to sixty destitute people. He (the Imam) said, ‘He is required to give charity as much as he can.’” 

4ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ الْحَجَّاجِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَعْبَثُ بِأَهْلِهِ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ حَتَّى يُمْنِيَ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْكَفَّارَةِ مِثْلُ مَا عَلَى الَّذِي يُجَامِعُ.

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Safwan ibn Yahya from ‘Abd al- Rahman ibn al-Hajjaj who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who in the month of Ramadan plays with his wife until semen discharge takes place. He (the Imam) said, ‘The expiation because of it is like that for having sexual intercourse.’” 

5ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ بُرَيْدٍ الْعِجْلِيِّ قَالَ سُئِلَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنْ رَجُلٍ شَهِدَ عَلَيْهِ شُهُودٌ أَنَّهُ أَفْطَرَ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ ثَلاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ قَالَ يُسْأَلُ هَلْ عَلَيْكَ فِي إِفْطَارِكَ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ إِثْمٌ فَإِنْ قَالَ لا فَإِنَّ عَلَى الإِمَامِ أَنْ يَقْتُلَهُ وَإِنْ قَالَ نَعَمْ فَإِنَّ عَلَى الإِمَامِ أَنْ يَنْهَكَهُ ضَرْباً.

5. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from Hisham ibn Salim from Burayd al- ‘ Ij liy who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the case of a man against whom witnesses testify that he has destroyed his fast of the month of Ramadan for three days. He (the Imam) said, ‘He is asked, ‘Is there a sin upon you because of destroying your fast of the month of Ramadan?’ If he says, ‘No, there is no sin,’ then it is the responsibility of the Imam to execute him. If he says, ‘Yes, there is sin, then it is the responsibility of the Imam to reprimand him.”’ 

6ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ وُجِدَ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَقَدْ أَفْطَرَ ثَلاثَ مَرَّاتٍ وَقَدْ رُفِعَ إِلَى الإِمَامِ ثَلاثَ مَرَّاتٍ قَالَ يُقْتَلُ فِي الثَّالِثَةِ.

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Sama‘ah, who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who destroys his fast in the month of Ramadan three times and is brought before the Imam three times. He (the Imam) said, ‘He is executed on the third time.’” 

7ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَفْصِ بْنِ سُوقَةَ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فِي الرَّجُلِ يُلاعِبُ أَهْلَهُ أَوْ جَارِيَتَهُ وَهُوَ فِي قَضَاءِ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَيَسْبِقُهُ الْمَاءُ فَيُنْزِلُ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْكَفَّارَةِ مِثْلُ مَا عَلَى الَّذِي يُجَامِعُ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ.

7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hafs ibn Sawqah from those whom he has mentioned who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who plays with his wife or slave-girl while fasting for Qada’ (compensatory fast) of the month of Ramadan until semen discharge takes place. He (the Imam) said, ‘Its expiation is like that for having sexual intercourse in the month of Ramadan.’” 

8ـ حُمَيْدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَمَاعَةَ عَنْ غَيْرِ وَاحِدٍ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَفْطَرَ يَوْماً مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ مُتَعَمِّداً قَالَ يَتَصَدَّقُ بِعِشْرِينَ صَاعاً وَيَقْضِي مَكَانَهُ.

8. Humayd ibn Yazid has narrated from al-Hassan ibn Muhammad ibn Sama‘ah from more than one person from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn abu ‘Abdillah who has said the following: “I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about a man who breaks his fast in the month of Ramadan intentionally. He (the Imam) said, ‘He is required to give twenty Sa‘ in charity and make Qada’ (compensatory fast) of that fast.’” 

9ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ بُنْدَارَ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ الأَحْمَرِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ حَمَّادٍ عَنِ الْمُفَضَّلِ بْنِ عُمَرَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فِي رَجُلٍ أَتَى امْرَأَتَهُ وَهُوَ صَائِمٌ وَهِيَ صَائِمَةٌ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ اسْتَكْرَهَهَا فَعَلَيْهِ كَفَّارَتَانِ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ طَاوَعَتْهُ فَعَلَيْهِ كَفَّارَةٌ وَعَلَيْهَا كَفَّارَةٌ وَإِنْ كَانَ أَكْرَهَهَا فَعَلَيْهِ ضَرْبُ خَمْسِينَ سَوْطاً نِصْفِ الْحَدِّ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ طَاوَعَتْهُ ضُرِبَ خَمْسَةً وَعِشْرِينَ سَوْطاً وَضُرِبَتْ خَمْسَةً وَعِشْرِينَ سَوْطاً. 

9. Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Bandar has narrated from Ibrahim ibn Ishaq al-Ahmar from ‘Abd Allah ibn Hammad from al-Mufaddal ibn ‘Umar who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who performs sexual intercourse with his wife when both are fasting. He (the Imam) said, ‘If she dislikes it, then he is responsible for the expiation for two people. If she is consenting, then he owes one expiation and she owes one expiation. If he forces her, there is fifty lashes on him which is half of the complete punishment, and if she is consenting, there is twenty- five lashes on him and twenty- five on her.’”

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 2, Chapter 22