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 مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ إِنَّ أَهْلَ مَكَّةَ إِذَا زَارُوا الْبَيْتَ وَدَخَلُوا مَنَازِلَهُمْ أَتَمُّوا وَإِذَا لَمْ يَدْخُلُوا مَنَازِلَهُمْ قَصَّرُوا.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘In the case of people of Makkah when they visit the House, then enter their lodgings; they perform their Salat (prayer) complete, but if they do not enter their lodging, they perform in the form of Taqsir (reduced Salat (prayer) as on a journey after traveling a certain distance).”’ 

2ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ إِنَّ أَهْلَ مَكَّةَ إِذَا خَرَجُوا حُجَّاجاً قَصَّرُوا وَإِذَا زَارُوا وَرَجَعُوا إِلَى مَنَازِلِهِمْ أَتَمُّوا.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from al-Halabiy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If people of Makkah come out as Hajj (pilgrims) they perform their Salat (prayer) in Taqsir (reduced Salat (prayer) as on a journey after traveling a certain distance), but when they visit and return to their lodging they perform complete.’” NOTE: Fatwa best explains Hadith 1-2 of this Chapter

3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ حَجَّ النَّبِيُّ (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَأَقَامَ بِمِنًى ثَلاثاً يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ صَنَعَ ذَلِكَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَصَنَعَ ذَلِكَ عُمَرُ ثُمَّ صَنَعَ ذَلِكَ عُثْمَانُ سِتَّةَ سِنِينَ ثُمَّ أَكْمَلَهَا عُثْمَانُ أَرْبَعاً فَصَلَّى الظُّهْرَ أَرْبَعاً ثُمَّ تَمَارَضَ لِيَشُدَّ بِذَلِكَ بِدْعَتَهُ فَقَالَ لِلْمُؤَذِّنِ اذْهَبْ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ فَقُلْ لَهُ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ الْعَصْرَ فَأَتَى الْمُؤَذِّنُ عَلِيّاً (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فَقَالَ لَهُ إِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عُثْمَانَ يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ الْعَصْرَ فَقَالَ إِذَنْ لا أُصَلِّي إِلاَّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ كَمَا صَلَّى رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَذَهَبَ الْمُؤَذِّنُ فَأَخْبَرَ عُثْمَانَ بِمَا قَالَ عَلِيٌّ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فَقَالَ اذْهَبْ إِلَيْهِ فَقُلْ لَهُ إِنَّكَ لَسْتَ مِنْ هَذَا فِي شَيْ‏ءٍ اذْهَبْ فَصَلِّ كَمَا تُؤْمَرُ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) لا وَالله لا أَفْعَلُ فَخَرَجَ عُثْمَانُ فَصَلَّى بِهِمْ أَرْبَعاً فَلَمَّا كَانَ فِي خِلافَةِ مُعَاوِيَةَ وَاجْتَمَعَ النَّاسُ عَلَيْهِ وَقُتِلَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) حَجَّ مُعَاوِيَةُ فَصَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ بِمِنًى رَكْعَتَيْنِ الظُّهْرَ ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ فَنَظَرَتْ بَنُو أُمَيَّةَ بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَى بَعْضٍ وَثَقِيفٌ وَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْ شِيعَةِ عُثْمَانَ ثُمَّ قَالُوا قَدْ قَضَى عَلَى صَاحِبِكُمْ وَخَالَفَ وَأَشْمَتَ بِهِ عَدُوَّهُ فَقَامُوا فَدَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا أَ تَدْرِي مَا صَنَعْتَ مَا زِدْتَ عَلَى أَنْ قَضَيْتَ عَلَى صَاحِبِنَا وَأَشْمَتَّ بِهِ عَدُوَّهُ وَرَغِبْتَ عَنْ صَنِيعِهِ وَسُنَّتِهِ فَقَالَ وَيْلَكُمْ أَ مَا تَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) صَلَّى فِي هَذَا الْمَكَانِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ وَصَلَّى صَاحِبُكُمْ سِتَّ سِنِينَ كَذَلِكَ فَتَأْمُرُونِّي أَنْ أَدَعَ سُنَّةَ رَسُولِ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَمَا صَنَعَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ وَعُثْمَانُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُحْدِثَ فَقَالُوا لا وَالله مَا نَرْضَى عَنْكَ إِلاَّ بِذَلِكَ قَالَ فَأَقِيلُوا فَإِنِّي مُشَفِّعُكُمْ وَرَاجِعٌ إِلَى سُنَّةِ صَاحِبِكُمْ فَصَلَّى الْعَصْرَ أَرْبَعاً فَلَمْ يَزَلِ الْخُلَفَاءُ وَالأُمَرَاءُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ إِلَى الْيَوْمِ.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ‘Umar ibn ‘Udhaynah from Zurarah who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘The Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, performed al-Hajj and stayed in Mina for three days praying two Rak‘ats in each salat (prayer). Abu Bakr also did the same way. Then ‘Umar did in the same way. Thereafter, ‘Uthman did the same way for six years. He then performed four Rak‘at in full. He performed al-Zuhr four Rak‘ats, then he pretended to be ill so he can establish his setup of innovation. He told the person calling Adhan, “Go to Ali and tell him to lead al-‘Asr salat (prayer) for the people.” He went to Ali (a.s.), and said, “’Amir al-Mu’minin, ‘Uthman commands you to lead salat (prayer) with people.” He (the Imam) said, “I will only perform two Rak‘ats just as the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, had done.” The person calling Adhan went back and informed ‘Uthman about it. He, ‘Uthman, said, “Go to him and tell him, ‘This is not up to you to decide. Go and lead salat (prayer) with people as you are commanded.’” Ali (a.s.), said, “No by Allah, I will not do so.” ‘Uthman then went and led salat (prayer) with people; four Rak‘ats. During the rule of Mu‘awiyah, when people had gathered around him and ’Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali (a.s.), was martyred, Mu‘awiyah performed al-Hajj. In Mina’ he led al-Zuhr salat (prayer) with people in two Rak‘ats, and finished with Salam. The Amawides looked to each other, so also did Thaqif people as well as Shi`a of ‘Uthman. They then said, “He struck a blow to your companion (‘Uthman), opposed him and made his enemies to ridicule him.” They stood up and went to meet Mu‘awiyah. They said, “Do you know that you, by not increasing, have struck a blow to our companion, ‘Uthman, made his enemies to ridicule him, deviated from his tradition and deeds.” He replied, “Fie upon you, do you not know that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, performed salat (prayer) in this place, two Rak‘ats (in short form) as well as abu Bakr and ‘Umar and also your companion for six years? Now you command me to give up the tradition of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, what abu Bakr, ‘Umar and ‘Uthman had done before he (‘Uthman) invented (the innovation)” They said, “No by Allah, we will not agree with you until you do that.” He then said, “I ask you to pardon me and I accept your intercession on his behalf. I return to the tradition of your companion.” He performed al-‘Asr salat (prayer) in four Rak‘ats. From that time on, the Khalifah and rulers continued performing salat (prayer) in Mina in complete form to this day.’” 

4ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ صَلِّ فِي مَسْجِدِ الْخَيْفِ وَهُوَ مَسْجِدُ مِنًى وَكَانَ مَسْجِدُ رَسُولِ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) عَلَى عَهْدِهِ عِنْدَ الْمَنَارَةِ الَّتِي فِي وَسَطِ الْمَسْجِدِ وَفَوْقُهَا إِلَى الْقِبْلَةِ نَحْواً مِنْ ثَلاثِينَ ذِرَاعاً وَعَنْ يَمِينِهَا وَعَنْ يَسَارِهَا وَخَلْفِهَا نَحْواً مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ فَتَحَرَّ ذَلِكَ فَإِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَنْ يَكُونَ مُصَلاَّكَ فِيهِ فَافْعَلْ فَإِنَّهُ قَدْ صَلَّى فِيهِ أَلْفُ نَبِيٍّ وَإِنَّمَا سُمِّيَ الْخَيْفَ لأَنَّهُ مُرْتَفِعٌ عَنِ الْوَادِي وَمَا ارْتَفَعَ عَنْهُ يُسَمَّى خَيْفاً.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and Muhammad ibn ‘Isma‘il has narrated from af-Fadf ibn Shadhan from Safwan ibn Yahya and Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who said, “You should perform Salat (prayer) in Masjid al-Khayf, it is the Masjid of Mina’. The Masjid of the Messenger of Allah (sw) was near the minaret in the center of the Masjid. Above this place toward al-Qiblah (al-Ka‘bah) is thirty yards as well as from its right, left and backsides. If you can perform Salat there then do so because one thousand prophets have performed Salat there. It is called al-Khayf because it is higher than the valley and what is higher is called Khayf.’” 

5ـ مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ عَمَّارٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) إِنَّ أَهْلَ مَكَّةَ يُتِمُّونَ الصَّلاةَ بِعَرَفَاتٍ فَقَالَ وَيْلَهُمْ أَوْ وَيْحَهُمْ وَأَيُّ سَفَرٍ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُ لا لا يُتِمُّ.

5. Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar has narrated the following: “I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), that people of Makkah perform their Salat (prayer) in complete form when they are in ‘Arafat. He (the Imam) said, ‘Woe is upon them’ or ‘Fie upon them, which journey is more intense than that. No, Salat (prayer) is not complete in ‘Arafat.’” 

6ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ صَلِّ سِتَّ رَكَعَاتٍ فِي مَسْجِدِ مِنًى فِي أَصْلِ الصَّوْمَعَةِ. 

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn abu Hamzah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Perform six Rak‘at Salat (prayer) in Masjid of Mina’ in the original al-Sawma‘ah (the structure near the minaret). (Fatwa explains h 4-5 above) 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 3, Chapter 197