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 مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبَّادٍ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ عَطِيَّةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ بَيْنَا أَبِي (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) وَأَنَا فِي الطَّوَافِ إِذْ أَقْبَلَ رَجُلٌ شَرْجَبٌ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ فَقُلْتُ وَمَا الشَّرْجَبُ أَصْلَحَكَ الله قَالَ الطَّوِيلُ فَقَالَ السَّلامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَأَدْخَلَ رَأْسَهُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ أَبِي قَالَ فَالْتَفَتَ إِلَيْهِ أَبِي وَأَنَا فَرَدَدْنَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامَ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَسْأَلُكَ رَحِمَكَ الله فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبِي نَقْضِي طَوَافَنَا ثُمَّ تَسْأَلُنِي فَلَمَّا قَضَى أَبِيَ الطَّوَافَ دَخَلْنَا الْحِجْرَ فَصَلَّيْنَا الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ فَقَالَ أَيْنَ الرَّجُلُ يَا بُنَيَّ فَإِذَا هُوَ وَرَاءَهُ قَدْ صَلَّى فَقَالَ مِمَّنِ الرَّجُلُ قَالَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ فَقَالَ وَمِنْ أَيِّ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ فَقَالَ مِمَّنْ يَسْكُنُ بَيْتَ الْمَقْدِسِ فَقَالَ قَرَأْتَ الْكِتَابَيْنِ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ سَلْ عَمَّا بَدَا لَكَ فَقَالَ أَسْأَلُكَ عَنْ بَدْءِ هَذَا الْبَيْتِ وَعَنْ قَوْلِهِ ن وَالْقَلَمِ وَما يَسْطُرُونَ وَعَنْ قَوْلِهِ وَالَّذِينَ فِي أَمْوالِهِمْ حَقٌّ مَعْلُومٌ لِلسَّائِلِ وَالْمَحْرُومِ فَقَالَ يَا أَخَا أَهْلِ الشَّامِ اسْمَعْ حَدِيثَنَا وَلا تَكْذِبْ عَلَيْنَا فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ كَذَبَ عَلَيْنَا فِي شَيْ‏ءٍ فَقَدْ كَذَبَ عَلَى رَسُولِ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَمَنْ كَذَبَ عَلَى رَسُولِ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَقَدْ كَذَبَ عَلَى الله وَمَنْ كَذَبَ عَلَى الله عَذَّبَهُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَمَّا بَدْءُ هَذَا الْبَيْتِ فَإِنَّ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى قَالَ لِلْمَلائِكَةِ إِنِّي جاعِلٌ فِي الأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً فَرَدَّتِ الْمَلائِكَةُ عَلَى الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَقَالَتْ أَ تَجْعَلُ فِيها مَنْ يُفْسِدُ فِيها وَيَسْفِكُ الدِّماءَ فَأَعْرَضَ عَنْهَا فَرَأَتْ أَنَّ ذَلِكَ مِنْ سَخَطِهِ فَلاذَتْ بِعَرْشِهِ فَأَمَرَ الله مَلَكاً مِنَ الْمَلائِكَةِ أَنْ يَجْعَلَ لَهُ بَيْتاً فِي السَّمَاءِ السَّادِسَةِ يُسَمَّى الضُّرَاحَ بِإِزَاءِ عَرْشِهِ فَصَيَّرَهُ لأَهْلِ السَّمَاءِ يَطُوفُ بِهِ سَبْعُونَ أَلْفَ مَلَكٍ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ لا يَعُودُونَ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَ فَلَمَّا أَنْ هَبَطَ آدَمُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا أَمَرَهُ بِمَرَمَّةِ هَذَا الْبَيْتِ وَهُوَ بِإِزَاءِ ذَلِكَ فَصَيَّرَهُ لآِدَمَ وَذُرِّيَّتِهِ كَمَا صَيَّرَ ذَلِكَ لأَهْلِ السَّمَاءِ قَالَ صَدَقْتَ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ الله.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Sinan from abu ‘Abbad, ‘Imran ibn ‘Atiyah who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once when my father and I were performing Tawaf, a man, Sharjab, among men came forward. I asked, ’May Allah keep you well, what is al-Sharjab?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘It means ‘taller’ than others.’ The man said, ‘Al-Salamu ‘Alaykum’ and he brought his head between my father and me. He (the Imam) said that my father then turned to him and so did I, and responded to his greeting of peace. He said, ‘I have a question, may Allah grant you blessings.’ My father said to him, ‘Allow us to complete our Tawaf, then you can ask your question.’ When my father completed Tawaf we entered al-Hijr and said two Rak‘at salat (prayer). He (my father) turned around and asked, ‘Where is the man, son?’ He was just behind him and had completed his salat (prayer). My father asked, ‘Where from is the gentleman?’ He replied, ‘I am from al-Sham.’ He then asked, ‘From which people of al-Sham are you?’ He replied, ‘I am from the people of Bayt al- Maqdis.’ He (my father) asked, ‘Have you read the two books?’ He (the man) replied, ‘Yes, I have read them.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Ask your question.’ He said, ‘I like to ask about the beginning of this House, and about His words, “Nun, and by the pen with which you write” (68:1) and about His words, “...those in whose properties there is a certain share for the needy and deprived.’” (75:25-26) He (the Imam) then said, ‘O brother from al-Sham, listen to our Hadith and do not call it false. Those who call our Hadith false have called the words of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, as false, and those who do so have called the words of Allah as false. Those who call the words of Allah as false, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, subjects them to punishment. The beginning of the House was when Allah, the most Blessed, the most High, said to the angels, “I have decided to appoint a deputy on earth. . . .” (2:29) The angels responded to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, saying, “Do You want to appoint one who causes destruction and bloodshed therein?” He did not pay attention to them and they realized that it was due to His anger. They sought refuge with His Throne and Allah commanded an angel from among them to establish a house for Him in the sixth heaven, which was called al-Durrah parallel to His Throne. It was designed for the inhabitants of the heaven for Tawaf by seventy thousand angels every day, of whom no one had to return for Tawaf again. They ask forgiveness. When Adam descended to the heaven of the world, He commanded him to build this House. This is parallel to that house. This is designated for Adam and his offspring just as that is designated for those in the heaven.’ The man then said, ‘You have spoken the truth, O child of the Messenger of Allah.’” 

2ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ وَابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ جَمِيعاً عَنِ الْمُفَضَّلِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مَرْوَانَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) يَقُولُ كُنْتُ مَعَ أَبِي فِي الْحِجْرِ فَبَيْنَمَا هُوَ قَائِمٌ يُصَلِّي إِذْ أَتَاهُ رَجُلٌ فَجَلَسَ إِلَيْهِ فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ سَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عَنْ ثَلاثَةِ أَشْيَاءَ لا يَعْلَمُهَا إِلاَّ أَنْتَ وَرَجُلٌ آخَرُ قَالَ مَا هِيَ قَالَ أَخْبِرْنِي أَيَّ شَيْ‏ءٍ كَانَ سَبَبُ الطَّوَافِ بِهَذَا الْبَيْتِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَمَّا أَمَرَ الْمَلائِكَةَ أَنْ يَسْجُدُوا لآِدَمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) رَدُّوا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا أَ تَجْعَلُ فِيها مَنْ يُفْسِدُ فِيها وَيَسْفِكُ الدِّماءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ قَالَ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ ما لا تَعْلَمُونَ فَغَضِبَ عَلَيْهِمْ ثُمَّ سَأَلُوهُ التَّوْبَةَ فَأَمَرَهُمْ أَنْ يَطُوفُوا بِالضُّرَاحِ وَهُوَ الْبَيْتُ الْمَعْمُورُ وَمَكَثُوا يَطُوفُونَ بِهِ سَبْعَ سِنِينَ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مِمَّا قَالُوا ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ ذَلِكَ وَرَضِيَ عَنْهُمْ فَهَذَا كَانَ أَصْلُ الطَّوَافِ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ الله الْبَيْتَ الْحَرَامَ حَذْوَ الضُّرَاحِ تَوْبَةً لِمَنْ أَذْنَبَ مِنْ بَنِي آدَمَ وَطَهُوراً لَهُمْ فَقَالَ صَدَقْتَ. 

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Nasr and Ibn Mahbub all from al-Mufaddal ibn Salih from Muhammad ibn Marwan who has said the following: “I heard Aba ‘Abdillah (a.s.), say, ‘My father and I were in al-Hijr. When he was standing for prayer, a man came to him and sat down. When he completed his prayer, the man turned to him (the Imam), offered him the greeting of peace and said, ‘I want to ask you three questions which no one except you and another person knows.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘What are they?’ He said, ‘Tell me what the reason is for Tawaf around this House?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘When Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, commanded the angels to prostrate before Adam, they responded saying, “Will You appoint someone who will destroy it with bloodshed, while we speak of You as free from all defects due to Your praise and holiness?” Allah, most Blessed, most High said, “I know what you do not know.” He expressed anger at them. They asked Him to accept their repentance. He then commanded them to make Tawaf around al-Durrah which is al-Bayt al-Ma'mur (the established house). They continued doing it for seven years and asked Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, for forgiveness because of what they had said. He turned to them, accepted their repentance and expressed happiness with them. This was the origin of Tawaf. Allah thereafter made the sacred House parallel with al-Durrah so that those who commit sin of the children of Adam repent as a means to cleanse themselves.’ He (the man) said, ‘You have spoken the truth.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 3, Chapter 2