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 وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ كُنْتُ قَاعِداً إِلَى جَنْبِ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) وَهُوَ مُحْتَبٍ مُسْتَقْبِلُ الْكَعْبَةِ فَقَالَ أَمَا إِنَّ النَّظَرَ إِلَيْهَا عِبَادَةٌ فَجَاءَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَجِيلَةَ يُقَالُ لَهُ عَاصِمُ بْنُ عُمَرَ فَقَالَ لأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) إِنَّ كَعْبَ الأَحْبَارِ كَانَ يَقُولُ إِنَّ الْكَعْبَةَ تَسْجُدُ لِبَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ فِي كُلِّ غَدَاةٍ فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فَمَا تَقُولُ فِيمَا قَالَ كَعْبٌ فَقَالَ صَدَقَ الْقَوْلُ مَا قَالَ كَعْبٌ فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) كَذَبْتَ وَكَذَبَ كَعْبُ الأَحْبَارِ مَعَكَ وَغَضِبَ قَالَ زُرَارَةُ مَا رَأَيْتُهُ اسْتَقْبَلَ أَحَداً بِقَوْلِ كَذَبْتَ غَيْرَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ مَا خَلَقَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بُقْعَةً فِي الأَرْضِ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْهَا ثُمَّ أَوْمَأَ بِيَدِهِ نَحْوَ الْكَعْبَةِ وَلا أَكْرَمَ عَلَى الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مِنْهَا لَهَا حَرَّمَ الله الأَشْهُرَ الْحُرُمَ فِي كِتَابِهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ ثَلاثَةٌ مُتَوَالِيَةٌ لِلْحَجِّ شَوَّالٌ وَذُو الْقَعْدَةِ وَذُو الْحِجَّةِ وَشَهْرٌ مُفْرَدٌ لِلْعُمْرَةِ وَهُوَ رَجَبٌ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and Muhammad ibn Isma‘il from af-Fadf ibn Shadhan all from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ‘Umar ibn ‘Udhaynah from Zurarah who has said the following: “I, once, was sitting near abu Ja’far (a.s.), while he was sitting in an Ihtiba’ position (holding one’s knees against one’s belly with one’s arms or a piece of cloth) facing al-Ka’bah. He (the Imam) said, ’Looking at al-Ka’bah is an act of worship.’ At this time a man from Bajilah people who was called ‘Asem ibn ’Umar came to abu Ja’far (a.s.), and said, ’Ka’b al-Ahbar would say, “Al-Ka‘bah every morning prostrates before al-Bayt al-Maqdis (the holy house in Jerusalem).”’ Abu Ja’far (a.s.), then asked, ‘What do you say about what Ka’b has said?’ He (the man) replied, ’He has spoken the truth, the word is what Ka’b has said.’ Abu Ja’far (a.s.), then said, ‘You have spoken lies. Ka’b al-Ahbar has spoken lies along with you.’ He (the Imam) became angry. Zurarah has said, ‘I never found him (the Imam) facing someone say, “You speak lies” except him (this man).’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has not created any site on earth more beloved to Him than al-Ka‘bah.’ He (the Imam) then pointed with his hand to al-Ka’bah and said, ’There is not anything more graceful before Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, than al-Ka’bah. For this (al-Ka’bah) Allah made the sacred months, in His book, on the day He created the skies and earth. Of these months, three are consecutive: the months of Shawwal, Dhu al-Qa’dah and Dhu al-Hajjah, and one is alone for performing ‘Umrah (and it is) the month of Rajab.’” 

2ـ وَبِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ إِنَّ لله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى حَوْلَ الْكَعْبَةِ عِشْرِينَ وَمِائَةَ رَحْمَةٍ مِنْهَا سِتُّونَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَأَرْبَعُونَ لِلْمُصَلِّينَ وَعِشْرُونَ لِلنَّاظِرِينَ.

2. It is narrated from him (narrator of previous Hadith) from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Allah, the most Blessed, the most High, has one hundred twenty blessings around al-Ka’bah of which sixty are for those who perform Tawaf, forty for those who perform salat (prayer) and twenty for those who look at al-Ka’bah.’” 

3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله الْخَزَّازِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ إِنَّ لِلْكَعْبَةِ لَلَحْظَةً فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ يُغْفَرُ لِمَنْ طَافَ بِهَا أَوْ حَنَّ قَلْبُهُ إِلَيْهَا أَوْ حَبَسَهُ عَنْهَا عُذْرٌ.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from abu ‘Abd Allah al-Khazzaz who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that for al-Ka’bah, there is a moment every day in which forgiveness is granted to those who perform Tawaf around it, or whose hearts incline toward it or are prevented from visiting it for a good reason.” 

4ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنِ ابْنِ رِبَاطٍ عَنْ سَيْفٍ التَّمَّارِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ مَنْ نَظَرَ إِلَى الْكَعْبَةِ لَمْ يَزَلْ تُكْتَبُ لَهُ حَسَنَةٌ وَتُمْحَى عَنْهُ سَيِّئَةٌ حَتَّى يَنْصَرِفَ بِبَصَرِهِ عَنْهَا.

4. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from ibn Mahbub from al-Hassan ibn Ali from ibn Ribat from Sayf al- Tammar who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that as long as one keeps looking at al-Ka’bah, one good deed is written for him and one bad deed is deleted until he turns away from looking at al-Ka’bah.” 

5ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ حَرِيزٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ النَّظَرُ إِلَى الْكَعْبَةِ عِبَادَةٌ وَالنَّظَرُ إِلَى الْوَالِدَيْنِ عِبَادَةٌ وَالنَّظَرُ إِلَى الإِمَامِ عِبَادَةٌ وَقَالَ مَنْ نَظَرَ إِلَى الْكَعْبَةِ كُتِبَتْ لَهُ حَسَنَةٌ وَمُحِيَتْ عَنْهُ عَشْرُ سَيِّئَاتٍ.

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Hariz who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that looking at al-Ka’bah is an act of worship; looking at parents is an act of worship; and looking at the Imam is an act of worship. For one’s looking at al- Ka’bah, one good deed is written for him and ten of his bad deeds are deleted.” 

6ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ مَنْ نَظَرَ إِلَى الْكَعْبَةِ بِمَعْرِفَةٍ فَعَرَفَ مِنْ حَقِّنَا وَحُرْمَتِنَا مِثْلَ الَّذِي عَرَفَ مِنْ حَقِّهَا وَحُرْمَتِهَا غَفَرَ الله لَهُ ذُنُوبَهُ وَكَفَاهُ هَمَّ الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ.

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Ali ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz from Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), who said: “The one who looks at the Kabah with an understanding, so he recognises from our rights and our sanctity, is like the one who recognises from it (Kabah’s) rights, and its Sanctity. Allah would Forgive for him his sins, and suffice him for the concerns of the world and the Hereafter.“

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 3, Chapter 23