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 عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ حَرِيزٍ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي يَاسِينُ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) يَقُولُ إِنَّ قَوْماً أَقْبَلُوا مِنْ مِصْرٍ فَمَاتَ مِنْهُمْ رَجُلٌ فَأَوْصَى بِأَلْفِ دِرْهَمٍ لِلْكَعْبَةِ فَلَمَّا قَدِمَ الْوَصِيُّ مَكَّةَ سَأَلَ فَدَلُّوهُ عَلَى بَنِي شَيْبَةَ فَأَتَاهُمْ فَأَخْبَرَهُمُ الْخَبَرَ فَقَالُوا قَدْ بَرِئَتْ ذِمَّتُكَ ادْفَعْهَا إِلَيْنَا فَقَامَ الرَّجُلُ فَسَأَلَ النَّاسَ فَدَلُّوهُ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ (عَلَيْهِما السَّلاَم) قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فَأَتَانِي فَسَأَلَنِي فَقُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ الْكَعْبَةَ غَنِيَّةٌ عَنْ هَذَا انْظُرْ إِلَى مَنْ أَمَّ هَذَا الْبَيْتَ فَقُطِعَ بِهِ أَوْ ذَهَبَتْ نَفَقَتُهُ أَوْ ضَلَّتْ رَاحِلَتُهُ أَوْ عَجَزَ أَنْ يَرْجِعَ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ فَادْفَعْهَا إِلَى هَؤُلاءِ الَّذِينَ سَمَّيْتُ لَكَ فَأَتَى الرَّجُلُ بَنِي شَيْبَةَ فَأَخْبَرَهُمْ بِقَوْلِ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فَقَالُوا هَذَا ضَالٌّ مُبْتَدِعٌ لَيْسَ يُؤْخَذُ عَنْهُ وَلا عِلْمَ لَهُ وَنَحْنُ نَسْأَلُكَ بِحَقِّ هَذَا وَبِحَقِّ كَذَا وَكَذَا لَمَّا أَبْلَغْتَهُ عَنَّا هَذَا الْكَلامَ قَالَ فَأَتَيْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فَقُلْتُ لَهُ لَقِيتُ بَنِي شَيْبَةَ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُمْ فَزَعَمُوا أَنَّكَ كَذَا وَكَذَا وَأَنَّكَ لا عِلْمَ لَكَ ثُمَّ سَأَلُونِي بِالْعَظِيمِ إِلاَّ بَلَّغْتُكَ مَا قَالُوا قَالَ وَأَنَا أَسْأَلُكَ بِمَا سَأَلُوكَ لَمَّا أَتَيْتَهُمْ فَقُلْتَ لَهُمْ إِنَّ مِنْ عِلْمِي أَنْ لَوْ وُلِّيتُ شَيْئاً مِنْ أَمْرِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ لَقَطَعْتُ أَيْدِيَهُمْ ثُمَّ عَلَّقْتُهَا فِي أَسْتَارِ الْكَعْبَةِ ثُمَّ أَقَمْتُهُمْ عَلَى الْمِصْطَبَّةِ ثُمَّ أَمَرْتُ مُنَادِياً يُنَادِي أَلا إِنَّ هَؤُلاءِ سُرَّاقُ الله فَاعْرِفُوهُمْ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Hariz who has said that narrated to me Yasin who has said the following: “I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.), say, ‘A people were coming from Egypt, and on the way one of them died, who had said in his will to donate one thousand dirham to al-Ka‘bah. The executor of the will, on his arrival in Makkah, asked and he was directed to banu Shaybah. He went and informed them about the donation. They said, ‘You have freed yourself of the responsibility: you can give it to us.’ The man (executor of will) stayed and asked people who directed him to abu Ja‘far, Muhammad ibn Ali (a.s.). Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘He came to me and asked about the donation. I said, ‘Al-Ka‘bah does not need it. Look for the visitors of this House who may have lost their supplies, their animals for transportation, or are not able to return home, and give it to such people whom I mentioned to you.’ The man then went to banu Shaybah and informed them of the words of abu Ja’far (a.s.). They said, ‘He is lost, a heretic and knowledge (religious) is not acquired from him. He does not have any knowledge. We ask you through this House and through so and so to convey our words to him.’ He (the man) has said I then went to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), and said, ‘I went to banu Shaybah and informed them, but they think that you are such and such person and that you do not have any religious knowledge. They then asked me on oath by the great One to inform you of their words.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘I ask you to do when you go back to them what they had asked you to do. Say to them from me, ‘Of my knowledge, were I the person in charge of the affairs of the Muslim, is that I would cut off their hands. I then would hang them by the curtains of al- Ka‘bah, make them stand on stools and command the announcer to announce, ‘These are thieves who steal from Allah, so you must take notice of this fact.’” 

2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ بُنَانِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ أَخِيهِ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ جَعَلَ جَارِيَتَهُ هَدْياً لِلْكَعْبَةِ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ قَالَ إِنَّ أَبِي أَتَاهُ رَجُلٌ قَدْ جَعَلَ جَارِيَتَهُ هَدْياً لِلْكَعْبَةِ فَقَالَ لَهُ قَوِّمِ الْجَارِيَةَ أَوْ بِعْهَا ثُمَّ مُرْ مُنَادِياً يَقُومُ عَلَى الْحِجْرِ فَيُنَادِي أَلا مَنْ قَصُرَتْ بِهِ نَفَقَتُهُ أَوْ قُطِعَ بِهِ طَرِيقُهُ أَوْ نَفِدَ بِهِ طَعَامُهُ فَلْيَأْتِ فُلانَ بْنَ فُلانٍ وَمُرْهُ أَنْ يُعْطِيَ أَوَّلاً فَأَوَّلاً حَتَّى يَنْفَدَ ثَمَنُ الْجَارِيَةِ.

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Bunan ibn Muhammad from Musa ibn al-Qasim from Ali ibn Ja’far who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about a man who has made his slave-girl a gift to al- Ka‘bah. What should he do? He (the Imam) said, ‘Once a man who had made his slave-girl a gift to al- Ka‘bah, came to my father (a.s.). He (the Imam) said, ‘Evaluate the slave-girl or sell her; then ask the announcer to stand near the Black Stone and announce, “O those who are short in their expenses, looted on the way or their supplies depleted, come to so and so.” He must distribute it among them on the basis of first come first served until the amount is distributed.’” 

3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ السِّنْدِيِّ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ عَنْ أَبَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْحُرِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فَقَالَ إِنِّي أَهْدَيْتُ جَارِيَةً إِلَى الْكَعْبَةِ فَأُعْطِيتُ بِهَا خَمْسَمِائَةِ دِينَارٍ فَمَا تَرَى قَالَ بِعْهَا ثُمَّ خُذْ ثَمَنَهَا ثُمَّ قُمْ عَلَى حَائِطِ الْحِجْرِ ثُمَّ نَادِ وَأَعْطِ كُلَّ مُنْقَطَعٍ بِهِ وَكُلَّ مُحْتَاجٍ مِنَ الْحَاجِّ.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Salih al-Sindiy from Ja’far ibn Bashir from Aban from abu al-Hurr who has said the following: “Once, a man came to abu Ja’far (a.s.), saying, ‘I have given a slave-girl as a gift to al- Ka‘bah and I had paid for her five hundred. What is your instruction? He (the Imam) said, ‘Sell the slave-girl, and with whatever amount you will receive from the sale go to the wall near the Black Stone, make an announcement and give to those looted on the way and to every needy of the people performing Hajj.’” 

4ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ الْمِيثَمِيِّ عَنْ أَخَوَيْهِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَأَحْمَدَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ الْهَاشِمِيِّ عَنْ مَرْوَانَ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو الْجُعْفِيِّ عَنْ رَجُلٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ مِصْرَ قَالَ أَوْصَى إِلَيَّ أَخِي بِجَارِيَةٍ كَانَتْ لَهُ مُغَنِّيَةٍ فَارِهَةٍ وَجَعَلَهَا هَدْياً لِبَيْتِ الله الْحَرَامِ فَقَدِمْتُ مَكَّةَ فَسَأَلْتُ فَقِيلَ ادْفَعْهَا إِلَى بَنِي شَيْبَةَ وَقِيلَ لِي غَيْرُ ذَلِكَ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ فَاخْتُلِفَ عَلَيَّ فِيهِ فَقَالَ لِي رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَسْجِدِ أَ لا أُرْشِدُكَ إِلَى مَنْ يُرْشِدُكَ فِي هَذَا إِلَى الْحَقِّ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ فَأَشَارَ إِلَى شَيْخٍ جَالِسٍ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَقَالَ هَذَا جَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ (عَلَيْهِما السَّلاَم) فَسَلْهُ قَالَ فَأَتَيْتُهُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فَسَأَلْتُهُ وَقَصَصْتُ عَلَيْهِ الْقِصَّةَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الْكَعْبَةَ لا تَأْكُلُ وَلا تَشْرَبُ وَمَا أُهْدِيَ لَهَا فَهُوَ لِزُوَّارِهَا بِعِ الْجَارِيَةَ وَقُمْ عَلَى الْحِجْرِ فَنَادِ هَلْ مِنْ مُنْقَطَعٍ بِهِ وَهَلْ مِنْ مُحْتَاجٍ مِنْ زُوَّارِهَا فَإِذَا أَتَوْكَ فَسَلْ عَنْهُمْ وَأَعْطِهِمْ وَاقْسِمْ فِيهِمْ ثَمَنَهَا قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ بَعْضَ مَنْ سَأَلْتُهُ أَمَرَنِي بِدَفْعِهَا إِلَى بَنِي شَيْبَةَ فَقَالَ أَمَا إِنَّ قَائِمَنَا لَوْ قَدْ قَامَ لَقَدْ أَخَذَهُمْ وَقَطَعَ أَيْدِيَهُمْ وَطَافَ بِهِمْ وَقَالَ هَؤُلاءِ سُرَّاقُ الله.

4. Ahmad ibn Muhammad from has narrated from Ah ibn al-Hassan al-Mithamiy from his two brothers Muhammad and Ahmad from Ah ibn Ya’qub al-Hashimiy from Marwan ibn Muslim from Sa‘id ibn ‘Umar al-Ju’fiy from a man from people of Misr (Egypt) who has said the following: “My brother in his will made a beautiful singer slave-girl a gift to the Bayt of Allah al-Haram (the Sacred House of Allah). I then went to Makkah and asked about it. I was told to give her to banu Shaybah. In addition, other things were said to me. It became confusing to me. One man from the Masjid asked me, ‘Can I show someone who can instruct you in this matter of rights?’ I replied, ‘Yes, please do so.’ He showed me a shaykh who was sitting in the Masjid and said, ‘This is Ja’far ibn Muhammad (a.s.). Ask him your question.’ I then went to him (the Imam), asked my question and explained to him the story. He (the Imam) said, ‘Al-Ka‘bah does not eat and drink, so whatever is given as gift to al-Ka‘bah is for those who visit al-Ka‘bah. Sell the slave-girl, stand up near the Black Stone and announce, “Those looted on the way and any needy of the visitors of al- Ka‘bah (can come to me).” Distribute the amount among them.’ I then said, ‘Certain people have told me to give it to banu Shaybah.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘When it is the rise of our al-Qa’im with divine authority, he will arrest them, cutoff their hands and make them walk (among people); they are thieves who steal from Allah.’” 

5ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله الْبَرْقِيِّ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا قَالَ دَفَعَتْ إِلَيَّ امْرَأَةٌ غَزْلاً فَقَالَتِ ادْفَعْهُ بِمَكَّةَ لِيُخَاطَ بِهِ كِسْوَةُ الْكَعْبَةِ فَكَرِهْتُ أَنْ أَدْفَعَهُ إِلَى الْحَجَبَةِ وَأَنَا أَعْرِفُهُمْ فَلَمَّا صِرْتُ بِالْمَدِينَةِ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فَقُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ امْرَأَةً أَعْطَتْنِي غَزْلاً وَأَمَرَتْنِي أَنْ أَدْفَعَهُ بِمَكَّةَ لِيُخَاطَ بِهِ كِسْوَةُ الْكَعْبَةِ فَكَرِهْتُ أَنْ أَدْفَعَهُ إِلَى الْحَجَبَةِ فَقَالَ اشْتَرِ بِهِ عَسَلاً وَزَعْفَرَاناً وَخُذْ طِينَ قَبْرِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) وَاعْجِنْهُ بِمَاءِ السَّمَاءِ وَاجْعَلْ فِيهِ شَيْئاً مِنَ الْعَسَلِ وَالزَّعْفَرَانِ وَفَرِّقْهُ عَلَى الشِّيعَةِ لِيُدَاوُوا بِهِ مَرْضَاهُمْ. 

5. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from abu ‘Abd Allah al-Barqiy from certain persons of our people who has said the following: “Once, a woman gave to me a certain amount of yarn as gift to al-Ka‘bah to be used in stitching its covering. I disliked giving it to the caretakers because I knew them. When I arrived in al-Madinah I went to visit abu Ja‘far (a.s.). I said to him, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, a woman gave to me a certain amount of yarn as gift to al-Ka‘bah to be used in stitching its covering and I disliked giving it to the caretakers.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Buy with it saffron and honey, then take a little of the soil from the grave of abu ‘Abd Allah, al-Husayn (a.s.). Mix it with water from the sky, a certain amount of honey and saffron; then distribute it among the Shi`a so they can use it as curing medicine for their patients.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 3, Chapter 25