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 حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فِي قَوْلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَلله عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلاً قَالَ مَا السَّبِيلُ قَالَ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُ مَا يَحُجُّ بِهِ قَالَ قُلْتُ مَنْ عُرِضَ عَلَيْهِ مَا يَحُجُّ بِهِ فَاسْتَحْيَا مِنْ ذَلِكَ أَ هُوَ مِمَّنْ يَسْتَطِيعُ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلاً قَالَ نَعَمْ مَا شَأْنُهُ أَنْ يَسْتَحْيِيَ وَلَوْ يَحُجُّ عَلَى حِمَارٍ أَجْدَعَ أَبْتَرَ فَإِنْ كَانَ يُطِيقُ أَنْ يَمْشِيَ بَعْضاً وَيَرْكَبَ بَعْضاً فَلْيَحُجَّ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad ibn ‘Uthaman from af-Halabiy who has said the following: “This is about the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘It is obligatory upon people from Allah to perform al-Hajj who has the way (are able) to do so.’ (3:97) Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said, ‘What is ‘the way’?’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘It means that he must have the means to perform al-Hajj.’ I then asked, ‘If one is provided with all the means to perform al-Hajj but he feels shy, is he considered of the ones who have the way (are able) to perform al-Hajj?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, and why should he feel shy even if he performs al-Hajj on a donkey whose nose, ears and tail are cutoff? Even if one needs to walk certain distance of the way and ride other parts one must perform al- Hajj.’” 

2ـ عَلِيٌّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى الْخَثْعَمِيِّ قَالَ سَأَلَ حَفْصٌ الْكُنَاسِيُّ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) وَأَنَا عِنْدَهُ عَنْ قَوْلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَلله عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلاً مَا يَعْنِي بِذَلِكَ قَالَ مَنْ كَانَ صَحِيحاً فِي بَدَنِهِ مُخَلًّى سَرْبُهُ لَهُ زَادٌ وَرَاحِلَةٌ فَهُوَ مِمَّنْ يَسْتَطِيعُ الْحَجَّ أَوْ قَالَ مِمَّنْ كَانَ لَهُ مَالٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ حَفْصٌ الْكُنَاسِيُّ فَإِذَا كَانَ صَحِيحاً فِي بَدَنِهِ مُخَلًّى سَرْبُهُ لَهُ زَادٌ وَرَاحِلَةٌ فَلَمْ يَحُجَّ فَهُوَ مِمَّنْ يَسْتَطِيعُ الْحَجَّ قَالَ نَعَمْ.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Khath’amiy who has said the following: “Hafs al-Kunasiy once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘It is obligatory upon people from Allah to perform al-Hajj who have the way (are able) to do so.’ (3:96) He (the Imam) said, ‘It means that one is physically safe, has supplies and transportation, then he has the way (is able) to perform al-Hajj or that he (the Imam) said that he is of the ones who is wealthy.’ Hafs al-Kunasiy then asked, ‘So if one is physically safe, free, has supplies, transportation and has not performed al-Hajj, is he of those who are able to perform al- Hajj? He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, that is correct.’” 

3ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ خَالِدِ بْنِ جَرِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي الرَّبِيعِ الشَّامِيِّ قَالَ سُئِلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنْ قَوْلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مَنِ اسْتَطاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلاً فَقَالَ مَا يَقُولُ النَّاسُ قَالَ فَقِيلَ لَهُ الزَّادُ وَالرَّاحِلَةُ قَالَ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَدْ سُئِلَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) عَنْ هَذَا فَقَالَ هَلَكَ النَّاسُ إِذاً لَئِنْ كَانَ مَنْ كَانَ لَهُ زَادٌ وَرَاحِلَةٌ قَدْرَ مَا يَقُوتُ عِيَالَهُ وَيَسْتَغْنِي بِهِ عَنِ النَّاسِ يَنْطَلِقُ إِلَيْهِ فَيَسْلُبُهُمْ إِيَّاهُ لَقَدْ هَلَكُوا فَقِيلَ لَهُ فَمَا السَّبِيلُ قَالَ فَقَالَ السَّعَةُ فِي الْمَالِ إِذَا كَانَ يَحُجُّ بِبَعْضٍ وَيُبْقِي بَعْضاً يَقُوتُ بِهِ عِيَالَهُ أَ لَيْسَ قَدْ فَرَضَ الله الزَّكَاةَ فَلَمْ يَجْعَلْهَا إِلاَّ عَلَى مَنْ يَمْلِكُ مِائَتَيْ دِرْهَمٍ.

3. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from Khalid ibn Jarir from abu al-Rabi’ al- Shamiy who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘It is obligatory upon people from Allah to perform al-Hajj who have the way (are able) to do so.’ (3:96) He (the Imam) asked, ‘What do people say about it?’ It was said, to him (the Imam), ‘They say it is supplies and transportation.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), then said, ‘Abu Ja‘far, was asked about it and he said, “If so, then people are destroyed. If it was only supplies, transportation and enough food for the family that made them needless of people and he then left and was looted, such people would have been destroyed.’” It then was asked, ‘What then is ‘the way’?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It means to be affluent so that if one uses a certain portion, others (enough funds) are left from which, one’s family can spend. Is it not the case that Allah has made Zakat obligatory only when one has two hundred dirham?”’ 

4ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ سَيْفِ بْنِ عَمِيرَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) إِنِّي شَيَّعْتُ أَصْحَابِي إِلَى الْقَادِسِيَّةِ فَقَالُوا لِي انْطَلِقْ مَعَنَا وَنُقِيمُ عَلَيْكَ ثَلاثاً فَرَجَعْتُ وَلَيْسَ عِنْدِي نَفَقَةٌ فَيَسَّرَ الله وَلَحِقْتُهُمْ قَالَ إِنَّهُ مَنْ كُتِبَ عَلَيْهِ فِي الْوَفْدِ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ أَنْ لا يَحُجَّ وَإِنْ كَانَ فَقِيراً وَمَنْ لَمْ يُكْتَبْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ أَنْ يَحُجَّ وَإِنْ كَانَ غَنِيّاً صَحِيحاً.

4. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from fro Sayf ibn ‘Amirah from abu Bakr al-Hadramiy who has said the following: “I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), that I escorted my people to al-Qadisiyah and they said to me, ‘Come with us, we shall wait for three days for you. I returned and I did not have anything for my expenses but Allah made it possible and I joined them. He (the Imam) said, ‘Whoever’ s name is written in the delegation is not able to avoid al-Hajj even if he is poor and whoever’ s name is not written cannot do al-Hajj even if he is rich and in good health.’” 

5ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ عِمْرَانَ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ سَأَلَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْقَدَرِ فَقَالَ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ الله أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ قَوْلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَلله عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلاً أَ لَيْسَ قَدْ جَعَلَ الله لَهُمُ الاسْتِطَاعَةَ فَقَالَ وَيْحَكَ إِنَّمَا يَعْنِي بِالاسْتِطَاعَةِ الزَّادَ وَالرَّاحِلَةَ لَيْسَ اسْتِطَاعَةَ الْبَدَنِ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ أَ فَلَيْسَ إِذَا كَانَ الزَّادُ وَالرَّاحِلَةُ فَهُوَ مُسْتَطِيعٌ لِلْحَجِّ فَقَالَ وَيْحَكَ لَيْسَ كَمَا تَظُنُّ قَدْ تَرَى الرَّجُلَ عِنْدَهُ الْمَالُ الْكَثِيرُ أَكْثَرَ مِنَ الزَّادِ وَالرَّاحِلَةِ فَهُوَ لا يَحُجُّ حَتَّى يَأْذَنَ الله تَعَالَى فِي ذَلِكَ.

5. Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Allah has narrated from Musa ibn ‘Imran from al-Husayn ibn Yazid from al-Nawfaliy from al-Sakuniy who has said the following: “Once a man who believed in absolute freedom of will ideology, asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘O child of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, I have a question. Tell me about the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, “It is obligatory upon people from Allah to perform al-Hajj who are able to do so.” (3:96) Has Allah not given them the ability?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Fie upon you, ‘ability’ means supplies and transportation and physical well being.’ The man then said, ‘Is it not true that when there is supply and transportation one then is able to perform al-Hajj.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Fie upon you, it is not the way you think it is. There are times when a man has a great deal of wealth, more than supplies and transportation and still does not do al-Hajj until Allah, most High, grants him permission to do so.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 4

Book 3, Chapter 30