Virtue and Excellence of Serving in the Army

Jihad of Man and Woman

Kinds of Jihad (struggle)

To Whom Does the Obligation of Jihad Apply, and to Whom it Does not Apply

Mobilization Along with People when there is Fear for al-Islam

Under Whose Command Obligatory Jihad Takes Place?

‘Amr ibn ‘Ubayd and al-Mu’taziliy Groups’ Visiting abu ‘Abd Allah ‘Alayhi al-Salam

The Recommendations of the Messenger of Allah and Amir al-Mu’minin, about Smaller Armed Expeditions

Chapter 9(a) - Granting Immunity

Chapter 9(b)

Chapter 9(c)

Challenging the Enemy for a Fight

Kindness to the Prisoners and Providing Him Food

Calling to al-Islam before Fighting

Chapter 13(a) - Matters about which Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s), Recommended at the Time of War

Chapter 13(b)

It is not Lawful for a Muslim to Reside in a War Zone

Chapter 15(a) - Distribution of the Properties Captured from the Enemy

Chapter 15(b)

Chapter 15(c)

The Slogan

The Virtue of Maintaining Horses, Racing and Sharp Shooting Contests

Man’s Defending Himself Against the Thief

The Case of one Murdered over His Stolen Property

Chapter 20(a) - The Excellence of Martyrdom

Chapter 20(b)

Chapter 20(c)

Commanding others what is Obligatory and to Prohibit them from doing Evil

Chapter 22(a) - Rejecting Evil in one’s Heart

Chapter 22(b)

The Case of those who Displease the Creator to Please the Creatures

It is Detestable to Expose One’s Self to What He Cannot Endure

Al-Sufiy People’s Visiting Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam

The Meaning of Zuhd (Asceticism)

Using the Worldly Resources as Means for Success in the Hereafter

The Degree Of Efforts Which One Must Make In Search For One’s Sustenance To Follow In the Footsteps of ‘A’immah ‘Alayhim al-Salam

Promoting The Quest For Sustenance And Work To Make A Living

Al^Ibla’ (Trying) in the Work for Living

Meticulous Effort to Make a Living

Receiving Sustenance from Unexpected Sources

The Detestability of Sleeping and Passing Time without Work

Detestability of Laziness

One’s Working in His House

Amending one’s Properties and Planning for one’s Living

Hard Work for the Family

Earning Lawful kind of Sustenance

Saving for One’s Living Expenses

Detestability of Offering Oneself for Hire

Performing Personally one’s Business Tasks

Buying and Selling Real Estate

Debts and Borrowing

Payment of Debts

To Retaliate and Offset for Debts

When a Man Dies Payment of his Debts becomes Due

The Case of One Who Borrows But Does Not Intend To Pay Back

Sell off Debts in Exchange for Debts

Etiquette of Asking for Payment

The Case of Delaying Due Payment

Lodging With a Borrower When Demanding Payment

Chapter 28(a) - The Case of Gift to a Creditor

Chapter 28(b) - Bail out and Assignment or Referral

Working for al-Sultan and his Rewards

The Conditions to Work for al-Sultan

Selling Arms to al- Sultan

The Crafts (Technologies)

The Legal Status of Income from Cupping Operation

Income from Eulogizing Someone to Make People Mourn

The Legal Status of Income from Hairdressing and Circumcising

The Legal Status of the Income of Female Singer from Singing and Selling Singers (Slave-girls)

The Legal Status of Income from Teaching

The legal Status of Income from Selling Copies of the Holy Quran

Gambling and Looting

Earning in Unlawful ways

Unlawful Earnings in the form of al-Suht such as Buying and Selling of Intoxicating Liquors . . .

Consuming the Properties of Orphans

The Amount a Supervisor of the Properties of Orphans Can Lawfully Use

Using the Properties of Orphans in Business and Lending

Safe Return of Trust

A Father and Son’s Using Each Others Properties

A Husband and Wife’s Using Each Other’s Properties

Found and Lost Properties

Gifts and Presents

Rule about Unlawful Interest

Unlawful Interest Does Not Apply Between a Father and Son

The Excellence of Doing Business and Giving It Proper Attention

Etiquettes of Doing Business

Excellence of Keeping Accounts and Books

Entering the Market Before Others

Speaking of Allah, Most High, in the Market

Words to Say When Buying for Resale Purposes

People With Whom Doing Business Is Not Recommended

Using Proper and Improper Measurements in Business

Cheating in Business

Swearing at the Time of Buying and Selling

The Case of Prices of Goods

The Case of Monopolization (Hoarding) Goods in Public Demand

Another Chapter

Excellence of Buying Wheat and Food

Detestability of Estimating and Preferability of Using Measurements

Continuing Profitable Businesses

1- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ طَلْحَةَ بْنِ زَيْدٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ كَانَ أَبِي (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّ لِلْحَرْبِ حُكْمَيْنِ إِذَا كَانَتِ الْحَرْبُ قَائِمَةً لَمْ تَضَعْ أَوْزَارَهَا وَلَمْ يُثْخَنْ أَهْلُهَا فَكُلُّ أَسِيرٍ أُخِذَ فِي تِلْكَ الْحَالِ فَإِنَّ الإمَامَ فِيهِ بِالْخِيَارِ إِنْ شَاءَ ضَرَبَ عُنُقَهُ وَإِنْ شَاءَ قَطَعَ يَدَهُ وَرِجْلَهُ مِنْ خِلافٍ بِغَيْرِ حَسْمٍ وَتَرَكَهُ يَتَشَحَّطُ فِي دَمِهِ حَتَّى يَمُوتَ وَهُوَ قَوْلُ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِنَّما جَزاءُ الَّذِينَ يُحارِبُونَ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيَسْعَوْنَ فِي الأرْضِ فَساداً أَنْ يُقَتَّلُوا أَوْ يُصَلَّبُوا أَوْ تُقَطَّعَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَأَرْجُلُهُمْ مِنْ خِلافٍ أَوْ يُنْفَوْا مِنَ الأرْضِ ذلِكَ لَهُمْ خِزْيٌ فِي الدُّنْيا وَلَهُمْ فِي الآخِرَةِ عَذابٌ عَظِيمٌ أَلا تَرَى أَنَّ الْمُخَيَّرَ الَّذِي خَيَّرَ اللهُ الإمَامَ عَلَى شَيْ‏ءٍ وَاحِدٍ وَهُوَ الْكُفْرُ وَلَيْسَ هُوَ عَلَى أَشْيَاءَ مُخْتَلِفَةٍ فَقُلْتُ لأبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَوْلُ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَوْ يُنْفَوْا مِنَ الأرْضِ قَالَ ذَلِكَ الطَّلَبُ أَنْ تَطْلُبَهُ الْخَيْلُ حَتَّى يَهْرُبَ فَإِنْ أَخَذَتْهُ الْخَيْلُ حُكِمَ عَلَيْهِ بِبَعْضِ الأحْكَامِ الَّتِي وَصَفْتُ لَكَ وَالْحُكْمُ الآخَرُ إِذَا وَضَعَتِ الْحَرْبُ أَوْزَارَهَا وَأُثْخِنَ أَهْلُهَا فَكُلُّ أَسِيرٍ أُخِذَ فِي تِلْكَ الْحَالِ فَكَانَ فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ فَالإمَامُ فِيهِ بِالْخِيَارِ إِنْ شَاءَ مَنَّ عَلَيْهِمْ فَأَرْسَلَهُمْ وَإِنْ شَاءَ فَادَاهُمْ أَنْفُسَهُمْ وَإِنْ شَاءَ اسْتَعْبَدَهُمْ فَصَارُوا عَبِيداً.

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Yahya from Talhah ibn Zayd who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ’My father would say, “There are two laws about war: (1) During an ongoing war when the enemy is not defeated about the prisoners of war the Imam has the choice to execute, cut off their hands and legs, one of each of the opposite side, without (doing something to) stopping blood flow so that the victim dies by bleeding. This is stated in words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious: ‘The only proper punishment for those who fight against Allah and His Messenger and try to spread evil in the land is to be killed, crucified, or either to have one of their hands and feet cutoff from the opposite sides or to be sent into exile. These are to disgrace them in this life and they will suffer a great torment in the life hereafter.’ (5:33) “Of the choices that Allah has given to the Imam is one and that is execution. There are no different choices.’” “I then asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ‘. . . or that they are exiled. . . .’ He (the Imam) said it is up to the search and pursuit of the troops until he flees. If the troops capture him certain of the rules that I just describe will be executed in his case. “The other law about war (2) is when it is over and the enemy is defeated. About every prisoner of war that is captured, the Imam has the choice to set them free as favor to them or they pay ransom to set themselves free. The Imam may also decide to keep them as slaves.’” 

2- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ الْمِنْقَرِيِّ عَنْ حَفْصِ بْنِ غِيَاثٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنِ الطَّائِفَتَيْنِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِحْدَاهُمَا بَاغِيَةٌ وَالأخْرَى عَادِلَةٌ فَهَزَمَتِ الْعَادِلَةُ الْبَاغِيَةَ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ لأهْلِ الْعَدْلِ أَنْ يَتْبَعُوا مُدْبِراً وَلا يَقْتُلُوا أَسِيراً وَلا يُجْهِزُوا عَلَى جَرِيحٍ وَهَذَا إِذَا لَمْ يَبْقَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَغْيِ أَحَدٌ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمْ فِئَةٌ يَرْجِعُونَ إِلَيْهَا فَإِذَا كَانَ لَهُمْ فِئَةٌ يَرْجِعُونَ إِلَيْهَا فَإِنَّ أَسِيرَهُمْ يُقْتَلُ وَمُدْبِرَهُمْ يُتْبَعُ وَجَرِيحَهُمْ يُجْهَزُ.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father, from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from Sulayman ibn af-Minqariy from Hafs ibn Ghiyath who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the two groups of whom one is rebellious and the other deals with justice and the latter group defeats the rebellious group. He (the Imam) replied, ‘People of justice must not pursue the fleeing ones, kill the prisoner or hurt the wounded. This is when the rebellious ones do not have a group around to whom then they can return, but if they have such a group, then the prisoners are executed, the fleeing ones are persued and the wounded ones are eliminated.’” 

3- الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الأشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْوَشَّاءِ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ الثُّمَالِيِّ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِعَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) إِنَّ عَلِيّاً (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) سَارَ فِي أَهْلِ الْقِبْلَةِ بِخِلافِ سِيرَةِ رَسُولِ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فِي أَهْلِ الشِّرْكِ قَالَ فَغَضِبَ ثُمَّ جَلَسَ ثُمَّ قَالَ سَارَ وَاللهِ فِيهِمْ بِسِيرَةِ رَسُولِ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) يَوْمَ الْفَتْحِ إِنَّ عَلِيّاً (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) كَتَبَ إِلَى مَالِكٍ وَهُوَ عَلَى مُقَدِّمَتِهِ يَوْمَ الْبَصْرَةِ بِأَنْ لا يَطْعُنَ فِي غَيْرِ مُقْبِلٍ وَلا يَقْتُلَ مُدْبِراً وَلا يُجِيزَ عَلَى جَرِيحٍ وَمَنْ أَغْلَقَ بَابَهُ فَهُوَ آمِنٌ فَأَخَذَ الْكِتَابَ فَوَضَعَهُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ عَلَى الْقَرَبُوسِ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَقْرَأَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ اقْتُلُوا فَقَتَلَهُمْ حَتَّى أَدْخَلَهُمْ سِكَكَ الْبَصْرَةِ ثُمَّ فَتَحَ الْكِتَابَ فَقَرَأَهُ ثُمَّ أَمَرَ مُنَادِياً فَنَادَى بِمَا فِي الْكِتَابِ.

3. AI-Husayn ibn Muhammad af-‘Ash’ariy has narrated from Mu’alfa’ ibn Muhammad from al-Washsha’ from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from abu Hamzah al-Thumaliy who has said the following: “I once said to Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), ‘The way Ali (a.s.), dealt with people of Qiblah was different from the way the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, dealt with the pagans.’ He the narrator has said, ‘He (the Imam) became angry and sat in his place;’ then said, ‘He by Allah, did deal with them according to the method of the Messenger of Allah on the day of victory. On the day of al- Basra, Ali (a.s.), wrote to Malik who was on the front line, and commanded him, “You must not hit anyone except advancing attackers, you must not kill the fleeing, you must not hurt the wounded and those who close their doors have immunity.” Malik received the letter of commandment but he placed it in front of himself on the saddle before reading. He then ordered them to fight and they fought until they were pushed into the alleys of al-Basra. He then opened the letter of commandment and ordered to announce the contents of the letter of commandment.’” 

4- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ مَرَّارٍ عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ لَسِيرَةُ عَلِيٍّ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي أَهْلِ الْبَصْرَةِ كَانَتْ خَيْراً لِشِيعَتِهِ مِمَّا طَلَعَتْ عَلَيْهِ الشَّمْسُ إِنَّهُ عَلِمَ أَنَّ لِلْقَوْمِ دَوْلَةً فَلَوْ سَبَاهُمْ لَسُبِيَتْ شِيعَتُهُ قُلْتُ فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الْقَائِمِ (عجل الله تعالى فرجه) يَسِيرُ بِسِيرَتِهِ قَالَ لا إِنَّ عَلِيّاً (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) سَارَ فِيهِمْ بِالْمَنِّ لِلْعِلْمِ مِنْ دَوْلَتِهِمْ وَإِنَّ الْقَائِمَ عَجَّلَ اللهُ فَرَجَهُ يَسِيرُ فِيهِمْ بِخِلافِ تِلْكَ السِّيرَةِ لأنَّهُ لا دَوْلَةَ لَهُمْ.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Isma’if ibn Marrar from Yunus from abu Bakr al-Hadramiy who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘In the ways of the dealings of Ali (a.s.), with the people of al-Basra, the benefit for the Shi ‘ah was greater than all things on which the sun shines. He (a.s.), knew that those people will become dominant. Were he to make them prisoners his followers would have been made prisoners likewise.’ I then asked, ‘Will al-Qa’im (a.s.), deal with people like his dealings?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘No, Ali (a.s.), dealt with them with favors due to his knowledge of their domination. Al-Qa’im will deal with them differently because they will not have any domination.’” 

5- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عُذَافِرٍ عَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ شَرِيكٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ لَمَّا هُزِمَ النَّاسُ يَوْمَ الْجَمَلِ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) لا تَتْبَعُوا مُوَلِّياً وَلا تُجِيزُوا عَلَى جَرِيحٍ وَمَنْ أَغْلَقَ بَابَهُ فَهُوَ آمِنٌ فَلَمَّا كَانَ يَوْمُ صِفِّينَ قَتَلَ الْمُقْبِلَ وَالْمُدْبِرَ وَأَجَازَ عَلَى جَرِيحٍ فَقَالَ أَبَانُ بْنُ تَغْلِبَ لِعَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ شَرِيكٍ هَذِهِ سِيرَتَانِ مُخْتَلِفَتَانِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ أَهْلَ الْجَمَلِ قَتَلَ طَلْحَةَ وَالزُّبَيْرَ وَإِنَّ مُعَاوِيَةَ كَانَ قَائِماً بِعَيْنِهِ وَكَانَ قَائِدَهُمْ. 

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthman from Muhammad ibn ‘Adhafir from ‘Uqbah ibn Bashir from ‘ Abd Allah ibn Sharik from his father who has said the following: “When people on the day of camel were defeated, Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), said, ‘You must not pursue the fleeing, you must not hurt the wounded, and those who close their door are granted immunity.’ On the day of Siffin he eliminated the attackers and the fleeing and gave permission about the wounded. Aban ibn Taghlib said to “Abd Allah ibn Sharik, ‘These are two different ways of dealings.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘On the day of al-Basra people killed Talhah and al- Zubayr. Mu‘awiyah was alive and he was the commander.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 5

Book 1, Chapter 10