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- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ وَأَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ بَيْعِ الْعَصِيرِ فَيَصِيرُ خَمْراً قَبْلَ أَنْ يُقْبَضَ الثَّمَنُ قَالَ فَقَالَ لَوْ بَاعَ ثَمَرَتَهُ مِمَّنْ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ يَجْعَلُهُ حَرَاماً لَمْ يَكُنْ بِذَلِكَ بَأْسٌ فَأَمَّا إِذَا كَانَ عَصِيراً فَلا يُبَاعُ إِلا بِالنَّقْدِ.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu Nasr who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about selling juice that became wine before receiving the price. He (the Imam) said, ’If he sells fruits to one about whom the seller knows that he turns it into something unlawful, selling is not unlawful. If it is juice then it cannot be sold except for cash.’” 

2- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ حَرِيزٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي رَجُلٍ تَرَكَ غُلاماً لَهُ فِي كَرْمٍ لَهُ يَبِيعُهُ عِنَباً أَوْ عَصِيراً فَانْطَلَقَ الْغُلامُ فَعَصَرَ خَمْراً ثُمَّ بَاعَهُ قَالَ لا يَصْلُحُ ثَمَنُهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ رَجُلا مِنْ ثَقِيفٍ أَهْدَى إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) رَاوِيَتَيْنِ مِنْ خَمْرٍ فَأَمَرَ بِهِمَا رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَأُهَرِيقَتَا وَقَالَ إِنَّ الَّذِي حَرَّمَ شُرْبَهَا حَرَّمَ ثَمَنَهَا ثُمَّ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنَّ أَفْضَلَ خِصَالِ هَذِهِ الَّتِي بَاعَهَا الْغُلامُ أَنْ يُتَصَدَّقَ بِثَمَنِهَا.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Hariz from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “About the case of a man who has a slave whom he has left at a vineyard to sell grapes or juice, but the slave goes and squeezes wine and sells it, abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ’The price received is not useable.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Once a man from Thaqif presented to the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, two sacks of wine and the Messenger of Allah commanded to throw them away and said, “The One who has prohibited its drinking has prohibited to accept its price also.’” Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), then said, ‘The best thing to do about what this slave has done is to give it as charity.’” 

3- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ ثَمَنِ الْعَصِيرِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَغْلِيَ لِمَنْ يَبْتَاعُهُ لِيَطْبُخَهُ أَوْ يَجْعَلَهُ خَمْراً قَالَ إِذَا بِعْتَهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَكُونَ خَمْراً وَهُوَ حَلالٌ فَلا بَأْسَ.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn abu Hamzah from abu Basir who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the price of juice before it boiled for one who wanted to buy it so he could cook or make wine out of it. He (the Imam) said, ‘If you sell before it is wine and it is lawful, then selling is not unlawful.’” 

4- أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ خَلِيفَةَ قَالَ كَرِهَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) بَيْعَ الْعَصِيرِ بِتَأْخِيرٍ.

4. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan from ibn Muskan from Yazid ibn Khalifah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), disliked selling juice for deferred payment.” 

5- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نَجْرَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ سَعْدٍ عَنِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ نَصْرَانِيٍّ أَسْلَمَ وَعِنْدَهُ خَمْرٌ وَخَنَازِيرُ وَعَلَيْهِ دَيْنٌ هَلْ يَبِيعُ خَمْرَهُ وَخَنَازِيرَهُ فَيَقْضِيَ دَيْنَهُ فَقَالَ لا.

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu Najran from Muhammad ibn Sinan from Mu‘awiyah ibn Sa‘d who has said the following: “I once asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), about the case of a Christian man who had become a Muslim and he, in his possession, had wine and pigs and he owed debts; if he could sell the wine and pigs to pay off his debts. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, he cannot do so.’” 

6- صَفْوَانُ عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ الْحَلَبِيِّ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ بَيْعِ عَصِيرِ الْعِنَبِ مِمَّنْ يَجْعَلُهُ حَرَاماً فَقَالَ لا بَأْسَ بِهِ تَبِيعُهُ حَلالا فَيَجْعَلُهُ [ذَاكَ] حَرَاماً فَأَبْعَدَهُ اللهُ وَأَسْحَقَهُ.

6. Safwan has narrated from ibn Muskan from Muhammad al-Halabiy who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about selling grape juice to one who turned it into something unlawful. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful if you sell when it is lawful then he turns it into unlawful; may Allah keep him away and remotely distanced.’” 

7- الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ أَبَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) رَجُلٌ أَمَرَ غُلامَهُ أَنْ يَبِيعَ كَرْمَهُ عَصِيراً فَبَاعَهُ خَمْراً ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ بِثَمَنِهِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ أَحَبَّ الأشْيَاءِ إِلَيَّ أَنْ يُتَصَدَّقَ بِثَمَنِهِ.

7. Al-Husayn from Muhammad has narrated from Mu’alla’ ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali from Aban from abu Ayyub who has said the following: “I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘A man asks his slave to sell his grapes as grape juice but he sells it as wine; then brings the price to him.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘The most beloved thing to me in this case is to give it (price) as charity.’” 

8- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ قَالَ كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَسْأَلُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ لَهُ كَرْمٌ أَيَبِيعُ الْعِنَبَ وَالتَّمْرَ مِمَّنْ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ يَجْعَلُهُ خَمْراً أَوْ سَكَراً فَقَالَ إِنَّمَا بَاعَهُ حَلالا فِي الإبَّانِ الَّذِي يَحِلُّ شُرْبُهُ أَوْ أَكْلُهُ فَلا بَأْسَ بِبَيْعِهِ.

8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ‘Umar ibn ‘Udhaynah who has said the following: “I once wrote to ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and asked about the case of a man who had a vineyard; if he could sell grapes and dates to someone who made wine or sugar out of them. He (the Imam) said, ‘He has sold it as lawful when drinking, eating was lawful, thus it is not unlawful.’” 

9- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنْ حَرِيزٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي رَجُلٍ كَانَتْ لَهُ عَلَى رَجُلٍ دَرَاهِمُ فَبَاعَ خَمْراً أَوْ خَنَازِيرَ وَهُوَ يَنْظُرُ فَقَضَاهُ فَقَالَ لا بَأْسَ بِهِ أَمَّا لِلْمُقْتَضِي فَحَلالٌ وَأَمَّا لِلْبَائِعِ فَحَرَامٌ.

9. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad from Hariz from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “About the case of a man to whom another man owes a certain amount of dirham who sells wine or pig when he (the creditor) is looking, then pays him from such funds. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful. For the creditor it is lawful and for the seller it is unlawful.’” 

10- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) لِي عَلَى رَجُلٍ ذِمِّيٍّ دَرَاهِمُ فَيَبِيعُ الْخَمْرَ وَالْخِنْزِيرَ وَأَنَا حَاضِرٌ فَيَحِلُّ لِي أَخْذُهَا فَقَالَ إِنَّمَا لَكَ عَلَيْهِ دَرَاهِمُ فَقَضَاكَ دَرَاهِمَكَ.

10. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from Yunus ibn Ya’qub from Mansur who has said the following: “I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘A non-Muslim taxpayer owes to me a certain amount of dirham. He sells wine and pig when I am present; if it is lawful for me to take it. He (the Imam) said, ‘All he owes you are dirhams, and he has paid you dirhams.’” 

11- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي الرَّجُلِ يَكُونُ لِي عَلَيْهِ الدَّرَاهِمُ فَيَبِيعُ بِهَا خَمْراً وَخِنْزِيراً ثُمَّ يَقْضِي عَنْهَا قَالَ لا بَأْسَ أَوْ قَالَ خُذْهَا.

11. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ibn ‘Udhaynah from Zurarah who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who owed me a certain amount of dirham with which he sold wine and pigs and with such business he paid me back. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful’ or that he (the Imam) said, ‘You can take it.’” 

12- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ بَزِيعٍ عَنْ حَنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي كَهْمَسٍ قَالَ سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنِ الْعَصِيرِ فَقَالَ لِي كَرْمٌ وَأَنَا أَعْصِرُهُ كُلَّ سَنَةٍ وَأَجْعَلُهُ فِي الدِّنَانِ وَأَبِيعُهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَغْلِيَ قَالَ لا بَأْسَ بِهِ فَإِنْ غَلَى فَلا يَحِلُّ بَيْعُهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ هُوَ ذَا نَحْنُ نَبِيعُ تَمْرَنَا مِمَّنْ نَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ يَصْنَعُهُ خَمْراً.

12. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Isma’il ibn Bazi’ from Hanan from abu Kahmas who has said the following: “A man once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about juice saying, ‘I have a vineyard. ‘Every year I squeeze juice and keep it in a large container, then sell it before it boils. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful but if it boils then selling is not lawful.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘We sell our dates knowing that they make wine out of it.’” 

13- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ مَرَّارٍ عَنْ يُونُسَ فِي مَجُوسِيٍّ بَاعَ خَمْراً أَوْ خَنَازِيرَ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى ثُمَّ أَسْلَمَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَحِلَّ الْمَالُ قَالَ لَهُ دَرَاهِمُهُ وَقَالَ إِنْ أَسْلَمَ رَجُلٌ وَلَهُ خَمْرٌ وَخَنَازِيرُ ثُمَّ مَاتَ وَهِيَ فِي مِلْكِهِ وَعَلَيْهِ دَيْنٌ قَالَ يَبِيعُ دُيَّانُهُ أَوْ وَلِيٌّ لَهُ غَيْرُ مُسْلِمٍ خَمْرَهُ وَخَنَازِيرَهُ وَيَقْضِي دَيْنَهُ وَلَيْسَ لَهُ أَنْ يَبِيعَهُ وَهُوَ حَيٌّ وَلا يُمْسِكَهُ.

13. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ‘Isma’il ibn Marrar from Yunus who has said the following: “About the case of a of Zoroastrian man who sold wine or pigs for an appointed time, then became a Muslim before due time for payment, he (the Imam) (a.s.), has said, ‘He can have his dirhams.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If one becomes a Muslim and owns wine and pigs, then dies while they are in his possession, and he owes a certain amount of debts, his creditor or guardian can sell his wine and pigs to non-Muslims to pay off his debts; but in his life time he cannot sell or keep them.’” 

14- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ نَصْرَانِيٍّ أَسْلَمَ وَعِنْدَهُ خَمْرٌ وَخَنَازِيرُ وَعَلَيْهِ دَيْنٌ هَلْ يَبِيعُ خَمْرَهُ وَخَنَازِيرَهُ وَيَقْضِي دَيْنَهُ قَالَ لا. 

14. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from certain persons of our people who has said the following: “I once asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), about the case of a Christian man who became a Muslim and had wine and pigs and owed debts; if he could sell his wine and pigs to pay off his debts. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, he cannot do so.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 5

Book 2, Chapter 107