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- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ الْحَجَّاجِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ الْمُنْكَدِرِ كَانَ يَقُولُ مَا كُنْتُ أَرَى أَنَّ عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيْهِما السَّلام) يَدَعُ خَلَفاً أَفْضَلَ مِنْهُ حَتَّى رَأَيْتُ ابْنَهُ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ (عَلَيْهِما السَّلام) فَأَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَعِظَهُ فَوَعَظَنِي فَقَالَ لَهُ أَصْحَابُهُ بِأَيِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ وَعَظَكَ قَالَ خَرَجْتُ إِلَى بَعْضِ نَوَاحِي الْمَدِينَةِ فِي سَاعَةٍ حَارَّةٍ فَلَقِيَنِي أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ وَكَانَ رَجُلا بَادِناً ثَقِيلا وَهُوَ مُتَّكِئٌ عَلَى غُلامَيْنِ أَسْوَدَيْنِ أَوْ مَوْلَيَيْنِ فَقُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي سُبْحَانَ اللهِ شَيْخٌ مِنْ أَشْيَاخِ قُرَيْشٍ فِي هَذِهِ السَّاعَةِ عَلَى هَذِهِ الْحَالِ فِي طَلَبِ الدُّنْيَا أَمَا لأعِظَنَّهُ فَدَنَوْتُ مِنْهُ فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَرَدَّ عَلَيَّ السَّلامَ بِنَهْرٍ وَهُوَ يَتَصَابُّ عَرَقاً فَقُلْتُ أَصْلَحَكَ اللهُ شَيْخٌ مِنْ أَشْيَاخِ قُرَيْشٍ فِي هَذِهِ السَّاعَةِ عَلَى هَذِهِ الْحَالِ فِي طَلَبِ الدُّنْيَا أَرَأَيْتَ لَوْ جَاءَ أَجَلُكَ وَأَنْتَ عَلَى هَذِهِ الْحَالِ مَا كُنْتَ تَصْنَعُ فَقَالَ لَوْ جَاءَنِي الْمَوْتُ وَأَنَا عَلَى هَذِهِ الْحَالِ جَاءَنِي وَأَنَا فِي [طَاعَةٍ مِنْ] طَاعَةِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَكُفُّ بِهَا نَفْسِي وَعِيَالِي عَنْكَ وَعَنِ النَّاسِ وَإِنَّمَا كُنْتُ أَخَافُ أَنْ لَوْ جَاءَنِي الْمَوْتُ وَأَنَا عَلَى مَعْصِيَةٍ مِنْ مَعَاصِي اللهِ فَقُلْتُ صَدَقْتَ يَرْحَمُكَ اللهُ أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَعِظَكَ فَوَعَظْتَنِي.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and Muhammad ibn ‘Isma’il from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan all from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ‘ Abd al- Rahman ibn al-Hajjaj who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Muhammad ibn al-Munkadir has said, ‘I did not think Ali ibn Al-Husayn (a.s.), might leave behind a successor better than his own-self. Time passed and I one day saw his son, Muhammad ibn Ali (a.s.). I decided to give him certain words of good advice but I, instead, learned a lesson from him.’ His people then asked him, ‘How did he make you learn a lesson?’ He replied, ‘One day I went outside the city of al-Madinah when it was very hot and I met Muhammad ibn Ali (a.s.), who was a person of a large body frame and heavy. Two of his black slaves or friends were supporting him. I thought, Allah is free of all defects, here is this old man from Quraysh in this hot time of the day in this condition in search of the worldly gains, thus I must give him certain words of good advice. I went nearer to him and offered him greeting of peace. He responded with somewhat frowning face, and his perspiration drops were falling a great deal. I then said, ‘May Allah keep you well. You are a Shaykh of the Shaykhs of Quraysh. Why should you in such a hot hour of the day in such condition strive for the worldly gains? Suppose if death approached you in this condition what would you do?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘If death approaches me in this condition it finds me obeying the commandment of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious. It finds me safeguarding my dignity, and my family from people like you and others. I should be afraid if death approaches me when I am in a condition of disobeying Allah.’ I then said, ‘You have spoken the truth. I pray to Allah to keep you well. I wanted to give you good advice; instead I learned a lesson from you.’” 

2- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ عَنْ شَرِيفِ بْنِ سَابِقٍ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ أَبِي قُرَّةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللهِ عَلَيْهِ يَضْرِبُ بِالْمَرِّ وَيَسْتَخْرِجُ الأرَضِينَ وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) يَمَصُّ النَّوَى بِفِيهِ وَيَغْرِسُهُ فَيَطْلُعُ مِنْ سَاعَتِهِ وَإِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَعْتَقَ أَلْفَ مَمْلُوكٍ مِنْ مَالِهِ وَكَدِّ يَدِهِ.

2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from Sharif Sabiq formal-Fadl ibn abu Qurrah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), would work with a shovel and dig the soil. The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, placed date stones in his mouth and then planted it and it would sprout in the same hour. Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), had set free one thousand slaves for which he paid from his own properties and his own labor.” 

3- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ الدِّهْقَانِ عَنْ دُرُسْتَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الأعْلَى مَوْلَى آلِ سَامٍ قَالَ اسْتَقْبَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي بَعْضِ طُرُقِ الْمَدِينَةِ فِي يَوْمٍ صَائِفٍ شَدِيدِ الْحَرِّ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ حَالُكَ عِنْدَ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَقَرَابَتُكَ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَأَنْتَ تُجْهِدُ لِنَفْسِكَ فِي مِثْلِ هَذَا الْيَوْمِ فَقَالَ يَا عَبْدَ الأعْلَى خَرَجْتُ فِي طَلَبِ الرِّزْقِ لأسْتَغْنِيَ عَنْ مِثْلِكَ.

3. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from ‘Abd Allah al-Dihqan from Durust from ‘Abd al-A’la’, Mawla’ Ale Sam who has said the following: “I once came face to face with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), in one of the streets of al-Madinah on a very hot summer day. I said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, you have a prominent position before Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, and you are of very close relatives of the Messenger of Allah and you are (not to be) striving in a day like this.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘O ‘Abd al-‘A‘la’, I came out in search for my sustenance so that I would not need to spread my hands before you (your fellow) humankind for help.’” 

4- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ سَيْفِ بْنِ عَمِيرَةَ وَسَلَمَةَ صَاحِبِ السَّابِرِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي أُسَامَةَ زَيْدٍ الشَّحَّامِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَعْتَقَ أَلْفَ مَمْلُوكٍ مِنْ كَدِّ يَدِهِ.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Sayf ibn ‘Amirah and Salmah Sahib al-Sabiriy from abu ‘Usamah Zayd al-Shahham who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), had set free one thousand slaves by means of what he had earned with his own hands.” 

5- أَحْمَدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ عَنْ شَرِيفِ بْنِ سَابِقٍ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ أَبِي قُرَّةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ أَوْحَى اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِلَى دَاوُدَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنَّكَ نِعْمَ الْعَبْدُ لَوْ لا أَنَّكَ تَأْكُلُ مِنْ بَيْتِ الْمَالِ وَلا تَعْمَلُ بِيَدِكَ شَيْئاً قَالَ فَبَكَى دَاوُدُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَرْبَعِينَ صَبَاحاً فَأَوْحَى اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِلَى الْحَدِيدِ أَنْ لِنْ لِعَبْدِي دَاوُدَ فَأَلانَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَهُ الْحَدِيدَ فَكَانَ يَعْمَلُ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ دِرْعاً فَيَبِيعُهَا بِأَلْفِ دِرْهَمٍ فَعَمِلَ ثَلاثَمِائَةٍ وَسِتِّينَ دِرْعاً فَبَاعَهَا بِثَلاثِمِائَةٍ وَسِتِّينَ أَلْفاً وَاسْتَغْنَى عَنْ بَيْتِ الْمَالِ.

5. Ahmad ibn abu ‘ Abd Allah has narrated from Sharif ibn Sabiq from al-Fadl ibn abu Qurrah who has narrated the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin, has said, ‘Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, sent revelations to Dawud (a.s.) that said, ‘You are a very good servant had you not been spending on yourself from the public treasury while doing no work with your own hands.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Dawud ‘Alayhi al-Salam wept for forty mornings. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, then inspired Iron, “You must become soft for My servant, Dawud.” Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, softened Iron for him. Everyday he would make one coat of arms and sell it for one thousand dirham. He made three hundred sixty coats of arm and sold them for three hundred sixty thousand dirham. Thereafter he did not need anything from the public treasury.’” 

6- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنِ ابْنِ بُكَيْرٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لَقِيَ رَجُلٌ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَتَحْتَهُ وَسْقٌ مِنْ نَوًى فَقَالَ لَهُ مَا هَذَا يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ تَحْتَكَ فَقَالَ مِائَةُ أَلْفِ عَذْقٍ إِنْ شَاءَ اللهُ قَالَ فَغَرَسَهُ فَلَمْ يُغَادَرْ مِنْهُ نَوَاةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ.

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from ibn Bukayr from Zurarah who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said that a man once visited Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), and found him sitting on a camel-load of date stones. He asked, ‘What is it on which you are sitting, O abu al-Hassan?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘It is a hundred thousand palm trees, by the will of Allah.’ He planted them and not one date stone failed sprouting.’” 

7- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْمَغْرَاءِ عَنْ عَمَّارٍ السِّجِسْتَانِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَضَعَ حَجَراً عَلَى الطَّرِيقِ يَرُدُّ الْمَاءَ عَنْ أَرْضِهِ فَوَ اللهِ مَا نَكَبَ بَعِيراً وَلا إِنْسَاناً حَتَّى السَّاعَةِ.

7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘ Umayr from Abu al-Maghra’ from ‘Am mar al-Sajistaniy from abu ‘Abd Allah, from his father (a.s.), who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, once placed a piece of stone on the waterway to prevent it from flowing into his land. By Allah, until this day no human being or camel has moved it away.” 

8- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ أَسْبَاطِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ قَالَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَسَأَلَنَا عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ مَا فَعَلَ فَقُلْتُ صَالِحٌ وَلَكِنَّهُ قَدْ تَرَكَ التِّجَارَةَ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَمَلُ الشَّيْطَانِ ثَلاثاً أَمَا عَلِمَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) اشْتَرَى عِيراً أَتَتْ مِنَ الشَّامِ فَاسْتَفْضَلَ فِيهَا مَا قَضَى دَيْنَهُ وَقَسَمَ فِي قَرَابَتِهِ يَقُولُ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ رِجالٌ لا تُلْهِيهِمْ تِجارَةٌ وَلا بَيْعٌ عَنْ ذِكْرِ اللهِ إِلَى آخِرِ الآيَةِ يَقُولُ الْقُصَّاصُ إِنَّ الْقَوْمَ لَمْ يَكُونُوا يَتَّجِرُونَ كَذَبُوا وَلَكِنَّهُمْ لَمْ يَكُونُوا يَدَعُونَ الصَّلاةَ فِي مِيقَاتِهَا وَهُوَ أَفْضَلُ مِمَّنْ حَضَرَ الصَّلاةَ وَلَمْ يَتَّجِرْ.

8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Asbat ibn Salim who has said the following: “I once visited abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.). He (the Imam) asked us about ‘Umar ibn Muslim and about what he has done. I replied, ‘He is a virtuous man but has given up doing business works.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said three times: It is the work of Satan. Did he not know that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, once bought a caravan that had come from al-Sham (Syria) in which he saved enough money to pay off his debts and distributed the extra among his relatives? Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, says, “There are men who are not distracted by selling and buying from speaking of Allah. . . .” (24:36) Story tellers say, “These people (mentioned in this verse) did not involve themselves in trading and in business works.” These story tellers speak lies. The fact is that those people did not perform Salat (prayer) in (more virtuous) times and such people are more virtuous than those who attend Salat (prayer) and ignore trade and business work.’” 

9- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) كَانَ يَخْرُجُ وَمَعَهُ أَحْمَالُ النَّوَى فَيُقَالُ لَهُ يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ مَا هَذَا مَعَكَ فَيَقُولُ نَخْلٌ إِنْ شَاءَ اللهُ فَيَغْرِسُهُ فَلَمْ يُغَادَرْ مِنْهُ وَاحِدَةٌ.

9. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ibn Mahbub from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), would go to work with large quantities of date stones. He was asked, ‘What are these, O abu al-Hassan?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘They are palm trees, by the will of Allah.’ He then planted them and not a single piece failed sprouting.” 

10- سَهْلُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنِ الْجَامُورَانِيِّ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ رَأَيْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَعْمَلُ فِي أَرْضٍ لَهُ قَدِ اسْتَنْقَعَتْ قَدَمَاهُ فِي الْعَرَقِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَيْنَ الرِّجَالُ فَقَالَ يَا عَلِيُّ قَدْ عَمِلَ بِالْيَدِ مَنْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِنِّي فِي أَرْضِهِ وَمِنْ أَبِي فَقُلْتُ لَهُ وَمَنْ هُوَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَأَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَآبَائِي (عَلَيْهِم السَّلام) كُلُّهُمْ كَانُوا قَدْ عَمِلُوا بِأَيْدِيهِمْ وَهُوَ مِنْ عَمَلِ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ وَالأوْصِيَاءِ وَالصَّالِحِينَ.

10. Sahl ibn Ziyad has narrated from al-Jamuraniy from al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn abu Hamzah from his father who has said the following: “I once saw abu al-Hassan (a.s.), working in his land and his feet were drenched in perspiration. I asked, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, where are men (workers)?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘O Ali, people better than my father and I worked in their land.’ I then asked, ‘Who were they?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘They were the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and ’Amir al- Mu’minin, and my ancestors, Alayhim al-Salam, all of them worked with their hands and it is of the practice of the prophets, messengers, the executors of the wills and the virtuous people.’” 

11- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ جَابِرٍ قَالَ أَتَيْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَإِذَا هُوَ فِي حَائِطٍ لَهُ بِيَدِهِ مِسْحَاةٌ وَهُوَ يَفْتَحُ بِهَا الْمَاءَ وَعَلَيْهِ قَمِيصٌ شِبْهَ الْكَرَابِيسِ كَأَنَّهُ مَخِيطٌ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ ضِيقِهِ.

11. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Sinan from ‘Isma’il ibn Jabir who has said the following: “I once visited abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and found him inside his walls with a shovel in his hand. He was opening the waterway. His shirt was of a fabric made of thick cotton threads (karabis) which was of very small size for him.” 

12- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَسْبَاطٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عُذَافِرٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ أَعْطَى أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَبِي أَلْفاً وَسَبْعَمِائَةِ دِينَارٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ اتَّجِرْ بِهَا ثُمَّ قَالَ أَمَا إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ لِي رَغْبَةٌ فِي رِبْحِهَا وَإِنْ كَانَ الرِّبْحُ مَرْغُوباً فِيهِ وَلَكِنِّي أَحْبَبْتُ أَنْ يَرَانِيَ اللهُ جَلَّ وَعَزَّ مُتَعَرِّضاً لِفَوَائِدِهِ قَالَ فَرَبِحْتُ لَهُ فِيهَا مِائَةَ دِينَارٍ ثُمَّ لَقِيتُهُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ قَدْ رَبِحْتُ لَكَ فِيهَا مِائَةَ دِينَارٍ قَالَ فَفَرِحَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) بِذَلِكَ فَرَحاً شَدِيداً فَقَالَ لِي أَثْبِتْهَا فِي رَأْسِ مَالِي قَالَ فَمَاتَ أَبِي وَالْمَالُ عِنْدَهُ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيَّ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَكَتَبَ عَافَانَا اللهُ وَإِيَّاكَ إِنَّ لِي عِنْدَ أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ أَلْفاً وَثَمَانَمِائَةِ دِينَارٍ أَعْطَيْتُهُ يَتَّجِرُ بِهَا فَادْفَعْهَا إِلَى عُمَرَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ قَالَ فَنَظَرْتُ فِي كِتَابِ أَبِي فَإِذاً فِيهِ لأبِي مُوسَى عِنْدِي أَلْفٌ وَسَبْعُمِائَةِ دِينَارٍ وَاتُّجِرَ لَهُ فِيهَا مِائَةُ دِينَارٍ عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ سِنَانٍ وَعُمَرُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ يَعْرِفَانِهِ.

12. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ali ibn Asbat from Muhammad ibn ‘Adhafir from his father who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once gave my father one thousand seven hundred dinars and told him to use them in business. He (the Imam) then said, ‘I am not interested in its profits, even though profits are desirable. I love, however, that Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, see me work to make profits.’ He (the narrator) has said, ‘I then made one hundred dinar profit for him. I met him and informed him about the one hundred dinar profits.’ He (the narrator) has said that abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), became very happy about it and told me to keep it with his capital. He (the narrator) has said that my father passed away and goods were with him. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), then wrote to me, ‘May Allah grant to us and to you good health. There is my one thousand eight hundred dinar with abu Muhammad which I had given him to use in business. You must give this amount to ‘Umar ibn Yazid.’ He (the narrator) has said, that I then checked the record of my father and found that one thousand seven hundred dinars were due in favor of abu Musa (a.s.), and I had earned one hundred dinars profit, ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan and ‘Umar ibn Yazid knew him.” 

13- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّضْرِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي جَمِيلُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَمْرٍو الشَّيْبَانِيِّ قَالَ رَأَيْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَبِيَدِهِ مِسْحَاةٌ وَعَلَيْهِ إِزَارٌ غَلِيظٌ يَعْمَلُ فِي حَائِطٍ لَهُ وَالْعَرَقُ يَتَصَابُّ عَنْ ظَهْرِهِ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَعْطِنِي أَكْفِكَ فَقَالَ لِي إِنِّي أُحِبُّ أَنْ يَتَأَذَّى الرَّجُلُ بِحَرِّ الشَّمْسِ فِي طَلَبِ الْمَعِيشَةِ.

13. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn ‘Abd Allah from his father from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Sulayman who has said that narrated to him Jamil ibn Salih from abu ‘Amr al-Shaybaniy who has said the following: “I once saw abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), with a shovel in his hand wearing a very thick dress working inside his walls and his back drenched in perspiration. I then asked, I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, allow me to help you.’ He said to me, ‘I Love that man endures hardships in the hot sun to make a living.” 

14- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ إِنَّ رَجُلا أَتَى أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقَالَ إِنِّي لا أُحْسِنُ أَنْ أَعْمَلَ عَمَلا بِيَدِي وَلا أُحْسِنُ أَنْ أَتَّجِرَ وَأَنَا مُحَارَفٌ مُحْتَاجٌ فَقَالَ اعْمَلْ فَاحْمِلْ عَلَى رَأْسِكَ وَاسْتَغْنِ عَنِ النَّاسِ فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) قَدْ حَمَلَ حَجَراً عَلَى عَاتِقِهِ فَوَضَعَهُ فِي حَائِطٍ لَهُ مِنْ حِيطَانِهِ وَإِنَّ الْحَجَرَ لَفِي مَكَانِهِ وَلا يُدْرَى كَمْ عُمْقُهُ إِلا أَنَّهُ ثَمَّ [بِمُعْجِزَتِهِ].

14. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ‘Umar ibn ‘Udhaynah from Zurarah who has said the following: “Once a man came to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and said, ‘I am not good in working with my hands and I am not good in doing business, thus I am deprived and needy.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘You must work and carry it on your head and set yourself free from asking people for help. The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, carried a stone on his shoulder to place it in a certain place of his walls. The stone is still in its place, and it is not known how large it is, but it is there [by his miracle]”’ 

15- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنِّي لأعْمَلُ فِي بَعْضِ ضِيَاعِي حَتَّى أَعْرَقَ وَإِنَّ لِي مَنْ يَكْفِينِي لِيَعْلَمَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَنِّي أَطْلُبُ الرِّزْقَ الْحَلالَ.

15. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn abu Hamzah from abu Basir from who has said the following: “I once heard abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, T work in a certain site of my work to perspire, even though there are people who can do all the work instead of me but I work so Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, finds me striving to find lawful sustenance.’” 

16- عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عُذَافِرٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ دَفَعَ إِلَيَّ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) سَبْعَمِائَةِ دِينَارٍ وَقَالَ يَا عُذَافِرُ اصْرِفْهَا فِي شَيْ‏ءٍ أَمَّا عَلَى ذَاكَ مَا بِي شَرَهٌ وَلَكِنْ أَحْبَبْتُ أَنْ يَرَانِيَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مُتَعَرِّضاً لِفَوَائِدِهِ قَالَ عُذَافِرٌ فَرَبِحْتُ فِيهَا مِائَةَ دِينَارٍ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ فِي الطَّوَافِ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَدْ رَزَقَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِيهَا مِائَةَ دِينَارٍ فَقَالَ أَثْبِتْهَا فِي رَأْسِ مَالِي. 

16. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from Muhammad ibn ‘Isma’il from Muhammad ibn ‘Adha’fir from his father who has said the following: “Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), gave me seven hundred dinars and said, ‘O ‘Adha’fir you can spend it; I do not have any desire for it but I loved that Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, finds me working for its profits.’ ‘Adha’fir has said, ‘I made one hundred dinar profit with it. During al- Tawaf I said to him, “I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has granted one hundred dinar profit.’” He (the Imam) said, ‘Add it to my capital money.’” 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 5

Book 2, Chapter 4