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 غِيَاثِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) لا بَأْسَ بِالسَّلَمِ كَيْلا مَعْلُوماً إِلَى أَجَلٍ مَعْلُومٍ لا يُسْلَمُ إِلَى دِيَاسٍ وَلا إِلَى حَصَادٍ.

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ghiyath ibn Ibrahim who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ‘Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘Advance payment for a merchandise is not harmful if it is for known measures and appointed time. Advance payment is not made except for threshing and the time of harvest.’” 

2- أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ الْحَلَبِيِّ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنِ السَّلَمِ فِي الطَّعَامِ بِكَيْلٍ مَعْلُومٍ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مَعْلُومٍ قَالَ لا بَأْسَ بِهِ.

2. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan from ibn Muskan from Muhammad al-Halabiy who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about advance payment for foodstuff of a known measure and an appointed time. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’” 

3- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنِ الرَّجُلِ أَيَصْلُحُ لَهُ أَنْ يُسْلِمَ فِي الطَّعَامِ عِنْدَ رَجُلٍ لَيْسَ عِنْدَهُ زَرْعٌ وَلا طَعَامٌ وَلا حَيَوَانٌ إِلا أَنَّهُ إِذَا حَلَّ الأجَلُ اشْتَرَاهُ فَوَفَّاهُ قَالَ إِذَا ضَمِنَهُ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى فَلا بَأْسَ بِهِ قُلْتُ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ أَوْفَانِي بَعْضاً وَعَجَزَ عَنْ بَعْضٍ أَيَصْلُحُ أَنْ آخُذَ بِالْبَاقِي رَأْسَ مَالِي قَالَ نَعَمْ مَا أَحْسَنَ ذَلِكَ.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Mughirah from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who makes advance payment to buy foodstuff from a man who does not have any farm or foodstuff or animals except that he at the appointed time buys the foodstuff and delivers it. He (the Imam) said, ‘If he guarantees it within the appointed time then it is not harmful.’ I then asked, ‘If he delivers a certain amount and cannot deliver a certain amount, is it proper for me to demand from him the remaining of my capital? He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, that is very good.’” 

4- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ خَالِدٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يُسْلِمُ فِي الزَّرْعِ فَيَأْخُذُ بَعْضَ طَعَامِهِ وَيَبْقَى بَعْضٌ لا يَجِدُ وَفَاءً فَيَعْرِضُ عَلَيْهِ صَاحِبُهُ رَأْسَ مَالِهِ قَالَ يَأْخُذُهُ فَإِنَّهُ حَلالٌ قُلْتُ فَإِنَّهُ يَبِيعُ مَا قَبَضَ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ فَيُضْعِفُ قَالَ وَإِنْ فَعَلَ فَإِنَّهُ حَلالٌ قَالَ وَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ يُسْلِمُ فِي غَيْرِ زَرْعٍ وَلا نَخْلٍ قَالَ يُسَمِّي شَيْئاً إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى.

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali al-Nu’man from ibn Muskan from Sulayman ibn Khalid who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who makes advance payment for farms and takes a certain amount of his foodstuff and a certain amount remains. The other party offers him the remaining of his capital. He (the Imam) said, ‘He must accept it; it is lawful.’ I then said, ‘He sells his foodstuff that he has received and it doubles.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If he does, it is lawful.’ I then asked him (the Imam) about a man who makes advance payment for what is not a farm or palm trees. He (the Imam) said, ‘He must name something for an appointed time.’” 

5- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَسْلَفْتُهُ دَرَاهِمَ فِي طَعَامٍ فَلَمَّا حَلَّ طَعَامِي عَلَيْهِ بَعَثَ إِلَيَّ بِدَرَاهِمَ فَقَالَ اشْتَرِ لِنَفْسِكَ طَعَاماً وَاسْتَوْفِ حَقَّكَ قَالَ أَرَى أَنْ يُوَلَّى ذَلِكَ غَيْرُكَ وَتَقُومَ مَعَهُ حَتَّى تَقْبِضَ الَّذِي لَكَ وَلا تَتَوَلَّى أَنْتَ شِرَاهُ.

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad and Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father all from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad from al-Halabiy who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man to whom I made advance payment for foodstuff. When the time arrived he sent to me dirhams. He (the Imam) said, ‘Buy foodstuff for yourself and compensate for your right.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘I deem it proper that you appoint someone else for such work until you receive what belongs to you and you alone must not undertake the task and work.’” 

6- أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي الرَّجُلِ يُسْلِمُ الدَّرَاهِمَ فِي الطَّعَامِ إِلَى أَجَلٍ فَيَحِلُّ الطَّعَامُ فَيَقُولُ لَيْسَ عِنْدِي طَعَامٌ وَلَكِنِ انْظُرْ مَا قِيمَتُهُ فَخُذْ مِنِّي ثَمَنَهُ فَقَالَ لا بَأْسَ بِذَلِكَ.

6. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from certain persons of our people who has said the following: “About the case of a man who makes advance payment for foodstuff for an appointed time and when the foodstuff is ready he says, ‘I do not have any foodstuff but consider what its price is and take it from me’, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not harmful . 555 

7- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ عَنِ الْعِيصِ بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَسْلَفَ رَجُلا دَرَاهِمَ بِحِنْطَةٍ حَتَّى إِذَا حَضَرَ الأجَلُ لَمْ يَكُنْ عِنْدَهُ طَعَامٌ وَوَجَدَ عِنْدَهُ دَوَابَّ وَمَتَاعاً وَرَقِيقاً يَحِلُّ لَهُ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ مِنْ عُرُوضِهِ تِلْكَ بِطَعَامِهِ قَالَ نَعَمْ يُسَمِّي كَذَا وَكَذَا بِكَذَا وَكَذَا صَاعاً.

7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn ‘Isma’il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from Safwan from al-‘Is ibn al-Qasim who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who makes advance payment of dirhams in exchange for wheat until the appoint time comes and he does not have any foodstuff but has animals and other assets and slaves; if it is lawful for him to take from his assets in exchange for his foodstuff. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, he must name such and such items for such and such Sa‘ (of foodstuff). 5 ” 

8- حُمَيْدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَمَاعَةَ عَنْ غَيْرِ وَاحِدٍ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ وَعُبَيْدِ بْنِ زُرَارَةَ قَالا سَأَلْنَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ رَجُلٍ بَاعَ طَعَاماً بِدَرَاهِمَ إِلَى أَجَلٍ فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ ذَلِكَ الأجَلُ تَقَاضَاهُ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ عِنْدِي دَرَاهِمُ خُذْ مِنِّي طَعَاماً قَالَ لا بَأْسَ بِهِ إِنَّمَا لَهُ دَرَاهِمُ يَأْخُذُ بِهَا مَا شَاءَ.

8. Humayd ibn Ziyad has narrated from al-Hassan ibn Muhammad ibn Sama‘ah from more than one person from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from Ya’qub ibn Shu’ayb and ‘Ubayd ibn Zurarah who has said the following: “We once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who sells foodstuff in exchange for dirhams for an appointed time. When the time comes and he demands it, the party says, ‘I do not have dirhams. Take from me foodstuff . 5 He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful; his are dirhams in exchange, for which he can take whatever he likes . 555 

9- حُمَيْدٌ عَنِ ابْنِ سَمَاعَةَ عَنْ غَيْرِ وَاحِدٍ عَنْ أَبَانٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَسْلَفَ دَرَاهِمَ فِي طَعَامٍ فَحَلَّ الَّذِي لَهُ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِ بِدَرَاهِمَ فَقَالَ اشْتَرِ طَعَاماً وَاسْتَوْفِ حَقَّكَ هَلْ تَرَى بِهِ بَأْساً قَالَ يَكُونُ مَعَهُ غَيْرُهُ يُوَفِّيهِ ذَلِكَ.

9. Humayd has narrated from ibn Sama‘ah from more than one person from Aban from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn abu ‘Abd Allah who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who makes advance payment of dirhams in exchange for foodstuff and the time comes but the party sends him dirhams. He (the Imam) said, ‘He can buy foodstuff to compensate for his right. Do you see any problems in it ? 5 He (the Imam) said, ‘There must be someone else with him to work to make it happen . 555 

10- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ قَالَ سُئِلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَسْلَمَ دَرَاهِمَهُ فِي خَمْسَةِ مَخَاتِيمَ مِنْ حِنْطَةٍ أَوْ شَعِيرٍ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى وَكَانَ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ الْحِنْطَةُ وَالشَّعِيرُ لا يَقْدِرُ عَلَى أَنْ يَقْضِيَهُ جَمِيعَ الَّذِي لَهُ إِذَا حَلَّ فَسَأَلَ صَاحِبَ الْحَقِّ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ نِصْفَ الطَّعَامِ أَوْ ثُلُثَهُ أَوْ أَقَلَّ مِنْ ذَلِكَ أَوْ أَكْثَرَ وَيَأْخُذَ رَأْسَ مَالِ مَا بَقِيَ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ دَرَاهِمَ قَالَ لا بَأْسَ وَالزَّعْفَرَانُ يُسْلِمُ فِيهِ الرَّجُلُ دَرَاهِمَ فِي عِشْرِينَ مِثْقَالا أَوْ أَقَلَّ مِنْ ذَلِكَ أَوْ أَكْثَرَ قَالَ لا بَأْسَ إِنْ لَمْ يَقْدِرِ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ الزَّعْفَرَانُ أَنْ يُعْطِيَهُ جَمِيعَ مَالِهِ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ نِصْفَ حَقِّهِ أَوْ ثُلُثَهُ أَوْ ثُلُثَيْهِ وَيَأْخُذَ رَأْسَ مَالِ مَا بَقِيَ مِنْ حَقِّهِ.

10. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad all from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad from al-Halabiy who has said the following: “Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about the case of a man who makes advance payment in exchange for five Mukhatim (a container) of wheat or barley for an appointed time but the party cannot deliver all that he owes on due time, and he asks the other party to accept half of the foodstuff or one-third or less or more and take the remaining of his capital back. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful . 5 ‘Can saffron be purchased through advance payment of twenty dirham for twenty Mithqal (a certain unit of weight) or less or more ? 5 He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful. If the party cannot deliver all of saffron, the other party can take one-third or two-thirds of the remaining of his capital for his right . 555 

11- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَفْصِ بْنِ الْبَخْتَرِيِّ عَنْ خَالِدِ بْنِ الْحَجَّاجِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي الرَّجُلِ يَشْتَرِي طَعَامَ قَرْيَةٍ بِعَيْنِهَا وَإِنْ لَمْ يُسَمِّ لَهُ طَعَامَ قَرْيَةٍ بِعَيْنِهَا أَعْطَاهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ شَاءَ.

11. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and Muhammad ibn ‘Isma’il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from all from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hafs ibn al-Bakhtariy from Khalid ibn al-Hajjaj who has said the following: “About the case of a man who buys foodstuff of a certain town, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If the foodstuff of a certain town exactly is not mentioned he can give it from anywhere he likes . 555 

12- سَهْلُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ حُكَيْمٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ فَضَّالٍ قَالَ كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) الرَّجُلُ يُسْلِفُنِي فِي الطَّعَامِ فَيَجِي‏ءُ الْوَقْتُ وَلَيْسَ عِنْدِي طَعَامٌ أُعْطِيهِ بِقِيمَتِهِ دَرَاهِمَ قَالَ نَعَمْ. 

12. Sahl ibn Ziyad has narrated from Mu‘awiyah ibn Hakim from al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Faddal who has said the following: “I once wrote to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), and asked, ‘I make an advance payment deal with a man for foodstuff and when it is due time I do not have any foodstuff, if I can give him dirhams in exchange. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, you can do so.”’ 

Al-Kāfi - Volume 5

Book 2, Chapter 79