1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il from Muhammad ibn ‘ Adhafir who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a bird which is set free in a faraway area and the bird has never seen it but it comes back. He (the Imam) said, ‘O ibn ‘Udha’fir, birds can come to the house of its owner from a distance of thirty farsakh (90 miles) because of its knowledge and environment, but if it is more than thirty farsakh then the bird comes for the sustenance which is determined for it.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

2. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad in a marfu‘ manner has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘That (bird) which comes back from a distance of thirty farsakh is because of guidance and from a distance of more than this is because of food.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Sayf ibn ‘Amirah from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a bird which comes back from a faraway place. He (the Imam) said, ‘It comes back because of its sustenance.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

4. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla’ ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Jumhur from Ali ibn Dawud al-Haddad from Hariz who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of birds that are set free in a faraway place come but not the ones released nearby. He (the Imam) said, ‘When its sustenance in the area is depleted, then it does not come back.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.