Chastity

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Hariz from Zurara from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘No obedience and worship in the sight of Allah is better than to be a chaste person in matters of (one’s) stomach and genital organs.”

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

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Mu‘awiyah ibn al-Hukaym from al-Mu‘alla’ abu ‘Uthman from abu Basir who has said the following: “I once visited abu Ja’far (a.s.), when he was performing Salah (prayer). My guide informed me that there was blood on the clothes of the Imam. When he completed his Salah (prayer), I said that my guide has told me that there is blood on your clothes. He (the Imam) said, ‘I have pimples and I did not want to wash my clothes until they are cured.”’

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

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa ibn ‘Ubayd from Afi ibn al-Hakam and others from Musa ibn Bakr who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘Serving food is one of the reasons for which Allah, the most Blessed, the most High, grants forgiveness.”’

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

1. Abu Ali al-Ash‘ariy has narrated from narrated from Muhammad ibn Hassan from al-Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Nawfaliy from children of Nawfil ibn ‘ Abd al-Muttalib, narrated to me Muhammad ibn Ja‘far from Muhammad ibn Ali ibn ‘Isa from ‘ Abd Allah al-‘ Amriy from his father from his grandfather who has said the following: “’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said about the illness that a child may suffer, ’It is expiation for his parents.’”

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

38. From him, from Al-Hassan Bin Ali, from Abdullah Bin Al-Waleed Al-Kindy who said: ‘We came up to Abu Abdullah (asws) during the era of Marwaan. He (asws) said: ‘Who are you all?’ So we said, ‘We are from the inhabitants of Al-Kufa’. He (asws) said: ‘There is no city from the cities with more people who love us (asws) than the inhabitants of Al-Kufa, and in particular this group. Allah (azwj), Majestic is His (azwj) Mention, has Guided you to a matter which the people are ignorant of, and you love us (asws) whilst the people hate us (asws), and you have followed us whilst the people oppose us (asws), and you have ratified us (asws) and the people have belied us (asws). So Allah (azwj) has Made you to live our (asws) life and Made you to die our (asws) deaths. I (asws) hereby testify for my (asws) father who (asws) used to say: ‘There is nothing between you all and your seeing of what delights Allah (azwj) has Kept for your eyes and your rejoicing, except for the reaching of your soul to over here’ – and he (asws) gestured by his (asws) hand to his (asws) throat – ‘and Allah (azwj) Mighty and Majestic has Said in His (azwj) Book: “[13:38] And certainly We sent messengers before you and gave them wives and children”. So we (asws) are the children of the Messenger (saww) of Allah (azwj)’.

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

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Isma’il from Hanan ibn Sadir from his father who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘The best worship is to be chaste in the matters of stomach and genital organs.’”

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

2. Ahmad has narrated from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Sama‘ah who has said the following: “I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about a man on whose body there are sores or wounds which he cannot bandage or wash the blood. He (the Imam) said, ‘He can perform his Salah (prayer) without washing his clothes except once a day; he cannot wash his clothes every hour.’”

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

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad ibn ‘Uthman who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Having good moral behavior and serving food is part of belief.’”

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

2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from his father from Wahab who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘A child (born after) six, seven or nine months lives but one who is born after eight months cannot live.’”

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

2. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from ibn Mahbub from ibn Ri’ab who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about the case of a man with whom I have a relation of kinship, he dies leaving behind small children, slaves and slave-girls but has not made any will. ‘What do you say about buying a slave-girl for a mother of one’s child and what do you say about selling them?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If they have a guardian who supervises for them the sale and looks after them, he will receive good rewards.’ I asked, ‘What do you say about one’s buying from them a slave- girl for a mother of one’s child?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful if it is executed by their guardian who looks after their interests and well-being; and they cannot change their mind about what the guardian has done for them who looks after their well-being.’”

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

3. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ja’far ibn Muhammad al-Ash’ari from ‘Abd Allah ibn Maymun al-Qaddah from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) would say, ‘Chastity is the best worship.’”

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

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father, from Hammad, from Hariz, from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “I once said to him (the Imam), ‘I may find blood on my clothes when I am performing Salah (prayer).’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If you find blood and you have other clothes on you, you must remove it and complete your Salah (prayer). However, if you do not have other clothes on you besides that one, you must complete your Salah (prayer). You do not have to perform that Salah (prayer) again if the area covered by that blood is not more than the size of a dirham, and an area of smaller size does not matter, regardless if you have seen it before or not. If you have seen it before and it is bigger than the size of a dirham, but you have missed to wash it and have performed with it many Salah (prayer), you must perform again the Salah (prayers) you have performed with it.’”

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

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Ali ibn Muhammad al-Qasaniy from those who narrated to him from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Qasim al- Ja’fariy 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, has said, ‘The best among you are those who serve food, offer greetings of peace aloud and perform Salat (prayer) when people are sleeping.’”

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

3. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Salih ibn abu Hammad from Yunus ibn Ibrahim from ‘Abd al- Rahman ibn Sayabah from those who narrated to him who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about how long a child can remain in the mother’s womb because people say that a child may remain in mother’s womb for many years. He (the Imam) said, ‘They speak a lie. The ultimate time is nine months and it is no more even for a while because if the child remains for more than a sa‘ah, (while), his mother will be dead before he comes out.’”

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

4. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from his father from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from Yahya ibn ‘Imran al-Halabi from Mu’alla abu ‘Uthman from abu Basir who has said the following: “Once a man said to abu Ja’far (a.s.) ‘My deeds are weak and my fasting is very little but I hope to eat only what is lawful.’ The narrator has said that the Imam then said, ‘What kind of hard work could be considered better than chastity of stomach and chastity of genital organs?”’

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

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfaliy from al-Sakuniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Ali (a.s.), would not consider the blood of things that did not require slaughtering as harmful to one’s Salah (prayer). That is, the blood of fish.’”

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

4. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from Muhammad ibn Ali from al-Hassan ibn Ali from Sayf ibn ‘Amirah from ‘Umar ibn Shamir from Jabir who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Ali (a.s.), would say, “We are a family who are commanded (by Allah) to serve food, send gifts to people and perform Salat (prayer) when people are sleeping.’””

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

4. Abu Ali al-Ash‘ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from al-Hajj al from Tha’labah from Zurarah who has said the following: “One of the two Imam, (abu Ja‘far or abu ‘Abd Allah), ‘Alayhim al-Salam, has said, ‘Al-Qabilah (the doctor) is immune and not liable.’”

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

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfali from al-Sakuni from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Of my followers who go to hell, in the case of most of them it will so happen because of two hollow things: the stomach and the genital organs (for consuming unlawful things or committing sins)

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

5. Ahmad ibn Idris has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ahmad from Ahmad ibn al-Hassan ibn Ali from ‘Amr ibn Sa‘id from Musaddiq ibn Sadaqah from ‘Ammar al-Sabatiy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about a man from whose nostril blood flows. ‘Is he required to wash inside of his nostril?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘He only needs to wash what is apparent.’”

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

5. Muhammad Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Ya‘qub ibn Yazid from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “Once I was with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when Yunus ibn Ya’qub came in and I found him moaning. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), asked him, ‘Why are you moaning?’ He replied, ‘I have a child and I suffered last night the whole night because of him.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has stated this Hadith. ‘O Yunus, my father, Muhammad ibn Ali (a.s.), narrated to me from his ancestors from my great, great, great, great grandfather, the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, that Jibril came to him when he found the Messenger of Allah and Ali moaning. Jibril asked, ‘O beloved of Allah, how is it that I find you moaning?’ The Messenger of Allah replied, ‘We have two children and because of their weeping we have suffered.’ Jibril said, ‘O Muhammad, be patient. Very soon, a nation of followers for them will be raised and the weeping of one of them will mean, “No one other than Allah alone deserves worship,” up to seven years. From the age of seven onward is asking forgiveness for their parents until they become of age (of maturity). Thereafter, whatever good deeds they do will be for their parents and whatever bad deeds they do will not be against their parents.’”

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

6. 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 the virtuous servant of Allah who has said the following: “Once a mother of the child of his father asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), saying, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, I like to ask you a question but I feel shy.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Ask and do not feel shy.’ She said, ‘There was blood from Hayd (menses) on my clothes and I washed it, but the stain does not go away.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Color it with russet color so that it is mixed and does not show.’”

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

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Ali ibn abu Hamzah from abu Basir who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah, the most Blessed, the most High, loves (shedding blood of edible animals) for serving meat and food.’”

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

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ali ibn Ibrahim al-Ja‘fariy from Hamdan ibn Ishaq who has said the following: “I had a son who had bladder (kidney) stone and it was said to me that it has no medicine except operating and I operated, then the child died. The Shi’ah said, ‘You have caused the death of your son. I then wrote to abu al-Hassan al-‘Askariy (a.s.). He (the Imam) signed the answer that said, ‘O Ahmad, you are not responsible for what you have done. You tried to cure him and his death (the appointed time) was in what you did.”’

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

7. Abu Ali al-Ash’ari has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from certain individuals of his people from Maymun al-Qaddah who has said the following: “I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) saying, ‘There is no worship better than the chastity in matters of stomach and genital organs.’”

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

7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from his father in a marfu‘ manner who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that your blood to you is less unclean than other people’s blood. If you find like sprinkles of your blood on you, it is not harmful; but if it is other people’s blood, regardless of its being of a small or large quantity, you must wash it clean.’”

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

7. Muhammad ibn Isma‘il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn al-Hakam who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that of the most beloved deeds in the sight of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, is satisfying the hunger of a believer, relieving his suffering, or paying off his debts.”

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

7. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from ‘ Abd Allah ibn Jundab from Sufyan ibn al- Simt who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to me, ‘When a child becomes four months old then perform cupping every month in the depression in the back of the child; it reduces his saliva and the temperature from his head.’”

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

8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Sayf ibn ‘Amirah from Mansur ibn Hazim from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘In the sight of Allah there is no worship more virtuous than chastity in matters of stomach and genital organs.’”

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

8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Sinan from ibn Muskan from al-Halabiy who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the blood of fleas on one’s clothes - if it is harmful to his Salah (prayer). He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful even if they are many. So also is the case with similar things, like sprinkled nostril blood which one does not have to wash.’” “It is narrated also that things cannot be washed with saliva except blood (inside one’s mouth).”’

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

8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa ibn ‘Ubayd from Ahmad ibn Muhammad and ibn Faddal from Tha’labah ibn Maymun from Zurarah who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, loves serving food and shedding blood (of edible animals for meat to serve for food).’”

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

9. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn al-Rayyan who has said the following: “I once wrote to the man (a.s.), asking, ‘Is the blood of bugs like the blood of fleas? Is it permissible for one to consider blood of bugs like that of fleas, perform Salah (prayer) with it and analogize to act upon such analogy?’ He (the Imam) wrote with his signature, ‘It is permissible to perform Salah (prayer) with it, but washing is better.’”

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

10. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from ibn Faddal from ‘Abd Allah ibn Maymun who has said the following: “Ja’far from his father (a.s.), has narrated that the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘Sustenance comes to a man, who serves food, faster than a knife goes into the hump on the back of a camel.’”

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

11. Ali ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Allah has narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from his father from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Mughirah from Musa ibn Bakr who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan (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, would say, ‘Of the reasons for the Lord, the Most Blessed, the most High, to grant forgiveness is one’s serving food.’”

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

12. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from his father from Mu’ammar ibn Khallad who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan, al-Rida (a.s.), would ask for an empty plate before having food. He would keep it on one side at the table, then pick up the best of food from each kind brought for him, place them on the empty plate, and ask his people to give it to destitute people. He then would read this, ‘. . . they have not entered the stage. . . .’ (90:11), and say, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, knows that everyone is not able to set free slaves, thus He has made a way to reach paradise, which is serving food.’”

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

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his sources of narrators who have said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘There are three things about which I am afraid for my followers after me: misguidance after recognition of the truth, confusion because of mischief and the desires of stomach and genital organs.’”

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

5. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ali from al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Yusuf from Sayf ibn ‘Amirah from Fayd ibn al-Mukhtar who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that serving food, offering greetings of peace aloud and performing Salat (prayer) when people are sleeping are reasons for which one may gain salvation.”

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

9. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam, from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from a man who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that certain prisoners of war were brought before the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause. One prisoner whose punishment was decapitation had been readied. Jibril came to the Holy Prophet and said, ‘O Muhammad, delay his case for one day. 5 His case was delayed and others were dealt with until it was the turn for that man again. He had been readied and Jibril said, ‘O Muhammad, your Lord sends you greetings of peace, and says to you, “This man who is your captive serves food, entertains guests, exercises patience in difficulties, and relieves others of liabilities.’” The Holy Prophet informed the man of what Jibril had conveyed to him from Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, and said, ‘I have decided to set you free.’ The man then asked, ’Does your Lord love this?’ The Holy Prophet replied, ‘Yes, He does.’ The man then declared, ‘I testify that no one deserves worship except Allah and that you are the Messenger of Allah, who has sent you for a truthful purpose as prophet. I will never deny anyone to benefit from my wealth.’”

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