Abstaining From Unlawful Matters

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Dawud ibn Kathir al-Riqqi from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “About the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘. . . for one who has fear of the position of his Lord there are two gardens,’ (55:46) the Imam said, ‘Whoever knows that Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, sees him and hears whatever he says or acts for good or evil, and it keeps him back from the evil acts, such person is the “One who has fear of the position of his Lord,” and thus he prohibits the soul from acting according to desires.’”

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

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Hariz from Muhammad from whom he has mentioned who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If a dog pollutes your clothes, and if it is dry, just pour water on your clothes; but if it is wet, then wash them clean.”’

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

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Sa‘d ibn ’Isma‘il from his father who has narrated the following: “I once asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), about the executor of the will under whose supervision the orphans become adults and the executor of the will hands over their assets to them but they refuse to accept. What must he do? He (the Imam) said, ‘They are made to accept their assets.”

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

39. Humeyd Bin Ziyad, from Al-Hassan Bin Muhammad Al-Kindy, from Ahmad Bin Udeys, from Abaan Bin Usmaan, from Abu Al-Sabbaah who said: ‘I heard a speech reported from the Prophet (saww) and from Ali (asws), and from Ibn Mas’oud. So I presented it to Abu Abdullah (asws). He (asws) said: ‘These are the words of the Messenger (saww) of Allah (azwj). I (asws) recognise them’. The Messenger (saww) of Allah (azwj) said: ‘The wretched one is the one who is wretched in the womb of his mother, and a happy one is the one who heeds the advice given to the others. And the most intelligent one of the intelligent ones is the one who is pious, and the most stupid of the stupid ones is the immoral. The most evil of the report is the report of the lies (false report), and the most evil of the matters is the innovations. And the blindness of all blindness is the blindness of the heart, and the worst regret is the regret on the Day of Judgement. And the greatest of the sins in the Presence of Allah (azwj) is the lying tongue, and the most evil of the gains is the gain of the interest. And the most evil of the consumption is the consumption of the wealth of the orphans. The best of the decors of the decors of the man is good guidance along with faith, and the controlling of his affairs by it and strengthening them. The one who seeks fame (show-off), Allah (azwj) makes him to be named as a liar, and the one who loves the world will be frustrated from it. And the one who recognises the affliction would be patient against it, and the one who does not recognised it will be tortured (during it). And the doubt is disbelief, and the one who is arrogant, Allah (azwj) Puts him in his place. And the one who obeys Satan (la) disobeys Allah (azwj), and the one who disobeys Allah (azwj) is Punished by Allah (azwj). The one who is thankful, Allah (azwj) Increases for him, the one who is patient upon a loss is Helped by Allah (azwj). The one who places reliance upon Allah (azwj), Allah (azwj) suffices for him. Do not Enrage Allah (azwj) by pleasing anyone from His (azwj) creatures, and do not seek nearness to anyone from the creatures who takes you far away from Allah (azwj), for Allah (azwj) Mighty and Majestic, there is nothing between Him (azwj) and anyone from His (azwj) creatures anything by which good can be acquired nor evil be repelled except by being obedient to Him (azwj), and the following of His (azwj) Pleasure. And in the obedience to Allah (azwj) is success in every good that you want, and salvation from every evil which is feared. And that Allah (azwj), Mighty is His (azwj) Mention, Defends the one who is obedient to Him (azwj) and the one who is disobedient to Him (azwj) does not seek protection from Him (azwj). And the fugitive from Allah (azwj) Mighty and Majestic will not find an escape, and that the Command of Allah (azwj) will Descend even though the creatures may be averse to it. And everything which is to come is near, and Whatsoever Allah (azwj) so Desires has happened and whatsoever He (azwj) does not Desire will not happen. So help each other towards the righteousness and the piety and do not help each other towards the sins and the animosity. And fear Allah (azwj) for He (azwj) is Severe is the Punishment’.

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

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Ibrahim ibn ‘Umar al-Yamani from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘On the Day of Judgment all eyes will be weeping except three kinds of eyes: the eye that spends the night awake in the way of Allah, the eye that weeps in submission before Allah and the eye that turns away from what Allah has made unlawful to look at.’”

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

2. Hammad ibn ‘Isa has narrated from Hariz from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man whose body is polluted because of a dog. He (the Imam) said, ‘He must wash clean the area which has come in contact with a dog.’”

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

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Salih ibn al-Sindiy from Ja’far ibn Bashir from Dawud al-Riqqiy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that moderation is a matter that Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, loves, and extravagance is a thing that Allah hates. It applies even to one’s throwing the stone inside the piece of a date; it can be useful for something, and to throwing the leftover of what you drink.’”

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

3. Ali has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from those whom he has mentioned (in his book) from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Of the things that Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, spoke to Moses one was as follows: ‘O Moses, of those who seek nearness to Me no one is like the ones who restrain from what I have made unlawful. I, therefore, open for them the garden of Eden and will not allow anyone else to share it with them.’”

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

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from al-‘Amrakiy ibn Ali al-Naysaburiy from Ali ibn Ja‘far from his brother, Musa (a.s.), has said the following: “I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about a mouse that has fallen in water and then walks on clothes. Can one perform Salah (prayer) in such clothes? He (the Imam) said, ‘Wash to clean the marks that you find and what you do not find just pour water on them.’”

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

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘ Umayr from certain individuals of his people who has said the following: “About the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ‘They ask you about what should spend (for the sake of Allah). Say, “It is disregarding. . .’” (2: 219), Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The word “al-‘Afw (disregarding)” refers to spending moderately.’”

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

3. Humayd ibn Ziyad has narrated from al-Hassan ibn Sama‘ah from certain persons of his people from Muthanna’ ibn Rashid from abu Basir who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of an orphan who has read the Quran, his understanding is proper and his assets are in the hands of a man who wants to work using those assets in business in the manner of profit sharing ( al-Mudarabah ) to which the boy has agreed. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not proper to use it in business until he experiences wet-dream, then hands over his assets to him. If he experiences wet-dream and does not have proper understanding, nothing must be given to him forever.’” Humayd has narrated from al-Hassan ibn Ja‘far ibn Sama‘ah from Dawud ibn Sarhan from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), a similar Hadith.

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

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn Salim from abu ‘Ubayda from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘The most intensive obligation Allah has placed upon His creature is to speak of Allah (remember Him) a great deal.’ The Imam then said, ‘I did not mean thereby saying, “Glory belongs to Allah, all thanks belong to Allah, no one deserves to be worshipped except Allah and Allah is greater (than to be described),” even though they are a form of speaking of Allah. It is to remember Him (or speak of Him) when one encounters a lawful or an unlawful matter, thus, does not disobey Him if it is an act of worship and stays away from it if it is something unlawful to do.’”

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

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from certain persons of his people who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), if it is permissible to touch a fox, jackal or such other beasts dead or alive. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful but he must wash his hand.’”

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

4. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated in a marfu‘ manner who has said the following: “’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘Moderation leads to increase, and extravagance leads to destruction.’”

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

4. It is narrated from the narrator of the previous Hadith from al-Hassan ibn Muhammad ibn Sama‘ah from Ali ibn Ribat and al-Husayn ibn Hashim and from Safwan ibn Yahya from ‘Is ibn al-Qasim who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a female orphan; when her assets must be given to her. He (the Imam) said, ‘When you learn that she does not destroy it or lose it, then you can give it to her.’ I then asked, ‘What happens if she has married?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘When she marries then possession (authority) of executor of the will ends.’”

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

5. Ibn abu ‘Umayr has narrated from Hisham ibn Salim from Sulayman ibn Khalid who has said the following: “I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘We shall call their deeds into Our presence and scatter them into the air as dust (turn them devoid of all virtue).’ (25:23) The Imam said, ‘I swear by Allah, even though their deeds may have been whiter than the Coptic gown, the nullification of such deed is because on their encountering an unlawful matter they did not stay away from it.’”

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

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from ibn Ri’ab from Ibrahim ibn al-Maymun who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man whose clothes fall on a dead body. He (the Imam) said, ‘If the dead body is given Ghusl (bath), then it is not necessary to wash such clothes, but if it is not given Ghusl (bath) yet, one must wash such clothes - and that is, when the dead body has become cold.’”

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

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Mansur ibn Yunus from abu Hamzah who has said the following: “Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), has said, the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘Three things work as means of salvation for a person and he described moderation, in both poverty and financial well-being, to be one of such means.’”

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

5. It is narrated from the narrator of the previous Hadith from al-Hassan from Safwan from Musa ibn Bakr from Zurarah who has narrated the following: “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Do not go to bed with a (underage) girl before she becomes nine or ten years old.’”

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

6. Ali 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, ‘Whoever stays away from disobeying Allah because of fear of Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, Allah will make him happy on the Day of Judgment.’”

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

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from al-‘Amrakiy ibn Ali from Ali ibn Ja‘far from Musa ibn Ja‘far (a.s.), who has said the following: “I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about a man whose clothes come in contact with pigs which he forgets to wash, but he remembers it when he is performing Salah (prayer), what he must do. He (the Imam) said, ‘If he has already begun his Salah (prayer) he must continue; but if he has not yet began his Salah (prayer), he must pour water on the area which has come in contact with the pig. If there are marks on such clothes, then one must wash them clean.’”

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

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from ‘Umar ibn Aban from Mudrik ibn abu al-Hazhaz who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘I guarantee safety from poverty in favor of one who observes moderation (in spending).”

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

6. It is narrated from the narrator of the previous Hadith from al-Hassan from Ja‘far ibn Sama‘ah from Adam, Bayya’ al-Lu’lu from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has narrated the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When a boy become thirteen years old his doing good deeds are written for him as well as bad deeds for which he will be punished. When a girl becomes nine years old it also is the same because she experiences Hayd (menses) when she is nine years old.”’

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

7. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad and Sahl ibn Ziyad from ibn Mahbub from Yunus ibn Ya’qub from Hammad (ibn Waqid) al-Lahham who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that all kinds of one’s spending for the sake of Allah, on any one of His causes, is not a good or successful spending. Allah, the most High says, ‘You must not throw yourselves in perdition. Do good; Allah loves those who do good.’ (2:195) “Doers of good” refers to those who observe moderation in spending.”

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

7. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Washsha’ from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has narrated the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When a boy becomes strong when he is thirteen years old and has entered in his fourteenth, it becomes obligatory on him what is obligatory on those who experience wet-dream, regardless, he experiences wet-dream or not. Good deeds are written for him and all (lawful) things are permissible for him unless he is weak or dimwitted.’”

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

8. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Marwak ibn ‘Ubayd from his father, ‘Ubayd who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘O ‘Ubayd, excessive spending causes poverty but moderation leads to wealth.’”

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

8. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from abu Muhammad al-Mada'iniy from Ali ibn Habib, Bayya’ al-Harawiy, who has said that ‘Isa ibn Zayd narrated from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said, “Amir al-Mu’minin (AS) has said, ‘A child teethes at the seventh year; he must be instructed to perform Salat (prayer) at the ninth; their bed must be separated at the tenth; experiences wet-dream at the fourteenth; his growth stops at twenty-one and growth of his reasoning ability stops at twenty-eight except experience.’”

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

9. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from Muhammad ibn Ali from Muhammad ibn al-Fudayl from Musa ibn Bakr who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), once said, ‘With moderation, one does not suffer poverty.’”

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

11. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Marwak ibn ‘Ubayd from Rifa’ah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when Allah, the most Blessed, the most High, gives to you generously, be generous to yourselves; when He withholds, you should also do so, but do not try to surpass Him; He is more generous than you are.”

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

12. Ahmad ibn ‘Abd Allah has narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from Muhammad ibn Ali (al-Sayrafiy) from ibn Sinan 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, ‘Whoever maintains moderation, Allah grants him sustenance, but He deprives one who spends excessively.’”

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

13. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ali ibn Hassan from Musa ibn Bakr who has said the following: “I heard abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), say, ‘Easing off in spending is half of one’s sustenance, and with observance of moderation, one does not become poor.’”

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

10. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and a number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad all from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Ishaq ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz from certain individuals of his people who has said the following: “Once, I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘On our way to Makkah, we wanted to wear the special dress for Ihram (a certain act of Hajj), but we did not have proper material for shaving, and we did not have bran or flour to use in place of lime. We used flour for this purpose. Allah knows that I had a strange feeling about it.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘Was your strange feeling for excessive spending?’ I replied, ‘Yes, that is true.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘There is not anything excessive in what is spent for the wellbeing of the body. I sometimes ask (my people) to mix marrow with oil to use for shaving. Excessive spending is when something that one owns is wasted and the body is harmed.’ I then asked, ‘What is living in austerity?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘It is living on bread and salt only, when you are able to use other food.’ I then asked, ‘What is moderation?’ He replied, ‘It is moderation when you use bread, meat, vinegar and oil; one time this and next time the other.’”

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

2. Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa has narrated from [Muhammad ibn ‘Isa] from Mansur from Hisham who has narrated the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The orphan-hood of an orphan is over when he experiences wet-dream, and that is the time when he reaches manhood but if he experiences wet- dream and does not have proper understanding because of dimwittedness or weakness, then his guardian must keep his assets for him.’”

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