Fulfilling Obligations

1. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father all from ibn Mahbub from abu Hamza al-Thumali who has said the following: “Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) has said, ‘One who fulfils what Allah has made obligatory upon him is the best of people.’”

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

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and Afi ibn Muhammad from Sahl all from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr from ibn Bukayr from Zurarah who has said the following: “I once asked Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about Tayammum. He (the Imam) thumped his hands on the ground then raised them, and allowed loose soil to fall off them. He (the Imam) then wiped both (sections of) his forehead (the parts above both eyebrows) and (the back of) his palms (hands) only once.”

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

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from his father from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad al-Jawhariy from Jamil ibn Salih from ‘Abd al-Malik ibn ‘Amr al-Ahwal who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once, read this verse from the Holy Quran. . those who do not spend excessively or with severe austerity, but with moderation,’ (25: 67) he (the Imam) then picked up a handful of pebbles and kept them firmly in his hand, saying, ‘This is severe austerity that Allah has mentioned in His book.’ He then picked up another handful of pebbles and then opened his hand altogether saying, ‘This is excessive spending.’ He then picked up a handful of pebbles, opened his hand half-way, and held some of the pebbles in his hand, saying, ‘This is moderation.’”

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

40. and by this chain, from Abaan, from Yaqoub Bin Shuayb, who has said: I asked Abu Abdullah (asws) about the Statement of Allah (azwj) Mighty and Majestic: “[2:213] Mankind were one community”, so he (asws) said: ‘Before the era of Noah (as) the people were a misguided nation. So Allah (azwj) Initiated by sending the Messengers (as) and it is not as they are saying it to be that it never ceased, and they are lying for Allah (azwj) Differentiated in the Night of Power (Laylat Al-Qadr) what was from the hardships, or ease, or rain in accordance with what Allah (azwj) Mighty and Majestic so Desired until the similar like it to come (Next Laylat Al-Qadr)’.

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 certain persons of our people who has said the following: “Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), was once asked about Tayammum. He (the Imam) read this verse of the Holy Quran: ‘You must cut off the hands of male and female thieves.’ (5:38) He (the Imam) mentioned this verse of the Holy Quran. ‘Wash your faces and hands upto (from) your elbows’ (5:6) and said, ‘Wipe on (the back of that part of) your palms which must be cut in case of theft and your Lord is not to forget.’”

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

2. It is narrated from him (narrator of previous Hadith) from his father from Muhammad ibn ‘Ammar from ‘Abd Allah ibn Aban who has said the following: “Once I asked abu al-Hassan, the 1st (a.s.), about the expenses of one’s dependents. He (the Imam) replied, ‘It is between the two detestable limits: namely, excessive spending and severe austerity.’”

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 ‘Abd al- Rahman ibn abu Najran from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from abu al-Safatij from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following:“About the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘Believers, have patience, help each other with patience, establish good relations with one another. . . . (3:200) the Imam said, ‘Exercise patience in fulfilling your obligations, help each other with patience in tragedies and establish good relations with A’immah (plural of Imam), recipients of divine supreme covenant.’” In the narration of ibn Mahbub from abu al-Safatij the following is added, “Have fear of Allah, your Lord, in what He has made obligatory upon you.”

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

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Safwan from al-Kahiliy who has said the following: “I once asked him (the Imam) about Tayammum. He (the Imam) (a.s.), thumped his hand on the furnishing, then wiped with it his face and then the backs of his both hands one with the other.”

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

3. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Ali ibn Ri’ab from ibn abu Ya’qub and Yusuf ibn ‘Ammar who have said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘There is very little blessing with excessive spending.’”

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

4. 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, ‘Fulfill what Allah has made obligatory upon you. You will then be considered the most pious of the people.’”

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 ibn abu Ayyub al-Khazzaz who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about Tayammum. He (the Imam) said, “Ammar Ibn Yasir once had experienced sexual relation and he rolled himself on the ground as certain animals do. The Messenger of Allah said, ‘O ‘Ammar, you rolled yourself on the ground as certain animals do.’ I (the narrator) then asked him (the Imam), ‘How is Tayammum done?’ He (the Imam) placed his hand on the sackcloth, then raised it and wiped his face, then the backs of his hands slightly.” He (the narrator) has narrated it (the previous Hadith) from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Abu Ayyub also.

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

4. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr from Sama'ah ibn Mihran from abu Basir from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who said: “Sometimes poor people may spend more excessively than a wealthy one. A wealthy person spends from what he has received, but a poor person spends from that which does not belong to him.’”

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

5. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from abu Jamilah from Muhammad al-Halabi from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, has said, ‘The most beloved matter to Me through which My servant seeks to be loved is to fulfill what 1 have made obligatory upon him.’”

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

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from al-Husayn ibn Ali al-Kufiy from al-Nawfaliy from Ghiyath ibn Ibrahim who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘Wudu’ is not valid from the place you walk on.’ Al-Nawfaliy has said, ‘It means the place on which one steps.’”

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 Hisham ibn Muthanna who has said the following: “A man once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ‘Give His right on the day of its harvest and do not spend excessively; He does not love excessive spenders.’ (6:141) He (the Imam) said, ‘So and so, he mentioned his name, Ansariy (people of al-Madinah) had a farm. After harvest, he would give all of it in charity. He and his dependents would remain without anything. Thus, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, called such spending excessive.’”

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

6. Al-Hassan ibn Ali al-‘Alawiy has narrated from Sahl ibn Jumhur from ‘Abd al-‘Azim ibn ‘Abd Allah al-Hassaniy from al-Hassan ibn al-Husayn al-‘Uraniy from Ghiyath ibn Ibrahim who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has prohibited that a man take Tayammum with the soil of the road.’”

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

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ‘Umar ibn Yazid who has said the following: “This is about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ‘You must not make your hands tied up to your neck nor open it excessively so you remain blame-worth and tied up.’ (17:29) Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ‘Mahsur (tied up) means severe austerity.’”

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

7. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from his father from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from Musa ibn Bakr from ‘Ajlan who has said the following: “Once, I was in the presence of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when a man came asking for help. He (the Imam) gave him a handful of dates from a basket. Then another one came also asking for help. He (the Imam) also gave him a handful of dates. Then another one came asking for help, and he gave him a handful as well. Yet another one came asking for help. He (the Imam) stood up and gave him a handful. Thereafter another one came asking for help. He (the Imam) said, ’Allah is our provider as well as yours.’ He then said, ‘Whoever would come to the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, asking for worldly help, he would give it to him. Once a women sent her son telling him, “Go and ask him for help and if he says, ‘I do not have anything to give,’ say, ‘give me your shirt.’” He (the Imam) said that he (the Messenger of Allah) took his shirt off and threw it to him. Another Hadith stated that the Messenger of Allah gave his shirt, but Allah, the most Blessed, the most High, instructed him with the discipline of moderation, saying, ‘Do not keep your hands tied up to your neck nor open them excessively to remain thereafter tied down and blame-worthy.’”

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

8. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ali from Muhammad ibn Sinan from Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), who has said the following: “This is about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ‘It (moderation) was in between . . .’ (25:67), the Imam said, ‘Al-Qawam (moderation) is a Benevolent Assistance,’ ‘. . . proportionate to the abilities of a wealthy and poor person is a right upon the people of good deeds.’

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

9. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “This is about the words of Allah, most High, ‘Those who, when spending, do not do it excessively or with severe austerity, but with moderation.’ He opened his palm and tilted it a little to one side. About the words of Allah, most High, ‘Do not open your hand excessively . . .’ (25:67) he opened up his palm all the way saying, ‘Like this.’ He said, ‘Al-Qawam is when something is left in your palm and something is allowed to leave your palm.’”

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

10. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Muhammad ibn Isma‘il ibn Bazi’ from Salih ibn ‘Uqbah from Sulayman ibn Salih who has said the following: “Once, I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘What is the minimum limit of excessive spending?’ The Imam replied, ‘It is when you give away your clothes that you need for protection, burning the leftovers in your cooking utensils, and eating dates and scattering the stones inside them here and there.’”

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

11. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from ‘Ammar abu ‘Asem who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Four people’s prayers are not accepted. One is he who destroys his wealth and appeals, “Lord, grant me sustenance.’” Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, then says, “Did I not command you to observe moderation?””’

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 al- Husayn ibn al-Mukhtar from ‘Abd Allah ibn abu Ya’fur from abu ‘Abd Allah who has said the following: “About the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘Believers, have patience, help each other with patience, establish good relations with one another. . . .’ (3:200), the Imam said, ‘Exercise patience in fulfilling your obligations.’”

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