A Well near a Cesspool

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Sinan from al-Hassan ibn Ribat who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a cesspool which is above a well. He (the Imam) said, ‘If it is above the well, the distance in between must be seven yards, but if it is below the well, the distance must be five yards from all sides, and that is a large area.”

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

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ghiyath ibn Ibrahim who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Giving charity pays off debts and leaves behind blessings.’”

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 ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn abu Najran from al-Husayn ibn Ahmad al-Minqariy from certain persons of our people who have said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If the wife of one you is pregnant, during the fourth month ask her to face al-Qiblah (al-Ka‘bah) and read verse 255 of Chapter two, then tap on her side and say, ‘O Lord, I have named him Muhammad.’ Allah will make him a boy. If he keeps the name as he had promised Allah grants him blessings but if he changes his mind about the name Allah will have the choice to decide to keep the child alive or take him back.”’

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

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from abu al-Mighra’ from abu Basir who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), if one can make a will for the heir. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is permissible.”’

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

5. Muhammad Bin Ali Bin Ma’mar, from Muhammad Bin Ali, from Abdullah Bin Ayyub Al-Ash’ary, from Amro Al-Awza’iy, from Amro Bin Shimr, from Salma Biin Kuheyl, from Abu Al-Haysam Bin Al-Tayhaan who has narrated: Amir-ul-Momineen (asws) gave a sermon to the people at Al-Medina. Amir-ul-Momineen (asws) said: ‘All Praise is due to Allah (azwj) besides Whom (azwj) there is no god but Him (azwj). He (azwj) was Alive without (dependence on) any quality and without reliance on anything but on Himself (azwj) to exist nor can there be ‘where’ for Him (azwj), nor He (azwj) is within anything, nor He (azwj) is upon anything, nor there is a beginning place for Him (azwj), and He (azwj) is not strong after having Created a thing, nor was He (azwj) weak before anything came into being, nor was He (azwj) lonely before He (azwj) Began anything, nor is there anything which Resembles Him (azwj), nor was He (azwj) without a Kingdom before He (azwj) Created it, nor will He (azwj) be without it after it goes away. He (azwj) is a Living God without having a lifespan, and He (azwj) was the Owner before He (azwj) Created anything, and will be the Owner after having Creating the Universe. And there cannot be for Allah (azwj), ‘How’ nor ‘Where’, and no Limit to be Recognised by, and nothing resembles Him (azwj), and He (azwj) does not age due to the Duration of His (azwj) Remaining, nor does He (azwj) weaken due to being Alone, nor does He (azwj) get scared like His (azwj) creatures do due to something. But, He (azwj) is All Hearing without having ears, He (azwj) is All Seeing without having eyes, and He (azwj) is Almighty without deriving strength from His (azwj) creatures. The gaze of the lookers cannot perceive Him (azwj), and the ears of the listeners cannot sense (hear) Him (azwj). If He (azwj) Intends something, it would be without any consultation, or demonstration, or informing, or asking anyone about anything from His (azwj) creatures, of His (azwj) Intention. The vision cannot perceive Him (azwj), but He (azwj) Sees all visions. And He (azwj) is the Kind, the Aware, and I (asws) testify that there is no god except Allah (azwj), One, having no associates for Him (azwj), and I (asws) testify that Muhammad (saww) is His (azwj) servant. He (azwj) Sent him (asws) with the Guidance, and the true Religion, to overcome all the religions even though the Polytheists may not like it. So he (saww) preached the Message, and I (asws) follow the evidence. O you community which has been deceived, and understood the deception of the deceiver who deceived it, but still persisted upon what it recognised, and wandered randomly in its seduction. And the truth had been clarified but they still turned away from it, and the path was made clear but they still deviated from it. But, by the One (azwj) Who Split the seed and stemmed life from it, had you sought the knowledge from its Mine, and drank the water with its sweetness, and kept the good in its place, and take the path which was clear, and approached the truth by its programme the way would have been set out for you, and the signs would have appeared to you, and Al-Islam would have been illuminated for you. So you would have eaten plentiful, and there would have been no breadwinner among you who would have failed (to earn), nor any injustice would have been done to any Muslim or allies. But, you walked upon the path of the darkness, so your world became dark for you by its vastness. And the doors of knowledge were closed to you so you spoke from your own desires, and differed in your Religion, and started issuing verdicts (Fatwas) in the Religion of Allah (azwj) without (being Blessed with the) Knowledge. And you followed the misguided people so they misguided you, and you abandoned the Imams (asws) so they (asws) abandoned you. So you took control (of your own affairs) through judging by your own desires. When a matter was mentioned, you asked the People (asws) of the Remembrance (Ahl Al-Zikr), so when they (asws) issued a verdict (Fatwa) to you, you said, ‘This is exactly the knowledge’. So how come you have abandoned him (asws), and neglected him (asws), and opposed him (asws)? Slowly (but surely), just wait a little while, and you will harvest all of what you have cultivated, and you will find the evil of what you have done and sought. By the One (azwj) Who Split the seed and stemmed life from it, you knew that I (asws) was your Master and the one (asws) whom you had been Commanded (for being obedient to), and I (asws) am more knowledgeable than you all and the one (asws) by whose knowledge was your salvation, and the successor (asws) of your Prophet (saww), and the best of your Lord (azwj), and the tongue (speaker) for your light (guidance), and the knowledge by which you can correct yourselves. So slowly (but surely) what has been narrated will descend upon you all, what has been promised, that which descended upon the communities before you. And Allah (azwj) Mighty and Majestic will Question you all about your Imams (asws) with whom (asws) you will be raised, and to Allah (azwj) Mighty and Majestic you will be going to tomorrow. But, by Allah (azwj), if I (asws) had for me (asws), the number of companions which Talut had, or the number of the people at Badr who oppose your enemies, I (asws) would have struck by the sword until you would have come to the truth, and you would have repented sincerely. So that would have been more suitable than mending the rifts and taking to friendliness. Our Allah (azwj), Judge between us with the truth, and You (azwj) are the Best of the Judges’. He (the narrator) said, ‘Then he (asws) went out from the Masjid. He (asws) passed by a herd in which were around thirty sheep, so he (asws) said: ‘By Allah (azwj), if I (asws) had for me (asws) for the sake of Allah (azwj) and His (azwj) Messenger (saww), the number of these sheep, I (asws) would have removed the son of the woman who ate unhealthy things, from his kingdom’. He (the narrator) said, ‘When it was evening, three hundred and sixty men had pledged allegiance to him (asws), to the death. So Amir-ul-Momineen (asws) said to them: ‘Come to us (in the morning) to the Ahjaar Al-Zayt having shaved (your heads)’. And Amir-ul-Momineen (asws) shaved (his (asws) head). No one from the people remained loyal, except for Abu Dharr (ar), and Al-Miqdad (ar), and Huzayfa Al-Yamani (ar), and Ammar Bin Yasser (ar), and Salman (ar). So he (asws) raised his (asws) hands towards the sky and said: ‘Our Allah (azwj)! The people have weakened me (asws) just as the Children of Israel had weakened Haroun (as). Our Allah (azwj)! You (azwj) Know what we hide and what we proclaim, and there is nothing which is hidden from You (azwj) in the earth, nor in the sky. Make me to pass away as a Muslim, and Associate me (asws) with the righteous ones’. But, by the House (Kaaba), and the Leading up to the House (and in another copy, ‘Al-Muzdalifa’), and the walking to the throwing of the pebbles, had it not been for the oath which the Ummy Prophet (saww) had taken from me (asws), I (asws) would have returned the opposition to the gulf of the death, and I (asws) would have sent upon them thunderbolts of the death, and after a little while they will come to know’.

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 certain persons of our people from abu Basir who has said the following: “Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘How did they answer when they (offspring of Adam) were small particles?’ The Imam said, ‘Allah placed in them the ability to answer Him when He questioned them at the time of establishing a covenant with them.’”

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 Hariz from Zurarah, Muhammad ibn Muslim and abu Basir who have said the following: “We once asked him (abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) ,) about a well which is used for Wudu’ and nearby urine flows. ‘Is such a well Najis (unclean)? He (the Imam) replied, ‘If the well is above the place where urine flows below the well and there is a distance of three or four yards in between, it does not make anything of the well Najis (unclean) but if the distance is less than this, the well becomes Najis (unclean). If the well is below the place where water (urine) flows and there is a distance of nine yards between them it does not make the well Najis (unclean). If the distance is less than this then it cannot be used for Wudu’ Zurarah then asked, ‘What happens if the place is steep and urine flows fast and is not stationary on the ground?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If it is not stationary it is not harmful, and even if a little of it is stationary, it does not make a deep hole in the ground to reach the well and it is not harmful to the well, thus it can be used for Wudu’. It is harmful to the well only when all of it (urine) is absorbed in the ground.’”

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 al-Jahm ibn al-Hakam al-Mada’iniy from al-Sakuniy 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, ‘Give charity; charity increases wealth a great deal. Give charity, may Allah grant you favors.’”

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

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim and Muhammad ibn ‘Isa have narrated from Yunus who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan al-Rida’ (a.s.), ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, one of your followers had heard that a man gives away sword and horse for the cause of Allah. He went to that man and took the two items but he did not know the rules. His companions met him and told him that working in the way (of Allah) with these people is not permissible and they commanded them to return the items.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘He should do so.’ The man said, ‘He searched for the man but did not find him. It was said that the man has left.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘He should serve as a guard but he must not fight.’ The man then asked, ‘Should he serve as a guard in Qazwin, al-Daylam and ‘Asqalan?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘No, unless there is fear for the (offspring of) other Muslims.’ The man then asked, ‘Do you say that if Romans entered the lands of the Muslims, they should not stop them?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is to be on their guard but not fighting. However, if the center of al-Islam and Muslims is feared for, then one must fight. In such case his fighting is for his own sake and not for the authority (the king).’ The narrator has said that he then asked, ‘If the enemy comes to the place where he serves as a guard then what should he do?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘He fights for the center of al-Islam but not for these people. It is because in the wear and tear of al- Islam is wear and tear of the religion of Muhammad (SAW).’” Ali has narrated from his father from Yahya ibn abu ‘Imran from Yunus from al-Rida’ (a.s.), a similar Hadith.

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

2. It is narrated from the narrator of the previous Hadith from Muhammad ibn Ali from Ali ibn al-Hakam from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id who has said the following: “Once ibn Ghaylan al-Mada’iniy and I visited abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), and ibn Ghaylan said to him (the Imam), ‘I pray to Allah to keep you well, I have been informed that if one’s wife is pregnant and he keeps his intention to name him Muhammad a son then is born to him.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If one’s wife is pregnant and he keeps in his intention to name him Ali, (in this case also) a son will born to him.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Ali and Muhammad is one thing.’ He then said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep you well, I left my wife pregnant, please pray to Allah to make him a boy.’ He (the Imam) bent down his head for a long time; then raised his head and said, ‘Name him Ali because it is good for his long life.’ We then entered Makkah and a letter came from al-Mada’in saying, “A boy is born to him.’””

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

2. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Ahmad ibn Muhammad from all from ibn Mahbub from abu Wallad al-Hannat who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), if one can make a will about something for the heirs. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes,’ or he said that ‘it is permissible.’”

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

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il from abu ’Isma‘il from al-Sarraj from ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Uthman from Qudamah ibn abu Yazid al-Hammar from certain persons of our people who have said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the distance needed between a well and a cesspool. He (the Imam) replied, ‘If the ground is plain, the distance must be seven yards; and if it is a hillside the distance must be five yards.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Water flows forward in direction, to the right or to the left or from its left side to its right side (in) forward direction but it does not flow backward.’”

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

3. Ahmad ibn Muhammad from has narrated from his father from Ali ibn Wahban from his uncle, Harun ibn ‘Isa who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to his son, Muhammad, ‘Son, how much is left with you of that (money) for expenses?’ He replied, ‘Forty dinars are left.’ He said, ‘You should go out and give it away as charity.’ The son said, ‘No more money is left with me besides this.’ The Imam said, ‘You should give it as charity, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, will replace it. Have you not noted that for everything there is a key, and the key to greater means of sustenance is giving charity, so give it as charity.’ The son followed the instruction. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), waited for only ten days until he received four thousand dinars from a certain place. He then said, ‘Son, we gave Allah forty dinars and He has given us four thousand dinars.’”

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

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ’Isma‘il ibn Marrar from Yunus from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Anyone whose wife is pregnant and he keeps in his intention to name him Muhammad, the child will be a boy by the will of Allah.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘There are three and all of them are Muhammad, Muhammad, Muhammad.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), in another Hadith has said, ‘He should hold her hand and turn her to al-Qiblah (al-Ka‘bah) during the fourth month and say, “O Lord, I have named him Muhammad.” A boy will be born to him but if he changes his name he will be taken away from him.’”

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

3. Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from Safwan ibn Yahya from al-‘Ala’ from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has narrated the following: “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Making a will for the heir is not harmful.’” Al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from Yunus ‘Abd Allah ibn Bukayr from Muhammad ibn Muslim from abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has narrated a similar Hadith.

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

4. Ahmad ibn Idris has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ahmad from ‘Abbad ibn Sulayman from Sa‘d ibn Sa‘d from Muhammad ibn al- Qasim who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about a well which is five yards or more or less away from a cesspool. Can it be used for Wudu’? He (the Imam) said, ‘Shortness or length of distance does not matter. It can be used for Wudu’ or Ghusl (bath) if the water has not changed.’”

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

4. The narrator of the above Hadith has said that Ali ibn Hassan narrated to me from Musa ibn Bakr who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘Make the means of sustenance descend to you by giving charity.’”

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

4. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from certain persons of our people in a marfu ‘ manner who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘If one’s wife is pregnant and he keeps in his intention to name him Muhammad or Ali, a boy will be born to him.’”

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

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali from ‘Abd Allah ibn Bukayr from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about making a will for the heir. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is permissible.’”

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

5. 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, ‘Whenever a man gives charity of the best quality, Allah replaces it for him with children in the same way (of best quality children) after his passing away.” The Imam has also said, ‘Giving charity of best quality pays off debts and leaves behind blessings.’”

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

5. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu Nasr from ibn Bukayr from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about making a will for the heir. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is permissible.’ He (the Imam) then recited this verse. ‘If he leaves good things the will is for parents and relatives.’”

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

6. Abu Ali al-Ash ‘ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar fn al-Hajjal from Th’alabah from Muhammad ibn Qays who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the case of a man who gives preference to certain ones of his children. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, he can do so, and his women.’”

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