Chapter on Giving Knowledge as Charity

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il ibn Bazi‘ from Mansur ibn Hazim from Talha ibn Zayd from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “I read in the book of Imam Ali (a.s.) that Allah had no commitment from and covenant with the ignorant people to seek knowledge before having a commitment from and covenant with the scholars to give knowledge as charity to the ignorant ones because knowledge existed before ignorance.”

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 Husayn ibn ‘Atiyyah from ‘Abd al-‘Aziz al-Tawil who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Whenever a servant (of Allah) prays and pleads before Allah for help, (the will of) Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, is in fulfilling his needs, provided he is not in (big) haste.’” Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Husayn ibn ‘Atiyyah from ‘Abd al-‘Aziz al-Tawil from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) a similar Hadith.

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 Hafs ibn af-Bakhtariy who has said the following: “Once a woman came to abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), and asked about the case of a woman who experiences blood discharge which does not stop and she does not know whether it is Hayd (menses) or something else. He (the narrator) has said that he (the Imam) then said, ‘Blood discharged because of Hayd (menses) is hot, thick and of black color. It comes with pressure and hotness. Blood discharge because of Istihadah (irregular menses) is of yellow color and cold. If blood discharged is hot, comes with pressure and it is of black color, she must stop performing Salah (prayer).’ He (the narrator) said that she left saying, ‘By Allah, were it a woman she could not explain it any better than what he (the Imam) did.’”

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

1. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ja’far ibn Muhammad al-Ash’ariy from ibn al-Qaddah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ’Laziness is an enemy of work.’”

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

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu Nasr from Jamil ibn Darraj from Zurarah who has said the following: “I once asked one of the two Imam, (abu Ja‘far or abu ‘ Abd Allah), ‘Alayhim al-Salam, about the case of a man who divorces his wife three times in one place and time or [more] when she is clean of Hayd (menses). He (the Imam) said, ‘It is only one.’”

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

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ’Isma‘il ibn Marrar from Yunus ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman who has narrated the following: “I once asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, why is it that when a man dies his sons’ shares of the legacy are twice as much as the share of his daughters even though females are less capable and weaker?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is because Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has preferred men over women and because women become dependents of men.’”

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

2. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Barqi from his father from ‘Abdullah ibn Mughirah and Muhammad ibn Sinan from Talha ibn Zayd from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about this verse. “Do not scornfully turn your face away from people. .” (31:18) ‘so that people would all be equal in matters of knowledge.’”

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

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa and Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father all from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn Salim and Hafs ibn al-Bakhtari and others from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “If a servant (of Allah) hastens in his prayer and stands up to do what he needs, Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, then asks, ‘Does My servant not know that I am Allah who fulfils the needs of people?”’

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

2. Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from Hammad ibn ‘Isa and Ibn Abi ‘Umayr all from Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Blood discharge because of Istihadah (irregular menses) and Hayd (menses) does not come from the same place. Blood discharge because of Istihadah (irregular menses) is cold, and because of Hayd (menses) it is hot.’”

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

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘ Umayr from Jamil from Zurarah who has said the following: “I once asked one of the two Imam, (abu Ja‘far or abu ‘Abd Allah) (a.s.), about the case of a man who divorces his wife in a Hayd (menses)-free period in one place and time three times. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is one.’”

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

2. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from Ishaq ibn Muhammad al-Nakha’iy who has narrated the following: “Once, al-Fahfakiy asked abu Muhammad (a.s.), ‘Why is it that the destitute and weak woman’s share of the legacy is half as much as the share of man?’ Abu Muhammad (a.s.), said, ‘It is because there is no Jihad on women; maintenance expenses and wergild to be paid by the relatives of the murderer, it is on men.’ I then said to myself that I was told about ibn abu al-‘Awja’s question to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about this issue and he had answered with this answer. Abu Muhammad (a.s.), turned to me and said, ‘Yes, this is the question of ibn abu al-‘Awja’ and the answer from us is one if the meaning of the question is the same. What applies to the last of us applies to the first of us. Our first and last in knowledge are the same, however, the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and Amir al-Mu’minin have their excellence.’”

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

3. Through the same chain of narrators he has narrated from his father from Ahmad ibn Nadr from ‘Amr and ibn Shimr from Jabir from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following. “Zakat, the tax, on knowledge is teaching it to the servants of Allah.”

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

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Sayf ibn ‘ Amirah from Muhammad ibn Marwan from al-Walid ibn ‘Uqbah al-Hajari who has said the following: “I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) saying, ‘By Allah, if a believing servant (of Allah) insists before Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, on praying and pleading before Allah for help. He will fulfill his needs.’”

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

3. A number of our companions narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad, from Ali ibn al-Hakam, from Ishaq ibn Jarir, who said: A woman from among us asked me to bring her to Abu Abdillah (as), so I sought permission for her, and he granted it. She entered, accompanied by her servant. She said to him, “O Abu Abdillah, regarding the verse ‘a blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west’ (24:35), what does this mean?” He said to her, “O woman, Allah did not give examples of the tree for its own sake, but rather gave examples for the children of Adam. Ask what you mean.” She then asked, “Tell me about women who engage in immoral acts with other women—what is their punishment?” He said, “The punishment for such acts is the same as for zina (fornication). On the Day of Judgment, they will be brought forth, clothed in garments of fire, struck with iron rods of fire, and covered in fire. From their innards to their heads, pillars of fire will be placed, and they will be cast into the Hellfire. O woman, the first people to commit such an act were the people of Lot. When men turned away from women and sought satisfaction with men, the women were left without men, so they did as their men had done, seeking satisfaction with one another.” She then said to him, “May Allah bless you, what do you say about a woman who has her period, and her days of menstruation pass?” He replied, “If her menstruation lasts less than ten days, she should wait an additional day to be certain, and after that, she is considered to be experiencing istihadha (irregular bleeding).” She then asked, “What if her bleeding continues for a month, two months, or three months—what should she do about her prayers?” He replied, “She should sit out the days of her menstruation, then she should perform ghusl for each two prayers.” She further asked, “What if her menstruation varies, sometimes coming a day or two or three earlier or later—how would she know?” He said, “The blood of menstruation is not hidden; it is hot and causes a burning sensation, while the blood of istihadha is corrupt and cold.” At this, she turned to her servant and said, “Do you think he was once a woman?”

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

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ‘Umar ibn ‘Udhaynah from Zurarah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one feels lazy to cleansing himself and to take wudu’ for Salat (prayer), there is nothing good in him in regards to his affairs in the hereafter. One who feels lazy in organizing his living conditions, there is nothing good in him for his worldly life.’”

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

3. Abu Ali al-Ash‘ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar and Muhammad ibn Ja‘far from abu al-‘Abbas al-Razzaz from abu Ayyub ibn Nuh all from Safwan from Mansur ibn Hazim from abu Basir al-Asadiy and Muhammad ibn Ali al-Halabiy and ‘Umar ibn Hanzalah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Divorce three times in non-waiting period (without waiting period) if she is clean from Hayd (menses) counts as one, but if she is not clean of Hayd (menses) then it (divorce) does not have any valid effect.’”

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

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad from Hisham from al-Ahwal who has narrated the following: “Once ibn abu al-‘Awaja’ asked me, ‘Why is it that the destitute and weak woman’s share of the legacy is half as much as the share of man?’ He (the narrator) has said that certain persons of our people mentioned to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), who said, ‘It is because there is no Jihad on women and maintenance expenses and wergild to be paid by the relatives of the murderer; which is on men.

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

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa ibn ‘Ubayd from Yunus ibn ’Abd al-Rahman from the person who he mentioned from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Jesus, son of Mary (a.s.) once stood up to speak to the Israelites saying, ‘O Israelites, do not speak the words of wisdom to the ignorant people because you will be doing injustice to them (words of wisdom). Do not keep them (words of wisdom) from those who deserve lest you will do injustice to them (deserving people).’”

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

4. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Hajjal from Hassan from abu al-Sabbah from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, dislikes people insisting before one another for help but He likes it before Himself. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, loves that one begs and requests help from Him.”

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

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn Al-Husayn from Safwan from ‘Ala’ from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘I dislike a man -or dislike for a man- who is lazy in his worldly affairs. One who is lazy in his worldly affairs is lazier in the affairs of his hereafter.’”

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

4. Humayd ibn Ziyad has narrated from al-Hassan ibn Muhammad ibn Sama‘ah from Ja‘far ibn Sama‘ah and Ali ibn Khalid from ‘Abd al-Karim ibn ‘Amr from ‘Amr ibn al-Bara’ who has said the following: “I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘Our people say that if one divorces (pronounces the expression for divorce) his wife once or one hundred times it counts only one divorce.’ It has been narrated to us from you that your ancestors, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, have stated this Hadith. ‘If one divorces his wife (at one time and place) once or one hundred times it counts only one divorce.” He (the Imam) said, ‘It is just as it is narrated to you.””

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 Husayn al-Ahmasi from a man from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘By Allah, if a man insists before Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, on praying and pleading for help. He will accept his prayers.’”

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 Sama‘ah ibn Mehran from abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), has said, ‘Beware of laziness and impatience; with laziness you do not work and with impatience you do not yield to the truth.”

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

6. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ja’far ibn Muhammad al-Ash’ari from ibn al-Qaddah from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘May Allah grant favors upon a servant who requests help from Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, and insists on praying and pleading before Him for help, accepted or not. He then read this verse of the Holy Quran: “. . . I worship my Lord and hope that my prayers will not be ignored.’” (19:48)

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

6. Ahmad ibn Muhammad from has narrated from certain persons of our people from Salih ibn ‘Umar from al-Hassan ibn ‘Abd Allah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Do not seek help from a lazy person and you must not consult a helpless one.’”

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

7. Ahmad ibn Muhammad from has narrated from al-Haytham al-Nahdiy from ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn ’Amr al-Wasitiy from Ahmad ibn ‘Umar al-Halabiy from Zayd al-Qattat from Aban ibn Taghlib who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘Avoid wishing (daydreaming); it destroys the beauty of Allah’s favors to you and causes to suffer feeling of failure in your daydreaming and what you imagined.’”

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

8. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated in a marfu’ manner the following: “Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘When things (works) double, laziness and failure join hands, and they both give birth to poverty.’”

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

9. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Harun ibn Muslim from Mas’adah ibn Sadaqah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once wrote to one of his companions the following: . . thereafter take notice of the following. You must not excessively argue with the scholars, you must not verbally quarrel with the dimwitted ones; the scholars will hate you and the dimwitted ones will abuse you. You must not be lazy in the work for your sustenance; you will become a burden on the others’ - or that he (the Imam) said, ‘a burden on your family.’”

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

2. Sahl ibn Ziyad has narrated from ibn Mahbub from Sa‘d ibn abu Khalaf from abu al-Hassan, Musa, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan, Musa has said, ‘My father, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, once said to a certain one of his sons, “Beware of laziness and impatience; these two can deprive you of your share in this world as well as in the hereafter.’””

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