Chapter on narrating books and Hadith (The virtue of writing and its preservation)

Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Mansur ibn Yunus from abu Basir who has said the following. “(Imam) abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) said about the words of Allah in the holy Quran, “Our servants who listen to the words and only follow the best ones.” [39:18] “He is a man who learns Hadith and reports it as he has learned without any additions of omissions”

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

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ali ibn Ma’Bad from ‘Ubayd Allah ibn ‘Abd Allah al-Wasiti from Drust ibn abu Mansur from abu Khalid who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘If a group of forty people come together to pray and plead before Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, for help in a matter, Allah will accept their prayers. If they are not forty then four people can pray to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ten times still Allah will accept their prayer. If four people are not present, then one person can pray forty times. Allah the Most Majestic, the Almighty, will accept his prayer.’”

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

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ahmad from Ahmad ibn al-Hassan ibn Ali from ‘Amr ibn Sa‘id from Musaddiq ibn Sadaqah from ‘Ammar ibn Musa who has said the following: “I once asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a woman who thinks it is blood discharge during performing Salah (prayer). He (the Imam) said, ‘She must feel with her hand. If it is blood discharge, she must discontinue, and if she does not find anything, she must complete her Salah (prayer).”’ (The above Hadith is best explained in the form of fatwa.)

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 Hammad from al-Halabiy who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who eats Suhur (breakfast in the morning before dawn), then comes out of his house to find out when it has already become dawn. He (the Imam) said, ‘He is required to complete that fast then make Qada’ (compensatory fast) for it; however if such breakfast is in a time other than the month of Ramadan and after dawn one must not fast.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Once during the night my father was performing Salat (prayer) and I was eating Suhur (breakfast in the morning before dawn). He ended and said, ‘Ja’far has eaten and drunk after dawn.’ So he commanded me and I did not fast that day which was not of the month of Ramadan.”’

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 Yunus from a man who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that you must do the greater tasks of your affairs personally and assign others to perform the easier ones. I then asked, ’Like what kinds of tasks are they?’ He (the Imam) answered, ’Like real estate deals and similar tasks.”’

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

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from ibn Ri’ab from abu Basir who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the case of a divorce after the husband cannot marry without her being married to another man. He (the Imam) said, ‘I can inform you about the woman who was with me and I wanted to divorce her and how I did. I left her until she experienced Hayd (menses) and became clean of Hayd (menses). I divorced her in the presence of two witnesses without going to bed with her. I then left her until waiting period was almost to expire. I went back to bed with her and then left her until she experienced Hayd (menses) and became clean, I then divorced her in a Hayd (menses)-free period in the presence of two witnesses without going to be with her then left her until her waiting period was almost to expire. I then went back to go to bed with her until she experienced Hayd (menses) and became clean of her Hayd (menses). I then divorced her in a Hayd (menses)-free period in the presence of witnesses without going to bed with her. I did so with her because I was not interested in her.”’

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 and Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman all from ‘Umar ibn ’Udhaynah who has narrated the following: “I once said to Zurarah that I have heard Muhammad ibn Muslim and Bukayr narrating from abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the husband, both parents and a daughter. The share of the husband is one-fourth, three shares out of twelve shares, the parents receive two-sixth, four shares out of twelve shares and the remaining five shares belong to the daughter because if she were a male she would not have more than five out of twelve shares. If they were two daughters, they would have five out of twelve shares because if they were two males they would not have anything other than the five remaining from twelve shares. Zurarah then said, ‘This is right. If you face deficiency, you must not place deficiency on ordained shares. Deficiency is placed on those who have extra, like children and sisters from the side of the father and mother. Husband and brothers from the side of mother do not pay the deficiency from the ordained shares that Allah has made for them.”’

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

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ibn ’Udhayna from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following. “I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), ‘Can I add to or omit from a Hadith that I hear from you?’” He said, “It is alright, if you would preserve the meaning,’”

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

2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Muhammad ibn Ali from Yunus ibn Ya’qub from ‘Abd al-‘Ala’ from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following:“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Whenever a group (of forty) people come together for a matter to pray and plead before Allah for help, when they disperse their prayer will be accepted.’”

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

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Sama‘ah ibn Mehran who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who eats and drinks after dawn in the month of Ramadan. He (the Imam) said, ‘If he got up and looked but did not see the dawn then ate then returned and saw that it was dawn, he is required to complete that fast and there is no Qada’ (compensatory fast) on him. If he gets up, eats and drinks, and then looks to the dawn that is already there, he is required to complete that fast and make Qada’ (compensatory fast) for one other day because he ate first, then went to find out about dawn, thus fast of one day is necessary.’”

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 ‘Amr ibn Ibrahim from Khalaf ibn Hammad from Harun ibn al-Jahm from al-Arqat who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to me, ‘You must not roam around in market places and you must not perform small tasks personally; it is not proper for a Muslim man of good position and religion to buy small things personally, except three kinds of items, in which case a person of good position and religion should personally perform, such as real estate, slaves and camels.’”

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 abu and Humayd ibn Ziyad from ibn Sama‘ah from Ja‘far ibn Sama‘ah and Ali ibn Khalid from ‘Abd al-Karim from abu Basir who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a woman who cannot become lawful in marriage for her previous husband without marriage with another man. He (the Imam) said, ‘She is a woman who is divorced, then her husband goes back to her, then is divorced then he goes back to her, then is divorced. She becomes unlawful for him in marriage unless she marries another man.’ He (the Imam) said that going back to her must be for going to bed with her, otherwise, it is only one divorce.’”

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 Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad all from ibn Mahbub from Ali ibn Ri’ab al-‘Ala’ ibn Razin from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has narrated the following: “This is about the case of a woman who leaves behind her husband, both parents and a daughter. Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘The husband receives one-fourth. It is three shares out of twelve. The parents each receives one-sixth, two shares out of twelve. The remaining five shares belong to the daughter because if she was a male she would not receive more than five shares out of twelve shares: the parents do not face deficiency. They each receive one-sixth and the husband does not face deficiency with his one-fourth share.

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

3. It is narrated from him from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from ibn Sinan from Dawud ibn Farqad who has said the following. “I asked (Imam) abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), ‘I hear your statement and I want to narrate to others but it does not come through exactly.’” The Imam asked, “Do you do it purposely?” He said, “No, I do not do it purposely.” The Imam asked, “Do you keep the meaning?” He said, “Yes, I keep the meaning.” The Imam said, “It then is alright.”

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

3. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from al-Hajjal from Tha’labah from Ali ibn ‘Uqbah from a man from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Whenever something saddened my father he would call the ladies and children together. He would then pray and they would say, ‘Amin.’”

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 Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of my fasting when I asked the girl to look if it was dawn yet and she said that it was not dawn, yet and I ate; then I looked and saw that it was dawn. He (the Imam) said, ‘You are required to complete that fast and make Qada’ (compensatory fast for it); however, if you yourself had looked first before eating there would have been no Qada’ (compensatory fast) upon you.’”

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

3. Muhammad ibn Ja‘far al-Razzaz has narrated from Ayyub ibn Nuh and Abu Ali al-Ash‘ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar and Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from and Humayd ibn Ziyad from Sama‘ah all from Safwan from ibn Muskan from abu Basir who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a woman who cannot become lawful for her previous husband in marriage without marriage with another man. He (the Imam) said, ‘She is a woman who is divorced and he goes back to her, then divorces her then goes back to her, then divorces for the third time. She becomes unlawful for him in marriage until she marries another man who tastes her honey (goes to bed with her).”’

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

4. It is narrated from him from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn abu Hamza from abu Basir who has said the following: “Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.), ‘Can I narrate a Hadith I hear from you as a Hadith of your father or narrate what I have heard from your father as your Hadith?’ The Imam said, ‘It is all the same. However, I would love if you narrate from my father.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to Jamil, ‘What you hear from me you may narrate as a Hadith of my father also.’”

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: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘A person praying and one saying ‘Amin’ share the reward equally.’”

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

4. Muhammad ibn ‘Isma‘il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from Safwan ibn Yahya from ‘Is ibn al-Qasim who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who along with his friends go for Suhur (breakfast in the morning before dawn) in a house. He looks toward dawn and asks them to stop eating. Certain ones among them stop and others think that he is joking and he eats. He (the Imam) said, ‘He completes that fast and makes its Qada’ (compensatory fast) also.’”

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

4. Safwan has narrated from Musa ibn Bakr from Zurarah who has said the following: “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘If a man divorces his wife once then goes back to her after her waiting period is complete, when he divorces her for the third time she cannot become lawful for him in marriage until she marries another man. If another man marries her then divorces her but does not go to bed with her or dies, she does not become lawful for her previous husband until another man tastes her honey (goes to bed after a marriage with her).”’

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

5. It is narrated from him from Ahmad ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from ibn Mahbub from ‘Abdallah ibn Sinan who has said the following. “I said to (Imam) abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), ‘People come to me and they listen to the Ahadith that I narrate to them from you. I become tired and weak.’” The Imam said, “Narrate to them a Hadith from the beginning and one from the middle and one from the end.”

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

5. From Safwan ibn Yahya has narrated from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ibrahim (a.s.), about the case of my fasting that I owe one or two days of the month of Ramadan. I eat Suhur (breakfast in the morning before dawn) but it is already dawn. Is it necessary for me to eat that day instead of fasting and make Qada’ (compensatory fast) of that day on another day or complete that fast and then make Qada’ (compensatory fast) on another day? He (the Imam) said, ‘No, but you eat in that day; you ate after dawn. You must make Qada’ (compensatory fast) for it on another day.’”

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

5. Safwan has narrated from ibn Muskan from abu Basir who has said the following: “About the case of a woman who is divorced for the third time, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ’She cannot become lawful in marriage for her previous husband until she marries another man who tastes her honey (goes to bed with her).”’

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

6. It is narrated from him from Ahmad ibn ‘Umar al-Hallal who has said the following. “I said to (Imam) abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.), ‘One of our people gives me a book but he does not say whether I can narrate any thing from it or not. Can I narrate it from him?’” He (the narrator) said that he (a.s.) said, “If you knew that the book is his then narrate it from him.”

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

6. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn abu Hamzah who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ibrahim (a.s.), about a man who drinks after dawn and he does not know that it is the month of Ramadan. He (the Imam) said, ‘He is required to fast that day and make Qada’ (compensatory fast) on another day, and if it is a Qada’ of the month of Ramadan in (the month of) Shawwal or other times and he drinks after dawn, let him break his fast that day and make Qada'.‘“

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 Ali ibn Asbat from Ali ibn al-Fadl al-Wasitiy who has said the following: “I once wrote to al-Rida’ (a.s.), and asked, ’A man has divorced his wife as such that she cannot become lawful for him in marriage without marriage with another man; but a boy who is not mature married her. He (the Imam) replied, ‘No, until he becomes mature.’ I then wrote and asked, ‘What is the limit of maturity?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘It is that which makes it obligatory for believers to execute penalties.’”

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

7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from al-Nawfali from al-Sakuni from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following: Ameer al-Mumineen (a.s.) has said: “When you would narrate Hadith you must say who its narrator is. If it would be true it will be for you and if it would be false it will be his responsibility.

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

7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Sama‘ah ibn Mehran who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of two men who both look toward dawn and one of them say, ‘There is dawn/ but the other one says, ‘I do not see anything/ He (the Imam) said, ‘The one who does not see any dawn, eats but eating is unlawful for one who thinks he has seen the dawn. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, says, ‘Eat and drink until the white thread appears from the dark thread of dawn/ (2:187)”

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

8. Ali ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Abdallah has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from abu Ayyub al-Madani from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Husayn al-Ahmasi from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “The heart relies on writing.”

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

9. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Washsha’ from ‘Asim ibn Humayd from abu Basir who has said the following. “(Imam) abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) said, ‘You must write down because you will not memorize until you write down.’”

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

10. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Faddal from ibn Bukayr from ’Ubayd ibn Zurara who has said the following. “Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) said, ‘You must preserve your books because you will soon need them.’”

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

11. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid al-Barqi from certain persons of his people from abu Sa‘id al-Khaybari from al-Mufaddal ibn ‘Umar who has said the following. “Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) said, ‘You must write down (Hadith) and spread your knowledge among your brethren. If you will die your children will inherit your books. A time will come when people will face chaos and they will find no comfort but with their books.’”

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

12. It is narrated through the same chain of narrators from Muhammad ibn Ali in a marfu‘ manner from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) said, ‘Beware of the branched-out lies.’ They asked the Imam, “What is branched-out lies?” The Imam replied, “It is when a person narrates a Hadith to you and you would ignore him and narrate it from the person from whom he had narrated the Hadith.’”

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

13. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr from Jamil ibn Darraj who has said the following. “Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) said, ‘Speak our Hadith clearly because we are eloquent people.’”

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

14. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Umar ibn ’Abd al-‘Aziz from Hisham ibn Salim, Hammed ibn ‘Uthman and others who said: Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) said, ‘My Hadith is the Hadith of my father. The Hadith of my father is the Hadith of my grandfather. The Hadith of my grandfather is the Hadith of al-Husayn. The Hadith of al-Husayn is the Hadith of al-Hasan. The Hadith of al-Hasan is the Hadith of Amir al-Mu'mineen (a.s.). The Hadith of Amir al-Mu'mineen is the Hadith of the Messenger of Allah (sw), and the Hadith of the Messenger of Allah is the words of Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious.’

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

15. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan ibn abu Khalid Shaynula who has said the following: “I said to abu Ja‘far al-Thani (a.s.), ‘May Allah take my soul in your service, our sheikhs have narrated from abu Ja‘far and abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), and at that time Taqiyah was severe. So they concealed their books and did not narrate from them. When they died their books came to us.’” He (the Imam) replied, “You may narrate from them because they contain the truth.”

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