The Expiation and Ransom for Missed Fasting

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad, from ibn Khalid from Muhammad ibn Sahl from Idris ibn Zayd and Ali ibn Idris who has said the following: “Once we asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), about a man who makes a vow that if he is released from jail, he will fast the same day but he is unable to do so because of illness or other reasons, and during his life time he becomes indebted to carry out many days of fasting. What is the expiation for such fast? He (the Imam) said, ‘He can expiate it with one mud (a certain measurement) of wheat or barley for every day.”’

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 ibn Mahbub from al-‘Abbas ibn al-Walid ibn Sabih from his father who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to me, ‘You must not purchase from a Muharaf (unfortunate) person; making a deal with such people is devoid of blessings.’ ”

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

1. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn abu Nasr from Muhammad ibn Sama‘ah from Zurarah who has said the following: “I once asked Abu Ja’far (a.s.), about the case of a man who says to his wife, ‘You are unlawful for me.’ He (the Imam) said to me, ‘Had I control over him I would have hurt his head and said to him that Allah has made her lawful for you, then what has made her unlawful for you? In fact, the one who says it(‘You are unlawful for me’) has lied, because then he would claim that what Allah has made lawful for him is unlawful, and there is no divorce or expiation on him.‘ I then asked about the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘O Prophet, why do you make unlawful what Allah has made lawful for you’ (66:1), then expiation is made necessary.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘He only made unlawful for him his slave-girl Maria, and swore not to go near her. He made expiation necessary on him in the case of swearing, not in the case of making something unlawful.’”

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

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr and Safwan ibn Yahya all from ‘Abd al- Rahman ibn al-Hajjaj who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of ( al-Hamil ) a child who is carried along. He (the Imam) asked, ‘What is al-Hamil (carried along)? 5 1 replied, ‘A woman is taken captive. With her, there is a small child. She says that he is her child. A man is taken as a captive. He meets his brother and says that this is my brother but there is no testimony except their words. 5 He (the Imam) asked, ‘What do people with you say about it? 5 I replied, ‘They do not give them any share of inheritance; they have no proof about their birth and it is birth in paganism. He (the Imam) said, ‘Allah is free of all defects, when she comes with her son or daughter, continues confirming their relationship and when he recognizes his brother, both of them are in good health and they continue confirming it; they must inherit from each other. 555

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

2. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ali ibn Ahmad from Musa ibn Bakr from Muhammad ibn Mansur who has said the following: “I once asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), about a man who makes a vow and then fails to fast. He (the Imam) said, ‘My father (a.s.), would say that he is required to pay one mud (a certain measurement) for every day.’”

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

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya and others have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from those whom he has mentioned from abu Rabi’ al-Shamiy who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘In our area there are Kurdish people who come and sell certain things. Can we intermingle with them and purchase from them?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘O abu Rabi‘, you must not intermingle with them; Kurdish people are a tribe of the tribes of Jinn from whom Allah has removed covering, so do not intermingle with them.’” (Consult Fatwa about this hadith)

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 ‘Umar ibn ‘Udhaynah from Zurarah who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja’far (a.s.), about the case of a man who says to his wife, ‘You are unlawful for me.’ We in Iraq narrate that Ali (a.s.), made it three times (divorce). He (the Imam) said, ‘They have spoken a lie. He (the Imam) did not make it (one’s saying, ‘You are unlawful for me’) a divorce. Had I the control over him I would have given him a headache. I then say to him that Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has made it lawful for you. You have done nothing other than speaking a lie by saying unlawful what Allah has made lawful.’”

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

2. Abu Ali al-Ash‘ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il from Ali ibn al-Nu’man from Sa‘id al-A‘raj who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of Hamilayn (two men) who are brought from the land of pagans, and one says to the other, ‘You are my brother. 5 They then recognize each other, then they are released and they continue confirming their relationship as brothers, then one of them dies. He (the Imam) said, ‘The legacy belongs to the brother and they must be considered truthful. 555

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 Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu Nasr who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), about a man who vows to fast, if he is released from jail, every Wednesday. It is the day when he was released but he fails to do so due to illness or other reasons; and during his lifetime a large number of days of such fast become due upon him. What is the expiation for such fast? He (the Imam) said, ‘He must pay charity of one mud (a certain measurement) of wheat or its price for every day of fast.’”

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

3. Ahmad ibn ‘Abd Allah, has narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah, from more than one person of his people from Ali ibn Asbat from Husayn ibn Kharijah from Muyassir in ‘Abd al-‘Aziz who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to me, ‘You must not form contracts with people suffering from crippling diseases; they are of most unjust things (they do not avoid transmitting their diseases to others).”’

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

3. Humayd ibn Ziyad has narrated from ibn Sama‘ah from Ribat from abu Mukhallad al-Sarraj who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Shabbah ibn ‘ Aqqal once said to me, ‘You think that if one says, “What Allah has made lawful is unlawful for me” (as you believe) does not have any valid effect.’ I said, ‘About your word ‘lawful is unlawful for me’ you can consider what ’Amir al- Mu’minin, al-Walid decided about the issue of Salamah and his wife when he sent for a fatwa from people of Iraq and people of al-Sham who had differences over the issue. He then decided according to the words of the people of al-Hijjaz who say that it does not have any valid effect.’”

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

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad and a number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from ‘Abd al- Rahman ibn al-Hajjaj who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who is al-Hamil (brought from other land). He (the Imam) asked, ‘What is al-Hamil ? I then replied, ‘A woman is taken captive from her land. With her is a small child and she says that he is her son. A man is taken as a captive, who meets his brother and says that he is his brother. They recognize each other but they do not have any proof and testimony except their words. He (the Imam) then asked, ‘What do people with you say about it? 5 I replied, ‘They do not give them any share of inheritance; they have no proof about their birth and it is birth in paganism. 5 He (the Imam) said, ‘Allah is free of all defects, when she comes with her son or daughter, continues confirming their relationship and when he recognizes his brother, both of them are in good health and they continue confirming it; they must inherit from each other. [Note: The next several passages of the Arabic text are words of al-Fadl and are not translated.]

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

4. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan ibn Yahya from ‘Is ibn al-Qasim who has said the following: “I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about a man who does not fast three days every month because fasting is difficult for him: if there is a ransom for it. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is one mud (a certain measurement) of food for everyday.’”

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 Hafs al-Bakhtariy who has said the following: “Once an agent of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), borrowed a certain amount of food (grain) for abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.). The lender insistently demanded replacement. He (the Imam) said to his agent, ‘Did I not prohibit you the borrowing from one who did not have anything (who has) just then come to own something?”’

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

4. Humayd ibn Ziyad has narrated from ibn Sama‘ah from Safwan from Hariz from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who says to his wife, ‘You are unlawful for me.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘There is no expiation on him and it is not a divorce.’”

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

5. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla’ ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Washsha’ from Hammad ibn ‘Uthaman from ‘Umar ibn Yazid who has said the following: “I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), fasting is difficult for me. He (the Imam) said, ‘One dirham given as charity is better than fasting for one day. He (the Imam) then said, ‘I do not like if you neglect it.’”

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 Zarif ibn Nasih who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘You must not form contracts with anyone other than those who are established in goodness.”

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 from Safwan ibn Yahya from Yazid ibn Khalifah who has said the following: “I once complained before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘I get a headache if I fast the three days (recommended for every month) and it is difficult for me. He (the Imam) said, ‘You must do as I do when I travel. When traveling I pay charity for every day of one mud (a certain measurement) of the kind of food which is used in my family.’”

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

6. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from in a marfu’ manner’ the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Avoid forming contracts with people who suffer from crippling diseases; they do (not avoid transmitting their disease to others) the most unjust things.’”

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

7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Muhammad ibn ‘Isma‘il ibn Bazi’ from Salih ibn ‘Uqbah who has said the following: “I once said to abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), that I have become old and weak to fast the three days every month. He (the Imam) said, ‘O ‘Uqbah, give one dirham as charity for every day.’ I then said, ‘Just one dirham!’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Perhaps it seems greatly strange to you and you think one dirham is small.’ I said, ‘The bounties of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, are plentiful with me.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘O ‘Uqbah, feeding one Muslim is better than fasting for one month.’”

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

7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Yaqtin from Al-Husayn ibn Mayyah from ‘Isa who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘You must remain on your guard in intermingling with lowly people; lowly people do not end up in goodness.’” (Al-Saduq in Ma‘ani al-Akhbar has said the following to be of the qualities of lowly people: People indifferent to what they say or what is said against them, those who play tambourine, those who are indifferent to favor and insult or those who falsely claim to be trustworthy.)

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

8. Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Bandar has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu ‘Abd Alfah, from his father from Fadf al- Nawfafiy from ibn abu Yahya al-Raziy who has said the fofiowing: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘You must not intermingle or form contract with anyone except those who are established in goodness.’”

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

9. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from A number of our people have narrated from Ali ibn Asbat from Husayn ibn Kharijah from Muyassir ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘You must not form contracts with people who suffer from crippling diseases; they are most unjust things’ (do not avoid transmitting their disease to others).”

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