The Reward for Washing a Believer for Burial

1. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from ‘Abd Allah ibn Ghalib from Sa‘d al-Iskaf who has said the following: “This is a Hadith of abu Ja’far (a.s.). He (the Imam) has said, Tf any believer, when washing the dead body of a believer says, “O Allah, this is the body of Your believing servant from which its spirit has come out and is just separated, please grant him forgiveness, and please grant him forgiveness.’” Allah then forgives his one year’s sins except the major ones.”

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

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from al-Nadr ibn Shu’ayb from Yunus ibn ‘Imran ibn Mitham from Sama‘ah who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to me, ‘Why should you not perform al-Hajj this year?’ I replied, ‘There is a business between me and a people, other preoccupation in which perhaps there is goodness.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘No, by Allah, Allah has not done anything good for you in this.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘No other thing prevents a servant (of Allah) from this House except sin and what is forgiven is greater.’”

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

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Mu‘awiyah ibn Wahab and others who has said the following: “About the case of a man who marries a Jewish or a Christian woman, abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘What has he to do with a Jewish or Christian woman if he can find a Muslim woman?’ I (the narrator) asked, ‘What happens if he loves her?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If he marries, he must stop her from drinking wine and eating pork and you must take notice that he will have deficiency in his religion.”’

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

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Um ay r from Sa‘d ibn Tarif who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, Tf one washes a dead body and keeps the trust, Allah grants him forgiveness.’ He was asked, ‘What is the trust?’ The Imam replied, ‘Does not make public whatever he sees.’”

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

2. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad in a marfu‘ manner who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that there is nothing of goodness in neglecting al-Hajj.”

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

2. Al-Husayn from Muhammad has narrated from Mu’alla’ ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Washsha’ from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from Zurarah ibn ‘A‘yan who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about marriage with a Jewish or Christian woman. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not proper for a Muslim to marry a Jewish or Christian woman; only with the simple-minded ones of them marriage is lawful.’”

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

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Ibrahim ibn ‘Umar who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Any believing person who when washing the dead body of a believing person says, “O Allah grant him forgiveness,” Allah then grants forgiveness to him also.’”

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 al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from al-‘Ala’ ibn Razin from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), if it is lawful to marry a Zoroastrian woman. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, however, she can be his slave-girl.’”

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

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Sinan from abu al-Jarud who has said the following: “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘One of the matters that Moses spoke about before Allah was this, “O Allah, what is the reward for one who washes a dead body?” The answer was, “I wash his sins as if his mother has just given him birth.’””

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

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from al-‘Ala’ ibn Razin from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘A Jewish or a Christian woman cannot become a second wife, the first being a Muslim woman.’”

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 Khalid al-Barqiy from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Sama‘ah ibn Mehran who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before him (the Imam) (a.s.), if one can marry a Jewish or a Christian woman as a second wife, the first being a Muslim woman. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, but a Muslim woman can become a second wife, the first being a Jewish or a Christian woman.’”

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

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from al-Hassan ibn al-Jahm who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), once said to me, ‘O abu Muhammad, what do you say about a man who marries a Jewish or a Christian woman, as a second wife, the first being a Muslim woman?’ I replied, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, my words have no meaning in your presence.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘You must say it; with it my words will come to light.’ I said, ‘It is not lawful to marry a Christian woman as a second wife, the first being a Muslim woman or non-Muslim woman.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘Why is it so?’ I replied, ‘It is because of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, “You must not marry the pagan women until they become believers.’” (2:221) He (the Imam) then asked, ‘What do you say about, “Marry of the chaste woman of the followers of the book (bible) which was before you” (5:5)?’ I replied, ‘Verse 221 of Chapter 2 has cancelled verse 5:5.’ He (the Imam) smiled and remained quiet.’”

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

7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from Ahmad ibn ‘Umar from Durust al-Wasitiy from ibn Ri’ab from Zurarah ibn ‘A‘yan who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not proper to marry a woman of the people of the book (bible).’ I then asked, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, where is its unlawfulness mentioned?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is in His words, ‘You must not hold on to your unbelieving wives.’ (60:10)”

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

8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn Mahbub from ibn Ri’ab from Zurarah ibn ‘A‘yan who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja’far (a.s.), about the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘Marry of the chaste women of those to whom the book was given before you.’ (5:5) He (the Imam) said, ‘It is cancelled by, ‘You must not hold on to your unbelieving wives.’ (60:10)”

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

9. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from certain persons of his people from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Of the non-Muslim taxpayers, if one spouse becomes a Muslim, their marriage remains valid and he cannot take her out of the Muslim domain to other areas or spend a night with her but he can meet her during the day. The pagans, like Arab pagans or others live with their marriage until the time the waiting period is complete. If the woman becomes a Muslimah then the man becomes a Muslim before the waiting period is over. She remains his wife; but if he did not become a Muslim before the waiting period is complete then she becomes stranger for him and he cannot approach her. This applies to all non-tax payers. It is not proper for a Muslim to marry a Jewish or a Christian woman if he can find a Muslim woman.’”

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

10. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ‘Isma’il ibn Marrar from Yunus ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not proper for a Muslim to marry a Jewish or a Christian woman if he can find a free Muslim woman or a slave-girl.’”

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

11. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from 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 man who has a Christian wife; if he can marry a Jewish woman as a second wife. He (the Imam) said, ‘People of the book are under the domain of the Imam and there is permission from us for you especially, so it is not unlawful to marry.’ I then asked, ‘Can he marry a slave-girl?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not proper to marry three slave-girls. If he marries a Muslim woman who does not know about his non-Muslim wives and he goes to bed with her, she can demand the mahr (dower) whatever it is, and it is up to her to live with him or go to her family. If she decides to go; after three cycles of menses or three months she can lawfully marry.’ I then asked, ‘Can he bring her back if he divorces the Jewish and Christian women before her waiting periods is complete?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, he can do so.’”

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