Children & Parenting

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع الرَّجُلُ يَشْتَرِي الْجَارِيَةَ مِنَ السُّوقِ فَيُولِدُهَا ثُمَّ يَجِي‌ءُ رَجُلٌ فَيُقِيمُ الْبَيِّنَةَ عَلَى أَنَّهَا جَارِيَتُهُ لَمْ تُبَعْ وَ لَمْ تُوهَبْ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي يَرُدُّ إِلَيْهِ جَارِيَتَهُ وَ يُعَوِّضُهُ مِمَّا انْتَفَعَ قَالَ كَأَنَّهُ مَعْنَاهُ قِيمَةُ الْوَلَدِ.

“I once asked abu Ja’far (a.s.), about the case of a man who buys a slave-girl from the market and makes her to give birth. Then a man comes with proof that she is his slave-girl who is not sold or given as gift to anyone. He (the Imam) said, ’He must return his slave-girl to him along with the benefits he has received

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ أُتِيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص بِسَبْيٍ مِنَ الْيَمَنِ فَلَمَّا بَلَغُوا الْجُحْفَةَ نَفِدَتْ نَفَقَاتُهُمْ فَبَاعُوا جَارِيَةً مِنَ السَّبْيِ كَانَتْ أُمُّهَا مَعَهُمْ فَلَمَّا قَدِمُوا عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ص سَمِعَ بُكَاءَهَا فَقَالَ مَا هَذِهِ الْبُكَاءُ فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ احْتَجْنَا إِلَى نَفَقَةٍ فَبِعْنَا ابْنَتَهَا فَبَعَثَ بِثَمَنِهَا فَأُتِيَ بِهَا وَ قَالَ بِيعُوهُم

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘Once captives were brought to the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, from Yemen. When they arrived at al-Juhfah, their supplies depleted and they sold one girl from the captives whose mother was with

سَأَلْتُهُ‌ عَنْ أَخَوَيْنِ مَمْلُوكَيْنِ هَلْ يُفَرَّقُ بَيْنَهُمَا وَ عَنِ الْمَرْأَةِ وَ وَلَدِهَا قَالَ لَا هُوَ حَرَامٌ إِلَّا أَنْ يُرِيدُوا ذَلِكَ.

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about the case of two slaves who are brothers; if they can be separated from each other or a woman slave, if she can be separated from her children. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, it is not lawful unless they want it.’”

فَذَهَبَ لِتَقُومَ فِي بَعْضِ الْحَاجَةِ فَقَالَتْ يَا أُمَّاهْ فَقَالَ لَهَا أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَ لَكِ أُمٌّ قَالَتْ نَعَمْ فَأَمَرَ بِهَا فَرُدَّتْ فَقَالَ مَا آمَنْتُ لَوْ حَبَسْتُهَا أَنْ أَرَى فِي وُلْدِي مَا أَكْرَهُ.

“I once bought a slave-girl from al-Kufah for abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.). He then went so she can do a certain task. She said, ‘O mother!’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), asked, ‘Do you have a mother?’ She replied, ‘Yes, I have a mother.’ He (the Imam) commanded to return her and said, ‘On keeping her I did not feel safe from seeing

اللَّقِيطُ لَا يُشْتَرَى وَ لَا يُبَاعُ‌[3].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘One cannot buy or sell an abandoned child that is found.’”

الْمَنْبُوذُ[4] حُرٌّ فَإِنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُوَالِيَ غَيْرَ الَّذِي رَبَّاهُ وَالاهُ فَإِنْ طَلَبَ مِنْهُ الَّذِي رَبَّاهُ النَّفَقَةَ وَ كَانَ مُوسِراً رَدَّ عَلَيْهِ وَ إِنْ كَانَ مُعْسِراً كَانَ مَا أَنْفَقَ عَلَيْهِ صَدَقَةً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A discarded child who is found is free, if he likes to have a guardian other than the one who has brought him up, he can do so. If the one who has brought him up asks for his expenses, if he is affluent he must pay him back and if he is not affluent then whatever is spent is counted a

الْمَنْبُوذُ حُرٌّ فَإِذَا كَبِرَ فَإِنْ شَاءَ تَوَلَّى إِلَى الَّذِي الْتَقَطَهُ وَ إِلَّا فَلْيَرُدَّ عَلَيْهِ النَّفَقَةَ وَ لْيَذْهَبْ فَلْيُوَالِ مَنْ شَاءَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah has narrated from his father (a.s.), who has said, ‘A discarded child is free. When he grows up, he can accept the one who picked him up as his guardian; otherwise, he must pay back what he has spent for him and he then can go to find a guardian of his choice.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ اللَّقِيطَةِ قَالَ لَا تُبَاعُ وَ لَا تُشْتَرَى وَ لَكِنِ اسْتَخْدِمْهَا بِمَا أَنْفَقْتَ عَلَيْهَا.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a discarded child. He (the Imam) said, ‘You cannot sell or buy him, but you can use his service to compensate for what you have spent for him.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنِ اللَّقِيطِ فَقَالَ حُرٌّ لَا يُبَاعُ وَ لَا يُوهَبُ.

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the case of a discarded child. He (the Imam) said, ‘He is free but cannot be sold or given away as a gift.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ لَا يَطِيبُ وَلَدُ الزِّنَا وَ لَا يَطِيبُ ثَمَنُهُ أَبَداً وَ الْمِمْرَازُ لَا يَطِيبُ إِلَى سَبْعَةِ آبَاءٍ وَ قِيلَ لَهُ وَ أَيُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ الْمِمْرَازُ فَقَالَ‌[2] الرَّجُلُ يَكْتَسِبُ مَالًا مِنْ غَيْرِ حِلِّهِ فَيَتَزَوَّجُ بِهِ‌[3] أَوْ يَتَسَرَّى بِهِ فَيُولَدُ لَهُ فَذَاكَ الْوَلَدُ هُوَ الْمِمْرَازُ.

‘One born out of fornication does not recover as well as his price. Al-Mumraz does not recover for seven generations. It was asked, ‘What is al- Mumraz?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘One earns through unlawful ways and with such funds gets married or enjoys it, and a child is born for him. That child is al-Mumraz.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ وَلَدِ الزِّنَا أَشْتَرِيهِ أَوْ أَبِيعُهُ أَوْ أَسْتَخْدِمُهُ فَقَالَ اشْتَرِهِ وَ اسْتَرِقَّهُ وَ اسْتَخْدِمْهُ وَ بِعْهُ فَأَمَّا اللَّقِيطُ فَلَا تَشْتَرِهِ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘Can I buy, sell or use services of one born out of wedlock? He (the Imam) said, ‘You can buy, sell, enslave or use his services but do not buy a discarded child that is found.’”

قُلْتُ لَهُ تَكُونُ لِيَ الْمَمْلُوكَةُ مِنَ الزِّنَا أَحُجُّ مِنْ ثَمَنِهَا وَ أَتَزَوَّجُ فَقَالَ لَا تَحُجَّ وَ لَا تَتَزَوَّجْ مِنْهُ‌[1].

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘I have a slave born out of wedlock; if I can perform al-Hajj with his price or spend it for my marriage/ He (the Imam) said, ‘You must not perform al-Hajj with it and do not spend it for your marriage.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الصَّرْفِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ الرِّفْقَةُ رُبَّمَا عَجِلَتْ فَخَرَجَتْ فَلَمْ نَقْدِرْ عَلَى الدِّمَشْقِيَّةِ وَ الْبَصْرِيَّةِ وَ إِنَّمَا تَجُوزُ بِسَابُورَ الدِّمَشْقِيَّةُ وَ الْبَصْرِيَّةُ فَقَالَ وَ مَا الرِّفْقَةُ فَقُلْتُ الْقَوْمُ يَتَرَافَقُونَ وَ يَجْتَمِعُونَ لِلْخُرُوجِ فَإِذَا عَجِلُوا فَرُبَّمَا لَمْ نَقْدِرْ عَلَى الدِّمَشْقِيَّةِ وَ الْبَصْرِيَّةِ فَبَعَثْنَا بِالْغِلَّةِ[3] فَصَرَفُوا أَلْ

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about currency exchange, saying, ‘The comrades perhaps hurry and I go with them but cannot find al-Dimishqiyah (dirham) or al-Basriyah; they only allow only Sabur of al-Dimishqiyah and al-Basriyah. He (the Imam) asked, ‘What is a comrade? I replied, ‘A group of people get together t

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَسْتَقْرِضُ مِنَ الرَّجُلِ الدَّرَاهِمَ فَيَرُدُّ عَلَيْهِ الْمِثْقَالَ أَوْ يَسْتَقْرِضُ الْمِثْقَالَ فَيَرُدُّ عَلَيْهِ الدَّرَاهِمَ فَقَالَ إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ شَرْطٌ فَلَا بَأْسَ وَ ذَلِكَ هُوَ الْفَضْلُ إِنَّ أَبِي رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ كَانَ يَسْتَقْرِضُ الدَّرَاهِمَ الْفُسُولَةَ فَيُدْخِلُ عَلَيْهِ الدَّرَاهِمَ الْجِلَالَ‌[2] فَقَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ رُدَّهَا عَلَى الَّذِي ا

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who borrowed from another man dirham and returned with a Mithqal (a certain unit of weight) or borrowed a Mithqal and paid back with dirham. He (the Imam) said, ‘If there is no stipulation it is not unlawful, it is only extra. My fath

قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع‌ إِنَّ مِنْ سَعَادَةِ الْمَرْءِ أَنْ يَكُونَ مَتْجَرُهُ فِي بَلَدِهِ وَ يَكُونَ خُلَطَاؤُهُ صَالِحِينَ وَ يَكُونَ لَهُ وُلْدٌ يَسْتَعِينُ بِهِمْ.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from ibn Muskan from certain persons of his people who has said the following: “Ali ibn Al-Husayn (a.s.), has said, ‘It is of a man’s good fortune to have his place of business where he lives, to have virtuous associates and children

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ ثَلَاثَةٌ مِنَ السَّعَادَةِ الزَّوْجَةُ الْمُؤَاتِيَةُ[1] وَ الْأَوْلَادُ الْبَارُّونَ وَ الرَّجُلُ يُرْزَقُ مَعِيشَتَهُ بِبَلَدِهِ يَغْدُو إِلَى أَهْلِهِ وَ يَرُوحُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Three factors help a man enjoy good fortune: One is a cooperating wife, virtuous and kind children, and he finds his living where he lives and is present in his family every morning and evenings.’”

مِنْ سَعَادَةِ الْمَرْءِ أَنْ يَكُونَ مَتْجَرُهُ فِي بَلَدِهِ وَ يَكُونَ خُلَطَاؤُهُ صَالِحِينَ وَ يَكُونَ لَهُ وُلْدٌ يَسْتَعِينُ بِهِمْ وَ مِنْ شَقَاءِ الْمَرْءِ أَنْ تَكُونَ عِنْدَهُ امْرَأَةٌ مُعْجَبٌ بِهَا وَ هِيَ تَخُونُهُ.

“Ali ibn Al-Husayn (a.s.), has said, ‘It is of a man’s good fortune to have his place of business where he lives, to have virtuous associates and children who support him. It is misfortune of a man to have a conceited wife who is treacherous toward him.’”

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ قَضَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص فِي سَيْلِ وَادِي مَهْزُورٍ أَنْ يُحْبَسَ الْأَعْلَى عَلَى الْأَسْفَلِ لِلنَّخْلِ إِلَى الْكَعْبَيْنِ وَ لِلزَّرْعِ إِلَى الشِّرَاكَيْنِ- ثُمَّ يُرْسَلَ الْمَاءُ إِلَى أَسْفَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ لِلزَّرْعِ إِلَى الشِّرَاكِ وَ لِلنَّخْلِ إِلَى الْكَعْبِ ثُمَّ يُرْسَلَ الْمَاءُ إِلَى أَسْفَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ. قَالَ ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ وَ مَهْزُورٌ مَوْضِعُ وَادٍ[2].

‘The Messenger of Allah once issued a judgment about the flood of the valley of Mahzur (name of a place). The amount of water that those of higher areas can hold is up to the anklebones for palm trees and up to one’s shoelaces for plantation. Thereafter water must be allowed for those below that; for plantation up to t

اكْتَرَيْتُ بَغْلًا إِلَى قَصْرِ ابْنِ هُبَيْرَةَ ذَاهِباً وَ جَائِياً بِكَذَا وَ كَذَا وَ خَرَجْتُ فِي طَلَبِ غَرِيمٍ لِي فَلَمَّا صِرْتُ قُرْبَ قَنْطَرَةِ الْكُوفَةِ خُبِّرْتُ أَنَّ صَاحِبِي تَوَجَّهَ إِلَى النِّيلِ فَتَوَجَّهْتُ نَحْوَ النِّيلِ فَلَمَّا أَتَيْتُ النِّيلَ خُبِّرْتُ أَنَّ صَاحِبِي تَوَجَّهَ إِلَى بَغْدَادَ فَاتَّبَعْتُهُ وَ ظَفِرْتُ بِهِ وَ فَرَغْتُ مِمَّا بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَهُ وَ رَجَعْنَا إِلَى الْك

6. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from abu Wallad al-Hannat who has said the following: “I once rented a mule to Qasr ibn Hubayrah for both ways for so and so much amount. I left in search of my debtor and when I reached near the bridge of al-Kufah, I was informed that my d

كَانَتْ لِإِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع دَنَانِيرُ وَ أَرَادَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ فَقَالَ إِسْمَاعِيلُ يَا أَبَتِ إِنَّ فُلَاناً يُرِيدُ الْخُرُوجَ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ وَ عِنْدِي كَذَا وَ كَذَا دِينَاراً فَتَرَى أَنْ أَدْفَعَهَا إِلَيْهِ يَبْتَاعُ لِي بِهَا بِضَاعَةً مِنَ الْيَمَنِ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَا بُنَيَّ أَ مَا بَلَغَكَ أَنَّهُ يَشْرَبُ الْخَمْرَ فَقَالَ إِسْم

‘Isma’il, son of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), had a certain amount of dinar and a man from Quraysh wanted to travel to Yemen, so ‘Isma’il asked his father, ’Father, so and so wants to go to Yemen and I have so and so amount of dinar. Do you think I should give it to him to bring for me goods from Yemen?’ Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ إِذَا حَدَّثْتُكُمْ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ فَاسْأَلُونِي عَنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ فِي حَدِيثِهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ نَهَى عَنِ الْقِيلِ وَ الْقَالِ وَ فَسَادِ الْمَالِ وَ كَثْرَةِ السُّؤَالِ‌[2] فَقَالُوا يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ وَ أَيْنَ هَذَا مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ فِي كِتَابِهِ- لا خَيْرَ فِي كَثِيرٍ مِنْ نَجْواهُمْ‌ الْآيَةَ[3] وَ قَالَ‌ وَ لا تُؤْتُوا السُّ

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘When you speak to me, ask me about the book of Allah.’ He (the Imam) then in his Hadith said, ‘Allah has prohibited from qil (it was said so), qal (he said so and so on . . .), destruction of assets and a great deal of questions.’ They then asked, ‘O child of the Messenger of Allah, where

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع- عَنْ رَجُلٍ مَاتَ وَ تَرَكَ عَلَيْهِ دَيْناً وَ تَرَكَ عَبْداً لَهُ مَالٌ فِي التِّجَارَةِ وَ وَلَداً وَ فِي يَدِ الْعَبْدِ مَالٌ وَ مَتَاعٌ وَ عَلَيْهِ دَيْنٌ اسْتَدَانَهُ الْعَبْدُ فِي حَيَاةِ سَيِّدِهِ فِي تِجَارَتِهِ وَ إِنَّ الْوَرَثَةَ وَ غُرَمَاءَ الْمَيِّتِ اخْتَصَمُوا فِيمَا فِي يَدِ الْعَبْدِ مِنَ الْمَالِ وَ الْمَتَاعِ وَ فِي رَقَبَةِ الْعَبْدِ فَقَالَ أَرَى أَنْ لَيْسَ لِلْوَرَث

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who dies owing a certain amount of debts and leaves behind a slave who has his assets in business and a son. In the hand of the slave he leaves the assets, goods and debts owed by the slave which he had incurred during the lifetime of

سَأَلَهُ ذَرِيحٌ الْمُحَارِبِيُّ عَنِ الْمَمْلُوكِ يَأْخُذُ اللُّقَطَةَ قَالَ وَ مَا لِلْمَمْلُوكِ وَ اللُّقَطَةِ لَا يَمْلِكُ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ شَيْئاً فَلَا يَعْرِضُ لَهَا الْمَمْلُوكُ فَإِنَّهُ يَنْبَغِي لَهُ‌[1] أَنْ يُعَرِّفَهَا سَنَةً فَإِنْ جَاءَ طَالِبُهَا دَفَعَهَا إِلَيْهِ وَ إِلَّا كَانَتْ فِي مَالِهِ فَإِنْ مَاتَ كَانَ مِيرَاثاً لِوَلَدِهِ وَ لِمَنْ وَرِثَهُ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَجِئْ لَهَا طَالِبٌ كَانَتْ فِي أَمْوَ

“This is concerning my question of Dhariyh al-Muharibiy before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a slave who takes an item that is found. He (the Imam) said, ‘What a slave has to do with an item found! He does not own anything for himself. A slave must not have bothered about it. He must announce it in public for one year.

نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص عَنِ الْكَشُوفِ وَ هُوَ أَنْ تُضْرَبَ النَّاقَةُ وَ وَلَدُهَا طِفْلٌ‌[3] إِلَّا أَنْ يُتَصَدَّقَ بِوَلَدِهَا أَوْ يُذْبَحَ وَ نَهَى أَنْ يُنْزَى حِمَارٌ عَلَى عَتِيقَةٍ.

“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, prohibited exposing a she-camel before a he-camel for breeding, unless the young is given in charity or is slaughtered as well as a donkey to leap (mount) over an

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ أَعْيَتْهُ الْقُدْرَةُ فَلْيُرَبِّ صَغِيراً. زَعَمَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عِيسَى أَنَّ الْغِفَارِيَّ مِنْ وُلْدِ أَبِي ذَرٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ‌[1].

“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, ‘One who is tired of power must cherish small ones.’” Muhammad ibn ‘Isa thinks that al-Ghifariy is of the children of abu Dharr, may Allah be pleased wit

جِئْتُ بِكِتَابٍ إِلَى أَبِي أَعْطَانِيهِ إِنْسَانٌ فَأَخْرَجْتُهُ مِنْ كُمِّي فَقَالَ لِي يَا بُنَيَّ لَا تَحْمِلْ فِي كُمِّكَ شَيْئاً فَإِنَّ الْكُمَّ مِضْيَاعٌ‌[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘I once took a letter to my father that a man had sent and I took it out of my sleeves. He (the Imam) said, ‘My son, do not keep anything in your sleeves; it causes loss of things.’”

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ كُلُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ هُوَ لَكَ حَلَالٌ حَتَّى تَعْلَمَ أَنَّهُ حَرَامٌ بِعَيْنِهِ فَتَدَعَهُ مِنْ قِبَلِ نَفْسِكَ وَ ذَلِكَ مِثْلُ الثَّوْبِ يَكُونُ قَدِ اشْتَرَيْتَهُ وَ هُوَ سَرِقَةٌ أَوِ الْمَمْلُوكِ عِنْدَكَ وَ لَعَلَّهُ‌ حُرٌّ قَدْ بَاعَ نَفْسَهُ أَوْ خُدِعَ فَبِيعَ أَوْ قُهِرَ أَوِ امْرَأَةٍ تَحْتَكَ وَ هِيَ أُخْتُكَ أَوْ رَضِيعَتُكَ وَ الْأَشْيَاءُ كُلُّهَا عَلَى هَذَا حَتَّى يَسْتَبِينَ لَكَ غَيْ

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘All things are lawful for you until you recognize it to be exactly an unlawful item which you must avoid from your own side. One such example is a cloth which you may have purchased and it is proved a stolen cloth; or a slave who is with you and perhaps he is free who has s

سَاءَتْ حَالِي فَكَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع‌[2] فَكَتَبَ إِلَيَّ أَدِمْ قِرَاءَةَ- إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنا نُوحاً إِلى‌ قَوْمِهِ‌[3] قَالَ فَقَرَأْتُهَا حَوْلًا فَلَمْ أَرَ شَيْئاً فَكَتَبْتُ إِلَيْهِ أُخْبِرُهُ بِسُوءِ حَالِي وَ أَنِّي قَدْ قَرَأْتُ- إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنا نُوحاً إِلى‌ قَوْمِهِ‌ حَوْلًا كَمَا أَمَرْتَنِي وَ لَمْ أَرَ شَيْئاً قَالَ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيَّ قَدْ وَفَى لَكَ الْحَوْلُ فَانْتَقِلْ مِنْهَا إِلَى قِرَاء

“I faced a difficult condition and wrote to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about it and he (the Imam) wrote to me, ‘Continue reading, “We sent Noah to his people ... to the end.’” (Chapter 71) I read it for one year but did not see any change. I wrote to him again to inform him (the Imam) of my difficult condition and that I have

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مَا تَلَذَّذَ النَّاسُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ بِلَذَّةٍ أَكْثَرَ لَهُمْ مِنْ لَذَّةِ النِّسَاءِ وَ هُوَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ الشَّهَواتِ مِنَ النِّساءِ وَ الْبَنِينَ‌ إِلَى آخِرِ الْآيَةِ[5] ثُمَّ قَالَ وَ إِنَّ أَهْلَ الْجَنَّةِ مَا يَتَلَذَّذُونَ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ أَشْهَى عِنْدَهُمْ مِنَ النِّكَاحِ لَا طَعَامٍ وَ لَا شَرَابٍ.

‘The most enjoyable thing people experience in this world and in the hereafter is enjoyment with women and it is in the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘The love and enjoyment for women and children is made attractive for people.’ (3:13) He (the Imam) then said, ‘People of paradise will not enjoy from any

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ صَاحِبَتِي هَلَكَتْ وَ كَانَتْ لِي مُوَافِقَةً وَ قَدْ هَمَمْتُ أَنْ أَتَزَوَّجَ فَقَالَ لِيَ انْظُرْ أَيْنَ تَضَعُ نَفْسَكَ وَ مَنْ تُشْرِكُهُ فِي مَالِكَ وَ تُطْلِعُهُ عَلَى دِينِكَ وَ سِرِّكَ فَإِنْ كُنْتَ لَا بُدَّ فَاعِلًا فَبِكْراً تُنْسَبُ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ وَ إِلَى حُسْنِ الْخُلُقِ وَ اعْلَمْ أَنَّهُنَّ كَمَا قَالَ‌ أَلَا إِنَّ النِّسَاءَ خُلِقْنَ شَتَّى‌ فَمِنْهُنَّ الْغَن

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘My wife who lived in complete harmony with me has died and I want to marry.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Think where you want to place yourself and whom you are making your partner in your assets, inform of your religion and secrets. If you must marry find a virgin who is spoken of with

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ النِّسَاءُ أَرْبَعٌ جَامِعٌ مُجْمِعٌ وَ رَبِيعٌ مُرْبِعٌ وَ خَرْقَاءُ مُقْمِعٌ وَ غُلٌّ قَمِلٌ‌[1].

“The Messenger of Allah (sw) has said, ’Women are of four kinds: Goodness in all respects, a child bearing fountain, a dimwitted destructive one and feed for parasites.”’

سَمِعْتُ جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ يَقُولُ كُنَّا عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ ص فَقَالَ: إِنَّ خَيْرَ نِسَائِكُمُ الْوَلُودُ الْوَدُودُ الْعَفِيفَةُ الْعَزِيزَةُ فِي أَهْلِهَا الذَّلِيلَةُ مَعَ بَعْلِهَا الْمُتَبَرِّجَةُ مَعَ زَوْجِهَا الْحَصَانُ عَلَى غَيْرِهِ الَّتِي تَسْمَعُ قَوْلَهُ وَ تُطِيعُ أَمْرَهُ وَ إِذَا خَلَا بِهَا بَذَلَتْ لَهُ مَا يُرِيدُ مِنْهَا وَ لَمْ تَبَذَّلْ كَتَبَذُّلِ الرَّجُلِ.

“The best of your women are the child bearing, loving and chaste who are dear at home, humble with her husband, showing her beauty to her husband, fortressed from strangers, who listens to his words and obeys his orders and in private offers to him what he wants and she does not display vulgar manners as man does.’””

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ خَيْرُ نِسَاءٍ رَكِبْنَ الرِّحَالَ نِسَاءُ قُرَيْشٍ أَحْنَاهُ عَلَى وَلَدٍ وَ خَيْرُهُنَّ لِزَوْجٍ‌[2].

“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, ‘The best of women who ever rode a camel on their wedding to the house of their husband are the women of Quraysh who are most compassionate to their chil

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ خَيْرُ نِسَائِكُمْ نِسَاءُ قُرَيْشٍ أَلْطَفُهُنَّ بِأَزْوَاجِهِنَّ وَ أَرْحَمُهُنَّ بِأَوْلَادِهِنَّ الْمُجُونُ لِزَوْجِهَا[3] الْحَصَانُ لِغَيْرِهِ قُلْنَا وَ مَا الْمُجُونُ قَالَ الَّتِي لَا تَمَنَّعُ.

“‘Amir al-Mu’minin (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, ‘The best of your women are the women of Quraysh who are very kind to their husbands, most compassionate to their children, al-Majun with her husband

خَطَبَ النَّبِيُّ ص- أُمَّ هَانِئٍ بِنْتَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي مُصَابَةٌ فِي حَجْرِي أَيْتَامٌ وَ لَا يَصْلُحُ لَكَ إِلَّا امْرَأَةٌ فَارِغَةٌ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص مَا رَكِبَ الْإِبِلَ مِثْلُ نِسَاءِ قُرَيْشٍ أَحْنَاهُ عَلَى وَلَدٍ وَ لَا أَرْعَى عَلَى زَوْجٍ فِي ذَاتِ يَدَيْهِ.

“One of the two Imam, (abu Ja 5 far or abu ‘Abd Allah) (a.s.), has said, ‘When the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, proposed for marriage to ‘Umm Haniy daughter of abu Talib, she said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I am a grieved widow and I have orph

ثَلَاثَةٌ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ فِيهَا رَاحَةٌ دَارٌ وَاسِعَةٌ تُوَارِي عَوْرَتَهُ وَ سُوءَ حَالِهِ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَ امْرَأَةٌ صَالِحَةٌ تُعِينُهُ عَلَى أَمْرِ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ وَ ابْنَةٌ يُخْرِجُهَا إِمَّا بِمَوْتٍ أَوْ بِتَزْوِيجٍ.

‘Three issues provide comfort for a believing person: a spacious house which provides privacy and in bad condition keeps him out of the sight of people, a virtuous wife who helps him in his worldly affairs and those of the life hereafter and a daughter whom he escorts out of the house on her death or on her wedding.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ رَكْعَتَانِ يُصَلِّيهِمَا الْمُتَزَوِّجُ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ سَبْعِينَ رَكْعَةً يُصَلِّيهَا أَعْزَبُ. - عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْأَشْعَرِيِّ عَنِ ابْنِ الْقَدَّاحِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مِثْلَهُ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Two Rak’at Salat (prayer) performed by a married person is more virtuous than seventy Rak’at Salat (prayer) performed by a non-married person.’” “A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ja’far ibn Muhammad al-Ash’ariy from ibn al-Qaddah from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.

لَمَّا لَقِيَ يُوسُفُ ع أَخَاهُ قَالَ يَا أَخِي كَيْفَ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَنْ تَزَوَّجَ النِّسَاءَ بَعْدِي فَقَالَ إِنَّ أَبِي أَمَرَنِي قَالَ إِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَنْ تَكُونَ لَكَ ذُرِّيَّةٌ تُثْقِلُ الْأَرْضَ بِالتَّسْبِيحِ فَافْعَلْ.

‘When Yusuf met his brother, he asked, “How did you marry women after me?” He replied, “My father commanded me to do so and said, ‘If you can have so many children who will load the earth heavily with Tasbih (Allah is free of all defects), then you must do so.”””

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَأَنَا لَيْسَ لِي أَهْلٌ فَقَالَ أَ لَيْسَ لَكَ جَوَارِي أَوْ قَالَ أُمَّهَاتُ أَوْلَادٍ قَالَ بَلَى قَالَ فَأَنْتَ لَيْسَ بِأَعْزَبَ‌[3].

“‘Abd Allah ibn al-Mughirah has narrated from abu al-Hassan (a.s.), a similar Hadith and added the following: Muhammad ibn ‘Ubayd said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, I am not married.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘Do you not have slave-girls’ or that he (the Imam) asked, ‘Do you not have mothers

أَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص شَابٌّ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ فَشَكَا إِلَيْهِ الْحَاجَةَ فَقَالَ لَهُ تَزَوَّجْ فَقَالَ الشَّابُّ إِنِّي لَأَسْتَحْيِي أَنْ أَعُودَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَلَحِقَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ لِي بِنْتاً وَسِيمَةً[1] فَزَوَّجَهَا إِيَّاهُ قَالَ فَوَسَّعَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ [قَالَ‌] فَأَتَى الشَّابُّ النَّبِيَّ ص فَأَخْبَرَهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَا مَعْشَرَ الشَّبَابِ عَلَيْكُمْ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Once a young man from al-Ansar (people of al- Madinah) came to the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and complained about his needs. He (the Messenger of Allah) told him to become married. The young man s

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَقَالَ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ إِنَّ لِي ابْنَةَ عَمٍّ قَدْ رَضِيتُ جَمَالَهَا وَ حُسْنَهَا وَ دِينَهَا وَ لَكِنَّهَا عَاقِرٌ فَقَالَ لَا تَزَوَّجْهَا إِنَّ يُوسُفَ بْنَ يَعْقُوبَ لَقِيَ أَخَاهُ فَقَالَ يَا أَخِي كَيْفَ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَنْ تَتَزَوَّجَ النِّسَاءَ بَعْدِي فَقَالَ إِنَّ أَبِي أَمَرَنِي وَ قَالَ إِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَنْ تَكُونَ لَكَ ذُرِّيَّةٌ تُثْقِلُ الْأَرْضَ بِالتَّسْبِيحِ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Once a man came to the Messenger of Allah and said, “O the Holy Prophet of Allah, I have the daughter of an uncle whose beauty, goodness and religion I like; but she is barren.’” He (the Messenger of Allah) said, ‘You must not marry her; Yusuf after meeting his brother asked him, “How

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ تَزَوَّجُوا بِكْراً وَلُوداً وَ لَا تَزَوَّجُوا حَسْنَاءَ جَمِيلَةً عَاقِراً فَإِنِّي أُبَاهِي بِكُمُ الْأُمَمَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ.

“Abu Ja‘far (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, ‘You must marry virgin and child bearing women, but you must not marry good a looking but barren woman because I will express pride because of you among nati

شَكَوْتُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قِلَّةَ وُلْدِي وَ أَنَّهُ لَا وَلَدَ لِي فَقَالَ لِي إِذَا أَتَيْتَ الْعِرَاقَ فَتَزَوَّجِ امْرَأَةً وَ لَا عَلَيْكَ أَنْ تَكُونَ سَوْءَاءَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ وَ مَا السَّوْءَاءُ قَالَ امْرَأَةٌ فِيهَا قُبْحٌ فَإِنَّهُنَّ أَكْثَرُ أَوْلَاداً.

“I once complained before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), for not having enough children and that I have no child. He (the Imam) said to me, ‘When you arrive in Iraq, marry a woman and do not mind if she is al-Su’a’.’ I then asked, ’I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, what is al- Su’a’?’ He (the Imam) sai

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص لِرَجُلٍ تَزَوَّجْهَا سَوْءَاءَ وَلُوداً وَ لَا تَزَوَّجْهَا حَسْنَاءَ عَاقِراً فَإِنِّي مُبَاهٍ بِكُمُ الْأُمَمَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَ وَ مَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ الْوِلْدَانَ تَحْتَ الْعَرْشِ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ لآِبَائِهِمْ يَحْضُنُهُمْ إِبْرَاهِيمُ وَ تُرَبِّيهِمْ سَارَةُ فِي جَبَلٍ مِنْ مِسْكٍ وَ عَنْبَرٍ وَ زَعْفَرَانٍ.

“Abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (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, once said to a man, ‘Marry al-Su’a’ and child bearing woman but do not marry a good looking barren woman. I will express pride because of you among nation

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ تَزَوَّجُوا الْأَبْكَارَ فَإِنَّهُنَّ أَطْيَبُ شَيْ‌ءٍ أَفْوَاهاً وَ فِي حَدِيثٍ آخَرَ وَ أَنْشَفُهُ أَرْحَاماً وَ أَدَرُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ أَخْلَافاً وَ أَفْتَحُ شَيْ‌ءٍ أَرْحَاماً أَ مَا عَلِمْتُمْ أَنِّي أُبَاهِي بِكُمُ الْأُمَمَ- يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ حَتَّى بِالسِّقْطِ يَظَلُّ مُحْبَنْطِئاً عَلَى بَابِ الْجَنَّةِ[1] فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ ادْخُلِ الْجَنَّةَ فَيَقُولُ لَا أَدْخُلُ حَتَّى ي

“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, ‘Marry virgins; they are of the finest mouth.’ In another Hadith it is said that, their uterus most dry, their posterior most round, and their womb most

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ عَلَيْكُمْ بِذَوَاتِ الْأَوْرَاكِ فَإِنَّهُنَّ أَنْجَبُ‌[2].

‘You must marry women of large hips because they are most fertile for child bearing.’”

مِنْ سَعَادَةِ الْمَرْءِ أَنْ لَا تَطْمَثَ ابْنَتُهُ فِي بَيْتِهِ.

‘It is of the good fortune of a man whose daughter does not experience Hayd (menses) in his home.’”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَلَقَ آدَمَ ع مِنَ الْمَاءِ وَ الطِّينِ فَهِمَّةُ ابْنِ آدَمَ فِي الْمَاءِ وَ الطِّينِ وَ خَلَقَ حَوَّاءَ مِنْ آدَمَ فَهِمَّةُ النِّسَاءِ فِي الرِّجَالِ فَحَصِّنُوهُنَّ فِي الْبُيُوتِ‌[1].

‘Allah created Adam from water and clay so the ambition of the sons of Adam is in water and clay. He created Eve from Adam so the ambition of women is for men and their fortress is in the houses.’”

قَالَ‌ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فِي رِسَالَتِهِ إِلَى الْحَسَنِ ع إِيَّاكَ وَ مُشَاوَرَةَ النِّسَاءِ فَإِنَّ رَأْيَهُنَّ إِلَى الْأَفْنِ وَ عَزْمَهُنَّ إِلَى الْوَهْنِ‌[1] وَ اكْفُفْ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ بِحِجَابِكَ إِيَاهُنَّ فَإِنَّ شِدَّةَ الْحِجَابِ خَيْرٌ لَكَ وَ لَهُنَّ مِنَ الِارْتِيَابِ وَ لَيْسَ خُرُوجُهُنَّ بِأَشَدَّ مِنْ دُخُولِ مَنْ لَا تَثِقُ بِهِ عَلَيْهِنَ‌[2] فَإِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَنْ لَا يَع

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, in his letter to al- Hassan (a.s.) : ‘You must never consult women because their opinion is weak in reason and their aim is not durable. They must keep their eye cast down by means of your barrier, because strict privacy is better for you and for them an

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع إِذَا أَتَاهُ خَتَنُهُ عَلَى ابْنَتِهِ أَوْ عَلَى أُخْتِهِ بَسَطَ لَهُ رِدَاءَهُ ثُمَّ أَجْلَسَهُ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ مَرْحَباً بِمَنْ كَفَى الْمَئُونَةَ وَ سَتَرَ الْعَوْرَةَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), would spread his gown as furnishing when the husband of his daughter or sister would come to him (the Imam) and would say, ‘Welcome to the one who has taken good care of a need and the one who protected the privacy.’”