Children & Parenting

عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْوُضَّاءِ[1] مِنَ الظُّؤْرَةِ فَإِنَّ اللَّبَنَ يُعْدِي.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘You must find a clean breastfeeding woman because milk may spread (its bad effects).”’

لَا تَسْتَرْضِعُوا لِلصَّبِيِّ الْمَجُوسِيَّةَ وَ اسْتَرْضِعْ لَهُ الْيَهُودِيَّةَ وَ النَّصْرَانِيَّةَ وَ لَا يَشْرَبْنَ الْخَمْرَ وَ يُمْنَعْنَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Do not hire a Zoroastrian woman for breastfeeding your child, however, you may hire a Jewish, a Christian woman who must not drink wine and you must not allow them to do so.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الرَّجُلُ أَحَقُّ بِوَلَدِهِ أَمِ الْمَرْأَةُ قَالَ لَا بَلِ الرَّجُلُ فَإِنْ قَالَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ لِزَوْجِهَا الَّذِي طَلَّقَهَا أَنَا أُرْضِعُ ابْنِي بِمِثْلِ مَا تَجِدُ مَنْ تُرْضِعُهُ- فَهِيَ أَحَقُّ بِهِ‌[1].

“I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), if a man has more right for the custody of a child or woman. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, the man has more right. If a divorced woman asks for breastfeeding her child for the same price as others, then she has more right for breastfeeding.’”

إِذَا طَلَّقَ الرَّجُلُ امْرَأَتَهُ وَ هِيَ حُبْلَى أَنْفَقَ عَلَيْهَا حَتَّى تَضَعَ حَمْلَهَا وَ إِذَا وَضَعَتْهُ أَعْطَاهَا أَجْرَهَا وَ لَا يُضَارَّهَا إِلَّا أَنْ يَجِدَ مَنْ هُوَ أَرْخَصُ أَجْراً مِنْهَا فَإِنْ هِيَ رَضِيَتْ بِذَلِكَ الْأَجْرِ فَهِيَ أَحَقُّ بِابْنِهَا حَتَّى تَفْطِمَهُ.

‘When a man divorces his wife, who is pregnant, he must provide her maintenance until she gives birth. When she gives birth he must pay her wages and must not harm her unless he finds someone who does it for less; but if she agrees with the lesser wages then she has more right to breastfeeding her child until the child

سُئِلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يُطَلِّقُ امْرَأَتَهُ وَ بَيْنَهُمَا وَلَدٌ أَيُّهُمَا أَحَقُّ بِالْوَلَدِ قَالَ الْمَرْأَةُ أَحَقُّ بِالْوَلَدِ مَا لَمْ تَتَزَوَّجْ.

“Once, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about the case of a man who divorces his wife. They have a child, which one of them has more right for the child? He (the Imam) said, ‘The woman has more right as long as she does not marry.’”

وَ الْوالِداتُ يُرْضِعْنَ أَوْلادَهُنَ‌ قَالَ مَا دَامَ الْوَلَدُ فِي الرَّضَاعِ فَهُوَ بَيْنَ الْأَبَوَيْنِ بِالسَّوِيَّةِ[2] فَإِذَا فُطِمَ فَالْأَبُ أَحَقُّ بِهِ مِنَ الْأُمِّ فَإِذَا مَاتَ الْأَبُ فَالْأُمُّ أَحَقُّ بِهِ مِنَ الْعَصَبَةِ فَإِنْ وَجَدَ الْأَبُ مَنْ يُرْضِعُهُ بِأَرْبَعَةِ دَرَاهِمَ وَ قَالَتِ الْأُمُّ لَا أُرْضِعُهُ إِلَّا بِخَمْسَةِ دَرَاهِمَ فَإِنَّ لَهُ أَنْ يَنْزِعَهُ مِنْهَا إِلَّا أَنَّ ذَلِ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Mothers must breastfeed their children’ means that a child during breastfeeding period is between the two parents in equal manners. When the child is weaned then the father has more right about him than the mother. When the father dies then the mother has more right than the relatives

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ امْرَأَةٍ حُرَّةٍ نَكَحَتْ عَبْداً فَأَوْلَدَهَا أَوْلَاداً ثُمَّ إِنَّهُ طَلَّقَهَا فَلَمْ تُقِمْ مَعَ وُلْدِهَا وَ تَزَوَّجَتْ فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ الْعَبْدَ أَنَّهَا تَزَوَّجَتْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ وُلْدَهُ مِنْهَا وَ قَالَ أَنَا أَحَقُّ بِهِمْ‌ مِنْكِ إِنْ تَزَوَّجْتِ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ لِلْعَبْدِ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ مِنْهَا وُلْدَهَا وَ إِنْ تَزَوَّجَتْ حَتَّى يُعْتَقَ هِيَ أَحَقُّ بِوُلْ

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a free woman who has married a slave who has given birth to several children. She is then divorced and then does not stay with her children but marries another man. The slave then finds out about her marriage. He wants to take his children from her saying that he h

يَثَّغِرُ الْغُلَامُ‌[2] لِسَبْعِ سِنِينَ وَ يُؤْمَرُ بِالصَّلَاةِ لِتِسْعٍ وَ يُفَرَّقُ بَيْنَهُمْ فِي الْمَضَاجِعِ لِعَشْرٍ وَ يَحْتَلِمُ لِأَرْبَعَ عَشْرَةَ سَنَةً وَ مُنْتَهَى طُولِهِ لِاثْنَتَيْنِ وَ عِشْرِينَ سَنَةً وَ مُنْتَهَى عَقْلِهِ لِثَمَانٍ وَ عِشْرِينَ سَنَةً إِلَّا التَّجَارِبَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has stated this Hadith. ‘Children’s milk teeth are replaced in seven years. They must be instructed to perform Salat (prayer) at the age of nine years, their bed must be separated at the age of ten, they experience wet dream at the age of fourteen, their growth in length stops at the age of twen

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ يَشِبُّ الصَّبِيُّ كُلَّ سَنَةٍ أَرْبَعَ أَصَابِعَ بِأَصَابِعِ نَفْسِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘A child grows every year by four fingers of his own fingers.’”

الْغُلَامُ لَا يُلْقِحُ حَتَّى يَتَفَلَّكَ‌[3] ثَدْيَاهُ وَ تَسْطَعَ رِيحُ إِبْطَيْهِ.

a boy cannot impregnate until his breast becomes round and the smell of his armpit rises strong.’”

دَعِ ابْنَكَ يَلْعَبُ سَبْعَ سِنِينَ وَ أَلْزِمْهُ نَفْسَكَ سَبْعاً فَإِنْ أَفْلَحَ وَ إِلَّا فَإِنَّهُ مِمَّنْ لَا خَيْرَ فِيهِ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Allow your child to play for seven years and keep him with yourself for another seven years (to practice and behave as you do) if he succeeds; otherwise, he is of the ones in whom there is nothing good.’”

أَمْهِلْ صَبِيَّكَ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَ لَهُ سِتُّ سِنِينَ ثُمَّ ضُمَّهُ إِلَيْكَ سَبْعَ سِنِينَ فَأَدِّبْهُ بِأَدَبِكَ فَإِنْ قَبِلَ وَ صَلَحَ وَ إِلَّا فَخَلِّ عَنْهُ.

‘You should give your child time until he is six years old, then keep him with yourself (to practice and behave as you do) for another seven years; teach him your disciplines and moral manners, to see if he accepts and is established in good manners; otherwise, leave him alone (there is not much in him to hope for).”’

الْغُلَامُ يَلْعَبُ سَبْعَ سِنِينَ وَ يَتَعَلَّمُ الْكِتَابَ سَبْعَ سِنِينَ وَ يَتَعَلَّمُ الْحَلَالَ وَ الْحَرَامَ سَبْعَ سِنِينَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A boy can play for seven years, learn how to read and write for another seven years and learn the lawful and unlawful matters in another seven years.’”

قَالَ‌[1] أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ عَلِّمُوا أَوْلَادَكُمُ السِّبَاحَةَ وَ الرِّمَايَةَ.

‘You should teach your children swimming and sharp shooting.’”

بَادِرُوا أَوْلَادَكُمْ بِالْحَدِيثِ‌[2] قَبْلَ أَنْ يَسْبِقَكُمْ إِلَيْهِمُ الْمُرْجِئَةُ[3].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘You should hasten (take the initiative) to teach Hadith to your children before al-Murji’ah (name of a sect) takes control over their mind and belief.’”

يُفَرَّقُ بَيْنَ الْغِلْمَانِ وَ النِّسَاءِ فِي الْمَضَاجِعِ إِذَا بَلَغُوا عَشْرَ سِنِينَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When boys become ten years old, their bed must be separated from women.’”

إِنَّا نَأْمُرُ الصِّبْيَانَ أَنْ يَجْمَعُوا بَيْنَ الصَّلَاتَيْنِ الْأُولَى وَ الْعَصْرِ وَ بَيْنَ الْمَغْرِبِ وَ الْعِشَاءِ الْآخِرَةِ مَا دَامُوا عَلَى وُضُوءٍ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَشْتَغِلُوا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘We instruct children to perform two Salat (prayer) together, one Salat (prayer) soon after the other, like al-Zuhr and al-‘Asr, al-Maghrib and al-‘Isha ’ as long as they have valid wudu before they get busy.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ أَدِّبِ الْيَتِيمَ بِمَا تُؤَدِّبُ مِنْهُ‌[4] وَلَدَكَ وَ اضْرِبْهُ مِمَّا تَضْرِبُ مِنْهُ وَلَدَكَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘You must discipline an orphan as you discipline your own child and deal with him as you would deal with your own child (in matters of discipline).’”

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ص فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا حَقُّ ابْنِي هَذَا قَالَ تُحْسِنُ اسْمَهُ وَ أَدَبَهُ وَ ضَعْهُ مَوْضِعاً حَسَناً.

“Abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), has said that once a man came to the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, what is the right of my son, this one ? 5 He (the Messenger of Allah) said, ‘You should give him a good n

كَانَ دَاوُدُ بْنُ زُرْبِيٍّ شَكَا ابْنَهُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع فِيمَا أَفْسَدَ لَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ اسْتَصْلِحْهُ فَمَا مِائَةُ أَلْفٍ فِيمَا أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ بِهِ عَلَيْكَ.

“Dawud ibn Zurbiy complained against his son before abu al-Hassan (a.s.), because of what he had destroyed. He (the Imam) said, ‘Reform and reclaim him; a value of a hundred thousand is not important compared to the bounty that Allah has bestowed up on you.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ رَحِمَ اللَّهُ وَالِدَيْنِ أَعَانَا وَلَدَهُمَا عَلَى بِرِّهِمَا.

“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, ‘May Allah grant forgiveness to the parents who support their children in their kindness and virtuous deeds.’”

صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص بِالنَّاسِ الظُّهْرَ فَخَفَّفَ فِي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ الْأَخِيرَتَيْنِ فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ قَالَ لَهُ النَّاسُ هَلْ حَدَثَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ حَدَثٌ قَالَ وَ مَا ذَاكَ قَالُوا خَفَّفْتَ فِي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ الْأَخِيرَتَيْنِ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ أَمَا سَمِعْتُمْ صُرَاخَ الصَّبِيِّ.

“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, once performed Salat (prayer) of al-Zuhr with people and made the two last Rak’at light. When he (the Messenger of Allah) completed, people asked if something has

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ يَلْزَمُ الْوَالِدَيْنِ مِنَ الْعُقُوقِ لِوَلَدِهِمَا مَا يَلْزَمُ الْوَلَدَ لَهُمَا مِنْ عُقُوقِهِمَا.

“The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘What parents’ declaring their children as disobedient entails for parents is exactly what children’s disobeying their parents entails for the children (both cases are extremely harmful ).’”

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ أَنَا مَغْمُومٌ مَكْرُوبٌ فَقَالَ لِي يَا سَكُونِيُّ مِمَّا غَمُّكَ قُلْتُ وُلِدَتْ لِي ابْنَةٌ فَقَالَ يَا سَكُونِيُّ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ ثِقْلُهَا وَ عَلَى اللَّهِ رِزْقُهَا تَعِيشُ فِي غَيْرِ أَجَلِكَ-[3] وَ تَأْكُلُ مِنْ غَيْرِ رِزْقِكَ فَسَرَّى وَ اللَّهِ عَنِّي‌[1] فَقَالَ لِي مَا سَمَّيْتَهَا قُلْتُ فَاطِمَةَ قَالَ آهِ آهِ‌[2] ثُمَّ وَضَعَ يَدَهُ عَلَى جَبْهَتِهِ فَقَالَ قَ

“I once went to visit Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), who found me sad and depressed. He (the Imam) then asked, ‘O Sakuni, what has made you so depressed?’ I replied, ‘Aminah (a daughter) is born to me.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘O Sakuni, the earth carries her weight and Allah grants her sustenance. She lives in a lifetime which is

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ قَبَّلَ وَلَدَهُ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَهُ حَسَنَةً وَ مَنْ فَرَّحَهُ فَرَّحَهُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَ مَنْ عَلَّمَهُ الْقُرْآنَ دُعِيَ بِالْأَبَوَيْنِ فَيُكْسَيَانِ حُلَّتَيْنِ يُضِي‌ءُ مِنْ نُورِهِمَا وُجُوهُ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ.

‘The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘One who kisses his son, Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, writes down for him one good deed and one who makes him happy Allah will make him happy on the Day of Judgment. One who teach hi

قَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ مَنْ أَبَرُّ قَالَ وَالِدَيْكَ قَالَ قَدْ مَضَيَا قَالَ بَرَّ وَلَدَكَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that a man from al-Ansar (people of al-Madinah) once asked him (the Messenger of Allah), ‘To whom should I be kind?’ He (the Messenger of Allah) said, ‘Be kind to your parents.’ He said, ‘They have passed away.’ He (the Messenger of Allah) said, ‘Be kind to your children.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ أَحِبُّوا الصِّبْيَانَ وَ ارْحَمُوهُمْ وَ إِذَا وَعَدْتُمُوهُمْ شَيْئاً فَفُوا لَهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ لَا يَدْرُونَ إِلَّا أَنَّكُمْ تَرْزُقُونَهُمْ.

‘You must love children and be kind to them. If you promise them, then keep your promise because they do not know anyone except you who provides them sustenance.’”

أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ مَنْ كَانَ لَهُ وَلَدٌ صَبَا[1].

‘One who has a child, he is in love ardently.’”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَيَرْحَمُ الْعَبْدَ لِشِدَّةِ حُبِّهِ لِوَلَدِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah will have mercy on (His) slave because of his intense love for his children.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ رَحِمَ اللَّهُ مَنْ أَعَانَ وَلَدَهُ عَلَى بِرِّهِ قَالَ قُلْتُ كَيْفَ يُعِينُهُ عَلَى بِرِّهِ قَالَ يَقْبَلُ مَيْسُورَهُ وَ يَتَجَاوَزُ عَنْ مَعْسُورِهِ وَ لَا يُرْهِقُهُ وَ لَا يَخْرَقُ بِهِ‌[2] فَلَيْسَ بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَ أَنْ يَصِيرَ فِي حَدٍّ مِنْ حُدُودِ الْكُفْرِ إِلَّا أَنْ يَدْخُلَ فِي عُقُوقٍ أَوْ قَطِيعَةِ رَحِمٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص- الْجَنَّةُ طَيِّبَةٌ طَيَّبَهَا اللَّه

“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, ‘Allah grants mercy to one who supports his children in virtuous deeds.’ He (the narrator) has said that he then asked, ‘How does he support him in virtu

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ص فَقَالَ مَا قَبَّلْتُ صَبِيّاً قَطُّ فَلَمَّا وَلَّى قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ هَذَا رَجُلٌ عِنْدِي أَنَّهُ مِنْ أَهْلِ النَّارِ.

“He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said that once a man came to the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and said, ‘I have never kissed a child.’ When he left, the Messenger of Allah said, ‘This man to me is one of the people of hellfire.’”

قَالَ لِي أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع‌ إِذَا وَعَدْتُمُ الصِّبْيَانَ فَفُوا لَهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ يَرَوْنَ أَنَّكُمُ الَّذِينَ تَرْزُقُونَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَيْسَ يَغْضَبُ لِشَيْ‌ءٍ كَغَضَبِهِ لِلنِّسَاءِ وَ الصِّبْيَانِ.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), once said to me, ‘When you promise children something, then you must keep your promise because they see you as the only one who provides them sustenance. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, does not become as angrier as He does for women and children.’”

الْوَلَدُ فِتْنَةٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A child is a trial (mischief, attraction).”’

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَكُونُ بَعْضُ وُلْدِهِ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ بَعْضٍ وَ يُقَدِّمُ بَعْضَ وُلْدِهِ عَلَى بَعْضٍ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ قَدْ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع نَحَلَ مُحَمَّداً وَ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع نَحَلَ أَحْمَدَ شَيْئاً فَقُمْتُ أَنَا بِهِ حَتَّى حُزْتُهُ لَهُ‌[1] فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ الرَّجُلُ يَكُونُ بَنَاتُهُ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ بَنِيهِ فَقَالَ الْ

“I once asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), about the case of a man who loves certain ones of his children more than others and gives preference to certain ones among them over the others. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), gave a present to Muhammad; so also did abu al- Hassan (a.s.), by gifting something to Ahmad a

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِذَا كَانَ الْغُلَامُ مُلْتَاثَ الْأُدْرَةِ[2] صَغِيرَ الذَّكَرِ سَاكِنَ النَّظَرِ فَهُوَ مِمَّنْ يُرْجَى خَيْرُهُ وَ يُؤْمَنُ شَرُّهُ قَالَ وَ إِذَا كَانَ الْغُلَامُ شَدِيدَ الْأُدْرَةِ كَبِيرَ الذَّكَرِ حَادَّ النَّظَرِ فَهُوَ مِمَّنْ لَا يُرْجَى خَيْرُهُ وَ يُؤْمَنُ شَرُّهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ’If a boy’s scrotum is relaxed, his penis is small, his eyes are relaxed; then there is hope for goodness to come from him, as well as hope in safety from his evil. On the other hand if a boy whose scrotum is hard, his penis is large and has piercing eye

تُسْتَحَبُّ عَرَامَةُ الصَّبِيِ‌[3] فِي صِغَرِهِ لِيَكُونَ حَلِيماً فِي كِبَرِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ مَا يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يَكُونَ إِلَّا هَكَذَا.

“I heard the virtuous servant of Allah saying, ‘It is preferable to involve a child in difficult tasks when he is small, so he can be forbearing when he grows up.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘It is not proper to be other than as such.’”

أَنَّ أَكْيَسَ الصِّبْيَانِ أَشَدُّهُمْ بُغْضاً لِلْكُتَّابِ‌[1].

3. It is narrated that:"the most intelligent child is the one who hates al-Kuttab (the writers) school the most.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص‌ فِي الْمَرَضِ يُصِيبُ الصَّبِيَّ فَقَالَ كَفَّارَةٌ لِوَالِدَيْهِ.

“’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said about the illness that a child may suffer, ’It is expiation for his parents.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ يَعِيشُ الْوَلَدُ لِسِتَّةِ أَشْهُرٍ وَ لِسَبْعَةِ أَشْهُرٍ وَ لِتِسْعَةِ أَشْهُرٍ[2] وَ لَا يَعِيشُ لِثَمَانِيَةِ أَشْهُرٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘A child (born after) six, seven or nine months lives but one who is born after eight months cannot live.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ غَايَةِ الْحَمْلِ بِالْوَلَدِ فِي بَطْنِ أُمِّهِ كَمْ هُوَ فَإِنَّ النَّاسَ يَقُولُونَ رُبَّمَا بَقِيَ فِي بَطْنِهَا سِنِينَ فَقَالَ كَذَبُوا أَقْصَى حَدِّ الْحَمْلِ تِسْعَةُ أَشْهُرٍ لَا يَزِيدُ لَحْظَةً وَ لَوْ زَادَ سَاعَةً لَقَتَلَ أُمَّهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ.

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about how long a child can remain in the mother’s womb because people say that a child may remain in mother’s womb for many years. He (the Imam) said, ‘They speak a lie. The ultimate time is nine months and it is no more even for a while because if the child remains for more than a sa‘a

الْقَابِلَةُ مَأْمُونَةٌ.

“One of the two Imam, (abu Ja‘far or abu ‘Abd Allah), ‘Alayhim al-Salam, has said, ‘Al-Qabilah (the doctor) is immune and not liable.’”

كُنْتُ جَالِساً عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِذْ دَخَلَ يُونُسُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ فَرَأَيْتُهُ يَئِنُّ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا لِي أَرَاكَ تَئِنُّ قَالَ طِفْلٌ لِي تَأَذَّيْتُ بِهِ اللَّيْلَ أَجْمَعَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَا يُونُسُ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ آبَائِهِ ع عَنْ جَدِّي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص- أَنَّ جَبْرَئِيلَ نَزَلَ عَلَيْهِ وَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَ عَلِيٌّ ص يَئِ

“Once I was with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when Yunus ibn Ya’qub came in and I found him moaning. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), asked him, ‘Why are you moaning?’ He replied, ‘I have a child and I suffered last night the whole night because of him.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has stated this Hadith. ‘O Yunus, my father, Muhammad ibn

كَانَ لِيَ ابْنٌ وَ كَانَ تُصِيبُهُ الْحَصَاةُ فَقِيلَ لِي لَيْسَ لَهُ عِلَاجٌ إِلَّا أَنْ تَبُطَّهُ فَبَطَطْتُهُ‌[1] فَمَاتَ فَقَالَتِ الشِّيعَةُ شَرِكْتَ فِي دَمِ ابْنِكَ قَالَ فَكَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الْعَسْكَرِيِّ ع فَوَقَّعَ ع يَا أَحْمَدُ لَيْسَ عَلَيْكَ فِيمَا فَعَلْتَ شَيْ‌ءٌ إِنَّمَا الْتَمَسْتَ الدَّوَاءَ وَ كَانَ أَجَلُهُ فِيمَا فَعَلْتَ.

‘O Ahmad, you are not responsible for what you have done. You tried to cure him and his death (the appointed time) was in what you did.”’

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِذَا بَلَغَ الصَّبِيُّ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ فَاحْجُمْهُ فِي كُلِّ شَهْرٍ فِي النُّقْرَةِ[2] فَإِنَّهَا تُجَفِّفُ لُعَابَهُ وَ تُهْبِطُ الْحَرَارَةَ مِنْ رَأْسِهِ وَ جَسَدِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to me, ‘When a child becomes four months old then perform cupping every month in the depression in the back of the child; it reduces his saliva and the temperature from his head.’”

أَصَابَ رَجُلٌ غُلَامَيْنِ فِي بَطْنٍ فَهَنَّأَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع ثُمَّ قَالَ أَيُّهُمَا الْأَكْبَرُ فَقَالَ الَّذِي خَرَجَ أَوَّلًا فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الَّذِي خَرَجَ آخِراً هُوَ أَكْبَرُ أَ مَا تَعْلَمُ أَنَّهَا حَمَلَتْ بِذَاكَ أَوَّلًا وَ إِنَّ هَذَا دَخَلَ عَلَى ذَاكَ‌[3] فَلَمْ يُمْكِنْهُ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ حَتَّى خَرَجَ هَذَا فَالَّذِي يَخْرُجُ آخِراً هُوَ أَكْبَرُهُمَا.

8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ali ibn Ahmad ibn ‘Ushaym from certain persons of his people who has said the following: “Twin boys were born to a man and abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), congratulated and asked him who is the older?’ He replied, ‘The one who came out first is the older o

كَانَتْ عِنْدِي امْرَأَةٌ تَصِفُ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ وَ كَانَ أَبُوهَا كَذَلِكَ وَ كَانَتْ سَيِّئَةَ الْخُلُقِ فَكُنْتُ أَكْرَهُ طَلَاقَهَا لِمَعْرِفَتِي بِإِيمَانِهَا وَ إِيمَانِ أَبِيهَا فَلَقِيتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع وَ أَنَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْأَلَهُ عَنْ طَلَاقِهَا فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ لِي إِلَيْكَ حَاجَةً فَتَأْذَنُ لِي أَنْ أَسْأَلَكَ عَنْهَا فَقَالَ ائْتِنِي غَداً صَلَاةَ الظُّهْرِ قَالَ فَلَمَّا صَل

“I had a wife who believed (in the divine authority of ‘ A’immah ) and so also was her father, but she had very bad moral behaviors and I did not like to divorce her because of her belief and the belief of her father. I met abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), and I wanted to ask him (the Imam) if divorcing her is proper saying

إِنَّ عَلِيّاً قَالَ وَ هُوَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ لَا تُزَوِّجُوا الْحَسَنَ فَإِنَّهُ رَجُلٌ مِطْلَاقٌ فَقَامَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ هَمْدَانَ فَقَالَ بَلَى وَ اللَّهِ لَنُزَوِّجَنَّهُ وَ هُوَ ابْنُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ ابْنُ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فَإِنْ شَاءَ أَمْسَكَ وَ إِنْ شَاءَ طَلَّقَ.

‘Do not give in marriage to al-Hassan because he is a man who divorces very often.’ A man from Hamadan stood up and said, ‘Yes, we will give to him in marriage, by Allah, because he is the grandson of the Messenger of Allah (s.w) and the son of ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.). He may keep if he likes or divorce if he so wills

إِنَّ الْحَسَنَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ ع طَلَّقَ خَمْسِينَ امْرَأَةً فَقَامَ عَلِيٌّ ع بِالْكُوفَةِ فَقَالَ يَا مَعَاشِرَ أَهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ لَا تُنْكِحُوا الْحَسَنَ فَإِنَّهُ رَجُلٌ مِطْلَاقٌ فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ بَلَى وَ اللَّهِ لَنُنْكِحَنَّهُ فَإِنَّهُ ابْنُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ ابْنُ فَاطِمَةَ ع فَإِنْ أَعْجَبَتْهُ أَمْسَكَ وَ إِنْ كَرِهَ طَلَّقَ‌[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Al-Hassan ibn Ali (a.s.), divorced fifty women. Ali (a.s.), stood in al-Kufa and said, ‘O people of al-Kufa do not give in marriage to al-Hassan because he divorces very often.’ A man stood up and said, ‘Yes, we will give to him in marriage, by Allah, because he is the grandson of the

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ مَنْ طَلَّقَ ثَلَاثاً فِي مَجْلِسٍ عَلَى غَيْرِ طُهْرٍ لَمْ يَكُنْ شَيْئاً إِنَّمَا الطَّلَاقُ الَّذِي أَمَرَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِ فَمَنْ خَالَفَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ طَلَاقٌ وَ إِنَّ ابْنَ عُمَرَ طَلَّقَ امْرَأَتَهُ ثَلَاثاً فِي مَجْلِسٍ وَ هِيَ حَائِضٌ فَأَمَرَهُ النَّبِيُّ ص أَنْ يَنْكِحَهَا وَ لَا يَعْتَدَّ بِالطَّلَاقِ قَالَ وَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فَقَالَ يَا أَ

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘If one divorces his wife in one place and time three times when she is experiencing Hayd (menses) such divorce does not have any valid effect. A valid divorce is that which Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has commanded. Whoever does otherwise it is not a divorce. Ibn ’Umar divorced h

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ طَلَّقَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ امْرَأَتَهُ ثَلَاثاً وَ هِيَ حَائِضٌ فَسَأَلَ عُمَرُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص فَأَمَرَهُ أَنْ يُرَاجِعَهَا فَقُلْتُ إِنَّ النَّاسَ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّمَا طَلَّقَهَا وَاحِدَةً وَ هِيَ حَائِضٌ‌[2] فَقَالَ فَلِأَيِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ سَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص إِذَا كَانَ هُوَ أَمْلَكَ بِرَجْعَتِهَا كَذَبُوا وَ لَكِنَّهُ طَلَّقَهَا ثَلَاثاً فَأَمَرَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَنْ يُرَاج

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), state this Hadith. ‘Ibn ‘Umar divorced his wife three times at the same place and time when she experienced Hayd (menses). He asked the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and he commanded him to go back