Death & Bereavement

عَلَى الرَّجُلِ رُبُعُ دِيَةِ الصَّبِيِّ بِشَهَادَةِ الْمَرْأَةِ.

Hadith.3313 - And Abdullah bin Al-Hakam asked Abu Abdullah (as), about a woman who testified against a man that he had pushed a boy into a well, resulting in his death. Imam (as) said: "The man is liable for one-fourth of the boy's blood money based on the testimony of the woman."

إِلَيْهِ فِي رَجُلٍ مَاتَ وَ لَهُ أُمُّ وَلَدٍ وَ قَدْ جَعَلَ لَهَا سَيِّدُهَا شَيْئاً فِي حَيَاتِهِ ثُمَّ مَاتَ قَالَ فَكَتَبَ ع لَهَا مَا آتَاهَا بِهِ سَيِّدُهَا فِي حَيَاتِهِ مَعْرُوفٌ ذَلِكَ لَهَا[2] تُقْبَلُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ شَهَادَةُ الرَّجُلِ وَ الْمَرْأَةِ وَ الْخَدَمِ غَيْرِ الْمُتَّهَمِينَ‌[3].

I wrote to Imam (as) regarding a man who died, leaving behind a bondwoman, and her master had given her something during his lifetime. Then the master died. Imam (as) wrote back: "She is entitled to what her master gave her during his lifetime, as it is recognized for her. The testimony of a man, a woman, and trustwort

أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ مَاتَ وَ تَرَكَ امْرَأَةً وَ هِيَ حَامِلٌ فَوَضَعَتْ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهِ غُلَاماً ثُمَّ مَاتَ الْغُلَامُ بَعْدَ مَا وَقَعَ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ فَشَهِدَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ الَّتِي قَبِلَتْهَا بِهِ أَنَّهُ اسْتَهَلَ‌[5] وَ صَاحَ حِينَ وَقَعَ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ ثُمَّ مَاتَ بَعْدُ فَقَالَ عَلَى الْإِمَامِ أَنْ يُجِيزَ شَهَادَتَهَا فِي رُبُعِ مِيرَاثِ الْغُلَامِ‌[6].

I asked Abu Abdullah (as), about a man who died and left behind a wife who was pregnant. She gave birth to a boy after his death, and then the boy died after falling to the ground. The woman who received him testified that he cried out and screamed when he fell to the ground, and then he died afterward. Imam (as) said:

لَهَا الْمَهْرُ بِمَا اسْتَحَلَّ مِنْ فَرْجِهَا الْأَخِيرُ وَ يُضْرَبُ الشَّاهِدَانِ الْحَدَّ وَ يُضَمَّنَانِ الْمَهْرَ بِمَا غَرَّا الرَّجُلَ ثُمَّ تَعْتَدُّ[2] وَ تَرْجِعُ إِلَى زَوْجِهَا الْأَوَّلِ.

Hadith.3334 - Ibrahim ibn Abdul Hamid reported from Abu Basir, who narrated from Abu Abdullah (as), regarding a woman for whom two witnesses testified that her husband had died. She then remarried, but later her first husband returned. Imam (as) said: "The second husband owes her the dowry because he lawfully enjoyed h

لِلشَّيْخِ يَعْنِي مُوسَى بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ ع‌[2] أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَدَّعِي قِبَلَ الرَّجُلِ الْحَقَّ فَلَا يَكُونُ لَهُ بَيِّنَةٌ بِمَا لَهُ قَالَ فَيَمِينُ الْمُدَّعَى عَلَيْهِ‌[3] فَإِنْ حَلَفَ فَلَا حَقَّ لَهُ- وَ إِنْ رَدَّ الْيَمِينَ عَلَى الْمُدَّعِي فَلَمْ يَحْلِفْ فَلَا حَقَّ لَهُ فَإِنْ كَانَ الْمَطْلُوبُ بِالْحَقِّ قَدْ مَاتَ وَ أُقِيمَتْ عَلَيْهِ الْبَيِّنَةُ فَعَلَى الْمُدَّعِي الْيَمِينُ بِاللَّهِ

I asked the Sheikh, meaning Imam Musa ibn Jafar Al-Kadhim (as), "Inform me about a man who claims a right against another man but has no evidence to prove his claim." Imam (as) said: "The defendant must take an oath. If he swears, then the claimant has no right. However, if the defendant refers the oath back to the cla

رَوَى شُعَيْبٌ‌[3] عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَنَّهُ ذَكَرَ أَنَّ عَلِيّاً ع أَتَاهُ قَوْمٌ يَخْتَصِمُونَ فِي بَغْلَةٍ فَقَامَتِ الْبَيِّنَةُ لِهَؤُلَاءِ أَنَّهُمْ أَنْتَجُوهَا عَلَى مِذْوَدِهِمْ لَمْ يَبِيعُوا وَ لَمْ يَهَبُوا وَ قَامَتِ الْبَيِّنَةُ لِهَؤُلَاءِ أَنَّهُمْ أَنْتَجُوهَا عَلَى مِذْوَدِهِمْ‌[4] لَمْ يَبِيعُوا وَ لَمْ‌ يَهَبُوا فَقَضَى ع بِهَا لِأَكْثَرِهِمْ بَيِّنَةً وَ اسْتَحْلَفَه

قَالَ أَبُو بَصِيرٍ[2] وَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَأْتِي الْقَوْمَ فَيَدَّعِي دَاراً فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ وَ يُقِيمُ الْبَيِّنَةَ وَ يُقِيمُ الَّذِي فِي يَدِهِ الدَّارُ الْبَيِّنَةَ أَنَّهَا وَرِثَهَا عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَ لَا يَدْرِي كَيْفَ أَمْرُهَا فَقَالَ أَكْثَرُهُمْ بَيِّنَةً يُسْتَحْلَفُ وَ تُدْفَعُ إِلَيْهِ.

Hadith.3345 - Abu Basir narrated that he asked Abu Abdullah (as), about a man who comes to a group of people and claims ownership of a house in their possession. He provides evidence, and the one in possession of the house also provides evidence that he inherited it from his father but does not know its exact history.

كَتَبَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ الصَّفَّارُ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ إِلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ ع‌ هَلْ تُقْبَلُ شَهَادَةُ الْوَصِيِّ لِلْمَيِّتِ بِدَيْنٍ لَهُ عَلَى رَجُلٍ مَعَ شَاهِدٍ آخَرَ عَدْلٍ فَوَقَّعَ ع إِذَا شَهِدَ مَعَهُ آخَرُ عَدْلٌ فَعَلَى الْمُدَّعِي يَمِينٌ‌[2] وَ كَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ أَ يَجُوزُ لِلْوَصِيِّ أَنْ يَشْهَدَ لِوَارِثِ الْمَيِّتِ صَغِيراً أَوْ كَبِيراً بِحَقٍّ لَهُ عَلَى الْمَيِّتِ

Hadith.3362 - Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Saffar, may Allah (swt) have mercy on him, wrote to Abu Muhammad al-Hasan ibn Ali (as): "Is the testimony of the executor (al-wasi) for the deceased regarding a debt owed to him by a man acceptable along with another just witness?" Imam (as) replied: "If another just witness testi

إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ الْمَرْأَةُ تَمُوتُ فَيَدَّعِي أَبُوهَا أَنَّهُ أَعَارَهَا بَعْضَ مَا كَانَ عِنْدَهَا مِنَ الْمَتَاعِ وَ الْخَدَمِ أَ تُقْبَلُ دَعْوَاهُ بِلَا بَيِّنَةٍ أَمْ لَا تُقْبَلُ دَعْوَاهُ إِلَّا بِبَيِّنَةٍ فَكَتَبَ ع تَجُوزُ بِلَا بَيِّنَةٍ قَالَ وَ كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ يَعْنِي عَلِيَّ بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنِ ادَّعَى زَوْجُ الْمَرْأَةِ الْمَيِّتَةِ أَوْ أَبُ

I wrote to Abu al-Hasan (as) saying: "May I be your ransom. If a woman dies and her father claims that he had lent her some of the items or servants in her possession, is his claim accepted without evidence, or is it not accepted unless he provides evidence?" Imam (as) wrote in reply: "His claim is accepted without evi

بِمَنْزِلَتِهَا إِنَّمَا جَعَلَ ذَلِكَ لِلْأَوَّلِ‌[1] وَ هُوَ فِي الْآخَرِ بِالْخِيَارِ إِنْ شَاءَ أَعْتَقَ وَ إِنْ شَاءَ أَمْسَكَ.

Hadith.3444 - Hammad narrated from al-Halabi, from Abu Abdullah (as), regarding a man who married his bondwoman to another man and stipulated that any child she bore would be free. Then her husband either divorced her or died, and she was married to another man. I asked: "What is the status of her child in this case?"

لَا[1].

Hadith.3448 - Ya'qub ibn Shu'ayb asked him about a man who freed his bondwoman on the condition that she serves him for five years. However, she ran away, and then the man died. Ya'qub asked: "If his heirs find her, do they have the right to make her serve them?" Imam (as) said: "No."

إِنْ كَانَ قِيمَةُ الْعَبْدِ مِثْلَ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ وَ مِثْلَهُ‌[1] جَازَ عِتْقُهُ وَ إِلَّا لَمْ يَجُزْ[2].

Hadith.3452 - Jamil narrated from Zurarah, from Abu Abdullah (as), regarding a man who freed his slave at the time of his death while he was in debt. Imam (as) said: "If the value of the slave equals the amount of his debt or more, the emancipation is valid. Otherwise, it is not valid."

إِنْ كَانَ الشَّاهِدُ مَرْضِيّاً لَمْ يَضْمَنْ وَ جَازَتْ شَهَادَتُهُ فِي نَصِيبِهِ وَ اسْتُسْعِيَ الْعَبْدُ فِيمَا كَانَ لِلْوَرَثَةِ[3].

I asked Imam (as) about a man who left a slave jointly owned by several people, and one of them testified that the deceased had freed the slave. Imam (as) said: "If the witness is trustworthy, he does not have to compensate the others, and his testimony is valid for his share. As for the remaining shares belonging to t

يَبِيعُهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَإِنْ كَانَ لَهُ عَنْ ثَمَنِهِ غِنًى‌[2] قَالَ إِذَا رَضِيَ الْمَمْلُوكُ فَلَا بَأْسَ.

Hadith.3456 - Ishaq ibn Ammar asked Abu Ibrahim (Imam Musa ibn Jafar Al-Kadhim) (as), about a man who frees his slave as a delayed emancipation (to take effect after his death) and then becomes in need of the slave's price. Imam (as) said: "He may sell him." I asked: "What if he is not in need of the price?" Imam (as)

إِنِ احْتَاجَ صَاحِبُهُ إِلَى ثَمَنِهِ وَ رَضِيَ الْمَمْلُوكُ فَلَا بَأْسَ‌[3].

I asked him about a mudabbar (a slave promised freedom after the owner's death). Imam (as) said: "If his owner needs the price and the slave agrees, then there is no harm in selling him."

لَا إِلَّا أَنْ يَشْتَرِطَ عَلَى الَّذِي يَبِيعُهُ إِيَّاهُ أَنْ يُعْتِقَهُ عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ‌[4].

Hadith.3458 - It is narrated by al-Ala', from Muhammad ibn Muslim, from one of the Imams (as), peace be upon them, regarding a man who frees his male or female slave as a mudabbar (to be freed after his death) and then becomes in need of the slave's price. Imam (as) said: "No, he may not sell the slave-unless he stipul

وَ سُئِلَ أَبُو إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع‌[5] عَنِ امْرَأَةٍ دَبَّرَتْ جَارِيَةً لَهَا فَوَلَدَتِ‌

Hadith.3459 - Abu Ibrahim (Imam Musa ibn Jafar Al-Kadhim (as)) was asked about a woman who made her bondwoman mudabbar (to be freed after her death). The bondwoman later gave birth to a precious daughter, and it was unclear whether the child was also mudabbar like her mother or not. Imam (as) said: "When the pregnancy

إِنْ كَانَ عَلِمَ بِحَبَلِ الْجَارِيَةِ فَمَا فِي بَطْنِهَا بِمَنْزِلَتِهَا وَ إِنْ كَانَ لَمْ يَعْلَمْ فَمَا فِي بَطْنِهَا رِقٌ‌[3] قَالَ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يُدَبِّرُ الْمَمْلُوكَ وَ هُوَ حَسَنُ الْحَالِ ثُمَّ يَحْتَاجُ أَ يَجُوزُ لَهُ أَنْ يَبِيعَهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ إِذَا احْتَاجَ إِلَى ذَلِكَ‌[4].

Hadith.3460 - Al-Hasan ibn Ali al-Washsha' asked Abu al-Hasan (as) about a man who made his bondwoman mudabbar (to be freed after his death) while she was pregnant. Imam (as) said: "If he knew about the pregnancy of the bondwoman, then what is in her womb has the same status as her (i.e., it is also mudabbar). But if h

الْمُدَبَّرُ مِنَ الثُّلُثِ وَ لِلرَّجُلِ أَنْ يَرْجِعَ فِي ثُلُثِهِ إِنْ كَانَ أَوْصَى فِي صِحَّةٍ أَوْ مَرَضٍ[5].

نَعَمْ أَيَّ ذَلِكَ شَاءَ فَعَلَ‌[1].

Hadith.3462 - Aban narrated from Abu Maryam, from Abu Abdullah (as), who was asked about a man who made his bondwoman mudabbar (to be freed after his death). Imam (as) was asked: "Can he have relations with her if he wishes, or marry her off, or sell her service during his lifetime?" Imam (as) said: "Yes, he may do any

لِمَوْلَاهُ أَنْ يُكَاتِبَهُ إِنْ شَاءَ[3] وَ لَيْسَ لَهُ أَنْ يَبِيعَهُ إِلَّا أَنْ يَشَاءَ الْعَبْدُ أَنْ يَبِيعَهُ مُدَّةَ حَيَاتِهِ‌[4] وَ لَهُ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ مَالَهُ إِنْ كَانَ لَهُ مَالٌ‌[5].

I asked him about a male or female slave who had been made mudabbar (to be freed after the master's death). Imam (as) said: "The master may enter into a mukataba (a contract of emancipation in exchange for payment) with the slave if he wishes. However, he cannot sell the slave unless the slave agrees to be sold for the

لَا وَ لَكِنْ لَهَا مِنْ نَفْسِهَا ثُلُثُهَا وَ لِلْوَارِثِ ثُلُثَاهَا يَسْتَخْدِمُهَا بِحِسَابِ الَّذِي لَهُ مِنْهَا وَ يَكُونُ لَهَا مِنْ نَفْسِهَا بِحِسَابِ مَا أُعْتِقَ مِنْهَا.

Hadith.3464 - Abdullah ibn Sinan asked him about a woman who freed one-third of her servant at the time of her death. He asked: "Are her heirs required to enter into a mukataba (a contract of emancipation in exchange for payment) with the servant if they wish, or can they refuse?" Imam (as) said: "No, but the servant o

لِعَبْدِهِ- إِنْ حَدَثَ بِي حَدَثٌ فَهُوَ حُرٌّ وَ عَلَى الرَّجُلِ تَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ فِي كَفَّارَةِ يَمِينٍ أَوْ ظِهَارٍ أَ لَهُ أَنْ يُعْتِقَ عَبْدَهُ الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَهُ الْعِتْقَ إِنْ حَدَثَ بِهِ حَدَثٌ فِي كَفَّارَةِ تِلْكَ الْيَمِينِ قَالَ لَا يَجُوزُ الَّذِي يَجْعَلُ لَهُ فِي ذَلِكَ‌[1].

I asked him about a man who said to his slave, "If something happens to me, you are free." Meanwhile, the man is obligated to free a slave as an expiation for breaking an oath or zihar (a form of prohibited declaration regarding one's wife). I asked: "Can he use this same slave, whom he had promised freedom upon his de

أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ دَبَّرَ غُلَامَهُ وَ عَلَيْهِ دَيْنٌ فِرَاراً مِنَ الدَّيْنِ قَالَ لَا تَدْبِيرَ لَهُ وَ إِنْ كَانَ دَبَّرَهُ فِي صِحَّةٍ مِنْهُ وَ سَلَامَةٍ فَلَا سَبِيلَ لِلدُّيَّانِ عَلَيْهِ‌[2].

I asked Abu Abdullah (as), about a man who made his slave mudabbar (to be freed after his death) while he was in debt, intending to escape from paying the debt. Imam (as) said: "There is no valid tadbir (declaration of delayed emancipation) in this case. However, if he made the tadbir while he was in good health and fr

أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ دَبَّرَ مَمْلُوكاً لَهُ تَاجِراً مُوسِراً[3] فَاشْتَرَى الْمُدَبَّرُ جَارِيَةً بِأَمْرِ مَوْلَاهُ فَوَلَدَتْ مِنْهُ أَوْلَاداً ثُمَّ إِنَّ الْمُدَبَّرَ مَاتَ قَبْلَ سَيِّدِهِ فَقَالَ أَرَى‌

I asked Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as), about a man who made his wealthy slave mudabbar (to be freed after his death). The mudabbar, with the permission of his master, bought a bondwoman who bore him children. Then the mudabbar died before his master. Imam (as) said: "I believe that all the property, po

قَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع‌[1] الْمُعْتَقُ عَنْ دُبُرٍ هُوَ مِنَ الثُّلُثِ وَ مَا جَنَى هُوَ وَ الْمُكَاتَبُ وَ أُمُّ الْوَلَدِ فَالْمَوْلَى ضَامِنٌ لِجِنَايَتِهِمْ‌[2].

Hadith.3468 - Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) said: "A mudabbar (a slave promised freedom after the owner's death) is counted as part of the one-third (of the estate). As for any offense committed by the mudabbar, the mukatab (a slave under a contract of emancipation), or the umm al-walad (a bondwoman who bore her master a

وَ قَضَى أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فِي مُكَاتَبٍ اشْتُرِطَ عَلَيْهِ وَلَاؤُهُ إِذَا أُعْتِقَ فَنَكَحَ وَلِيدَةً لِرَجُلٍ آخَرَ فَوَلَدَتْ لَهُ وَلَداً فَحُرِّرَ وَلَدُهُ‌[4] ثُمَّ تُوُفِّيَ الْمُكَاتَبُ فَوَرِثَهُ وَلَدُهُ فَاخْتَلَفُوا فِي وَلَدِهِ مَنْ يَرِثُهُ فَأَلْحَقَ وَلَدَهُ‌

"If a mukatab (a slave under a contract of emancipation) stipulates with his master that there will be no wala' (loyalty) upon him, or if the master stipulates that the wala' of the mukatab will belong to him and the mukatab agrees, then the wala' belongs to the master." Imam (as) said: "Commander of the Faithful, peac

أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ كَانَ عَلَيْهِ عِتْقُ رَقَبَةٍ فَمَاتَ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يُعْتِقَ رَقَبَةً فَانْطَلَقَ ابْنُهُ فَابْتَاعَ رَجُلًا مِنْ كَسْبِهِ فَأَعْتَقَهُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَ إِنَّ الْمُعْتَقَ أَصَابَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ مَالًا ثُمَّ مَاتَ وَ تَرَكَهُ لِمَنْ يَكُونُ مِيرَاثُهُ قَالَ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَتِ الرَّقَبَةُ الَّتِي كَانَتْ عَلَى أَبِيهِ فِي نَذْرٍ أَوْ شُكْرٍ أَوْ كَانَتْ وَاجِبَةً عَلَيْهِ‌[2] فَإِنَّ ال

I asked Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as), about a man who was obligated to free a slave but died before doing so. His son then purchased a slave with his own wealth and freed him on behalf of his father. Later, the freed slave acquired wealth and passed away, leaving an inheritance. I asked: "Who inherits

لَا خِيَارَ لَهَا عَلَى الْعَبْدِ هِيَ مَمْلُوكَةٌ لِلْوَرَثَةِ[3].

Hadith.3508 - Al-Hasan ibn Mahbub narrated from Wahb ibn Abd Rabbih, from Abu Abdullah (as) regarding a man who married his Umm al-Walad (a female slave who bore him a child) to his slave, and then the master died. Imam (as) said: "She has no choice regarding the slave. She remains a slave belonging to the heirs."

كَانَ عَلِيٌّ ع إِذَا مَاتَ الرَّجُلُ وَ لَهُ امْرَأَةٌ مَمْلُوكَةٌ اشْتَرَاهَا مِنْ مَالِهِ فَأَعْتَقَهَا ثُمَّ وَرَّثَهَا[4].

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ أَيُّمَا رَجُلٍ تَرَكَ سُرِّيَّةً لَهَا وَلَدٌ أَوْ فِي بَطْنِهَا وَلَدٌ أَوْ لَا وَلَدَ لَهَا فَإِنْ كَانَ أَعْتَقَهَا رَبُّهَا عَتَقَتْ وَ إِنْ لَمْ يُعْتِقْهَا حَتَّى تُوُفِّيَ فَقَدْ سَبَقَ فِيهَا كِتَابُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ كِتَابُ اللَّهِ أَحَقُ‌[1] قَالَ وَ إِنْ كَانَ لَهَا وَلَدٌ وَ تَرَكَ مَالًا تُجْعَلُ فِي نَصِيبِ وَلَدِهَا وَ يُمْسِكُهَا أَوْلِيَاءُ وَلَدِهَا حَتَّى ي

Hadith.3513 - Asim narrated from Muhammad ibn Qays, who narrated from Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as), that Commander of the Faithful, peace be upon him, said: "Any man who leaves behind a concubine (surriyah) who has a child, or is pregnant with a child, or has no child, then if her master had freed her

أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ لَهُ مَمْلُوكٌ قَدْ أَبَقَ مِنْهُ يَجُوزُ أَنْ يُعْتِقَهُ فِي كَفَّارَةِ الظِّهَارِ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ مَا لَمْ يَعْرِفْ مِنْهُ مَوْتاً[1].

"I asked Abu al-Hasan (as), about a man who had a runaway slave. Is it permissible for him to free the slave as an expiation for zihar?" Imam (as) replied: 'There is no harm in it, as long as he has not come to know of the slave's death.'"

أَرَى أَنَّ جَمِيعَ مَا مَعَهَا لِلْوَرَثَةِ[5] قُلْتُ وَ لَا تُعْتَقُ مِنْ ثُلُثِ سَيِّدِهَا قَالَ لَا إِنَّهَا أَبَقَتْ عَاصِيَةً لِلَّهِ وَ لِسَيِّدِهَا فَأَبْطَلَ الْإِبَاقُ التَّدْبِيرَ[6].

Hadith.3537 - Muhammad ibn Muslim narrated from Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as): I asked him about a bondwoman who was mudadbarah (promised freedom upon the master's death). She ran away from her master for several years and later returned after her master had died. She came back with children and consid

لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ شَيْ‌ءٌ[4].

Hadith.3541 - Al-Hasan ibn Mahbub narrated from Al-Hasan ibn Salih, from Abu Abdullah (as). He said: I asked him about a man who found a stolen animal that belonged to his neighbor, so he took it to return it to him, but the animal died. Imam (as) said: "There is nothing (no liability) upon him."

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ كُلُّ مُسْلِمٍ بَيْنَ مُسْلِمَيْنِ‌[3] ارْتَدَّ عَنِ الْإِسْلَامِ وَ جَحَدَ مُحَمَّداً ص نُبُوَّتَهُ وَ كَذَّبَهُ فَإِنَّ دَمَهُ مُبَاحٌ لِكُلِّ مَنْ سَمِعَ ذَلِكَ مِنْهُ وَ امْرَأَتَهُ بَائِنَةٌ مِنْهُ فَلَا تَقْرَبْهُ‌[4] وَ يُقْسَمُ مَالُهُ عَلَى وَرَثَتِهِ وَ تَعْتَدُّ امْرَأَتُهُ عِدَّةَ الْمُتَوَفَّى عَنْهَا زَوْجُهَا- وَ عَلَى الْإِمَامِ أَنْ يَقْتُلَهُ إِنْ أُتِيَ بِهِ

I heard Abu Abdullah (as), say: "Any Muslim who is living among Muslims and then apostasizes from Islam, denies the prophethood of Muhammad, peace be upon him and his family, and rejects him, then his blood is permissible (to be shed) for anyone who hears that from him. His wife becomes separated from him and must not

إِنَّ عَلِيّاً ع لَمَّا فَرَغَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَصْرَةِ أَتَاهُ سَبْعُونَ رَجُلًا مِنَ الزُّطِّ[2] فَسَلَّمُوا عَلَيْهِ وَ كَلَّمُوهُ بِلِسَانِهِمْ[3] ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُمْ إِنِّي لَسْتُ كَمَا قُلْتُمْ أَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ مَخْلُوقٌ قَالَ فَأَبَوْا عَلَيْهِ وَ قَالُوا لَعَنَهُمُ اللَّهُ لَا بَلْ أَنْتَ أَنْتَ هُوَ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ لَئِنْ لَمْ تَرْجِعُوا عَمَّا قُلْتُمْ وَ لَمْ تَتُوبُوا[4] إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَأَ

طَئُوا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ‌[4] عَلَيْهِ فَوُطِئَ حَتَّى مَاتَ.

Hadith.3553 - In a narration reported by Musa bin Bakr from Al-Fudhayl, from Abu Abdullah (as): "A man from among the Muslims converted to Christianity. He was brought to Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as). Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) asked him to repent, but he refused. Then Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) seized him by his hair

إِلَيْهِ‌[5] أَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الْمَمْلُوكِ يَحْضُرُهُ الْمَوْتُ فَيُعْتِقُهُ مَوْلَاهُ فِي تِلْكَ السَّاعَةِ فَيَخْرُجُ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا حُرّاً هَلْ لِلْمَوْلَى فِي عِتْقِهِ ذَلِكَ أَجْرٌ أَوْ يَتْرُكُهُ مَمْلُوكاً فَيَكُونُ لَهُ أَجْرٌ إِذَا مَاتَ وَ هُوَ مَمْلُوكٌ لَهُ أَفْضَلُ فَكَتَبَ ع يُتْرَكُ الْعَبْدُ مَمْلُوكاً فِي حَالِ مَوْتِهِ فَهُوَ آجَرُ لِمَوْلَاهُ‌[6] وَ هَذَا الْعِتْقُ فِي تِلْكَ السَّاعَةِ[7] لَمْ يَك

I wrote to Imam (as) asking about a slave who is near death, and his master frees him at that moment so that he leaves this world as a free man. Does the master earn a reward for freeing him, or is it better to leave him as a slave so that the master gains a greater reward if he dies while still owned? Imam (as) wrote:

إِنْ كَانَ فِي مَرَضٍ فَالْعِتْقُ أَفْضَلُ لَهُ لِأَنَّهُ يُعْتِقُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِكُلِّ عُضْوٍ مِنْهُ عُضْواً مِنَ النَّارِ وَ إِنْ كَانَ فِي حَالِ حُضُورِ الْمَوْتِ فَيَتْرُكُهُ مَمْلُوكاً أَفْضَلُ لَهُ مِنْ عِتْقِهِ.

Hadith.3560 - Muhammad ibn Isa al-Ubaydi narrated from al-Fadl ibn al-Mubarak: He wrote to Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn Muhammad (as) asking about a man who owns a slave, and the slave becomes ill. Is it better for the man to free him during his illness to gain a greater reward, or to leave him as a servant? Imam (as) replied:

لَهُ أَبْلَغَ اللَّهُ مِنْ قَدْرِكَ أَنْ تَدَّعِيَ مَا يَدَّعِي أَبُوكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ مَا لَكَ أَطْفَأَ اللَّهُ نُورَكَ وَ أَدْخَلَ الْفَقْرَ بَيْتَكَ أَ مَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى أَوْحَى إِلَى عِمْرَانَ أَنِّي وَاهِبٌ لَكَ ذَكَراً فَوَهَبَ لَهُ مَرْيَمَ وَ وَهَبَ لِمَرْيَمَ عِيسَى- فَعِيسَى مِنْ مَرْيَمَ وَ مَرْيَمُ مِنْ عِيسَى وَ عِيسَى وَ مَرْيَمُ شَيْ‌ءٌ وَاحِدٌ وَ أَنَا مِنْ أَبِي وَ أَبِي

Hadith.3564 - Ibn Abi Sa'id al-Mukari entered upon Imam Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha (as) and said to him: "Has Allah (swt) elevated your status to the extent that you claim what your father claims?" The Imam (as) replied: "What is wrong with you? May Allah (swt) extinguish your light and bring poverty into your house! Do you

يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَدْ عَلَّمْتُ ابْنِي هَذَا الْكِتَابَ فَفِي أَيِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ أُسْلِمُهُ فَقَالَ أَسْلِمْهُ لِلَّهِ أَبُوكَ وَ لَا تُسْلِمْهُ فِي خَمْسٍ لَا تُسْلِمْهُ سَيَّاءً وَ لَا صَائِغاً وَ لَا قَصَّاباً وَ لَا حَنَّاطاً وَ لَا نَخَّاساً فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَ مَا السَّيَّاءُ[4] قَالَ الَّذِي يَبِيعُ الْأَكْفَانَ وَ يَتَمَنَّى مَوْتَ أُمَّتِي وَ لَلْمَوْلُودُ مِنْ أُمَّتِي أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِمَّا طَلَعَ

A man came to the Prophet, peace be upon him and his family, and said: "O Messenger of Allah (swt), I have taught my son to read and write. In what profession should I place him?" The Prophet, peace be upon him and his family, replied:"Entrust him to Allah (swt) and do not place him in five professions: Do not make him

لَا بَأْسَ بِأَجْرِ النَّائِحَةِ الَّتِي تَنُوحُ عَلَى الْمَيِّتِ وَ أَجْرِ الْمُغَنِّيَةِ الَّتِي تَزُفُّ الْعَرَائِسَ لَيْسَ بِهِ بَأْسٌ[3] وَ لَيْسَتْ بِالَّتِي يَدْخُلُ عَلَيْهَا الرِّجَالُ[4].

قَالَ‌ أَجْرُ الزَّانِيَةِ سُحْتٌ‌[1] وَ ثَمَنُ الْكَلْبِ الَّذِي لَيْسَ بِكَلْبِ الصَّيْدِ[2]

Hadith.3648 - Imam (as) said: "The wage of a prostitute is unlawful (suht), the price of a dog that is not a hunting dog is unlawful (suht), the price of wine is unlawful (suht), the earnings of a soothsayer are unlawful (suht), and the price of a dead animal is unlawful (suht). As for bribes in judgment, they amount t

الْمُسْتَأْجِرُ ضَامِنٌ لِأَجْرِ الْأَجِيرِ حَتَّى يَقْضِيَ إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ الْأَجِيرُ دَعَاهُ إِلَى ذَلِكَ فَرَضِيَ بِهِ فَإِنْ فَعَلَ فَحَقُّهُ حَيْثُ وَضَعَهُ وَ رَضِيَ بِهِ.

I asked him about a man who hired a laborer, but neither of them trusted the other, so they deposited the wages with a third person. Then that third person died without leaving anything to cover the wages, and the wages were lost. Imam (as) said: 'The employer is responsible for the wages of the laborer until they are

وَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص لِرَجُلٍ‌[2] أَصْبَحْتَ صَائِماً قَالَ لَا قَالَ فَعُدْتَ مَرِيضاً قَالَ لَا قَالَ فَاتَّبَعْتَ جَنَازَةً قَالَ لَا قَالَ فَأَطْعَمْتَ مِسْكِيناً قَالَ لَا قَالَ فَارْجِعْ إِلَى أَهْلِكَ فَأَصِبْهُمْ فَإِنَّهُ مِنْكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَدَقَةٌ[3].

Hadith.3673 - The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said to a man: "Did you wake up fasting?" He replied: "No." He (sw) said: "Then did you visit a sick person?" He replied: "No." He (sw) said: "Then did you follow a funeral procession?" He replied: "No." He (sw) said: "Then did you feed a poor person?" He rep

لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّهُ ذُكِرَ لَنَا أَنَّ رَجُلًا مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ مَاتَ وَ عَلَيْهِ دِينَارَانِ دَيْناً فَلَمْ يُصَلِّ عَلَيْهِ النَّبِيُّ ص وَ قَالَ صَلُّوا عَلَى أَخِيكُمْ حَتَّى ضَمِنَهُمَا عَنْهُ بَعْضُ قَرَابَاتِهِ‌[3] فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع ذَاكَ الْحَقُّ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص إِنَّمَا فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ لِيَتَّعِظُوا[4] وَ لِيَرُدَّ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ وَ لِئَلَّا يَسْتَخِفُّوا

I said to Abu Abdillah (as), "It has been mentioned to us that a man from the Ansar died while owing two dinars as debt, so the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) did not pray over him and said: 'Pray over your brother,' until one of his relatives guaranteed them on his behalf." Abu Abdillah (as) said: "That is

إِذَا مَاتَ الْمَيِّتُ حَلَّ مَا لَهُ وَ مَا عَلَيْهِ[1]

إِذَا رَضِيَ بِهِ الْغُرَمَاءُ فَقَدْ بَرِئَتْ ذِمَّةُ الْمَيِّتِ.

Hadith.3711 - Al-Hasan ibn Mahbub narrated from Al-Hasan ibn Salih Al-Thawri, from Abu Abdillah (as), regarding a man who dies while owing a debt, and a guarantor guarantees it for the creditors. Imam (as) said: "If the creditors are satisfied with him, then the deceased is absolved of liability."

لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ لِعَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ سَيَابَةَ دَيْناً عَلَى رَجُلٍ وَ قَدْ مَاتَ فَكَلَّمْنَاهُ أَنْ يُحَلِّلَهُ فَأَبَى قَالَ وَيْحَهُ أَ مَا يَعْلَمُ أَنَّ لَهُ بِكُلِّ دِرْهَمٍ عَشَرَةً إِذَا حَلَّلَهُ وَ إِذَا لَمْ يُحَلِّلْهُ فَإِنَّمَا لَهُ دِرْهَمٌ بَدَلَ دِرْهَمٍ‌[2].

I said to Abu Abdillah (as), "Abdur-Rahman ibn Sayabah has a debt owed to him by a man who has died. We spoke to him about forgiving it, but he refused." Imam (as) said: "Woe to him! Does he not know that for every dirham he forgives, he will receive ten in return? But if he does not forgive, then he will only receive

عَلِيٌّ ع‌[2] مَنْ أَقَرَّ لِأَخِيهِ فَهُوَ شَرِيكٌ فِي الْمَالِ وَ لَا يَثْبُتُ نَسَبُهُ وَ إِذَا أَقَرَّ اثْنَانِ فَكَذَلِكَ إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَا عَدْلَيْنِ فَيُلْحَقُ نَسَبُهُ وَ يُضْرَبُ فِي الْمِيرَاثِ مَعَهُمْ.

Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) ruled concerning a man who died and left heirs. One of the heirs acknowledged a debt against his father. Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) ruled that it would be binding upon him in his share, according to what he inherited, and it would not apply to the entire estate. If two of the heirs acknowle