Food & Eating

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ لَوْ أَنَّ مُؤْمِناً دَعَانِي إِلَى طَعَامِ ذِرَاعِ شَاةٍ لَأَجَبْتُهُ وَ كَانَ ذَلِكَ مِنَ الدِّينِ وَ لَوْ أَنَّ مُشْرِكاً أَوْ مُنَافِقاً دَعَانِي إِلَى طَعَامِ جَزُورٍ مَا أَجَبْتُهُ وَ كَانَ ذَلِكَ مِنَ الدِّينِ أَبَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لِي زَبْدَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ وَ الْمُنَافِقِينَ وَ طَعَامَهُمْ‌[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, ‘If a believing man invites me for food that consists of only a hand of sheep, I accept it and that is of religion. If an idolater or hypocrite invites m

إِنَّ مِنْ حَقِّ الْمُسْلِمِ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِ أَنْ يُجِيبَهُ إِذَا دَعَاهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is of the rights of a Muslim on a Muslim to accept his invitation.’”

إِنَّ مِنَ الْحُقُوقِ الْوَاجِبَاتِ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ أَنْ تُجَابَ دَعْوَتُهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is of obligatory rights of a believer that you accept his invitation.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ أُوصِي الشَّاهِدَ مِنْ أُمَّتِي وَ الْغَائِبَ أَنْ يُجِيبَ دَعْوَةَ الْمُسْلِمِ وَ لَوْ عَلَى خَمْسَةِ أَمْيَالٍ فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ مِنَ الدِّينِ.

“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, advised, ‘Those of my followers present must inform those absent to accept the invitation of a Muslim even if it is five miles away, because it is of religion.’”

إِنَّ مِنْ حَقِّ الْمُسْلِمِ الْوَاجِبِ عَلَى أَخِيهِ إِجَابَةَ دَعْوَتِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is of the obligatory rights of a Muslim on his brother (in faith) to accept his invitation.’”

أَجِبْ فِي الْوَلِيمَةِ وَ الْخِتَانِ وَ لَا تُجِبْ فِي خَفْضِ الْجَوَارِي.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Accept an invitation for a wedding and circumcision; but do not accept for Khafd (lowering) girls.’”

لَهُمْ يَقِفُ عَلَيْكُمُ الرَّكْبُ وَ يَسْأَلُونَكُمْ عَنِّي وَ يُبَلِّغُونِّي السَّلَامَ وَ لَا تَعْرِضُونَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْغَدَاءَ لَيَعِزُّ عَلَى قَوْمٍ فِيهِمْ خَلِيلِي جَعْفَرٌ أَنْ يَجُوزُوهُ حَتَّى يَتَغَدَّوْا عِنْدَهُ‌[2].

“During one of his expeditions, the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, was performing Salat (prayer) when a caravan passed by. They stopped by the companions of the Messenger of Allah and asked them about him (the Messenger of Allah), praye

إِذَا دَخَلَ عَلَيْكَ أَخُوكَ فَاعْرِضْ عَلَيْهِ الطَّعَامَ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَأْكُلْ فَاعْرِضْ عَلَيْهِ الْمَاءَ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَشْرَبْ فَاعْرِضْ عَلَيْهِ الْوَضُوءَ[3].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When your brother (in belief) comes to your house, offer him food, if he did not want, then offer him water and if he did not want water offer him wudu (to wash his face or perfume).’”

رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مِنْ تَكْرِمَةِ الرَّجُلِ لِأَخِيهِ أَنْ يَقْبَلَ تُحْفَتَهُ وَ أَنْ يُتْحِفَهُ بِمَا عِنْدَهُ وَ لَا يَتَكَلَّفَ لَهُ شَيْئاً وَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِنِّي لَا أُحِبُّ الْمُتَكَلِّفِينَ.

“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, ‘Of a man’s honoring his brother (in belief) is to accept his gift and present him a gift of what he has and should not overburden himself.’ The Messenge

الْمُؤْمِنُ لَا يَحْتَشِمُ مِنْ أَخِيهِ وَ لَا يُدْرَى أَيُّهُمَا أَعْجَبُ الَّذِي يُكَلِّفُ أَخَاهُ إِذَا دَخَلَ أَنْ يَتَكَلَّفَ لَهُ أَوِ الْمُتَكَلِّفُ لِأَخِيهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A believing man should not behave formally toward his brother (in belief). One will not know which is stranger; the one who overburdens his brother to be formal or the one who behaves unnecessarily formal with his brother (in belief).”’

جَاءَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ سِنَانٍ فَقَالَ هَلْ عِنْدَكَ شَيْ‌ءٌ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ فَبَعَثْتُ ابْنِي فَأَعْطَيْتُهُ دِرْهَماً يَشْتَرِي بِهِ لَحْماً وَ بَيْضاً فَقَالَ لِي أَيْنَ أَرْسَلْتَ ابْنَكَ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ فَقَالَ رُدَّهُ رُدَّهُ عِنْدَكَ زَيْتٌ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ هَاتِهِ فَإِنِّي سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ هَلَكَ امْرُؤٌ احْتَقَرَ لِأَخِيهِ مَا يَحْضُرُهُ وَ هَلَكَ امْرُؤٌ احْتَقَرَ لِأَخِيهِ مَا

“Once ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan came to me and asked, ‘Do you have anything?’ I replied, ‘Yes, I have something.’ I then sent my son and gave him two dirham to buy meat and eggs. He asked, ‘Where did you send your son?’ I then informed him about it. He said, ‘Call him back. Do you have any oil?’ I replied, ‘Yes, we have oil

إِنَّ حَارِثاً الْأَعْوَرَ أَتَى أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع وَ قَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أُحِبُّ أَنْ تُكْرِمَنِي بِأَنْ تَأْكُلَ عِنْدِي فَقَالَ لَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع عَلَى أَنْ لَا تَتَكَلَّفَ لِي شَيْئاً وَ دَخَلَ فَأَتَاهُ الْحَارِثُ بِكِسْرَةٍ فَجَعَلَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَأْكُلُ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْحَارِثُ إِنَّ مَعِي دَرَاهِمَ وَ أَظْهَرَهَا فَإِذَا هِيَ فِي كُمِّهِ فَإِنْ أَذِنْتَ لِي اشْتَرَيْ

“Harith al-A‘war once came to ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), and said, ‘O ’Amir al- Mu’minin, I wish you grant me the honor of having food with me. ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), said, ‘I accept your invitation, provided, that you do not overburden yourself by acting formally’. He (the Imam) went to his house. Harith brought a p

يُهْلِكُ الْمَرْءَ الْمُسْلِمَ‌[1] أَنْ يَسْتَقِلَّ مَا عِنْدَهُ لِلضَّيْفِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A man who looks down on what he has for the guest is ruined.’”

إِذَا أَتَاكَ أَخُوكَ فَأْتِهِ بِمَا عِنْدَكَ وَ إِذَا دَعَوْتَهُ فَتَكَلَّفْ لَهُ.

‘If your brother (in belief) comes to you, then serve him with whatever you have, but if you invite him then you can act formally (as you like).”’

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ هَذِهِ الْآيَةِ- لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُناحٌ أَنْ تَأْكُلُوا مِنْ بُيُوتِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ آبائِكُمْ‌ إِلَى آخِرِ الْآيَةِ[1] قُلْتُ مَا يَعْنِي بِقَوْلِهِ- أَوْ صَدِيقِكُمْ‌ قَالَ هُوَ وَ اللَّهِ الرَّجُلُ يَدْخُلُ بَيْتَ صَدِيقِهِ فَيَأْكُلُ بِغَيْرِ إِذْنِهِ.

“I once asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), about this verse, ’It is not unlawful for you to eat in your houses, in the houses of your fathers. . . (24:61) and I asked what is the meaning of, ‘or your friend’?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘That by Allah is the house of his friend where he can eat without his permission.’”

هَؤُلَاءِ الَّذِينَ سَمَّى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي هَذِهِ الْآيَةِ تَأْكُلُ بِغَيْرِ إِذْنِهِمْ مِنَ التَّمْرِ وَ الْمَأْدُومِ وَ كَذَلِكَ تَطْعَمُ الْمَرْأَةُ مِنْ مَنْزِلِ زَوْجِهَا بِغَيْرِ إِذْنِهِ فَأَمَّا مَا خَلَا ذَلِكَ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ فَلَا.

‘The people Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has mentioned in this verse can eat without the permission of the owner of the house, things such as dates and curries and so also can a woman eat from the house of her husband without his permission. However, it is not permissible for them to eat other items of food bes

لِلْمَرْأَةِ أَنْ تَأْكُلَ وَ أَنْ تَتَصَدَّقَ وَ لِلصَّدِيقِ أَنْ يَأْكُلَ فِي مَنْزِلِ أَخِيهِ وَ يَتَصَدَّقَ‌[2].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A woman can eat and give charity and a friend can eat and give charity from the house of his brother.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَحَدَهُمَا ع عَنْ هَذِهِ الْآيَةِ- لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُناحٌ أَنْ تَأْكُلُوا مِنْ بُيُوتِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ آبائِكُمْ أَوْ بُيُوتِ أُمَّهاتِكُمْ‌ الْآيَةَ قَالَ لَيْسَ عَلَيْكَ جُنَاحٌ فِيمَا طَعِمْتَ أَوْ أَكَلْتَ مِمَّا مَلَكْتَ مَفَاتِحَهُ مَا لَمْ تُفْسِدْهُ.

“I once asked one of the two Imam, (abu Ja’far or abu ‘Abd Allah), ‘Alayhim al-Salam, about the meaning of the words of Allah. ‘ ... it is not an offense on your part if you eat from your homes or the homes of your fathers or the homes of your mothers. . . .’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not an offense on your part if yo

الرَّجُلُ يَكُونُ لَهُ وَكِيلٌ يَقُومُ فِي مَالِهِ فَيَأْكُلُ بِغَيْرِ إِذْنِهِ.

“About the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘. . . and that to which you have the keys’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A man can be an agent who is being made the incharge person to look after certain assets, he can eat without the permission of the owner.’”

دَخَلْنَا مَعَ ابْنِ أَبِي يَعْفُورٍ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ نَحْنُ جَمَاعَةٌ فَدَعَا بِالْغَدَاءِ فَتَغَدَّيْنَا وَ تَغَدَّى مَعَنَا وَ كُنْتُ أَحْدَثَ الْقَوْمِ سِنّاً فَجَعَلْتُ أَقْصُرُ وَ أَنَا آكُلُ فَقَالَ لِي كُلْ أَ مَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّهُ تُعْرَفُ مَوَدَّةُ الرَّجُلِ لِأَخِيهِ بِأَكْلِهِ مِنْ طَعَامِهِ.

“Once we along with ibn abu Ya‘fur visited abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and we were a group. Food was prepared and we had lunch. He (the Imam) also took lunch with us. I was the youngest in the group and I made it shorter in my eating. He (the Imam) then said, ’Eat. Did you not know that one’s love for his brother (in belief

أَكَلْنَا مَعَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَأُوتِينَا بِقَصْعَةٍ مِنْ أَرُزٍّ فَجَعَلْنَا نُعَذِّرُ[1] فَقَالَ ع مَا صَنَعْتُمْ شَيْئاً إِنَّ أَشَدَّكُمْ حُبّاً لَنَا أَحْسَنُكُمْ أَكْلًا عِنْدَنَا قَالَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ فَرَفَعْتُ كُسْحَةَ الْمَائِدَةِ[2] فَأَكَلْتُ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ الْآنَ وَ أَنْشَأَ يُحَدِّثُنَا أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص أُهْدِيَ إِلَيْهِ قَصْعَةُ أَرُزٍّ مِنْ نَاحِيَةِ الْأَنْصَارِ فَدَعَا سَلْمَانَ وَ

“Once we were having food with abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), and a bowl of rice was brought but we just left it untouched. He (the Imam) (a.s.), said, ‘You did not eat anything thereof. You must take notice that the one among you with intense love for us is the one who eats our food well.’ ‘Abd al-Rahman said, ‘I then ate eve

أَكَلْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَجَعَلَ يُلْقِي بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ الشِّوَاءَ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا عِيسَى إِنَّهُ يُقَالُ اعْتَبِرْ حُبَّ الرَّجُلِ بِأَكْلِهِ مِنْ طَعَامِ أَخِيهِ.

“I once was having food with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and he (the Imam) kept placing Kabab before me. He (the Imam) then said, ’O ‘Isa, it is said that if you like to find out how much one loves his brother (in belief), see how much he eats from the food of his brother.’”

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَدَّمَ إِلَيْنَا طَعَاماً فِيهِ شِوَاءٌ وَ أَشْيَاءَ بَعْدَهُ ثُمَّ جَاءَ بِقَصْعَةٍ فِيهَا أَرُزٌّ فَأَكَلْتُ مَعَهُ فَقَالَ كُلْ قُلْتُ قَدْ أَكَلْتُ فَقَالَ كُلْ فَإِنَّهُ يُعْتَبَرُ حُبُّ الرَّجُلِ لِأَخِيهِ بِانْبِسَاطِهِ فِي طَعَامِهِ ثُمَّ حَازَ لِي حَوْزاً[1] بِإِصْبَعِهِ مِنَ الْقَصْعَةِ فَقَالَ لِي لَتَأْكُلَنَّ ذَا بَعْدَ مَا قَدْ أَكَلْتَ فَأَكَلْتُهُ.

“I once was with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and food was brought for us with kabab and other things in it, then a bowl of rice was brought. I ate with him (the Imam). He (the Imam) said, ‘Eat.’ I said, ‘I ate.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Eat because the love of a brother (in belief) is proportionate with how much he eats from hi

أَتَيْنَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ هُوَ يُرِيدُ الْخُرُوجَ إِلَى مَكَّةَ فَأَمَرَ بِسُفْرَةٍ فَوُضِعَتْ بَيْنَ أَيْدِينَا فَقَالَ كُلُوا فَأَكَلْنَا فَقَالَ أَثْبَتُّمْ أَثْبَتُّمْ‌[2] إِنَّهُ كَانَ يُقَالُ اعْتَبِرْ حُبَّ الْقَوْمِ بِأَكْلِهِمْ قَالَ فَأَكَلْنَا وَ قَدْ ذَهَبَتِ الْحِشْمَةُ.

“We once visited abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when he (the Imam) was about to leave for Makkah. He (the Imam) ordered a package of food and it was placed before us. He (the Imam) said, ‘Eat.’ We ate. He (the Imam) said, ‘You have proved it, you have proved it, because it is said to find out a people’s love for you by means o

دَعَا أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع بِطَعَامٍ فَأُتِيَ بِهَرِيسَةٍ فَقَالَ لَنَا ادْنُوا فَكُلُوا قَالَ فَأَقْبَلَ الْقَوْمُ يَقْصُرُونَ فَقَالَ ع كُلُوا فَإِنَّمَا يَسْتَبِينُ مَوَدَّةُ الرَّجُلِ لِأَخِيهِ فِي أَكْلِهِ عِنْدَهُ قَالَ فَأَقْبَلْنَا نُغِصُّ أَنْفُسَنَا كَمَا تَغَصُّ الْإِبِلُ‌[3].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), asked for food. Mashed grain and meat was brought for us. He (the Imam) said, ’Come near and eat.’ He (the narrator) has said, The people went close but made the eating short. He (the Imam) said, ’Eat because it shows one’s love for his brother (in belief).’ We then ate in large morsels like hun

كَانَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع رُبَّمَا أَطْعَمَنَا الْفَرَانِيَّ وَ الْأَخْبِصَةَ[1] ثُمَّ يُطْعِمُ الْخُبْزَ وَ الزَّيْتَ فَقِيلَ لَهُ لَوْ دَبَّرْتَ أَمْرَكَ حَتَّى تَعْتَدِلَ فَقَالَ إِنَّمَا نَتَدَبَّرُ بِأَمْرِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَإِذَا وَسَّعَ عَلَيْنَا وَسَّعْنَا وَ إِذَا قَتَّرَ عَلَيْنَا قَتَّرْنَا

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), would feed us milk with sugar or a mixture of dates and bread, then give us bread and oil. It was then said to him (the Imam), ’We wish you organize and plan your affairs to balance them out.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘We do so by the command of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious. When He expands s

ثَلَاثَةُ أَشْيَاءَ لَا يُحَاسَبُ عَلَيْهِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنُ طَعَامٌ يَأْكُلُهُ وَ ثَوْبٌ يَلْبَسُهُ وَ زَوْجَةٌ صَالِحَةٌ تُعَاوِنُهُ وَ يُحْصِنُ بِهَا فَرْجَهُ.

2. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from ibn Mahbub from ibn Ri’ab from al-Halabiy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘There are three things for which Allah does not ask a believing person for accounting. One of such item is the food that he eats, the clothes that he

كُنَّا عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع جَمَاعَةً فَدَعَا بِطَعَامٍ مَا لَنَا عَهْدٌ بِمِثْلِهِ لَذَاذَةً وَ طِيباً وَ أُوتِينَا بِتَمْرٍ نَنْظُرُ فِيهِ إِلَى وُجُوهِنَا مِنْ صَفَائِهِ وَ حُسْنِهِ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ لَتُسْأَلُنَّ عَنْ هَذَا النَّعِيمِ الَّذِي نُعِّمْتُمْ بِهِ عِنْدَ ابْنِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَكْرَمُ وَ أَجَلُّ مِنْ أَنْ يُطْعِمَكُمْ طَعَاماً فَيُسَو

“Once we were in a group with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.). He (the Imam) ordered such a food the like of which in good taste and elegance we had never seen. Thereafter dates were brought, in which we could see the reflection of our faces because of their clarity and goodness. A man then said, ‘We will be held accountable for

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ لَيْسَ فِي الطَّعَامِ سَرَفٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Extragance (overspending) is not applicable in food.’”

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع فَدَعَا بِالْغَدَاءِ فَأَكَلْتُ مَعَهُ طَعَاماً مَا أَكَلْتُ طَعَاماً قَطُّ أَنْظَفَ مِنْهُ وَ لَا أَطْيَبَ فَلَمَّا فَرَغْنَا مِنَ الطَّعَامِ قَالَ يَا أَبَا خَالِدٍ كَيْفَ رَأَيْتَ طَعَامَكَ أَوْ قَالَ طَعَامَنَا قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مَا رَأَيْتُ أَطْيَبَ مِنْهُ وَ لَا أَنْظَفَ قَطُّ وَ لَكِنِّي ذَكَرْتُ الْآيَةَ الَّتِي فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌ لَتُسْئَلُنَّ يَوْمَئِذٍ

“I once visited abu Ja‘far (a.s.). He (the Imam) ordered food. I ate a food with him the like of which I never before had seen in cleanness and elegance. When we finished our food he (the Imam) asked, ‘O abu Khalid, how was your food’ or that he (the Imam) said, ‘Our food?’ I said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in s

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ اعْمَلْ طَعَاماً وَ تَنَوَّقْ‌[1] فِيهِ وَ ادْعُ عَلَيْهِ أَصْحَابَكَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Prepare food and make it unique; then invite your friends for it.’”

أَوْلَمَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع وَلِيمَةً عَلَى بَعْضِ وُلْدِهِ فَأَطْعَمَ أَهْلَ الْمَدِينَةِ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ الْفَالُوذَجَاتِ فِي الْجِفَانِ فِي الْمَسَاجِدِ وَ الْأَزِقَّةِ فَعَابَهُ بِذَلِكَ بَعْضُ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ فَبَلَغَهُ ع ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ مَا آتَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ نَبِيّاً مِنْ أَنْبِيَائِهِ شَيْئاً إِلَّا وَ قَدْ آتَى مُحَمَّداً ص مِثْلَهُ وَ زَادَهُ مَا لَمْ يُؤْتِهِمْ قَالَ لِسُلَيْمَانَ ع- ه

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from certain persons of our people who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), ordered to prepare food for the ceremony of a certain one of his children and fed people of al-Madinah with Faludhat (a certain kind of sweet) in l

لَا تَجِبُ الدَّعْوَةُ إِلَّا فِي أَرْبَعٍ الْعُرْسِ وَ الْخُرْسِ وَ الْإِيَابِ وَ الْإِعْذَارِ[3].

“Inviting (people for food) is not obligatory except for four occasions. Such occasions are: weddings, the birth of a child, circumcisions, and returning from a journey.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ الْوَلِيمَةُ فِي أَرْبَعٍ الْعُرْسِ وَ الْخُرْسِ وَ هُوَ الْمَوْلُودُ يُعَقُّ عَنْهُ وَ يُطْعَمُ وَ الْإِعْذَارِ وَ هُوَ خِتَانُ الْغُلَامِ وَ الْإِيَابِ وَ هُوَ الرَّجُلُ يَدْعُو إِخْوَانَهُ إِذَا آبَ مِنْ غَيْبَتِهِ. - وَ فِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى‌ أَوْ تَوْكِيرٍ[1] وَ هُوَ بِنَاءُ الدَّارِ أَوْ غَيْرُهُ.

’Food can be prepared for four kinds of ceremonies. It is for a wedding, birth of a child for whom ‘Aqiqah is offered and fed to deserving people, circumcision of a male child, and returning of a man from a journey, for which he invites his brothers (in belief) after his absence.’ In another Hadith it is said that it i

نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص عَنْ طَعَامِ وَلِيمَةٍ يُخَصُّ بِهَا الْأَغْنِيَاءُ وَ يُتْرَكُ الْفُقَرَاءُ.

“Abu Ibrahim (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 feeding during a ceremony, only the rich and not the poor.’”

قَالَ رَجُلٌ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّا نَجِدُ لِطَعَامِ الْعُرْسِ رَائِحَةً لَيْسَتْ بِرَائِحَةِ غَيْرِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ مَا مِنْ عُرْسٍ يَكُونُ يُنْحَرُ فِيهِ جَزُورٌ أَوْ تُذْبَحُ بَقَرَةٌ أَوْ شَاةٌ إِلَّا بَعَثَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى مَلَكاً مَعَهُ قِيرَاطٌ مِنْ مِسْكِ الْجَنَّةِ حَتَّى يُدِيفَهُ فِي طَعَامِهِمْ‌[2] فَتِلْكَ الرَّائِحَةُ الَّتِي تُشَمُّ لِذَلِكَ.

“A man once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘Why do we find the aroma in a food for wedding which is not found in other food?’ He (the Imam) said, ’In every wedding for which a camel or sheep or a cow is slaughtered Allah, most Blessed, most High, sends an angel with a carat (carafe) of musk from paradise which he soaks

قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّا نَتَّخِذُ الطَّعَامَ وَ نَسْتَجِيدُهُ وَ نَتَنَوَّقُ فِيهِ وَ لَا نَجِدُ لَهُ رَائِحَةَ طَعَامِ الْعُرْسِ فَقَالَ ذَلِكَ لِأَنَّ طَعَامَ الْعُرْسِ فِيهِ تَهُبُّ رَائِحَةٌ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ لِأَنَّهُ طَعَامٌ اتُّخِذَ لِلْحَلَالِ.

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘Why is it that we prepare good food and make it unique but we do not find the fragrance like that of the food for wedding in it?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is because in the food for wedding, air from paradise blows; it is a food that is prepared for a lawful matter (marriage).’ ”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِذَا دَخَلَ رَجُلٌ بَلْدَةً فَهُوَ ضَيْفٌ عَلَى مَنْ بِهَا مِنْ إِخْوَانِهِ وَ أَهْلِ دِينِهِ حَتَّى يَرْحَلَ عَنْهُمْ.

‘The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, “When a man enters a town he then is a guest of his brothers (in belief) who live there and the people of his religion until he leaves that town.”’

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِذَا دَخَلَ رَجُلٌ بَلْدَةً فَهُوَ ضَيْفٌ عَلَى مَنْ بِهَا مِنْ أَهْلِ دِينِهِ حَتَّى يَرْحَلَ عَنْهُمْ.

“When a man enters a town he is the guest of those who live there of the people of his religion until he leaves that town.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ الضَّيْفُ يُلْطَفُ لَيْلَتَيْنِ فَإِذَا كَانَتْ لَيْلَةُ الثَّالِثَةِ فَهُوَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَيْتِ يَأْكُلُ مَا أَدْرَكَ.

‘The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, “Special treatment should be offered to a guest for the two nights; but in the third night he is of the people of the family, and he eats what he receives.’””

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ الضِّيَافَةُ أَوَّلَ يَوْمٍ وَ الثَّانِيَ وَ الثَّالِثَ وَ مَا بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَإِنَّهَا صَدَقَةٌ تُصُدِّقَ بِهَا عَلَيْهِ قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ ص لَا يَنْزِلُ أَحَدُكُمْ عَلَى أَخِيهِ حَتَّى يُوثِمَهُ مَعَهُ‌[1] قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ كَيْفَ يُوثِمُهُ قَالَ حَتَّى لَا يَكُونَ عِنْدَهُ مَا يُنْفِقُ عَلَيْهِ.

“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, ‘Special treatment for a guest is in the first day, in the second day and on the third day. Anything beyond this is charity that you give to him.’ He (th

رَأَيْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع ضَيْفاً فَقَامَ يَوْماً فِي بَعْضِ الْحَوَائِجِ فَنَهَاهُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ وَ قَامَ بِنَفْسِهِ إِلَى تِلْكَ الْحَاجَةِ وَ قَالَ ع نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص عَنْ أَنْ يُسْتَخْدَمَ الضَّيْفُ.

The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, prohibited making the guest to work. 5 ”

نَزَلَ بِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع ضَيْفٌ وَ كَانَ جَالِساً عِنْدَهُ يُحَدِّثُهُ فِي بَعْضِ اللَّيْلِ فَتَغَيَّرَ السِّرَاجُ فَمَدَّ الرَّجُلُ يَدَهُ لِيُصْلِحَهُ فَزَبَرَهُ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع ثُمَّ بَادَرَهُ بِنَفْسِهِ فَأَصْلَحَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ إِنَّا قَوْمٌ لَا نَسْتَخْدِمُ أَضْيَافَنَا.

“Once abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ ‘Alayhi al-Salam, had a guest who was sitting with him (the Imam) and speaking during the night. The lamp began to become dim and the man stretched his hand to repair it. Abu al-Hassan, stopped him seriously and he (the Imam) himself repaired the lamp saying, ‘We are a people who do not ma

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ إِنَّ مِنَ التَّضْعِيفِ‌[1] تَرْكَ الْمُكَافَأَةِ وَ مِنَ الْجَفَاءِ اسْتِخْدَامَ الضَّيْفِ فَإِذَا نَزَلَ بِكُمُ الضَّيْفُ فَأَعِينُوهُ وَ إِذَا ارْتَحَلَ فَلَا تُعِينُوهُ فَإِنَّهُ مِنَ النَّذَالَةِ[2] وَ زَوِّدُوهُ وَ طَيِّبُوا زَادَهُ فَإِنَّهُ مِنَ السَّخَاءِ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Ignoring to counter-balance a favor that one receives is one of the reasons to weaken one; and it is of injustice to make a guest to work. When a guest comes to you help him. When he leaves do not help him to leave, it is of lowliness. You must provide him supplies and make his supplies g

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّ الضَّيْفَ إِذَا جَاءَ فَنَزَلَ بِالْقَوْمِ جَاءَ بِرِزْقِهِ مَعَهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فَإِذَا أَكَلَ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُمْ بِنُزُولِهِ عَلَيْهِمْ.

‘The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, “When a guest comes and disembarks with a people, he comes with his sustenance from the sky. When he eats Allah forgives them because of his staying with them/”

إِنَّمَا تَنْزِلُ الْمَعُونَةُ عَلَى الْقَوْمِ عَلَى قَدْرِ مَئُونَتِهِمْ وَ إِنَّ الضَّيْفَ لَيَنْزِلُ بِالْقَوْمِ فَيَنْزِلُ رِزْقُهُ مَعَهُ فِي حَجْرِهِ.

“Abu al-Hassan, al-Awwal (a.s.), has said, ‘Help descends on a people proportionate to their needs. A guest comes to a people but he comes with his sustenance in his lap.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَا مِنْ ضَيْفٍ حَلَّ بِقَوْمٍ إِلَّا وَ رِزْقُهُ فِي حَجْرِهِ.

‘There is no guest who comes to a people without his sustenance in his lap.’”

ذَكَرَ أَصْحَابُنَا قَوْماً فَقُلْتُ وَ اللَّهِ مَا أَتَغَدَّى وَ لَا أَتَعَشَّى إِلَّا وَ مَعِي مِنْهُمُ اثْنَانِ أَوْ ثَلَاثَةٌ أَوْ أَقَلُّ أَوْ أَكْثَرُ فَقَالَ ع فَضْلُهُمْ عَلَيْكَ أَكْثَرُ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ كَيْفَ ذَا وَ أَنَا أُطْعِمُهُمْ طَعَامِي وَ أُنْفِقُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ مَالِي وَ يَخْدُمُهُمْ خَادِمِي فَقَالَ إِذَا دَخَلُوا عَلَيْكَ دَخَلُوا مِنَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِال

“Our people once mentioned a people and I said, ‘By Allah, I do not take lunch or dinner without one two or three of them or more or less with me.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), then said, ‘Their favor to you is more than your favor to them/ I then said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, how does tha

مِمَّا عَلَّمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص فَاطِمَةَ ع أَنْ قَالَ لَهَا يَا فَاطِمَةُ مَنْ كانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَ الْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ فَلْيُكْرِمْ ضَيْفَهُ.

‘Of the matters that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, taught to Fatimah, ‘Alayha al-Salam, was his saying, “O Fatimah, whoever believes in Allah and in the Day of Judgment, he must honor his guest.’””

مِمَّا عَلَّمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص عَلِيّاً ع قَالَ‌ مَنْ كانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَ الْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ فَلْيُكْرِمْ ضَيْفَهُ.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Ishaq ibn ‘Abd al-’Aziz from Zurarah who has said the following: “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Of the matters that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, taught to Al