Food & Eating

مِنْ مُوجِبَاتِ مَغْفِرَةِ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى إِطْعَامُ الطَّعَامِ.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘Serving food is one of the reasons for which Allah, the most Blessed, the most High, grants forgiveness.”’

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مِنَ الْإِيمَانِ حُسْنُ الْخُلُقِ وَ إِطْعَامُ الطَّعَامِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Having good moral behavior and serving food is part of belief.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ خَيْرُكُمْ مَنْ أَطْعَمَ الطَّعَامَ وَ أَفْشَى السَّلَامَ وَ صَلَّى وَ النَّاسُ نِيَامٌ.

“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 among you are those who serve food, offer greetings of peace aloud and perform Salat (prayer) when people are sleeping.’”

كَانَ عَلِيٌّ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّا أَهْلُ بَيْتٍ أُمِرْنَا أَنْ نُطْعِمَ الطَّعَامَ وَ نُؤَدِّيَ فِي النَّاسِ الْبَائِنَةَ[2] وَ نُصَلِّيَ إِذَا نَامَ النَّاسُ.

4. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from Muhammad ibn Ali from al-Hassan ibn Ali from Sayf ibn ‘Amirah from ‘Umar ibn Shamir from Jabir who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Ali (a.s.), would say, “We are a family who are commanded (by Allah) to serve food, send gi

الْمُنْجِيَاتُ إِطْعَامُ الطَّعَامِ وَ إِفْشَاءُ السَّلَامِ وَ الصَّلَاةُ بِاللَّيْلِ وَ النَّاسُ نِيَامٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that serving food, offering greetings of peace aloud and performing Salat (prayer) when people are sleeping are reasons for which one may gain salvation.”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى يُحِبُّ إِهْرَاقَ الدِّمَاءِ[2] وَ إِطْعَامَ الطَّعَامِ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah, the most Blessed, the most High, loves (shedding blood of edible animals) for serving meat and food.’”

مِنْ أَحَبِّ الْأَعْمَالِ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِشْبَاعُ جَوْعَةِ الْمُؤْمِنِ أَوْ تَنْفِيسُ كُرْبَتِهِ أَوْ قَضَاءُ دَيْنِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that of the most beloved deeds in the sight of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, is satisfying the hunger of a believer, relieving his suffering, or paying off his debts.”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يُحِبُّ إِطْعَامَ الطَّعَامِ وَ إِرَاقَةَ الدِّمَاءِ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, loves serving food and shedding blood (of edible animals for meat to serve for food).’”

أُتِيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص بِأُسَارَى فَقُدِّمَ رَجُلٌ مِنْهُمْ لِيُضْرَبَ عُنُقُهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ جَبْرَئِيلُ أَخِّرْ هَذَا الْيَوْمَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ فَرَدَّهُ وَ أَخْرَجَ غَيْرَهُ حَتَّى كَانَ هُوَ آخِرَهُمْ فَدَعَا بِهِ لِيُضْرَبَ عُنُقُهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ جَبْرَئِيلُ يَا مُحَمَّدُ رَبُّكَ يُقْرِئُكَ السَّلَامَ وَ يَقُولُ لَكَ إِنَّ أَسِيرَكَ هَذَا يُطْعِمُ الطَّعَامَ وَ يَقْرِي الضَّيْفَ وَ يَصْبِرُ عَلَى النَّائِبَةِ وَ ي

9. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam, from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from a man who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that certain prisoners of war were brought before the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his fa

الرِّزْقُ أَسْرَعُ إِلَى مَنْ يُطْعِمُ الطَّعَامَ مِنَ السِّكِّينِ فِي السَّنَامِ.

“Ja’far from his father (a.s.), has narrated that the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘Sustenance comes to a man, who serves food, faster than a knife goes into the hump on the back of a camel.’”

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَقُولُ‌ مِنْ مُوجِبَاتِ مَغْفِرَةِ الرَّبِّ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى إِطْعَامُ الطَّعَامِ.

“Abu al-Hassan (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, would say, ‘Of the reasons for the Lord, the Most Blessed, the most High, to grant forgiveness is one’s serving food.’”

كَانَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع إِذَا أَكَلَ أُتِيَ بِصَحْفَةٍ[1] فَتُوضَعُ بِقُرْبِ مَائِدَتِهِ فَيَعْمِدُ إِلَى أَطْيَبِ الطَّعَامِ مِمَّا يُؤْتَى بِهِ فَيَأْخُذُ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ شَيْئاً فَيَضَعُ فِي تِلْكَ الصَّحْفَةِ ثُمَّ يَأْمُرُ بِهَا لِلْمَسَاكِينِ ثُمَّ يَتْلُو هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ- فَلَا اقْتَحَمَ الْعَقَبَةَ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ عَلِمَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ كُلُّ إِنْسَانٍ يَقْدِرُ عَلَى عِتْقِ رَق

“Abu al-Hassan, al-Rida (a.s.), would ask for an empty plate before having food. He would keep it on one side at the table, then pick up the best of food from each kind brought for him, place them on the empty plate, and ask his people to give it to destitute people. He then would read this, ‘. . . they have not entere

قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِمَا لِيُنْفِقِ الرَّجُلُ بِالْقَصْدِ وَ بُلْغَةِ الْكَفَافِ وَ يُقَدِّمُ مِنْهُ فَضْلًا لآِخِرَتِهِ فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ أَبْقَى لِلنِّعْمَةِ وَ أَقْرَبُ إِلَى الْمَزِيدِ مِنَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ أَنْفَعُ فِي الْعَافِيَةِ.

’One should spend moderately to a sufficient limit and send the extra for his next life. This is a better conservation of bounties, closer to its increase from Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, and more beneficial for good health (or consequences).’”

إِنَّ الْقَصْدَ أَمْرٌ يُحِبُّهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ إِنَّ السَّرَفَ أَمْرٌ يُبْغِضُهُ اللَّهُ حَتَّى طَرْحَكَ النَّوَاةَ فَإِنَّهَا تَصْلُحُ لِلشَّيْ‌ءِ وَ حَتَّى صَبَّكَ فَضْلَ شَرَابِكَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that moderation is a matter that Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, loves, and extravagance is a thing that Allah hates. It applies even to one’s throwing the stone inside the piece of a date; it can be useful for something, and to throwing the leftover of what you drink.’”

لَهُ إِنَّا نَكُونُ فِي طَرِيقِ مَكَّةَ فَنُرِيدُ الْإِحْرَامَ فَنَطَّلِي وَ لَا تَكُونُ مَعَنَا نُخَالَةٌ نَتَدَلَّكُ بِهَا مِنَ النُّورَةِ فَنَتَدَلَّكُ بِالدَّقِيقِ وَ قَدْ دَخَلَنِي مِنْ ذَلِكَ مَا اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِهِ فَقَالَ‌ أَ مَخَافَةَ الْإِسْرَافِ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ فِيمَا أَصْلَحَ الْبَدَنَ إِسْرَافٌ إِنِّي رُبَّمَا أَمَرْتُ بِالنَّقِيِّ فَيُلَتُ‌[1] بِالزَّيْتِ فَأَتَدَلَّكُ بِهِ إِنَّمَا الْإِ

“Once, I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘On our way to Makkah, we wanted to wear the special dress for Ihram (a certain act of Hajj), but we did not have proper material for shaving, and we did not have bran or flour to use in place of lime. We used flour for this purpose. Allah knows that I had a strange feeling about i

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَدْنَى مَا يَجِي‌ءُ مِنْ حَدِّ الْإِسْرَافِ فَقَالَ ابْتِذَالُكَ ثَوْبَ صَوْنِكَ وَ إِهْرَاقُكَ فَضْلَ إِنَائِكَ وَ أَكْلُكَ التَّمْرَ وَ رَمْيَكَ النَّوَى هَاهُنَا وَ هَاهُنَا.

‘What is the minimum limit of excessive spending?’ The Imam replied, ‘It is when you give away your clothes that you need for protection, burning the leftovers in your cooking utensils, and eating dates and scattering the stones inside them here and there.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ‌ أَوَّلُ مَا يُبْدَأُ بِهِ فِي الْآخِرَةِ صَدَقَةُ الْمَاءِ يَعْنِي فِي الْأَجْرِ.

The first charity for which one will be rewarded in the next life is providing water for drinking. ‘“

أَفْضَلُ الصَّدَقَةِ إِبْرَادُ كَبِدٍ حَرَّى‌[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the best charity is cooling off a thirsty liver.”

مَنْ سَقَى الْمَاءَ فِي مَوْضِعٍ يُوجَدُ فِيهِ الْمَاءُ كَانَ كَمَنْ أَعْتَقَ رَقَبَةً وَ مَنْ سَقَى الْمَاءَ فِي مَوْضِعٍ لَا يُوجَدُ فِيهِ الْمَاءُ كَانَ كَمَنْ أَحْيَا نَفْساً وَ مَنْ أَحْيَا نَفْساً فَكَأَنَّما أَحْيَا النَّاسَ جَمِيعاً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that if one provides water for a thirsty person and there is water available, his reward is equal to the reward of setting free of a slave. If there is no other water available, its reward is then equal to the reward of saving a life, and the reward for one who saves a life is like savi

كُنْتُ مَعَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع بَيْنَ مَكَّةَ وَ الْمَدِينَةِ فَمَرَرْنَا عَلَى رَجُلٍ فِي أَصْلِ شَجَرَةٍ وَ قَدْ أَلْقَى بِنَفْسِهِ فَقَالَ مِلْ بِنَا إِلَى هَذَا الرَّجُلِ فَإِنِّي أَخَافُ أَنْ يَكُونَ قَدْ أَصَابَهُ عَطَشٌ فَمِلْنَا فَإِذَا رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْفَرَاسِينَ‌[2] طَوِيلُ الشَّعْرِ فَسَأَلَهُ أَ عَطْشَانُ أَنْتَ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ فَقَالَ لِي انْزِلْ يَا مُصَادِفُ فَاسْقِهِ فَنَزَلْتُ وَ سَقَيْتُهُ ثُمَّ رَ

“Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and I were between Makkah and al-Madinah. We passed by a man who had thrown himself near the trunk of a tree. He (the Imam) said, ‘Allow us to see this man. I am afraid he is thirsty. We went to him. He was a man from the Farasin (a certain people) and had long hairs. He (the Imam) asked, ‘

جَاءَ أَعْرَابِيٌّ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ص فَقَالَ عَلِّمْنِي عَمَلًا أَدْخُلُ بِهِ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَالَ أَطْعِمِ الطَّعَامَ وَ أَفْشِ السَّلَامَ قَالَ فَقَالَ لَا أُطِيقُ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَهَلْ لَكَ إِبِلٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَانْظُرْ بَعِيراً وَ اسْقِ عَلَيْهِ أَهْلَ بَيْتٍ لَا يَشْرَبُونَ الْمَاءَ إِلَّا غِبّاً فَلَعَلَّهُ لَا يَنْفُقُ‌[1] بَعِيرُكَ وَ لَا يَنْخَرِقُ سِقَاؤُكَ حَتَّى تَجِبَ لَكَ الْجَنَّةُ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said that once an Arab man came to the Prophet (sw) and said, ‘Teach me a good deed whereby I can go to Paradise. He said, ‘Serve food and offer greetings of peace aloud.‘ He (the Imam) has said that the man then said, ‘I cannot afford this.‘ He (the Holy Prophet) asked, ‘Do you have a camel?‘ He

إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى يُحِبُّ إِبْرَادَ الْكَبِدِ الْحَرَّى‌[2] وَ مَنْ سَقَى كَبِداً حَرَّى مِنْ بَهِيمَةٍ أَوْ غَيْرِهَا أَظَلَّهُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ لَا ظِلَّ إِلَّا ظِلُّهُ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah, the most Blessed, the most High, loves cooling off a thirsty liver. Whoever cools off a thirsty liver of an animal or others, Allah on the Day of Judgment provides him a shadow when there is no shadow except His shadow.”

قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع‌ قِيلُوا[2] فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يُطْعِمُ الصَّائِمَ وَ يَسْقِيهِ فِي مَنَامِهِ.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘Rest in the form of a short nap between sunrise and noontime; Allah gives food and water to a fasting person during his sleep.”’

إِذَا رَأَى الصَّائِمُ قَوْماً يَأْكُلُونَ أَوْ رَجُلًا يَأْكُلُ سَجَّتْ كُلُّ شَعْرَةٍ مِنْهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when a fasting person observes people or a person eating food, every piece of his hair feels a kind of covering (tranquility).”

خَطَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص النَّاسَ فِي آخِرِ جُمُعَةٍ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّهُ قَدْ أَظَلَّكُمْ‌[1] شَهْرٌ فِيهِ لَيْلَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ وَ هُوَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ فَرَضَ اللَّهُ صِيَامَهُ وَ جَعَلَ قِيَامَ لَيْلَةٍ فِيهِ بِتَطَوُّعِ صَلَاةٍ كَتَطَوُّعِ صَلَاةِ سَبْعِينَ لَيْلَةً فِيمَا سِوَاهُ مِنَ الشُّهُورِ وَ جَعَلَ لِمَنْ تَطَوَّعَ فِيهِ بِ

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya and people other than him have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub, from abu Ayyub from abu al-Ward, who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Once, the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their servi

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي كُلِّ لَيْلَةٍ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ عُتَقَاءَ وَ طُلَقَاءَ مِنَ النَّارِ إِلَّا مَنْ أَفْطَرَ عَلَى مُسْكِرٍ فَإِذَا كَانَ فِي آخِرِ لَيْلَةٍ مِنْهُ أَعْتَقَ فِيهَا مِثْلَ مَا أَعْتَقَ فِي جَمِيعِهِ.

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘Every night in the month of Ramadan, Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, liberates many people and releases them from hellfire, except those who drink intoxicating liquor. During the last night of this month, Allah frees and releases a number of people equal to all that He had fre

مَنْ فَطَّرَ صَائِماً فَلَهُ مِثْلُ أَجْرِهِ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the reward for one who serves food to a fasting person is equal to the reward for the fasting person for his fasting.”

فِطْرُكَ أَخَاكَ الصَّائِمَ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ صِيَامِكَ.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘Your serving food to your fasting brother (in belief) is better than your fasting.’”

كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع إِذَا كَانَ الْيَوْمُ الَّذِي يَصُومُ فِيهِ أَمَرَ بِشَاةٍ فَتُذْبَحُ وَ تُقْطَعُ أَعْضَاءً وَ تُطْبَخُ فَإِذَا كَانَ عِنْدَ الْمَسَاءِ أَكَبَّ عَلَى الْقُدُورِ حَتَّى يَجِدَ رِيحَ الْمَرَقِ وَ هُوَ صَائِمٌ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ هَاتُوا الْقِصَاعَ اغْرِفُوا لآِلِ فُلَانٍ وَ اغْرِفُوا لآِلِ فُلَانٍ ثُمَّ يُؤْتَى بِخُبْزٍ وَ تَمْرٍ فَيَكُونُ ذَلِكَ عَشَاءَهُ‌[1] صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ عَلَى

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that on the first day of his fasting, Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), would ask his people to prepare a sheep for food. In the evening, the cooking pots gave out a fine fragrance while he was fasting, and he would then say, ‘Fill up this pot for the family of so and so and fill up this one fo

دَخَلَ سَدِيرٌ عَلَى أَبِي ع فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَقَالَ يَا سَدِيرُ هَلْ تَدْرِي أَيُّ اللَّيَالِي هَذِهِ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ فِدَاكَ أَبِي هَذِهِ لَيَالِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَمَا ذَاكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ- أَ تَقْدِرُ عَلَى أَنْ تُعْتِقَ فِي كُلِّ لَيْلَةٍ مِنْ هَذِهِ اللَّيَالِي عَشْرَ رَقَبَاتٍ مِنْ وُلْدِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ فَقَالَ لَهُ سَدِيرٌ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَ أُمِّي لَا يَبْلُغُ مَالِي ذَاكَ فَمَا زَالَ يَنْقُصُ حَتَّى بَلَغَ

“Once, during the month of Ramadan, Sadir went to visit abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.). The Imam asked, ‘O Sadir, do you know which nights are these days?’ He replied, ‘Yes, I pray to Allah to keep my soul and the soul of my father in service for your cause, these are the nights of the month of Ramadan, but what do they signify

وَ هُوَ بِالْحِيرَةِ فِي زَمَانِ أَبِي الْعَبَّاسِ إِنِّي دَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ وَ قَدْ شَكَّ النَّاسُ فِي الصَّوْمِ وَ هُوَ وَ اللَّهِ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ أَ صُمْتَ الْيَوْمَ فَقُلْتُ لَا وَ الْمَائِدَةُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ قَالَ فَادْنُ فَكُلْ قَالَ فَدَنَوْتُ فَأَكَلْتُ قَالَ وَ قُلْتُ الصَّوْمُ مَعَكَ وَ الْفِطْرُ مَعَكَ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع تُ

‘I, in the time of abu al- ‘Abbas, once was in al-Hirah, when I went before him and people had doubts about the fast, and that day, by Allah, was of the month of Ramadan. I said Salam (the phrase of offering greeting of peace) to him and he asked, “O abu ‘Abd Allah, have you fasted today?” I replied, “No, I have not fa

قَالَ لِي‌ يَوْماً يَا زُهْرِيُّ مِنْ أَيْنَ جِئْتَ فَقُلْتُ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ قَالَ فِيمَ كُنْتُمْ قُلْتُ تَذَاكَرْنَا أَمْرَ الصَّوْمِ فَاجْتَمَعَ رَأْيِي وَ رَأْيُ أَصْحَابِي عَلَى أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنَ الصَّوْمِ شَيْ‌ءٌ وَاجِبٌ إِلَّا صَوْمُ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَقَالَ يَا زُهْرِيُّ لَيْسَ كَمَا قُلْتُمْ الصَّوْمُ عَلَى أَرْبَعِينَ وَجْهاً فَعَشَرَةُ أَوْجُهٍ مِنْهَا وَاجِبَةٌ كَوُجُوبِ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَ عَشَرَةُ أَو

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from af-Qasim ibn Muhammad af-Jawhariy from Sulayman ibn Dawud from Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah from af-Zuhriy who has said the following: “Ali ibn al-Husayn, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, one day asked me, ‘O Zuhriy, where from are you coming?’ I replied, ’I am coming from the Masjid.’ He t

إِنَّ الصِّيَامَ لَيْسَ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ وَ الشَّرَابِ وَحْدَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ قَالَتْ مَرْيَمُ- إِنِّي نَذَرْتُ لِلرَّحْمنِ صَوْماً أَيْ صَوْماً صَمْتاً وَ فِي نُسْخَةٍ أُخْرَى أَيْ صَمْتاً فَإِذَا صُمْتُمْ فَاحْفَظُوا أَلْسِنَتَكُمْ وَ غُضُّوا أَبْصَارَكُمْ وَ لَا تَنَازَعُوا وَ لَا تَحَاسَدُوا قَالَ وَ سَمِعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص امْرَأَةً تَسُبُّ جَارِيَةً لَهَا وَ هِيَ صَائِمَةٌ فَدَعَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص بِطَعَامٍ فَقَ

3. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd, from al- Qasim ibn Sulayman, from Jarrah al-Mada’iniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that fasting is not fasting from food and drink only.” He then said, “Mary had s

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ الصِّيَامَ لَيْسَ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ وَ الشَّرَابِ وَحْدَهُ إِنَّ مَرْيَمَ ع قَالَتْ- إِنِّي نَذَرْتُ لِلرَّحْمنِ صَوْماً أَيْ صَمْتاً فَاحْفَظُوا أَلْسِنَتَكُمْ وَ غُضُّوا أَبْصَارَكُمْ وَ لَا تَحَاسَدُوا وَ لَا تَنَازَعُوا فَإِنَّ الْحَسَدَ يَأْكُلُ الْإِيمَانَ كَمَا تَأْكُلُ النَّارُ الْحَطَبَ.

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘Fasting is not abstaining from food and drink only. Mary had said, “I have made a vow before the Beneficent to fast,” meaning thereby to remain silent. You must control your tongues and cast down your eyes. You must not be jealous and you must not quarrel. Jealousy consumes belief

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَصُومُ حَتَّى يُقَالَ لَا يُفْطِرُ ثُمَّ صَامَ يَوْماً وَ أَفْطَرَ يَوْماً ثُمَّ صَامَ الْإِثْنَيْنِ وَ الْخَمِيسَ ثُمَّ آلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ إِلَى صِيَامِ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ فِي الشَّهْرِ- الْخَمِيسِ فِي أَوَّلِ الشَّهْرِ وَ أَرْبِعَاءَ فِي وَسَطِ الشَّهْرِ وَ خَمِيسٍ فِي آخِرِ الشَّهْرِ وَ كَانَ يَقُولُ ذَلِكَ صَوْمُ الدَّهْرِ وَ قَدْ كَانَ أَبِي ع يَقُول

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, continued fasting for such a long time that people thought he was not to discontinue his fasting. He then discontinued fasting for such a long time that people tho

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا تَقُولُ فِي الرَّجُلِ يَصُومُ شَعْبَانَ وَ شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ فَقَالَ هُمَا الشَّهْرَانِ اللَّذَانِ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى- شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتابِعَيْنِ تَوْبَةً مِنَ اللَّهِ‌ قُلْتُ فَلَا يَفْصِلُ بَيْنَهُمَا قَالَ إِذَا أَفْطَرَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَهُوَ فَصْلٌ وَ إِنَّمَا قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص لَا وِصَالَ فِي صِيَامٍ يَعْنِي لَا يَصُومُ الرَّجُلُ يَوْمَيْنِ مُتَوَالِيَيْنِ

“Once I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘What do you say about a man who fasts during the month of Sha‘ban and the month of Ramadan?’ He replied, ‘They are the months about which Allah, the most Blessed, the most High, has said, “Two months one after the other in which (certain) people return to Allah.’” I then asked, ‘Is

يُتِمُّ صَوْمَهُ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ لْيَقْضِهِ فَإِنْ تَسَحَّرَ فِي غَيْرِ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ بَعْدَ الْفَجْرِ أَفْطَرَ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ أَبِي كَانَ لَيْلَةً يُصَلِّي وَ أَنَا آكُلُ فَانْصَرَفَ فَقَالَ أَمَّا جَعْفَرٌ فَقَدْ أَكَلَ وَ شَرِبَ بَعْدَ الْفَجْرِ فَأَمَرَنِي فَأَفْطَرْتُ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ فِي غَيْرِ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ.

“I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who eats Suhur (breakfast in the morning before dawn), then comes out of his house to find out when it has already become dawn. He (the Imam) said, ‘He is required to complete that fast then make Qada’ (compensatory fast) for it; however if such breakfast is in a time o

سَأَلْتُهُ‌[3] عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَكَلَ وَ شَرِبَ بَعْدَ مَا طَلَعَ الْفَجْرُ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ قَامَ فَنَظَرَ فَلَمْ يَرَ الْفَجْرَ فَأَكَلَ ثُمَّ عَادَ فَرَأَى الْفَجْرَ فَلْيُتِمَّ صَوْمَهُ وَ لَا إِعَادَةَ عَلَيْهِ وَ إِنْ كَانَ قَامَ فَأَكَلَ وَ شَرِبَ ثُمَّ نَظَرَ إِلَى الْفَجْرِ فَرَأَى أَنَّهُ قَدْ طَلَعَ الْفَجْرُ فَلْيُتِمَّ صَوْمَهُ وَ يَقْضِي يَوْماً آخَرَ لِأَنَّهُ بَدَأَ بِالْأَكْلِ قَبْ

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who eats and drinks after dawn in the month of Ramadan. He (the Imam) said, ‘If he got up and looked but did not see the dawn then ate then returned and saw that it was dawn, he is required to complete that fast and there is no Qada’ (compensatory fast) on him. If he get

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع آمُرُ الْجَارِيَةَ أَنْ تَنْظُرَ طَلَعَ الْفَجْرُ أَمْ لَا فَتَقُولُ لَمْ يَطْلُعْ فَآكُلُ ثُمَّ أَنْظُرُهُ فَأَجِدُهُ قَدْ طَلَعَ حِينَ نَظَرَتْ قَالَ تُتِمُّ يَوْمَكَ ثُمَّ تَقْضِيهِ أَمَا إِنَّكَ لَوْ كُنْتَ أَنْتَ الَّذِي نَظَرْتَ مَا كَانَ عَلَيْكَ قَضَاؤُهُ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of my fasting when I asked the girl to look if it was dawn yet and she said that it was not dawn, yet and I ate; then I looked and saw that it was dawn. He (the Imam) said, ‘You are required to complete that fast and make Qada’ (compensatory fast for it); however, if

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ خَرَجَ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَ أَصْحَابُهُ يَتَسَحَّرُونَ فِي بَيْتٍ فَنَظَرَ إِلَى الْفَجْرِ وَ نَادَاهُمْ فَكَفَّ بَعْضُهُمْ وَ ظَنَّ بَعْضُهُمْ أَنَّهُ يَسْخَرُ فَأَكَلَ فَقَالَ يُتِمُّ صَوْمَهُ وَ يَقْضِي.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who along with his friends go for Suhur (breakfast in the morning before dawn) in a house. He looks toward dawn and asks them to stop eating. Certain ones among them stop and others think that he is joking and he eats. He (the Imam) said, ‘He completes that fast and make

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع يَكُونُ عَلَيَّ الْيَوْمُ وَ الْيَوْمَانِ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَأَتَسَحَّرُ مُصْبِحاً أُفْطِرُ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ وَ أَقْضِي مَكَانَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ‌[1] يَوْماً آخَرَ أَوْ أُتِمُّ عَلَى صَوْمِ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ وَ أَقْضِي يَوْماً آخَرَ فَقَالَ لَا بَلْ تُفْطِرُ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ لِأَنَّكَ أَكَلْتَ مُصْبِحاً وَ تَقْضِي يَوْماً آخَرَ.

“I once asked abu Ibrahim (a.s.), about the case of my fasting that I owe one or two days of the month of Ramadan. I eat Suhur (breakfast in the morning before dawn) but it is already dawn. Is it necessary for me to eat that day instead of fasting and make Qada’ (compensatory fast) of that day on another day or complet

سَأَلْتُهُ‌[2] عَنْ رَجُلَيْنِ قَامَا فَنَظَرَا إِلَى الْفَجْرِ فَقَالَ أَحَدُهُمَا هُوَ ذَا وَ قَالَ الْآخَرُ مَا أَرَى شَيْئاً قَالَ فَلْيَأْكُلِ الَّذِي لَمْ يَسْتَبِنْ لَهُ الْفَجْرُ وَ قَدْ حَرُمَ عَلَى الَّذِي زَعَمَ أَنَّهُ رَأَى الْفَجْرَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ- كُلُوا وَ اشْرَبُوا حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الْأَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ[3].

The one who does not see any dawn, eats but eating is unlawful for one who thinks he has seen the dawn. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, says, ‘Eat and drink until the white thread appears from the dark thread of dawn/ (2:187)”

أَذَّنَ ابْنُ أُمِّ مَكْتُومٍ لِصَلَاةِ الْغَدَاةِ[1] وَ مَرَّ رَجُلٌ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ هُوَ يَتَسَحَّرُ فَدَعَاهُ أَنْ يَأْكُلَ مَعَهُ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَدْ أَذَّنَ الْمُؤَذِّنُ لِلْفَجْرِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ هَذَا ابْنُ أُمِّ مَكْتُومٍ وَ هُوَ يُؤَذِّنُ بِلَيْلٍ فَإِذَا أَذَّنَ بِلَالٌ فَعِنْدَ ذَلِكَ فَأَمْسِكْ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ibn ‘Umm Maktum once said Adhan for the morning Salat (prayer) and a man passed by the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, who was eating. He (the Messenger of Allah) invited the man to eat Suhur (break

الْفَجْرُ هُوَ الَّذِي إِذَا رَأَيْتَهُ مُعْتَرِضاً كَأَنَّهُ بَيَاضُ سُورَى‌[3].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Dawn is when you see it, widthwise, like the whiteness of the suray (canal) (Euphrates river).”’

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ‌ الْخَيْطُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الْأَسْوَدِ فَقَالَ بَيَاضُ النَّهَارِ مِنْ سَوَادِ اللَّيْلِ قَالَ وَ كَانَ بِلَالٌ يُؤَذِّنُ لِلنَّبِيِّ ص وَ ابْنُ أُمِّ مَكْتُومٍ وَ كَانَ أَعْمَى يُؤَذِّنُ بِلَيْلٍ وَ يُؤَذِّنُ بِلَالٌ حِينَ يَطْلُعُ الْفَجْرُ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص إِذَا سَمِعْتُمْ صَوْتَ بِلَالٍ فَدَعُوا الطَّعَامَ وَ الشَّرَابَ فَقَدْ أَصْبَحْتُمْ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of ‘The white twine from the black twine.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is the whiteness of the day out of the blackness of the night.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Bilal and ibn ‘Umm Maktum would say Adhan for the Holy prophet. Ibn ‘Umm Maktum was blind and would say Adhan in the

نَزَلَتْ‌ فِي خَوَّاتِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ الْأَنْصَارِيِ‌[1] وَ كَانَ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ص فِي الْخَنْدَقِ وَ هُوَ صَائِمٌ فَأَمْسَى وَ هُوَ عَلَى تِلْكَ الْحَالِ وَ كَانُوا قَبْلَ أَنْ تَنْزِلَ هَذِهِ الْآيَةُ إِذَا نَامَ أَحَدُهُمْ حُرِّمَ عَلَيْهِ الطَّعَامُ وَ الشَّرَابُ فَجَاءَ خَوَّاتٌ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ حِينَ أَمْسَى فَقَالَ هَلْ عِنْدَكُمْ طَعَامٌ فَقَالُوا لَا لَا تَنَمْ حَتَّى نُصْلِحَ لَكَ طَعَاماً فَاتَّكَأَ فَنَامَ

“This is about the words of Allah, most High, ‘It is lawful for you to have carnal relation with your wives during the night of the fast. . . .’ (2:187) One of the two Imam, (abu Ja’far or abu ‘Abd Allah), ‘Alayhim al-Salam, has said that it was revealed about the case of Khawwat ibn Jubayr al-Ansariy. He was with the

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقُلْتُ مَتَى يَحْرُمُ الطَّعَامُ وَ الشَّرَابُ عَلَى الصَّائِمِ وَ تَحِلُّ الصَّلَاةُ صَلَاةُ الْفَجْرِ فَقَالَ إِذَا اعْتَرَضَ الْفَجْرُ وَ كَانَ كَالْقُبْطِيَّةِ الْبَيْضَاءِ[3] فَثَمَّ يَحْرُمُ الطَّعَامُ وَ يَحِلُّ الصِّيَامُ وَ تَحِلُّ الصَّلَاةُ صَلَاةُ الْفَجْرِ قُلْتُ فَلَسْنَا فِي وَقْتٍ إِلَى أَنْ يَطْلُعَ شُعَاعُ الشَّمْسِ فَقَالَ هَيْهَاتَ أَيْنَ تَذْهَبُ تِلْكَ صَلَاةُ ا

‘When dawn appears which looks like white Coptic fabrics, then eating and drinking become unlawful for a fasting person and performing the morning Salat (prayer) becomes lawful.’ I then said, ‘So we do not have time until sunrise.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘That is not it at all. Where are you going? That is the time for Sa

سَأَلْتُهُ‌[1] عَنْ قَوْمٍ صَامُوا شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ فَغَشِيَهُمْ سَحَابٌ أَسْوَدُ عِنْدَ غُرُوبِ الشَّمْسِ فَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُ لَيْلٌ فَأَفْطَرُوا ثُمَّ إِنَّ السَّحَابَ انْجَلَى فَإِذَا الشَّمْسُ فَقَالَ عَلَى الَّذِي أَفْطَرَ صِيَامُ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ- أَتِمُّوا الصِّيامَ‌ إِلَى اللَّيْلِ‌[2] فَمَنْ أَكَلَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ اللَّيْلُ فَعَلَيْهِ قَضَاؤُهُ لِأَنَّهُ أَكَلَ مُتَعَم

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about the case of a people who fast in the month of Ramadan when they are covered by a black cloud at the time of sunset and they think it is night, and discontinue their fast, then the cloud clears and the sun is there. He (the Imam) said, ‘Those who discontinued their fast are req

فِي قَوْمٍ صَامُوا شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ فَغَشِيَهُمْ سَحَابٌ أَسْوَدُ عِنْدَ غُرُوبِ الشَّمْسِ فَرَأَوْا أَنَّهُ اللَّيْلُ فَأَفْطَرَ بَعْضُهُمْ ثُمَّ إِنَّ السَّحَابَ انْجَلَى فَإِذَا الشَّمْسُ قَالَ عَلَى الَّذِي أَفْطَرَ صِيَامُ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ- أَتِمُّوا الصِّيامَ إِلَى اللَّيْلِ‌ فَمَنْ أَكَلَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ اللَّيْلُ فَعَلَيْهِ قَضَاؤُهُ لِأَنَّهُ أَكَلَ مُتَعَمِّداً.

“This is about the case of a people who fast in the month of Ramadan when they are covered by a black cloud at the time of sunset and they think it is night and discontinue their fast; then the cloud clears and the sun is there. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Those who discontinued their fast are required to make Qa

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا تَقُولُ فِي الصَّائِمِ يُقَبِّلُ الْجَارِيَةَ وَ الْمَرْأَةَ فَقَالَ أَمَّا الشَّيْخُ الْكَبِيرُ مِثْلِي وَ مِثْلُكَ فَلَا بَأْسَ وَ أَمَّا الشَّابُّ الشَّبِقُ فَلَا لِأَنَّهُ لَا يُؤْمَنُ وَ الْقُبْلَةُ إِحْدَى الشَّهْوَتَيْنِ‌[2] قُلْتُ فَمَا تَرَى فِي مِثْلِي تَكُونُ لَهُ الْجَارِيَةُ فَيُلَاعِبُهَا فَقَالَ لِي إِنَّكَ لَشَبِقٌ يَا أَبَا حَازِمٍ كَيْفَ طُعْمُكَ‌[3] قُلْتُ إِنْ ش

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who kisses a slave-girl or the woman. He (the Imam) said, ‘For an old man like you and I, it is not harmful but for a lustful young man it is negative and not safe; kissing is one of the two lustful activities (sexual intercourse and kissing).’ I (the narrator) then aske