Food & Eating

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ لِيَ ابْنَةَ أَخٍ يَتِيمَةً فَرُبَّمَا أُهْدِيَ لَهَا الشَّيْ‌ءُ فَآكُلُ مِنْهُ ثُمَّ أُطْعِمُهَا بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الشَّيْ‌ءَ مِنْ مَالِي فَأَقُولُ يَا رَبِّ هَذَا بِهَذَا فَقَالَ ع لَا بَأْسَ.

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘I have an orphan girl of my brother. At certain times gifts are given to her and I eat a certain amount thereof. Thereafter I feed her a certain amount from my properties and I say, “O Lord, this is for what I have used.” He (the Imam) (a.s.), said, ‘It is not harmful.”’

مَنْ كَانَ يَلِي شَيْئاً لِلْيَتَامَى وَ هُوَ مُحْتَاجٌ لَيْسَ لَهُ مَا يُقِيمُهُ فَهُوَ يَتَقَاضَى أَمْوَالَهُمْ‌[3] وَ يَقُومُ فِي ضَيْعَتِهِمْ فَلْيَأْكُلْ بِقَدَرٍ وَ لَا يُسْرِفْ وَ إِنْ كَانَ ضَيْعَتُهُمْ لَا تَشْغَلُهُ عَمَّا يُعَالِجُ لِنَفْسِهِ فَلَا يَرْزَأَنَّ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ شَيْئاً.

“About the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘One who is poor can eat to the proper limit’, (4:6) abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is one who manages the properties of orphans but is needy and does not have anything to support himself. He collects debts that people owe to them (orphans) and looks after

الْمَعْرُوفُ هُوَ الْقُوتُ وَ إِنَّمَا عَنَى الْوَصِيَّ أَوِ الْقَيِّمَ فِي أَمْوَالِهِمْ وَ مَا يُصْلِحُهُمْ.

“About the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘He must eat to the proper limit’, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Al-Ma‘ruf (proper limit) is what one needs for sustenance. It applies to the executor of the will or one who is appointed as the custodian of their assets and to work for their welfare.’”

ذَلِكَ رَجُلٌ يَحْبِسُ نَفْسَهُ عَنِ الْمَعِيشَةِ فَلَا بَأْسَ أَنْ يَأْكُلَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ إِذَا كَانَ يُصْلِحُ لَهُمْ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فَإِنْ كَانَ الْمَالُ قَلِيلًا فَلَا يَأْكُلْ مِنْهُ شَيْئاً قَالَ قُلْتُ أَ رَأَيْتَ قَوْلَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ إِنْ تُخالِطُوهُمْ فَإِخْوانُكُمْ‌ قَالَ تُخْرِجُ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ بِقَدْرِ مَا يَكْفِيهِمْ وَ تُخْرِجُ مِنْ مَالِكَ قَدْرَ مَا يَكْفِيكَ ثُمَّ تُنْفِقُهُ قُلْتُ أَ

“About the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘One who is poor can eat within the proper limits’, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘He is a man who holds himself back from making his living (to help the orphans). It is not harmful if he eats within the proper limits when he looks after their properties. If t

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْيَتِيمِ يَكُونُ غَلَّتُهُ فِي الشَّهْرِ عِشْرِينَ دِرْهَماً كَيْفَ يُنْفَقُ عَلَيْهِ مِنْهَا قَالَ قُوتُهُ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ وَ التَّمْرِ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ أُنْفِقُ عَلَيْهِ ثُلُثَهَا قَالَ نَعَمْ وَ نِصْفَهَا.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about an orphan whose income every month is twenty dirham; how I must spend it. He (the Imam) said, ‘Spend what the orphan needs of food and dates.’ I asked if spending one-third is sufficient. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, you must spend half of the income.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ لِابْنِهِ مَالٌ فَيَحْتَاجُ إِلَيْهِ الْأَبُ قَالَ يَأْكُلُ مِنْهُ فَأَمَّا الْأُمُّ فَلَا تَأْكُلُ مِنْهُ إِلَّا قَرْضاً عَلَى نَفْسِهَا[1].

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man whose son owned a certain amount of wealth and his father was needy. He (the Imam) replied, ‘He has permission to use such wealth for food; however, a mother does not have such permission but she can borrow on her own responsibility.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَأْكُلُ مِنْ مَالِ وَلَدِهِ قَالَ لَا إِلَّا أَنْ يُضْطَرَّ إِلَيْهِ فَيَأْكُلَ مِنْهُ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَ لَا يَصْلُحُ لِلْوَلَدِ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ مِنْ مَالِ وَالِدِهِ شَيْئاً إِلَّا أَنْ يَأْذَنَ وَالِدُهُ‌[2].

“I once asked abu Ibrahim (a.s.), about a man who used the properties of his sons for food. He (the Imam) replied, ‘No, unless he is compelled by pressing needs, in which case he spends in a fair manner but it is not proper for the sons to spend the properties of their father without the permission of the father.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَحْتَاجُ إِلَى مَالِ ابْنِهِ قَالَ يَأْكُلُ مِنْهُ مَا شَاءَ مِنْ غَيْرِ سَرَفٍ وَ قَالَ فِي كِتَابِ عَلِيٍّ ع إِنَّ الْوَلَدَ لَا يَأْخُذُ مِنْ مَالِ وَالِدِهِ شَيْئاً إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ وَ الْوَالِدَ يَأْخُذُ مِنْ مَالِ ابْنِهِ مَا شَاءَ وَ لَهُ أَنْ يَقَعَ عَلَى جَارِيَةِ ابْنِهِ إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنِ الِابْنُ وَقَعَ عَلَيْهَا وَ ذَكَرَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ لِرَجُلٍ أَنْتَ وَ مَالُكَ

“I once asked abu Ja’far (a.s.), about a man who needed to spend from the property of his son. He (the Imam) replied, ‘He has permission to use the property of his son for food as much as he wants but without excess.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is in the book of Ali (a.s.), that a son does not have permission to spend fro

إِذَا أُهْدِيَ إِلَى الرَّجُلِ هَدِيَّةُ طَعَامٍ وَ عِنْدَهُ قَوْمٌ فَهُمْ شُرَكَاؤُهُ فِيهَا الْفَاكِهَةُ وَ غَيْرُهَا.

“He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said, ‘If one receives a gift such as food or fruits and so on, during a meeting with people around him they also have a share in such gift.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ آكِلُ الرِّبَا وَ مُؤْكِلُهُ وَ كَاتِبُهُ وَ شَاهِدُهُ فِيهِ سَوَاءٌ.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu Najran from ‘Asim ibn Hamid from m h ibn Qays, who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that Amir al-Mu’minin, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘One who consumes Riba’, one who feeds Riba ’ and one who documents it, are all the same

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَرْبَى بِجَهَالَةٍ ثُمَّ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَتْرُكَهُ فَقَالَ أَمَّا مَا مَضَى فَلَهُ وَ لْيَتْرُكْهُ فِيمَا يَسْتَقْبِلُ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ رَجُلًا أَتَى أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع فَقَالَ إِنِّي قَدْ وَرِثْتُ مَالًا وَ قَدْ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّ صَاحِبَهُ كَانَ يَرْبُو وَ قَدْ سَأَلْتُ فُقَهَاءَ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ وَ فُقَهَاءَ أَهْلِ الْحِجَازِ فَذَكَرُوا أَنَّهُ لَا يَحِلُّ أَكْلُهُ فَقَالَ أ

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who received Riba’ in ignorance, then he wanted to stay away from Riba’. He (the Imam) said ’What is passed is for him and he must stay away in the coming times.’ He (the Imam) then said, ’Once a man visited abu Ja’far (a.s.), and sai

اسْتَقْرَضَ قَهْرَمَانٌ‌[2] لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مِنْ رَجُلٍ طَعَاماً لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَأَلَحَّ فِي التَّقَاضِي فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَ لَمْ أَنْهَكَ أَنْ تَسْتَقْرِضَ لِي مِمَّنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ فَكَانَ.

“Once an agent of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), borrowed a certain amount of food (grain) for abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.). The lender insistently demanded replacement. He (the Imam) said to his agent, ‘Did I not prohibit you the borrowing from one who did not have anything (who has) just then come to own something?”’

مَرَّ النَّبِيُّ ص فِي سُوقِ الْمَدِينَةِ بِطَعَامٍ فَقَالَ لِصَاحِبِهِ مَا أَرَى طَعَامَكَ إِلَّا طَيِّباً وَ سَأَلَهُ عَنْ سِعْرِهِ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ يَدُسَّ يَدَيْهِ فِي الطَّعَامِ‌[2] فَفَعَلَ فَأَخْرَجَ طَعَاماً رَدِيّاً فَقَالَ لِصَاحِبِهِ مَا أَرَاكَ إِلَّا وَ قَدْ جَمَعْتَ خِيَانَةً وَ غِشّاً لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ‌[3].

7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ibn Mahbub from abu Jamilah from Sa‘d al-Iskaf who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Once, in the market place of al-Madinah, the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to

لَمَّا صَارَتِ الْأَشْيَاءُ لِيُوسُفَ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ ع جَعَلَ الطَّعَامَ فِي بُيُوتٍ وَ أَمَرَ بَعْضَ وُكَلَائِهِ فَكَانَ يَقُولُ بِعْ بِكَذَا وَ كَذَا وَ السِّعْرُ قَائِمٌ فَلَمَّا عَلِمَ أَنَّهُ يَزِيدُ فِي ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ كَرِهَ أَنْ يَجْرِيَ الْغَلَاءُ عَلَى لِسَانِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ اذْهَبْ فَبِعْ وَ لَمْ يُسَمِّ لَهُ سِعْراً فَذَهَبَ الْوَكِيلُ غَيْرَ بَعِيدٍ ثُمَّ رَجَعَ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ اذْهَبْ فَبِعْ وَ ك

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When things were given in the control of Joseph ibn Ya’qub (a.s.), he placed the grain in houses (storage) and issued an order to his servants to sell for a price of such and such amount. Prices were fixed. When he learned that prices are high he disliked to speak of high prices and t

نَفِدَ الطَّعَامُ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَأَتَاهُ الْمُسْلِمُونَ فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَدْ نَفِدَ الطَّعَامُ وَ لَمْ يَبْقَ مِنْهُ شَيْ‌ءٌ إِلَّا عِنْدَ فُلَانٍ فَمُرْهُ يَبِيعُهُ النَّاسَ قَالَ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا فُلَانُ إِنَّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ ذَكَرُوا أَنَّ الطَّعَامَ قَدْ نَفِدَ إِلَّا شَيْئاً عِنْدَكَ فَأَخْرِجْهُ وَ بِعْهُ كَيْفَ شِئْتَ وَ لَا تَحْبِسْهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Once during the times of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, a severe shortage of food took place and the Muslims came to the Messenger of Allah saying, “O Messenger of Allah, food supplies are exhauste

الْحُكْرَةُ أَنْ يَشْتَرِيَ طَعَاماً لَيْسَ فِي الْمِصْرِ غَيْرُهُ فَيَحْتَكِرَهُ فَإِنْ كَانَ فِي الْمِصْرِ طَعَامٌ أَوْ يُبَاعُ غَيْرُهُ فَلَا بَأْسَ بِأَنْ يَلْتَمِسَ بِسِلْعَتِهِ الْفَضْلَ قَالَ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الزَّيْتِ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ عِنْدَ غَيْرِكَ‌[1] فَلَا بَأْسَ بِإِمْسَاكِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Hoarding means buying such food supplies of a city beside which no other food supplies are available. If other food supplies are available in a city or someone else sells food, then it is permissible to buy food supplies and keep them hoarded to sell later with higher prices.’ He (the

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا عَمَلُكَ قُلْتُ حَنَّاطٌ وَ رُبَّمَا قَدِمْتُ عَلَى نَفَاقٍ‌[2] وَ رُبَّمَا قَدِمْتُ عَلَى كَسَادٍ فَحَبَسْتُ فَقَالَ فَمَا يَقُولُ مَنْ قِبَلَكَ فِيهِ قُلْتُ يَقُولُونَ مُحْتَكِرٌ فَقَالَ يَبِيعُهُ أَحَدٌ غَيْرُكَ قُلْتُ مَا أَبِيعُ أَنَا مِنْ أَلْفِ جُزْءٍ جُزْءاً قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ إِنَّمَا كَانَ ذَلِكَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ يُقَالُ لَهُ حَكِيمُ بْنُ حِزَامٍ وَ كَانَ إِذَا دَخَلَ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once asked me, ‘What is your business?’ I replied, ‘It is selling wheat. At times business is good and sometimes it is not good so I hold selling.’ He (the Imam) then asked, ‘What do people who visit you say about it?’ I replied, ‘They say, “He is a hoarder.’” He (the Imam) asked, ‘Does anyone e

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَحْتَكِرُ الطَّعَامَ وَ يَتَرَبَّصُ بِهِ هَلْ يَجُوزُ ذَلِكَ‌[3] فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ الطَّعَامُ كَثِيراً يَسَعُ النَّاسَ فَلَا بَأْسَ بِهِ وَ إِنْ كَانَ الطَّعَامُ قَلِيلًا لَا يَسَعُ النَّاسَ فَإِنَّهُ يُكْرَهُ أَنْ يَحْتَكِرَ الطَّعَامَ وَ يَتْرُكَ النَّاسَ لَيْسَ لَهُمْ طَعَامٌ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who hoarded food supplies and waited for higher prices. Is it permissible?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘If there is plenty of food available to people to buy, then there is no offense in it; but if there are food shortages and people are not able to

الْحُكْرَةُ فِي الْخِصْبِ أَرْبَعُونَ يَوْماً وَ فِي الشِّدَّةِ وَ الْبَلَاءِ ثَلَاثَةُ أَيَّامٍ فَمَا زَادَ عَلَى الْأَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً فِي الْخِصْبِ فَصَاحِبُهُ مَلْعُونٌ وَ مَا زَادَ عَلَى ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ فِي الْعُسْرَةِ فَصَاحِبُهُ مَلْعُونٌ‌[5].

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ’At a time when food is abundantly available, keeping food for forty days is considered hoarding, but at the time of shortages of food holding back food supplies for three days is considered hoarding. After forty days at a time when food is abundant a hoarder is condemned and at the t

أَصَابَ أَهْلَ الْمَدِينَةِ غَلَاءٌ وَ قَحْطٌ حَتَّى أَقْبَلَ الرَّجُلُ الْمُوسِرُ يَخْلِطُ الْحِنْطَةَ بِالشَّعِيرِ وَ يَأْكُلُهُ وَ يَشْتَرِي بِبَعْضِ الطَّعَامِ وَ كَانَ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع طَعَامٌ جَيِّدٌ قَدِ اشْتَرَاهُ أَوَّلَ السَّنَةِ فَقَالَ لِبَعْضِ مَوَالِيهِ اشْتَرِ لَنَا شَعِيراً فَاخْلِطْ بِهَذَا الطَّعَامِ أَوْ بِعْهُ فَإِنَّا نَكْرَهُ أَنْ نَأْكُلَ جَيِّداً وَ يَأْكُلُ النَّاسُ رَدِيّاً[1].

“Once shortages of food took place in al-Madinah and even affluent people would mix wheat and barley for food and buy only a small amount of food. Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), had a good quality of food which he had purchased earlier in the beginning of the year. He (the Imam) then asked one of his agents to buy a certain a

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ قَدْ تَزَيَّدَ السِّعْرُ بِالْمَدِينَةِ كَمْ عِنْدَنَا مِنْ طَعَامٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ عِنْدَنَا مَا يَكْفِيكَ أَشْهُراً كَثِيرَةً قَالَ أَخْرِجْهُ وَ بِعْهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ وَ لَيْسَ بِالْمَدِينَةِ طَعَامٌ قَالَ بِعْهُ فَلَمَّا بِعْتُهُ قَالَ اشْتَرِ مَعَ النَّاسِ يَوْماً بِيَوْمٍ وَ قَالَ يَا مُعَتِّبُ اجْعَلْ قُوتَ عِيَالِي نِصْفاً شَعِيراً وَ نِصْفاً حِنْطَةً فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once, when food prices were rising, asked me, ‘How much food do we have?’ I (the narrator) replied, ‘There is enough food for several months.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Take it out to sell.’ I (the narrator) I said, ‘There is not enough food in al-Madinah.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘You must sell it.’ Whe

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ شِرَاءُ الْحِنْطَةِ يَنْفِي الْفَقْرَ وَ شِرَاءُ الدَّقِيقِ يُنْشِئُ الْفَقْرَ وَ شِرَاءُ الْخُبْزِ مَحْقٌ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ أَبْقَاكَ اللَّهُ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَقْدِرْ عَلَى شِرَاءِ الْحِنْطَةِ قَالَ ذَاكَ لِمَنْ يَقْدِرُ وَ لَا يَفْعَلُ.

’Buying wheat removes poverty but buying flour brings poverty and buying bread is destruction.’ I (the narrator) then asked, ‘I pray to Allah to grant you long life, what about one who is not able to buy wheat?’ He (the Imam) replied, ’That is for one who is capable but does not do so.’”

إِذَا كَانَ عِنْدَكَ دِرْهَمٌ فَاشْتَرِ بِهِ الْحِنْطَةَ فَإِنَّ الْمَحْقَ فِي الدَّقِيقِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If you have one dirham buy wheat with it; buying flour is destruction.’”

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ يَا أَبَا الصَّبَّاحِ شِرَاءُ الدَّقِيقِ ذُلٌّ وَ شِرَاءُ الْحِنْطَةِ عِزٌّ وَ شِرَاءُ الْخُبْزِ فَقْرٌ فَنَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الْفَقْرِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to me, ‘O abu al-Sabbah, buying flour is humiliation, buying wheat is honor and buying bread is poverty; we seek protection with Allah against poverty.’”

شَكَا قَوْمٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ص سُرْعَةَ نَفَادِ طَعَامِهِمْ فَقَالَ تَكِيلُونَ أَوْ تَهِيلُونَ قَالُوا نَهِيلُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ يَعْنِي الْجِزَافَ قَالَ كِيلُوا وَ لَا تَهِيلُوا فَإِنَّهُ أَعْظَمُ لِلْبَرَكَةِ[2].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A people complained before the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, against quick depletion of their food supplies. He (the Holy Prophet), asked, ’Do you measure or just dump?’ They replied, ’We just dump, O Messe

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ كِيلُوا طَعَامَكُمْ فَإِنَّ الْبَرَكَةَ فِي الطَّعَامِ الْمَكِيلِ.

“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, ‘Measure your food; blessings come with measured food.’”

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ يَا أَبَا سَيَّارٍ إِذَا أَرَادَتِ الْخَادِمَةُ أَنْ تَعْمَلَ الطَّعَامَ فَمُرْهَا فَلْتَكِلْهُ فَإِنَّ الْبَرَكَةَ فِيمَا كِيلَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to me, ‘O abu Sayyar, when the female servant prepares food, ask her to measure; blessings come with measurement.’”

قَالَ: لَا تَلَقَّ وَ لَا تَشْتَرِ مَا تُلُقِّيَ وَ لَا تَأْكُلْ مِنْهُ‌[3].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said, ‘You must not travel to meet the caravan of suppliers out of the city before other buyers, you must not buy from those you meet in this way and you must not eat from items purchased in this way.’”

إِنْ كَانَ فِي تِلْكَ الثَّلَاثَةِ الْأَيَّامِ يَشْرَبُ لَبَنَهَا رَدَّ مَعَهَا ثَلَاثَةَ أَمْدَادٍ وَ إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهَا لَبَنٌ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ شَيْ‌ءٌ[2]. - عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مِثْلَهُ.

“This is about the case of a man who had purchased a sheep and had kept it for three days; then returned it, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If during those three days he had consumed its milk he returns it with three handful of food. If the sheep did not have any milk he then does not owe anything.”’ Ali ibn Ibrahim

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ شِرَاءِ الطَّعَامِ مِمَّا يُكَالُ أَوْ يُوزَنُ هَلْ يَصْلُحُ شِرَاهُ بِغَيْرِ كَيْلٍ وَ لَا وَزْنٍ فَقَالَ أَمَّا أَنْ تَأْتِيَ رَجُلًا فِي طَعَامٍ قَدِ اكْتِيلَ أَوْ وُزِنَ فَيَشْتَرِيَ مِنْهُ مُرَابَحَةً فَلَا بَأْسَ إِنْ أَنْتَ اشْتَرَيْتَهُ وَ لَمْ تَكِلْهُ أَوْ تَزِنْهُ إِذَا كَانَ الْمُشْتَرِي الْأَوَّلُ قَدْ أَخَذَهُ بِكَيْلٍ أَوْ وَزْنٍ فَقُلْتَ عِنْدَ الْبَيْعِ إِنِّي أُرْبِحُكَ فِيهِ كَذَا و

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about buying food which is exchanged by means of weighing or measuring, if such items can be bought without weighing or measuring. He (the Imam) said, ‘If you find a man with food which he has weighed or measured and it is bought from him with profit for him, it is not harmful if yo

فِي الرَّجُلِ يَبْتَاعُ الطَّعَامَ ثُمَّ يَبِيعُهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُكَالَ قَالَ لَا يَصْلُحُ لَهُ ذَلِكَ.[3]

“About the case of a man who buys a certain amount of food then sells it without weighing or measurement, he (the Imam) said, ‘It is not a valid deal.’”

لَا بَأْسَ وَ يُوَكِّلُ الرَّجُلُ الْمُشْتَرِيَ مِنْهُ بِقَبْضِهِ وَ كَيْلِهِ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ [بِذَلِكَ‌].

“About the case of a man who buys food then sells it before receiving delivery, he (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’ ‘Can he appoint the second buyer as his agent to receive delivery?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’”

لِلْمُشْتَرِي ابْتَعْ مِنِّي هَذَا الْعِدْلَ الْآخَرَ بِغَيْرِ كَيْلٍ فَإِنَّ فِيهِ مِثْلَ مَا فِي الْآخَرِ الَّذِي ابْتَعْتَهُ قَالَ لَا يَصْلُحُ إِلَّا أَنْ يَكِيلَ وَ قَالَ مَا كَانَ مِنْ طَعَامٍ سَمَّيْتَ فِيهِ كَيْلًا فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَصْلُحُ مُجَازَفَةً هَذَا مَا يُكْرَهُ مِنْ بَيْعِ الطَّعَامِ.

“About the case of a man who buys food from another man, a package by means of known measurement then the party asks the buyer to buy from him another similar package without measurement, because it is similar to the other package already bought. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not valid without measurement.’ He (the Imam)

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ عَلَيْهِ كُرٌّ مِنْ طَعَامٍ فَاشْتَرَى كُرّاً مِنْ رَجُلٍ آخَرَ فَقَالَ لِلرَّجُلِ انْطَلِقْ فَاسْتَوْفِ كُرَّكَ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who owes one kur (a certain amount) of food. He then buys one kur of food from another man and asks his creditor to come to receive the Kur of food owed to him. He (the Imam) said, ‘Such a transaction is not harmful.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَشْتَرِي الطَّعَامَ فَأَضَعُ فِي أَوَّلِهِ وَ أَرْبَحُ فِي آخِرِهِ فَأَسْأَلُ صَاحِبِي أَنْ يَحُطَّ عَنِّي فِي كُلِّ كُرٍّ كَذَا وَ كَذَا فَقَالَ هَذَا لَا خَيْرَ فِيهِ وَ لَكِنْ يَحُطُّ عَنْكَ جُمْلَةً قُلْتُ فَإِنْ حَطَّ عَنِّي أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا وَضِعْتُ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ قُلْتُ فَأُخْرِجُ الْكُرَّ وَ الْكُرَّيْنِ فَيَقُولُ الرَّجُلُ أَعْطِنِيهِ بِكَيْلِكَ فَقَالَ إِذَا ائْتَمَنَك

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), that I buy food in a deal in the beginning of which I lose and in the end I gain profit. I then ask my friend to reduce a certain amount on each kur. He (the Imam) said, ‘There is nothing good in it, however, he can reduce a certain sum.’ I then asked, ‘Can he reduce more than I h

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَشْتَرِي الطَّعَامَ فَأَكْتَالُهُ وَ مَعِي مَنْ قَدْ شَهِدَ الْكَيْلَ وَ إِنَّمَا اكْتَلْتُهُ لِنَفْسِي فَيَقُولُ بِعْنِيهِ فَأَبِيعُهُ إِيَّاهُ بِذَلِكَ الْكَيْلِ الَّذِي كِلْتُهُ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about food that I buy and I measure it when someone witnesses my measuring but I measure it for myself. He then says, ‘Sell it to me.’ I then sell it to him by means of the same measurement that I made for myself. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.”’

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع اشْتَرَى رَجُلٌ تِبْنَ بَيْدَرٍ[1] كُلَّ كُرٍّ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ مَعْلُومٍ فَيَقْبِضُ التِّبْنَ وَ يَبِيعُهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُكَالَ الطَّعَامُ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ‌[2].

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who buys hay which is on the threshing floor, each kur for a certain amount. He receives delivery of hay and sells it before measuring the hay. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْقَوْمِ يَدْخُلُونَ السَّفِينَةَ يَشْتَرُونَ الطَّعَامَ فَيَتَسَاوَمُونَ بِهَا ثُمَّ يَشْتَرِي رَجُلٌ مِنْهُمْ فَيَتَسَاءَلُونَهُ فَيُعْطِيهِمْ مَا يُرِيدُونَ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ فَيَكُونُ صَاحِبُ الطَّعَامِ هُوَ الَّذِي يَدْفَعُهُ إِلَيْهِمْ وَ يَقْبِضُ الثَّمَنَ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ مَا أَرَاهُمْ إِلَّا وَ قَدْ شَرِكُوهُ فَقُلْتُ إِنَّ صَاحِبَ الطَّعَامِ يَدْعُو كَيَّالًا فَيَكِيلُهُ

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a people who embark in a ship and buy food and bargain about it. Then one man buys from them. They ask him and he gives them what they ask for of food. So he who collects payment and gives them food becomes the owner of food. He (the Imam)

إِنْ كَانَ يَوْمَ ابْتَاعَهُ سَاعَرَهُ أَنَّ لَهُ كَذَا وَ كَذَا فَإِنَّمَا لَهُ سِعْرُهُ وَ إِنْ كَانَ إِنَّمَا أَخَذَ بَعْضاً وَ تَرَكَ بَعْضاً وَ لَمْ يُسَمِّ سِعْراً فَإِنَّمَا لَهُ سِعْرُ يَوْمِهِ الَّذِي يَأْخُذُ فِيهِ مَا كَانَ.

“About the case of a man who buys food for a few dirham of which he takes one-half and leaves the other half. Thereafter he comes back when prices have risen or have fallen down, Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If on the day of purchase he prices them and determines the amount then such price is what it is, but if h

فِي رَجُلٍ اشْتَرَى طَعَاماً كُلَّ كُرٍّ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ مَعْلُومٍ فَارْتَفَعَ الطَّعَامُ أَوْ نَقَصَ وَ قَدِ اكْتَالَ بَعْضَهُ فَأَبَى صَاحِبُ الطَّعَامِ أَنْ يُسَلِّمَ لَهُ مَا بَقِيَ وَ قَالَ إِنَّمَا لَكَ مَا قَبَضْتَ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ يَوْمَ اشْتَرَاهُ سَاعَرَهُ عَلَى أَنَّهُ لَهُ فَلَهُ مَا بَقِيَ وَ إِنْ كَانَ إِنَّمَا اشْتَرَاهُ وَ لَمْ يَشْتَرِطْ ذَلِكَ فَإِنَّ لَهُ بِقَدْرِ مَا نَقَدَ.

“About the case of a man who buys food, every kur (a certain amount) for a certain price, then prices rise or fall when he has measured only a certain part, and the owner of food refuses to deliver to him the rest, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If on the day of purchase he has priced the food and that the food is h

كَتَبَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ إِلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ ع‌ رَجُلٌ اسْتَأْجَرَ أَجِيراً يَعْمَلُ لَهُ بِنَاءً أَوْ غَيْرَهُ وَ جَعَلَ يُعْطِيهِ طَعَاماً وَ قُطْناً وَ غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ تَغَيَّرَ الطَّعَامُ وَ الْقُطْنُ مِنْ سِعْرِهِ الَّذِي كَانَ أَعْطَاهُ إِلَى نُقْصَانٍ أَوْ زِيَادَةٍ أَ يَحْتَسِبُ لَهُ بِسِعْرِ يَوْمَ أَعْطَاهُ أَوْ بِسِعْرِ يَوْمَ حَاسَبَهُ فَوَقَّعَ ع يَحْتَسِبُ لَهُ بِسِعْرِ يَوْمٍ شَارَطَهُ فِي

‘A man has hired another man to work and build a structure for another person and he gives the worker food, cotton and other things; then the prices of food and cotton rise or fall and change from the day he gave him, if he can count on him with the price of the day of delivery or the price of the day of finalizing the

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قُلْتُ إِنَّا نَشْتَرِي الطَّعَامَ مِنَ السُّفُنِ ثُمَّ نَكِيلُهُ فَيَزِيدُ فَقَالَ لِي وَ رُبَّمَا نَقَصَ عَلَيْكُمْ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَإِذَا نَقَصَ يَرُدُّونَ عَلَيْكُمْ قُلْتُ لَا قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of our buying food from ships. We then measure and find extra amount. He (the Imam) said, ‘Perhaps you find it to be less also.’ I replied, ‘Yes, that also happens.’ He (the Imam) then asked, ‘Do they give you the deficit?’ I replied, ‘No, th

قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنِّي أَمُرُّ عَلَى الرَّجُلِ فَيَعْرِضُ عَلَيَّ الطَّعَامَ فَيَقُولُ قَدْ أَصَبْتُ طَعَاماً مِنْ حَاجَتِكَ فَأَقُولُ لَهُ أَخْرِجْهُ أُرْبِحْكَ فِي الْكُرِّ كَذَا وَ كَذَا فَإِذَا أَخْرَجَهُ نَظَرْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَإِنْ كَانَ مِنْ حَاجَتِي أَخَذْتُهُ وَ إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ مِنْ حَاجَتِي تَرَكْتُهُ قَالَ هَذِهِ الْمُرَاوَضَةُ[1] لَا بَأْسَ بِهَا قُلْتُ فَأَقُولُ لَهُ اعْزِلْ مِنْهُ خَمْسِينَ كُرّاً أَوْ أَقَلَّ

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), that I may pass by a man and he speaks to me about food and says, ‘You have found the kind of foodstuff that you need.’ I then ask him to show me and I will give such and such amount of profit for each kur, but when he shows it to me, I look at it and if I need I take it, if not I

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَكُونُ عِنْدَهُ لَوْنَانِ مِنْ طَعَامٍ وَاحِدٍ وَ سِعْرُهُمَا شَيْ‌ءٌ وَ أَحَدُهُمَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْآخَرِ فَيَخْلِطُهُمَا جَمِيعاً ثُمَّ يَبِيعُهُمَا بِسِعْرٍ وَاحِدٍ فَقَالَ لَا يَصْلُحُ لَهُ أَنْ يَفْعَلَ ذَلِكَ يَغُشَّ بِهِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ حَتَّى يُبَيِّنَهُ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who has various kinds of the same item of foodstuff of the same price of which one is of high quality and one is of low quality but he mixes them together; then sells them for one kind of price. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not proper f

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص‌ لَا بَأْسَ بِالسَّلَمِ كَيْلًا مَعْلُوماً إِلَى أَجَلٍ مَعْلُومٍ لَا يُسْلَمُ إِلَى دِيَاسٍ وَ لَا إِلَى حَصَادٍ[2].

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ‘Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘Advance payment for a merchandise is not harmful if it is for known measures and appointed time. Advance payment is not made except for threshing and the time of harvest.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنِ السَّلَمِ فِي الطَّعَامِ بِكَيْلٍ مَعْلُومٍ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مَعْلُومٍ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about advance payment for foodstuff of a known measure and an appointed time. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ أَ يَصْلُحُ لَهُ أَنْ يُسْلِمَ فِي الطَّعَامِ عِنْدَ رَجُلٍ لَيْسَ عِنْدَهُ زَرْعٌ وَ لَا طَعَامٌ وَ لَا حَيَوَانٌ إِلَّا أَنَّهُ إِذَا حَلَّ الْأَجَلُ اشْتَرَاهُ فَوَفَّاهُ قَالَ إِذَا ضَمِنَهُ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى فَلَا بَأْسَ بِهِ قُلْتُ أَ رَأَيْتَ إِنْ أَوْفَانِي بَعْضاً وَ عَجَزَ عَنْ بَعْضٍ أَ يَصْلُحُ أَنْ آخُذَ بِالْبَاقِي رَأْسَ مَالِي قَالَ نَعَمْ مَا أَحْسَن

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who makes advance payment to buy foodstuff from a man who does not have any farm or foodstuff or animals except that he at the appointed time buys the foodstuff and delivers it. He (the Imam) said, ‘If he guarantees it within the appo

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يُسْلِمُ فِي الزَّرْعِ فَيَأْخُذُ بَعْضَ طَعَامِهِ وَ يَبْقَى بَعْضٌ لَا يَجِدُ وَفَاءً فَيَعْرِضُ عَلَيْهِ صَاحِبُهُ رَأْسَ مَالِهِ قَالَ يَأْخُذُهُ فَإِنَّهُ حَلَالٌ قُلْتُ فَإِنَّهُ يَبِيعُ مَا قَبَضَ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ فَيُضْعِفُ قَالَ وَ إِنْ فَعَلَ فَإِنَّهُ حَلَالٌ‌[1] قَالَ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ يُسْلِمُ فِي غَيْرِ زَرْعٍ وَ لَا نَخْلٍ قَالَ يُسَمِّي شَيْئاً إِل

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who makes advance payment for farms and takes a certain amount of his foodstuff and a certain amount remains. The other party offers him the remaining of his capital. He (the Imam) said, ‘He must accept it; it is lawful.’ I then said,

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَسْلَفْتُهُ دَرَاهِمَ فِي طَعَامٍ فَلَمَّا حَلَّ طَعَامِي عَلَيْهِ بَعَثَ إِلَيَّ بِدَرَاهِمَ فَقَالَ اشْتَرِ لِنَفْسِكَ طَعَاماً وَ اسْتَوْفِ حَقَّكَ قَالَ أَرَى أَنْ يُوَلَّى ذَلِكَ غَيْرُكَ وَ تَقُومَ مَعَهُ حَتَّى تَقْبِضَ الَّذِي لَكَ وَ لَا تَتَوَلَّى أَنْتَ شِرَاهُ‌[2].

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man to whom I made advance payment for foodstuff. When the time arrived he sent to me dirhams. He (the Imam) said, ‘Buy foodstuff for yourself and compensate for your right.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘I deem it proper that you appoint som

لَيْسَ‌ عِنْدِي طَعَامٌ وَ لَكِنِ انْظُرْ مَا قِيمَتُهُ فَخُذْ مِنِّي ثَمَنَهُ فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِذَلِكَ.

“About the case of a man who makes advance payment for foodstuff for an appointed time and when the foodstuff is ready he says, ‘I do not have any foodstuff but consider what its price is and take it from me’, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not harmful . 555