Work & Livelihood

دَخَلْنَا عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ مَعَنَا فَرْقَدٌ الْحَجَّامُ فَقَالَ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنِّي أَعْمَلُ عَمَلًا وَ قَدْ سَأَلْتُ عَنْهُ غَيْرَ وَاحِدٍ وَ لَا اثْنَيْنِ فَزَعَمُوا أَنَّهُ عَمَلٌ مَكْرُوهٌ وَ أَنَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَسْأَلَكَ عَنْهُ فَإِنْ كَانَ مَكْرُوهاً انْتَهَيْتُ عَنْهُ وَ عَمِلْتُ غَيْرَهُ مِنَ الْأَعْمَالِ فَإِنِّي مُنْتَهٍ فِي ذَلِكَ إِلَى قَوْلِكَ قَالَ وَ مَا هُوَ قَالَ حَجَّامٌ قَال

“Once we visited abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when Farqad al-Hajjam was also with us. He (Farqad) asked him (the Imam) saying, ’May Allah keep my soul in the service of your cause, I perform a certain kind of work and I have asked more than one person about the legal status of what I do and they think it is a detestable work

احْتَجَمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص حَجَمَهُ مَوْلًى لِبَنِي بَيَاضَةَ وَ أَعْطَاهُ وَ لَوْ كَانَ حَرَاماً مَا أَعْطَاهُ فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ قَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَيْنَ الدَّمُ قَالَ شَرِبْتُهُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ مَا كَانَ يَنْبَغِي لَكَ أَنْ تَفْعَلَ وَ قَدْ جَعَلَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَكَ حِجَاباً مِنَ النَّارِ فَلَا تَعُدْ[2].

“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, did use cupping services. A Mawla’ (slave) of banu Bayada performed cupping service for the Messenger of Allah and paid for such services. Had it been unlawful he woul

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنْ كَسْبِ الْحَجَّامِ فَقَالَ مَكْرُوهٌ لَهُ أَنْ يُشَارِطَ وَ لَا بَأْسَ عَلَيْكَ أَنْ تُشَارِطَهُ وَ تُمَاكِسَهُ وَ إِنَّمَا يُكْرَهُ لَهُ وَ لَا بَأْسَ عَلَيْكَ‌[3].

‘It is detestable for him to establish stipulations (to receive payment), but there is no offense in establishing stipulations to receive payment and bargaining for the price. It is only detestable but there is no offense for you to receive payment.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ كَسْبِ الْحَجَّامِ فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ قُلْتُ أَجْرُ التُّيُوسِ قَالَ إِنْ كَانَتِ الْعَرَبُ لَتَعَايَرُ بِهِ وَ لَا بَأْسَ.

There is no offense in it.’ I then asked about income from he-goat for goat-grooming. He (the Imam) replied, ’Even though Arab people consider it scornful, there is no offense in receiving such income.’”

قَالَ لِي أَبِي يَا جَعْفَرُ أَوْقِفْ لِي مِنْ مَالِي كَذَا وَ كَذَا لِنَوَادِبَ تَنْدُبُنِي عَشْرَ سِنِينَ بِمِنًى أَيَّامَ مِنًى‌[1].

"My father said to me, ‘O Ja‘far, assign a certain amount from my so-and-so properties as endowment, so payments can be made to people who will eulogize to mourn for me in Mina for ten years.’”

مَاتَ الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ الْمُغِيرَةِ فَقَالَتْ أُمُّ سَلَمَةَ لِلنَّبِيِّ ص إِنَّ آلَ الْمُغِيرَةِ قَدْ أَقَامُوا مَنَاحَةً فَأَذْهَبُ إِلَيْهِمْ فَأَذِنَ لَهَا فَلَبِسَتْ ثِيَابَهَا وَ تَهَيَّأَتْ وَ كَانَتْ مِنْ حُسْنِهَا كَأَنَّهَا جَانٌّ وَ كَانَتْ إِذَا قَامَتْ فَأَرْخَتْ شَعْرَهَا جَلَّلَ جَسَدَهَا[2] وَ عَقَدَتْ بِطَرَفَيْهِ خَلْخَالَهَا فَنَدَبَتِ ابْنَ عَمِّهَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَقَالَتْ- أَنْعَ

‘When al-Walid ibn al-Mughirah died, ‘Umm Salamah asked the Holy Prophet, for permission. She said, “The family of al-Mughirah has organized a gathering to mourn for al-Walid. Can I also attend their gathering?” The Holy Prophet granted her permission. She dressed up. She was beautiful like a fairy. When standing she r

كَانَتِ امْرَأَةٌ مَعَنَا فِي الْحَيِّ وَ لَهَا جَارِيَةٌ نَائِحَةٌ فَجَاءَتْ إِلَى أَبِي فَقَالَتْ يَا عَمِّ أَنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ مَعِيشَتِي مِنَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ ثُمَّ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْجَارِيَةِ النَّائِحَةِ وَ قَدْ أَحْبَبْتُ أَنْ تَسْأَلَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَإِنْ كَانَ حَلَالًا وَ إِلَّا بِعْتُهَا وَ أَكَلْتُ مِنْ ثَمَنِهَا حَتَّى يَأْتِيَ اللَّهُ‌ بِالْفَرَجِ فَقَالَ لَهَا أَبِي وَ اللَّهِ

“In our neighborhood there was a woman who had a slave-girl who sang eulogies. She came to my father and said, ‘O Uncle, you know about my means of living from Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, and then it is from this slave-girl’s singing eulogies. I like if you ask abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), for me about it if it is l

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ قَدْ سُئِلَ عَنْ كَسْبِ النَّائِحَةِ قَالَ تَسْتَحِلُّهُ بِضَرْبِ إِحْدَى يَدَيْهَا عَلَى الْأُخْرَى.

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, when he was asked about the income from eulogies, ‘She can make it lawful by tapping one of her hands against the other.’”

لَمَّا هَاجَرَتِ النِّسَاءُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص هَاجَرَتْ فِيهِنَّ امْرَأَةٌ يُقَالُ لَهَا أُمُّ حَبِيبٍ وَ كَانَتْ خَافِضَةً تَخْفِضُ الْجَوَارِيَ فَلَمَّا رَآهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ لَهَا يَا أُمَّ حَبِيبٍ الْعَمَلُ الَّذِي كَانَ فِي يَدِكِ هُوَ فِي يَدِكِ الْيَوْمَ قَالَتْ نَعَمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ حَرَاماً فَتَنْهَانِي عَنْهُ فَقَالَ لَا بَلْ حَلَالٌ فَادْنِي مِنِّي حَتَّى أُعَلِّمَكِ

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When women migrated toward the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, among them there was a woman called ‘Umm Habib and she circumcised girls. When the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muha

دَخَلَتْ مَاشِطَةٌ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَقَالَ لَهَا هَلْ تَرَكْتِ عَمَلَكِ أَوْ أَقَمْتِ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَنَا أَعْمَلُهُ إِلَّا أَنْ تَنْهَانِي عَنْهُ فَأَنْتَهِيَ عَنْهُ فَقَالَ لَهَا افْعَلِي فَإِذَا مَشَطْتِ فَلَا تَجْلِي الْوَجْهَ بِالْخِرَقِ فَإِنَّهَا تَذْهَبُ بِمَاءِ الْوَجْهِ وَ لَا تَصِلِي الشَّعْرَ بِالشَّعْرِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘Once a hairdresser came to the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and he asked her, ‘Have you stopped the work you were doing or not?’ She replied, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I still do it unless you

سُئِلَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنِ الْقَرَامِلِ الَّتِي تَضَعُهَا النِّسَاءُ فِي رُءُوسِهِنَّ يَصِلْنَهُ بِشُعُورِهِنَ‌[2] فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ عَلَى الْمَرْأَةِ بِمَا تَزَيَّنَتْ بِهِ لِزَوْجِهَا قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ بَلَغَنَا أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص لَعَنَ الْوَاصِلَةَ وَ الْمَوْصُولَةَ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ هُنَاكَ إِنَّمَا لَعَنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص الْوَاصِلَةَ الَّتِي تَزْنِي فِي شَبَابِهَا فَلَمَّا كَبِرَتْ قَادَتِ النِّسَاءَ إ

“Abu Ja‘far, Alayhi al-Salam, was asked about women’s decorating their hairs with silk fibers or hairs and so on. He (the Imam) replied, ‘There is no offense in women’s beautifying themselves for their husbands.’ I (the narrator) said, ‘We are told that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad an

كَانَتِ امْرَأَةٌ يُقَالُ لَهَا أُمُّ طَيْبَةَ تَخْفِضُ الْجَوَارِيَ فَدَعَاهَا النَّبِيُّ ص فَقَالَ لَهَا يَا أُمَّ طَيْبَةَ إِذَا خَفَضْتِ الْجَوَارِيَ فَأَشِمِّي وَ لَا تُجْحِفِي فَإِنَّهُ أَصْفَى لِلَوْنِ الْوَجْهِ وَ أَحْظَى عِنْدَ الْبَعْلِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘There was a woman called ‘Umm Taybah. She would circumcise girls. The Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, called her and said to her, ‘O ‘Umm Taybah, when you circumcise girls do not allow it to become

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنْ كَسْبِ الْمُغَنِّيَاتِ فَقَالَ الَّتِي يَدْخُلُ عَلَيْهَا الرِّجَالُ حَرَامٌ وَ الَّتِي تُدْعَى إِلَى الْأَعْرَاسِ لَيْسَ بِهِ بَأْسٌ وَ هُوَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَشْتَرِي لَهْوَ الْحَدِيثِ لِيُضِلَّ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ‌[3].

“I once asked Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the legal status of the income from female music playing singers. He (the Imam) said, ’Such singing and playing music of females where men are also present is unlawful. There is no offense in inviting female singers on the occasion of a wedding program. It is in the words of Allah

الْمُغَنِّيَةُ الَّتِي تَزُفُّ الْعَرَائِسَ لَا بَأْسَ بِكَسْبِهَا.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ’The income of a female singer who attends wedding ceremonies is lawful.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ أَجْرُ الْمُغَنِّيَةِ الَّتِي تَزُفُّ الْعَرَائِسَ لَيْسَ بِهِ بَأْسٌ لَيْسَتْ بِالَّتِي يَدْخُلُ عَلَيْهَا الرِّجَالُ.

‘The payment that a female singer receives from singing in wedding ceremonies is lawful, provided men do not attend her singing program.’”

سُئِلَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع عَنْ شِرَاءِ الْمُغَنِّيَةِ فَقَالَ قَدْ تَكُونُ لِلرَّجُلِ الْجَارِيَةُ تُلْهِيهِ وَ مَا ثَمَنُهَا إِلَّا ثَمَنُ كَلْبٍ وَ ثَمَنُ الْكَلْبِ سُحْتٌ وَ السُّحْتُ فِي النَّارِ.

“Abu al-Hassan al-Rida’ (a.s.), was asked about the legal status of purchasing a female singer. He (the Imam) said, ‘Sometimes a slave-girl of a man makes him go astray. What is then paid for such a slave-girl is like payment to purchase a dog. Payment for a dog is Suht (unlawful and filthy) and Suht is in the fire.’”

سَأَلَهُ رَجُلٌ عَنْ بَيْعِ الْجَوَارِي الْمُغَنِّيَاتِ فَقَالَ شِرَاؤُهُنَّ وَ بَيْعُهُنَّ حَرَامٌ‌[3] وَ تَعْلِيمُهُنَّ كُفْرٌ وَ اسْتِمَاعُهُنَّ نِفَاقٌ.

“A man once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about selling slave-girl singers. He (the Imam) said, ‘Buying and selling them is unlawful, teaching them (singing) is disbelief and listening to them is hypocrisy.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ الْمُغَنِّيَةُ مَلْعُونَةٌ مَلْعُونٌ مَنْ أَكَلَ كَسْبَهَا.

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘A singer female is condemned, and condemned is one who consumes the income from her singing.’”

أَوْصَى إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ عُمَرَ عِنْدَ وَفَاتِهِ بِجَوَارٍ لَهُ مُغَنِّيَاتٍ أَنْ نَبِيعَهُنَّ وَ نَحْمِلَ ثَمَنَهُنَّ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ فَبِعْتُ الْجَوَارِيَ بِثَلَاثِمِائَةِ أَلْفِ دِرْهَمٍ وَ حَمَلْتُ الثَّمَنَ إِلَيْهِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ مَوْلًى لَكَ يُقَالُ لَهُ- إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ عُمَرَ قَدْ أَوْصَى عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ بِبَيْعِ جَوَارٍ لَهُ مُغَنِّيَاتٍ وَ حَمْلِ الثَّمَنِ إِلَيْكَ وَ قَدْ بِعْ

“Ishaq ibn ‘Umar made a will about his singer slave-girls at the time when he was about to die that said, ‘They must be sold and funds from their sale delivered to abu al-Hassan (a.s.). Ibrahim has said, ‘I sold the slave-girls for three hundred thousand dirham and took it to him (the Imam) and said, ‘One of your follo

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ التَّعْلِيمِ فَقَالَ لَا تَأْخُذْ عَلَى التَّعْلِيمِ أَجْراً[1] قُلْتُ الشِّعْرُ وَ الرَّسَائِلُ وَ مَا أَشْبَهَ ذَلِكَ أُشَارِطُ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ نَعَمْ بَعْدَ أَنْ يَكُونَ الصِّبْيَانُ عِنْدَكَ سَوَاءً[2] فِي التَّعْلِيمِ لَا تُفَضِّلُ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ.

'Do not take a fee for teaching.' I then asked: 'What about poetry, letters, and the like? Can I charge for them?' He said: 'Yes, as long as the children under your instruction are treated equally in teaching, and you do not show favoritism between them.'

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع هَؤُلَاءِ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ كَسْبَ الْمُعَلِّمِ سُحْتٌ فَقَالَ كَذَبُوا أَعْدَاءُ اللَّهِ إِنَّمَا أَرَادُوا أَنْ لَا يُعَلِّمُوا الْقُرْآنَ وَ لَوْ أَنَّ الْمُعَلِّمَ أَعْطَاهُ رَجُلٌ دِيَةَ وَلَدِهِ لَكَانَ لِلْمُعَلِّمِ مُبَاحاً.

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘They say that receiving payment for teaching is Suht (filthy and unlawful). He (the Imam) said, ‘They, the enemies of Allah, have spoken a lie. They want to stop teaching of al-Quran. If one gives blood money for his child to a teacher it (payment) is lawful for the teacher.’”

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ الْمَصَاحِفَ لَنْ تُشْتَرَى فَإِذَا اشْتَرَيْتَ فَقُلْ إِنَّمَا أَشْتَرِي مِنْكَ الْوَرَقَ وَ مَا فِيهِ مِنَ الْأَدَمِ وَ حِلْيَتِهِ وَ مَا فِيهِ مِنْ عَمَلِ يَدِكَ بِكَذَا وَ كَذَا.

‘Pages (of al-Quran) can never be bought; if you buy say, ‘I buy from you the sheet and whatever is in it, like skin and decoration and the work of your hand for such and such amount.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ بَيْعِ الْمَصَاحِفِ وَ شِرَائِهَا فَقَالَ لَا تَشْتَرِ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ لَكِنِ اشْتَرِ الْحَدِيدَ[3] وَ الْوَرَقَ وَ الدَّفَّتَيْنِ وَ قُلْ أَشْتَرِي مِنْكَ هَذَا بِكَذَا وَ كَذَا.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about buying and selling pages of al-Quran. He (the Imam) said, ‘The book of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, cannot be purchased but iron sheets and covers can be bought. One can say, ‘I buy from you such and such items for such and such amount.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ شِرَاءِ الْمَصَاحِفِ وَ بَيْعِهَا فَقَالَ إِنَّمَا كَانَ يُوضَعُ الْوَرَقُ‌[1] عِنْدَ الْمِنْبَرِ وَ كَانَ مَا بَيْنَ الْمِنْبَرِ وَ الْحَائِطِ قَدْرَ مَا تَمُرُّ الشَّاةُ أَوْ رَجُلٌ مُنْحَرِفٌ قَالَ فَكَانَ الرَّجُلُ يَأْتِي وَ يَكْتُبُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ إِنَّهُمُ اشْتَرَوْا بَعْدَ [ذَلِكَ‌] قُلْتُ فَمَا تَرَى فِي ذَلِكَ قَالَ لِي أَشْتَرِي أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أَبِيعَهُ قُلْتُ فَمَا تَرَى أَنْ

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about buying pages of al- Quran and selling them. He (the Imam) said, ‘Only pages (of al-Quran) were placed near the pulpit. The passage between the wall and the pulpit was no bigger than what a sheep could pass through or a man in a sideways manner.’ He (th

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقُلْتُ أَنَا رَجُلٌ أَبِيعُ الْمَصَاحِفَ فَإِنْ نَهَيْتَنِي لَمْ أَبِعْهَا فَقَالَ أَ لَسْتَ تَشْتَرِي وَرَقاً وَ تَكْتُبُ فِيهِ قُلْتُ بَلَى وَ أُعَالِجُهَا قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهَا.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of my selling al-Quran saying, ‘If you prohibit I stop selling.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘Is it not the case that you buy pages and write down on them?’ I replied, ‘Yes, that is true and I put more work in it.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harm

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّ أَخْوَفَ مَا أَخَافُ عَلَى أُمَّتِي مِنْ بَعْدِي هَذِهِ الْمَكَاسِبُ الْحَرَامُ وَ الشَّهْوَةُ الْخَفِيَّةِ وَ الرِّبَا[2].

“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, ‘What I fear most for my followers after me are these unlawful earnings, concealed desire and unlawful interest.’”

أَرْبَعَةٌ لَا يَجُزْنَ‌[3] فِي أَرْبَعٍ الْخِيَانَةُ وَ الْغُلُولُ وَ السَّرِقَةُ وَ الرِّبَا لَا يَجُزْنَ‌[4] فِي حَجٍّ وَ لَا عُمْرَةٍ وَ لَا جِهَادٍ وَ لَا صَدَقَةٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Four things are not lawful in four issues: treachery, excessiveness, theft and unlawful interest are not lawful in al-Hajj, al-‘Umrah, Jihad and charity.’”

إِذَا اكْتَسَبَ الرَّجُلُ مَالًا مِنْ غَيْرِ حِلِّهِ ثُمَّ حَجَّ فَلَبَّى نُودِيَ لَا لَبَّيْكَ وَ لَا سَعْدَيْكَ وَ إِنْ كَانَ مِنْ حِلِّهِ فَلَبَّى نُودِيَ لَبَّيْكَ وَ سَعْدَيْكَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If a person earns in unlawful ways, then uses such income for the expenses of al-Hajj and says al-Talbiyah (here I am O Lord, to obey Your command) it is called about him, “You are not welcome and there is no salvation for you.” If it (earning) is through lawful ways upon his saying T

كَسْبُ الْحَرَامِ يَبِينُ فِي الذُّرِّيَّةِ.[1]

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The effects of unlawful earning shows up in one’s offspring.’”

أَتَى رَجُلٌ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص فَقَالَ إِنِّي كَسَبْتُ مَالًا أَغْمَضْتُ فِي مَطَالِبِهِ حَلَالًا وَ حَرَاماً وَ قَدْ أَرَدْتُ التَّوْبَةَ وَ لَا أَدْرِي الْحَلَالَ مِنْهُ وَ الْحَرَامَ وَ قَدِ اخْتَلَطَ عَلَيَّ فَقَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع تَصَدَّقْ بِخُمُسِ مَالِكَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ جَلَّ اسْمُهُ رَضِيَ مِنَ الْأَشْيَاءِ بِالْخُمُسِ وَ سَائِرُ الْأَمْوَالِ لَكَ حَلَالٌ‌[2].

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfaliy from al-Sakuniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once a man came to ’Amir al-Mu’minin saying, ‘In my earnings I have been neglectful about lawful and unlawful matters, and I want to repent, but I do not know which item in

تَشَوَّفَتِ الدُّنْيَا لِقَوْمٍ حَلَالًا مَحْضاً فَلَمْ يُرِيدُوهَا فَدَرَجُوا- ثُمَّ تَشَوَّفَتْ لِقَوْمٍ حَلَالًا وَ شُبْهَةً[3] فَقَالُوا لَا حَاجَةَ لَنَا فِي الشُّبْهَةِ وَ تَوَسَّعُوا مِنَ الْحَلَالِ ثُمَّ تَشَوَّفَتْ لِقَوْمٍ آخَرِينَ حَرَاماً وَ شُبْهَةً فَقَالُوا لَا حَاجَةَ لَنَا فِي الْحَرَامِ وَ تَوَسَّعُوا فِي الشُّبْهَةِ ثُمَّ تَشَوَّفَتْ لِقَوْمٍ حَرَاماً مَحْضاً فَيَطْلُبُونَهَا فَلَا يَجِدُونَهَا وَ

The world tried to attract a people with purely lawful matters but they passed (without paying any attention) away. Then it tried to attract another people with lawful and doubtful matters and they said, “We do not need any doubtful matters.” However, they expanded the lawful matters. It then tried to attract another p

قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع‌ يَا دَاوُدُ إِنَّ الْحَرَامَ لَا يَنْمِي وَ إِنْ نَمَى لَا يُبَارَكُ لَهُ فِيهِ وَ مَا أَنْفَقَهُ لَمْ يُؤْجَرْ عَلَيْهِ وَ مَا خَلَّفَهُ كَانَ زَادَهُ إِلَى النَّارِ.

7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Dawud al-Sarmiy who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), once said to me, £ 0 Dawud, unlawful earnings do not grow. Even if anything grows, it does not have any blessings for him: what he spends does not bring any reward for him and what he leaves behind becomes his suppli

كَتَبَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ إِلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ ع‌ رَجُلٌ اشْتَرَى مِنْ رَجُلٍ ضَيْعَةً أَوْ خَادِماً بِمَالٍ أَخَذَهُ مِنْ قَطْعِ الطَّرِيقِ أَوْ مِنْ سَرِقَةٍ هَلْ يَحِلُّ لَهُ مَا يَدْخُلُ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ ثَمَرَةِ هَذِهِ الضَّيْعَةِ أَوْ يَحِلُّ لَهُ أَنْ يَطَأَ هَذَا الْفَرْجَ الَّذِي اشْتَرَاهُ مِنَ السَّرِقَةِ أَوْ مِنْ قَطْعِ الطَّرِيقِ فَوَقَّعَ ع لَا خَيْرَ فِي شَيْ‌ءٍ أَصْلُهُ حَرَامٌ وَ لَا يَحِلُّ اسْ

’Nothing is good in whatever originates from an unlawful source; and using such matters is not lawful.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَصَابَ مَالًا مِنْ عَمَلِ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ وَ هُوَ يَتَصَدَّقُ مِنْهُ وَ يَصِلُ مِنْهُ قَرَابَتَهُ وَ يَحُجُّ لِيُغْفَرَ لَهُ مَا اكْتَسَبَ وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ- إِنَّ الْحَسَناتِ يُذْهِبْنَ السَّيِّئاتِ‌ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ الْخَطِيئَةَ لَا تُكَفِّرُ الْخَطِيئَةَ وَ لَكِنَّ الْحَسَنَةَ تَحُطُّ الْخَطِيئَةَ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنْ كَانَ خَلَطَ الْحَلَالَ بِالْحَرَامِ ف

9. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from abu Ayyub from Sama‘ah who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who had found a certain amount of property from banu ’Umayyah. He gives charity thereof, helps hi

إِنْ كَانَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ لَأَشَدَّ بَيَاضاً مِنَ الْقَبَاطِيِّ فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَهَا كُونِي هَبَاءً وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا إِذَا شُرِعَ لَهُمُ الْحَرَامُ أَخَذُوهُ.[3]

“About the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘We arrived upon what they had done and turned it into scattered dust’, (25:25) abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ’Even if their deeds are whiter than Coptic fabrics Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, says, “Become dust.” It is because when they come upon unlawf

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنِ الْغُلُولِ قَالَ كُلُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ غُلَّ مِنَ الْإِمَامِ فَهُوَ سُحْتٌ وَ أَكْلُ مَالِ الْيَتِيمِ وَ شِبْهُهُ سُحْتٌ وَ السُّحْتُ أَنْوَاعٌ كَثِيرَةٌ مِنْهَا أُجُورُ الْفَوَاجِرِ وَ ثَمَنُ الْخَمْرِ وَ النَّبِيذِ الْمُسْكِرِ وَ الرِّبَا بَعْدَ الْبَيِّنَةِ فَأَمَّا الرِّشَا فِي الْحُكْمِ فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ الْكُفْرُ بِاللَّهِ الْعَظِيمِ وَ بِرَسُولِهِ ص‌[4].

1. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from ibn Ri’ab from ‘Ammar ibn Marwan who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja’far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about seizing (other’s assets). He (the Imam) said, ‘Whatever of the belonging of the Imam seized is Suht (unlawful

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ السُّحْتُ أَنْوَاعٌ كَثِيرَةٌ مِنْهَا كَسْبُ الْحَجَّامِ‌[2] إِذَا شَارَطَ وَ أَجْرُ الزَّانِيَةِ وَ ثَمَنُ الْخَمْرِ فَأَمَّا الرِّشَا فِي الْحُكْمِ فَهُوَ الْكُفْرُ بِاللَّهِ الْعَظِيمِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘There are many kinds of Suht (unlawful and filthy). Of such matters is income from cupping on the basis of a condition (for payment), payment for indecent acts of (sexual) relation and payment for wine. Accepting a bribe is however, disbelief in Allah, most Great.’”

مَنْ بَاتَ سَاهِراً فِي كَسْبٍ وَ لَمْ يُعْطِ الْعَيْنَ حَظَّهَا[4] مِنَ النَّوْمِ فَكَسْبُهُ ذَلِكَ حَرَامٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one works the whole night without giving the eyes their share of sleep, such earning is unlawful.’”

الصُّنَّاعُ إِذَا سَهِرُوا اللَّيْلَ كُلَّهُ فَهُوَ سُحْتٌ.[5]

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If a technician remains awake the whole night working, his earning becomes Suht (unlawful and filthy).’”

نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص عَنْ كَسْبِ الْإِمَاءِ فَإِنَّهَا إِنْ لَمْ تَجِدْ زَنَتْ إِلَّا أَمَةً قَدْ عُرِفَتْ بِصَنْعَةِ يَدٍ وَ نَهَى عَنْ كَسْبِ الْغُلَامِ الَّذِي لَا يُحْسِنُ صِنَاعَةً بِيَدِهِ فَإِنَّهُ إِنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ سَرَقَ.

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, prohibited earning of slave-girls because if they cannot find work, they fornicate, except for a slave-girl who knows a skill and she is better than a slave-boy who

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.’”

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.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع كَانَ لِي أَخٌ هَلَكَ فَأَوْصَى إِلَى أَخٍ أَكْبَرَ مِنِّي وَ أَدْخَلَنِي مَعَهُ فِي الْوَصِيَّةِ وَ تَرَكَ ابْناً لَهُ صَغِيراً وَ لَهُ مَالٌ فَيَضْرِبُ بِهِ أَخِي فَمَا كَانَ مِنْ فَضْلٍ سَلَّمَهُ لِلْيَتِيمِ وَ ضَمِنَ لَهُ مَالَهُ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ لِأَخِيكَ مَالٌ يُحِيطُ بِمَالِ الْيَتِيمِ إِنْ تَلِفَ فَلَا بَأْسَ بِهِ وَ إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ مَالٌ فَلَا يَعْرِضْ لِمَالِ الْيَتِي

“I once said to abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘I had a brother who has died and made a will in which he appointed my brother who is elder to me and myself as executors. He has left behind a small son and has left behind a certain amount of assets. My brother uses that asset in business and gives the extra to the orphan and h

الْعَامِلُ بِهِ ضَامِنٌ وَ لِلْيَتِيمِ الرِّبْحُ إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ لِلْعَامِلِ بِهِ مَالٌ وَ قَالَ إِنْ أُعْطِبَ أَدَّاهُ‌[1].

“About the case of the assets of orphans, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘One who uses the assets of the orphan in business is responsible and the profit belongs to the orphan, if the worker does not have anything of his own assets in it.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘This person is responsible to pay for any damage caused.’

فِي رَجُلٍ عِنْدَهُ مَالُ الْيَتِيمِ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ مُحْتَاجاً وَ لَيْسَ لَهُ مَالٌ فَلَا يَمَسَّ مَالَهُ وَ إِنْ [هُوَ] اتَّجَرَ بِهِ فَالرِّبْحُ لِلْيَتِيمِ وَ هُوَ ضَامِنٌ.

‘If he is poor and has no assets of his own, he must not touch the assets of the orphan; and if he uses it in business, he is responsible for it and the profit belongs to the orphan.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقُلْتُ أَمَرَنِي أَخِي أَنْ أَسْأَلَكَ عَنْ مَالِ يَتِيمٍ فِي حَجْرِهِ يَتَّجِرُ بِهِ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ لِأَخِيكَ مَالٌ يُحِيطُ بِمَالِ الْيَتِيمِ إِنْ تَلِفَ أَوْ أَصَابَهُ شَيْ‌ءٌ غَرِمَهُ لَهُ وَ إِلَّا فَلَا يَتَعَرَّضْ لِمَالِ الْيَتِيمِ.

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), that my brother has told me to ask you about the assets of an orphan who is under his (my brother’s) guardianship and he uses the assets of the orphan in business. He (the Imam) said, ‘If your brother’s assets are sufficient to cover the assets of the orphan in case it is destroye

إِنَّ عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ ع قَدْ كَانَ يَسْتَقْرِضُ مِنْ مَالِ أَيْتَامٍ كَانُوا فِي حَجْرِهِ فَلَا بَأْسَ بِذَلِكَ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who is the person in charge of the assets of an orphan; if he can borrow from such assets. He (the Imam) said, ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), would borrow from the assets of orphans under his guardianship, thus, it is not harmful.’”

قُلْتُ لَهُ رَجُلٌ وُلِّيَ مَالَ يَتِيمٍ أَ يَسْتَقْرِضُ مِنْهُ قَالَ‌ كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع يَسْتَقْرِضُ مِنْ مَالِ يَتِيمٍ كَانَ فِي حَجْرِهِ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who is the person in charge of the assets of orphans; if he can borrow from such assets. He (the Imam) said, ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), would borrow from the assets of orphans under his guardianship.’”

فِي الرَّجُلِ يَكُونُ عِنْدَ بَعْضِ أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ مَالٌ لِأَيْتَامٍ فَيَدْفَعُهُ إِلَيْهِ فَيَأْخُذُ مِنْهُ دَرَاهِمَ يَحْتَاجُ إِلَيْهَا وَ لَا يُعْلِمُ الَّذِي كَانَ عِنْدَهُ الْمَالُ لِلْأَيْتَامِ أَنَّهُ أَخَذَ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ شَيْئاً ثُمَّ تَيَسَّرَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ أَيُّ ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ لَهُ أَ يُعْطِيهِ الَّذِي كَانَ فِي يَدِهِ أَمْ يَدْفَعُهُ إِلَى الْيَتِيمِ وَ قَدْ بَلَغَ وَ هَلْ يُجْزِئُهُ أَنْ يَدْفَعَهُ

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about the case of a man in whose family someone has the assets of orphans and he gives a certain amount of dirham to him that he needs; and the person with whom there are the assets of orphans does not know if he has taken anything from their assets. He thereafter becomes affluent. I