Work & Livelihood

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْعَارِيَّةِ يَسْتَعِيرُهَا الْإِنْسَانُ فَتَهْلِكُ أَوْ تُسْرَقُ فَقَالَ إِذَا كَانَ أَمِيناً فَلَا غُرْمَ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الَّذِي يَسْتَبْضِعُ الْمَالَ‌[1] فَيَهْلِكُ أَوْ يُسْرَقُ أَ عَلَى صَاحِبِهِ ضَمَانٌ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ غُرْمٌ بَعْدَ أَنْ يَكُونَ الرَّجُلُ أَمِيناً.

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about a borrowed item; if it was destroyed or was stolen. He (the Imam) said, ‘If the borrower is trustworthy he is not held liable.’ I then asked him (the Imam) about the case of a man who gave certain amount of assets to another person to use in business in which the worker had no sha

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص‌ مَنِ اتَّجَرَ مَالًا وَ اشْتَرَطَ نِصْفَ الرِّبْحِ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ ضَمَانٌ وَ قَالَ مَنْ ضَمَّنَ تَاجِراً فَلَيْسَ لَهُ إِلَّا رَأْسُ مَالِهِ وَ لَيْسَ لَهُ مِنَ الرِّبْحِ شَيْ‌ءٌ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ’If one uses a certain amount of assets in business with stipulation for half of the profit, he is not liable.’ He (the Imam) also said, ‘One who holds a merchant responsible he can only have his capital and has no share in the profit.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَبِيعُنِي الْوَرِقَ بِالدَّنَانِيرِ وَ أَتَّزِنُ مِنْهُ فَأَزِنُ لَهُ حَتَّى أَفْرُغَ فَلَا يَكُونُ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَهُ عَمَلٌ إِلَّا أَنَّ فِي وَرِقِهِ نُفَايَةً وَ زُيُوفاً وَ مَا لَا يَجُوزُ فَيَقُولُ انْتَقِدْهَا وَ رُدَّ نُفَايَتَهَا[1] فَقَالَ لَيْسَ بِهِ بَأْسٌ وَ لَكِنْ لَا تُؤَخِّرْ ذَلِكَ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ يَوْمٍ أَوْ يَوْمَيْنِ فَإِنَّمَا هُوَ الصَّرْفُ قُلْتُ فَإِ

“I once asked Abu Ibrahim (a.s.), about the case of a man who sold to me wariq (dirham) for dinar and I weighed it from him. I weighed it for him until it was complete and there was no other work between us, except that his wariq (dirham) had invalid and unreal pieces, and what was not permissible in them. He asked me

‌ أَنَّهُمَا كَرِهَا رُكُوبَ الْبَحْرِ لِلتِّجَارَةِ

“Abu Ja‘far, and abu ‘ Abd Allah, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, have said, ‘We dislike sailing on the sea for business.’”

قَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع‌ مَا أَجْمَلَ فِي الطَّلَبِ مَنْ رَكِبَ الْبَحْرَ لِلتِّجَارَةِ.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated in a marfu’ manner the following: “Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali (a.s.), ‘has said, ‘How beautiful is the quest for trade to sail on the sea!”’ [Note: H 9118 and H 9119 appear to occur during two different eras, perhaps of safe and unsafe sailing times]

كُنْتُ حَمَلْتُ مَعِي مَتَاعاً إِلَى مَكَّةَ فَبَارَ عَلَيَّ فَدَخَلْتُ بِهِ الْمَدِينَةَ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع وَ قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنِّي حَمَلْتُ مَتَاعاً قَدْ بَارَ عَلَيَّ وَ قَدْ عَزَمْتُ عَلَى أَنْ أَصِيرَ إِلَى مِصْرَ فَأَرْكَبُ بَرّاً أَوْ بَحْراً فَقَالَ مِصْرُ الْحُتُوفِ يُقَيَّضُ‌[2] لَهَا أَقْصَرُ النَّاسِ أَعْمَاراً وَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص مَا أَجْمَلَ فِي الطَّلَبِ مَنْ رَكِبَ الْبَحْرَ ثُمَّ ق

“I had carried goods with me to Makkah. I faced severe competition there so I went to visit abu al- Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), and told him (the Imam) that I had carried goods to Makkah but I faced competition and I decided to travel to Egypt. Should I travel by land or by sea? He (the Imam) said, ’Egypt is destructive.

فِي رُكُوبِ الْبَحْرِ لِلتِّجَارَةِ يُغَرِّرُ الرَّجُلُ بِدِينِهِ‌[2].

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘In sailing on the sea for trade one is deceived in his religion.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يُسَافِرُ فَيَرْكَبُ الْبَحْرَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ أَبِي كَانَ يَقُولُ إِنَّهُ يُضِرُّ بِدِينِكَ هُوَ ذَا النَّاسُ يُصِيبُونَ أَرْزَاقَهُمْ وَ مَعِيشَتَهُمْ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who traveled and sailed on the sea. He (the Imam) said, ‘My father would say that it causes harms to one’s religion. There are people who find their livelihood and sustenance.’”

إِنَّا نَتَّجِرُ إِلَى هَذِهِ الْجِبَالِ فَنَأْتِي مِنْهَا عَلَى أَمْكِنَةٍ لَا نَقْدِرُ أَنْ نُصَلِّيَ إِلَّا عَلَى الثَّلْجِ فَقَالَ أَلَّا تَكُونُ مِثْلَ فُلَانٍ يَرْضَى بِالدُّونِ وَ لَا يَطْلُبُ تِجَارَةً لَا يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ إِلَّا عَلَى الثَّلْجِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once a man came to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), and said, ‘We work for business in these mountains and come upon areas where we cannot perform Salat (prayer) except on snow. He (the Imam) said, ‘Why can you not be like so and so who is happy with less and does not demand such things because

قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع‌ إِنَّ مِنْ سَعَادَةِ الْمَرْءِ أَنْ يَكُونَ مَتْجَرُهُ فِي بَلَدِهِ وَ يَكُونَ خُلَطَاؤُهُ صَالِحِينَ وَ يَكُونَ لَهُ وُلْدٌ يَسْتَعِينُ بِهِمْ.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from ibn Muskan from certain persons of his people who has said the following: “Ali ibn Al-Husayn (a.s.), has said, ‘It is of a man’s good fortune to have his place of business where he lives, to have virtuous associates and children

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ ثَلَاثَةٌ مِنَ السَّعَادَةِ الزَّوْجَةُ الْمُؤَاتِيَةُ[1] وَ الْأَوْلَادُ الْبَارُّونَ وَ الرَّجُلُ يُرْزَقُ مَعِيشَتَهُ بِبَلَدِهِ يَغْدُو إِلَى أَهْلِهِ وَ يَرُوحُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Three factors help a man enjoy good fortune: One is a cooperating wife, virtuous and kind children, and he finds his living where he lives and is present in his family every morning and evenings.’”

مِنْ سَعَادَةِ الْمَرْءِ أَنْ يَكُونَ مَتْجَرُهُ فِي بَلَدِهِ وَ يَكُونَ خُلَطَاؤُهُ صَالِحِينَ وَ يَكُونَ لَهُ وُلْدٌ يَسْتَعِينُ بِهِمْ وَ مِنْ شَقَاءِ الْمَرْءِ أَنْ تَكُونَ عِنْدَهُ امْرَأَةٌ مُعْجَبٌ بِهَا وَ هِيَ تَخُونُهُ.

“Ali ibn Al-Husayn (a.s.), has said, ‘It is of a man’s good fortune to have his place of business where he lives, to have virtuous associates and children who support him. It is misfortune of a man to have a conceited wife who is treacherous toward him.’”

أَحَدُهُمَا لِصَاحِبِهِ أَعْطِنِي رَأْسَ الْمَالِ وَ لَكَ الرِّبْحُ وَ عَلَيْكَ التَّوَى فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ إِذَا اشْتَرَطَا[2] فَإِذَا كَانَ شَرْطٌ يُخَالِفُ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ فَهُوَ رَدٌّ إِلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

"This is about the two men who had a business partnership with a certain amount of asset in which they made a certain amount of profit, there, however, was a loan against that asset which both had to pay. One of them asked the other to give him the capital in exchange for the profit and payment of loan. The Imam said,

سَأَلَهُ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَسْمَعُ قَوْماً يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ الزِّرَاعَةَ مَكْرُوهَةٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ ازْرَعُوا وَ اغْرِسُوا فَلَا وَ اللَّهِ مَا عَمِلَ النَّاسُ عَمَلًا أَحَلَّ وَ لَا أَطْيَبَ مِنْهُ وَ اللَّهِ لَيَزْرَعُنَّ الزَّرْعَ وَ لَيَغْرِسُنَّ النَّخْلَ بَعْدَ خُرُوجِ الدَّجَّالِ.

“A man once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, I hear a people who say that farming is Makruh (detestable).’ He (the Imam) said, ‘You must farm and plant, by Allah, there is no work that people do which is sweeter and fine than farming. By Allah, farming wil

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع كَانَ أَبِي يَقُولُ‌ خَيْرُ الْأَعْمَالِ الْحَرْثُ تَزْرَعُهُ فَيَأْكُلُ مِنْهُ الْبَرُّ وَ الْفَاجِرُ أَمَّا الْبَرُّ فَمَا أَكَلَ مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ اسْتَغْفَرَ لَكَ وَ أَمَّا الْفَاجِرُ فَمَا أَكَلَ مِنْهُ مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ لَعَنَهُ وَ يَأْكُلُ مِنْهُ الْبَهَائِمُ وَ الطَّيْرُ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘My father (a.s.), would say, “The best work is farming in which you plant, and the virtuous as well as sinful ones eat. The virtuous on eating asks forgiveness for you and the sinful one on eating it is condemned; and even animals and birds eat thereof.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ مُزَارَعَةِ الْمُسْلِمِ الْمُشْرِكَ فَيَكُونُ مِنْ عِنْدِ الْمُسْلِمِ الْبَذْرُ وَ الْبَقَرُ وَ تَكُونُ الْأَرْضُ وَ الْمَاءُ وَ الْخَرَاجُ وَ الْعَمَلُ عَلَى الْعِلْجِ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ قَالَ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْمُزَارَعَةِ قُلْتُ الرَّجُلُ يَبْذُرُ فِي الْأَرْضِ مِائَةَ جَرِيبٍ أَوْ أَقَلَّ أَوْ أَكْثَرَ طَعَاماً أَوْ غَيْرَهُ فَيَأْتِيهِ رَجُلٌ فَيَقُولُ خُذْ مِنِّي نِصْفَ ثَمَنِ هَذَا الْبَذ

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about sharecropping of a Muslim and a pagan in which the Muslim provides seed and bull, the land, water, taxes and work is by the al-‘ilj. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful.’ I then asked about sharecropping saying that a man spreads seed on one hundre

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَتَقَبَّلُ الْأَرْضَ مِنَ الدَّهَاقِينِ‌[2] فَيُؤَاجِرُهَا بِأَكْثَرَ مِمَّا يَتَقَبَّلُهَا وَ يَقُومُ فِيهَا بِحَظِّ السُّلْطَانِ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ إِنَّ الْأَرْضَ لَيْسَتْ مِثْلَ الْأَجِيرِ وَ لَا مِثْلَ الْبَيْتِ إِنَّ فَضْلَ الْأَجِيرِ وَ الْبَيْتِ حَرَامٌ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who contracted land from farmers, then rented it for more to others and undertook the share of al- Sultan. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful because land is not like wages or a house. The increase of wages and house rent is unl

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ اسْتَأْجَرَ مِنَ السُّلْطَانِ مِنْ أَرْضِ الْخَرَاجِ بِدَرَاهِمَ مُسَمَّاةٍ أَوْ بِطَعَامٍ مُسَمًّى ثُمَّ آجَرَهَا وَ شَرَطَ لِمَنْ يَزْرَعُهَا أَنْ يُقَاسِمَهُ النِّصْفَ أَوْ أَقَلَّ مِنْ ذَلِكَ أَوْ أَكْثَرَ وَ لَهُ فِي الْأَرْضِ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَضْلٌ أَ يَصْلُحُ لَهُ ذَلِكَ قَالَ نَعَمْ إِذَا حَفَرَ نَهَراً أَوْ عَمِلَ لَهُمْ شَيْئاً يُعِينُهُمْ بِذَلِكَ فَلَهُ ذَلِكَ قَالَ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who leased from al-Sultan al-Kharaj (tax) land for a known amount of dirham or foodstuff of known amount, then rented to someone with the condition to cultivate it and to divide the produce in half and half or more or less and still s

لَا بَأْسَ إِنَّ هَذَا لَيْسَ كَالْحَانُوتِ وَ لَا الْأَجِيرِ إِنَّ فَضْلَ الْأَجِيرِ وَ الْحَانُوتِ حَرَامٌ.

“About the case of a man who leases a piece of land, then rents it to someone for more than what he has leased for, he (the Imam) (a.s.), said, ‘It is not unlawful because it is not like a shop or wages; increase of wages and rent of shop is not lawful.’”

لَيْسَ بِهِ بَأْسٌ إِنَّ الْأَرْضَ لَيْسَتْ بِمَنْزِلَةِ الْبَيْتِ وَ الْأَجِيرِ إِنَّ فَضْلَ الْبَيْتِ حَرَامٌ وَ فَضْلَ الْأَجِيرِ حَرَامٌ.

“Ibrahim ibn al-Muthanna’ once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), this, when I was listening, ‘A man leases land, then rents to someone else for more than what he pays.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful because land is not like a house or a worker on hire. Extra in the rent of a house is unlawful and extra in hiring i

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ اشْتَرَى مَرْعًى يَرْعَى فِيهِ بِخَمْسِينَ دِرْهَماً أَوْ أَقَلَّ أَوْ أَكْثَرَ فَأَرَادَ أَنْ يُدْخِلَ مَعَهُ مَنْ يَرْعَى فِيهِ وَ يَأْخُذَ مِنْهُمُ الثَّمَنَ قَالَ فَلْيُدْخِلْ مَعَهُ مَنْ شَاءَ بِبَعْضِ مَا أَعْطَى وَ إِنْ أَدْخَلَ مَعَهُ بِتِسْعَةٍ وَ أَرْبَعِينَ وَ كَانَتْ غَنَمُهُ بِدِرْهَمٍ فَلَا بَأْسَ وَ إِنْ هُوَ رَعَى فِيهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُدْخِلَهُ بِشَهْرٍ أَوْ شَهْرَيْنِ أَوْ أَكْثَ

“Upon asking him (the Imam) (a.s.), about the case of a man who buys a pasture for fifty dirham or less or more and he wants to allow entering the pasture whoever wants to enter so that he charges them for it. He (the Imam) said, ‘He can allow whomever he wants with a payment of part of what he has paid. If he enters t

لَا إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ قَدْ عَمِلَ فِيهِ شَيْئاً[1].

“Upon my asking one of the two Imam, (abu Ja’far or abu ‘Abd Allah), ‘Alayhim al-Salam, about the case of a man who forms a contract for a certain work with another man but he does not do the work, instead he gives it to someone else and makes a certain amount of profit. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, he cannot do so unless

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنِّي أَتَقَبَّلُ الثَّوْبَ بِدِرْهَمٍ وَ أُسَلِّمُهُ بِأَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ لَا أَزِيدُ عَلَى أَنْ أَشُقَّهُ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ فِيمَا تَقَبَّلْتَهُ مِنْ عَمَلٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَفْضَلْتَ فِيهِ.

“Upon my asking abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a cloth (for tailoring) that I accept for a dirham and then give it to another person on credit for more than a dirham without doing anything more than cutting. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘It is not unlawful if you accept a

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنِّي أَتَقَبَّلُ الْعَمَلَ فِيهِ الصِّيَاغَةُ وَ فِيهِ النَّقْشُ فَأُشَارِطُ النَّقَّاشَ عَلَى شَرْطٍ فَإِذَا بَلَغَ الْحِسَابُ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَهُ اسْتَوْضَعْتُهُ مِنَ الشَّرْطِ قَالَ فَبِطِيبِ نَفْسٍ مِنْهُ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ‌[2].

“Upon my asking abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a goldsmith work in which there is engraving and I stipulate with an engraver; but when it is time to finalize our account, I ask him to reduce from what was stipulated. He (the Imam) asked, ‘Is it without compulsion on his part?’ I replied, ‘Yes, it is without compulsion.’

الشُّفْعَةُ لِكُلِّ شَرِيكٍ لَمْ يُقَاسِمْ.

The right of al- Shuf’ah (pre-emption) of an asset belongs to a business partner who has not yet departed partnership.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ لَا يَنْبَغِي لِلرَّجُلِ الْمُسْلِمِ أَنْ يُشَارِكَ الذِّمِّيَّ وَ لَا يُبْضِعَهُ بِضَاعَةً وَ لَا يُودِعَهُ وَدِيعَةً وَ لَا يُصَافِيَهُ الْمَوَدَّةَ[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not proper for a Muslim man to become a partner of al-Dhimmiy (non-Muslim tax payer) and not to give him goods for business, leave safe deposit with him and not to have pure friendly relationship with him.’”

أَنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص كَرِهَ مُشَارَكَةَ الْيَهُودِيِّ وَ النَّصْرَانِيِّ وَ الْمَجُوسِيِ‌ إِلَّا أَنْ تَكُونَ تِجارَةً حاضِرَةً لَا يَغِيبُ عَنْهَا الْمُسْلِمُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin did not like partnership with Jews, Christians, al-Majusiy, unless it was a hand in hand business deal in the presence of the Muslim.”’

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع إِنَّ لَنَا أَكَرَةً فَنُزَارِعُهُمْ فَيَجِيئُونَ وَ يَقُولُونَ لَنَا قَدْ حَزَرْنَا هَذَا الزَّرْعَ بِكَذَا وَ كَذَا فَأَعْطُونَاهُ وَ نَحْنُ نَضْمَنُ لَكُمْ أَنْ نُعْطِيَكُمْ حِصَّتَكُمْ عَلَى هَذَا الْحَزْرِ فَقَالَ وَ قَدْ بَلَغَ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهَذَا قُلْتُ فَإِنَّهُ يَجِي‌ءُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَيَقُولُ لَنَا إِنَّ الْحَزْرَ لَمْ يَجِئْ كَمَا حَزَرْتُ وَ قَدْ نَقَصَ قَالَ

“This is concerning my question before abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about the people who work for hire and we make a deal with them to farm for us and they say, ‘We have estimated this farm for so and so much and if you give it to us we guarantee your share according to our estimation.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘Is it completed?’

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع- عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَسْتَأْجِرُ الرَّجُلَ بِأُجْرَةٍ مَعْلُومَةٍ فَيَبْعَثُهُ فِي ضَيْعَةٍ فَيُعْطِيهِ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ دَرَاهِمَ وَ يَقُولُ اشْتَرِ بِهَذَا كَذَا وَ كَذَا وَ مَا رَبِحْتَ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَكَ فَقَالَ إِذَا أَذِنَ لَهُ الَّذِي اسْتَأْجَرَهُ فَلَيْسَ بِهِ بَأْسٌ.

“This is concerning my question before abu Ibrahim (a.s.), about the case of a man who hires a man for a certain amount of wages and sends him to work; but he gives dirhams to another man and asks him, ‘Buy such and such things; we will share the profit.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If the one who has hired gives permission,

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع- عَنْ رَجُلٍ اسْتَأْجَرَ رَجُلًا بِنَفَقَةٍ وَ دَرَاهِمَ مُسَمَّاةٍ عَلَى أَنْ يَبْعَثَهُ إِلَى أَرْضٍ فَلَمَّا أَنْ قَدِمَ أَقْبَلَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ يَدْعُوهُ إِلَى مَنْزِلِهِ الشَّهْرَ وَ الشَّهْرَيْنِ فَيُصِيبُ عِنْدَهُ مَا يُغْنِيهِ عَنْ نَفَقَةِ الْمُسْتَأْجِرِ فَنَظَرَ الْأَجِيرُ إِلَى مَا كَانَ يُنْفِقُ عَلَيْهِ فِي الشَّهْرِ إِذَا هُوَ لَمْ يَدْعُهُ فَكَافَأَهُ الَّذِي يَدْعُ

“This is concerning my question before abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about the case of a man who hires another man for a certain amount of wages and dirham to send him to a certain land. When he arrives in that land one of his friends invites him with who he stays for one or two months where he does not need to spend from the

كُنْتُ مَعَ الرِّضَا ع فِي بَعْضِ الْحَاجَةِ فَأَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَنْصَرِفَ إِلَى مَنْزِلِي فَقَالَ لِيَ انْصَرِفْ مَعِي فَبِتْ عِنْدِيَ اللَّيْلَةَ فَانْطَلَقْتُ مَعَهُ فَدَخَلَ إِلَى دَارِهِ مَعَ الْمُعَتِّبِ فَنَظَرَ إِلَى غِلْمَانِهِ يَعْمَلُونَ بِالطِّينِ أَوَارِيَ الدَّوَابِ‌[2] وَ غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ وَ إِذاً مَعَهُمْ أَسْوَدُ لَيْسَ مِنْهُمْ فَقَالَ مَا هَذَا الرَّجُلُ مَعَكُمْ فَقَالُوا يُعَاوِنُنَا وَ نُعْطِيهِ شَيْئ

“I once was with al-Rida’ (a.s.), because of a certain work and I wanted to leave for my home but he (the Imam) said, ‘Come with me and stay for the night with me/ I went with him (the Imam), he entered in his house with al-Mu‘attib and looked at his slaves who worked with clay, in the animal barn and other things and

لَا يَجِفُّ عَرَقُهُ حَتَّى تُعْطِيَهُ أُجْرَتَهُ.

“About the case of porters and a man working for hire, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘You must pay him before his perspiration dries up.’”

تَكَارَيْنَا لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَوْماً يَعْمَلُونَ فِي بُسْتَانٍ لَهُ وَ كَانَ أَجَلُهُمْ إِلَى الْعَصْرِ فَلَمَّا فَرَغُوا قَالَ لِمُعَتِّبٍ أَعْطِهِمْ أُجُورَهُمْ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَجِفَّ عَرَقُهُمْ.

“We once hired a people for abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), to work in his garden and they were suppose to work until the time of al-‘Al-‘Asr. When they finished, he (the Imam) said to Mu‘attib, ‘Pay them their wages before their perspiration dries up.’”

مَنْ كانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَ الْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ فَلَا يَسْتَعْمِلَنَّ أَجِيراً حَتَّى يُعْلِمَهُ مَا أَجْرُهُ‌[1] وَ مَنِ اسْتَأْجَرَ أَجِيراً ثُمَّ حَبَسَهُ عَنِ الْجُمُعَةِ يَبُوءُ بِإِثْمِهِ وَ إِنْ هُوَ لَمْ يَحْبِسْهُ اشْتَرَكَا فِي الْأَجْرِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Whoever believes in Allah and on Day of Judgment must not make a person work for him on hire until he knows how much his wages are, and if one hires a person and keeps him from Friday prayer, he is held responsible for his sin; and if he allows him to attend Friday prayer they will sh

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ ع رَجُلٌ كَانَتْ لَهُ قَنَاةٌ فِي قَرْيَةٍ فَأَرَادَ رَجُلٌ أَنْ يَحْفِرَ قَنَاةً أُخْرَى إِلَى قَرْيَةٍ لَهُ كَمْ يَكُونُ بَيْنَهُمَا فِي الْبُعْدِ حَتَّى لَا يُضِرَّ بِالْأُخْرَى فِي الْأَرْضِ إِذَا كَانَتْ صُلْبَةً أَوْ رِخْوَةً فَوَقَّعَ ع عَلَى حَسَبِ أَنْ لَا يُضِرَّ إِحْدَاهُمَا بِالْأُخْرَى إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ قَالَ وَ كَتَبْتُ إِلَيْهِ ع رَجُلٌ كَانَتْ لَهُ رَحًى عَلَى نَهَرِ قَ

He (the Imam) signed the answer that said, ‘It is according to a measure that does not cause one to harm the other, by the will of Allah.’ I wrote to him (the Imam) (a.s.), about a man who had a flour mill on the canal of a village that belonged to a man and the owner of the village wanted to divert the water to his vi

كَانَ أَذِنَ لِغُلَامٍ لَهُ فِي الشِّرَاءِ وَ الْبَيْعِ فَأَفْلَسَ وَ لَزِمَهُ دَيْنٌ فَأُخِذَ بِذَلِكَ الدَّيْنِ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ وَ لَيْسَ يُسَاوِي ثَمَنُهُ مَا عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الدَّيْنِ فَسَأَلَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ إِنْ بِعْتَهُ لَزِمَكَ الدَّيْنُ وَ إِنْ أَعْتَقْتَهُ لَمْ يَلْزَمْكَ الدَّيْنُ فَأَعْتَقَهُ فَلَمْ يَلْزَمْهُ شَيْ‌ءٌ[1].

If you sell him you are responsible for the debt, but if you set him free you are not responsible for the debt.’ He set him free and he was not held responsible for anything.”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع- عَنْ رَجُلٍ مَاتَ وَ تَرَكَ عَلَيْهِ دَيْناً وَ تَرَكَ عَبْداً لَهُ مَالٌ فِي التِّجَارَةِ وَ وَلَداً وَ فِي يَدِ الْعَبْدِ مَالٌ وَ مَتَاعٌ وَ عَلَيْهِ دَيْنٌ اسْتَدَانَهُ الْعَبْدُ فِي حَيَاةِ سَيِّدِهِ فِي تِجَارَتِهِ وَ إِنَّ الْوَرَثَةَ وَ غُرَمَاءَ الْمَيِّتِ اخْتَصَمُوا فِيمَا فِي يَدِ الْعَبْدِ مِنَ الْمَالِ وَ الْمَتَاعِ وَ فِي رَقَبَةِ الْعَبْدِ فَقَالَ أَرَى أَنْ لَيْسَ لِلْوَرَث

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who dies owing a certain amount of debts and leaves behind a slave who has his assets in business and a son. In the hand of the slave he leaves the assets, goods and debts owed by the slave which he had incurred during the lifetime of

قُلْتُ لَهُ رَجُلٌ يَأْذَنُ لِمَمْلُوكِهِ فِي التِّجَارَةِ فَيَصِيرُ عَلَيْهِ دَيْنٌ قَالَ إِنْ كَانَ أَذِنَ لَهُ أَنْ يَسْتَدِينَ فَالدَّيْنُ عَلَى مَوْلَاهُ وَ إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ أَذِنَ لَهُ أَنْ يَسْتَدِينَ فَلَا شَيْ‌ءَ عَلَى الْمَوْلَى وَ يُسْتَسْعَى الْعَبْدُ فِي الدَّيْنِ.

“This is concerning my question before abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the case of a man who authorizes his slave to do business but he becomes indebted. He (the Imam) said, if his master had authorized him to borrow; then he is responsible for the debts, but if he had not authorized him to borrow, he is not responsible for a

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّهُ قَدْ ذَهَبَ مَالِي وَ تَفَرَّقَ مَا فِي يَدِي وَ عِيَالِي كَثِيرٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِذَا قَدِمْتَ الْكُوفَةَ فَافْتَحْ بَابَ حَانُوتِكَ وَ ابْسُطْ بِسَاطَكَ وَ ضَعْ مِيزَانَكَ وَ تَعَرَّضْ لِرِزْقِ رَبِّكَ‌[3] قَالَ فَلَمَّا أَنْ قَدِمَ فَتَحَ بَابَ حَانُوتِهِ وَ بَسَطَ بِسَاطَهُ وَ وَضَعَ مِيزَانَهُ قَالَ فَتَعَجَّبَ مَنْ حَوْلَهُ بِأَنْ لَيْسَ فِي بَيْتِهِ

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from abu ‘Umarah al-Tayyar who has said the following: “I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, that my assets are gone, my belongings have scattered and I have a large family. Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, then said, ‘When you arri

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ رِزْقُهُ فِي التِّجَارَةِ وَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ رِزْقُهُ فِي السَّيْفِ وَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ رِزْقُهُ فِي لِسَانِهِ.

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘The sustenance of certain people is in trading, others have it in their sword and certain ones in their tongue.”’

مَنْ ضَاقَ عَلَيْهِ الْمَعَاشُ أَوْ قَالَ الرِّزْقُ فَلْيَشْتَرِ صِغَاراً وَ لْيَبِعْ كِبَاراً[3]. - وَ رُوِيَ عَنْهُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ ع‌ مَنْ أَعْيَتْهُ الْحِيلَةُ فَلْيُعَالِجِ الْكُرْسُفَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘One who faces constraint in his living’ -or he (the Imam) said ‘in his sustenance- should buy small ones (of animal) and sell large ones.’” It is also narrated from him (the Imam) that if one’s plans do not work he should work in al-kursuf (a certain kind of fabric).

كُلُّ مَا افْتَتَحَ بِهِ الرَّجُلُ رِزْقَهُ فَهُوَ تِجَارَةٌ.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘With whatever (lawful) means one opens the door to his sustenance it is business and trade.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَنْ زَرَعَ حِنْطَةً فِي أَرْضٍ فَلَمْ يَزْكُ زَرْعُهُ‌[2] أَوْ خَرَجَ زَرْعُهُ كَثِيرَ الشَّعِيرِ فَبِظُلْمٍ عَمِلَهُ فِي مِلْكِ رَقَبَةِ الْأَرْضِ أَوْ بِظُلْمٍ لِمُزَارِعِيهِ وَ أَكَرَتِهِ لِأَنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ- فَبِظُلْمٍ مِنَ الَّذِينَ هادُوا حَرَّمْنا عَلَيْهِمْ طَيِّباتٍ أُحِلَّتْ لَهُمْ‌[3] يَعْنِي لُحُومَ الْإِبِلِ وَ الْبَقَرِ وَ الْغَنَمِ وَ قَالَ إ

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘If one plants wheat in a land and it does not come pure or the plantation grows with a great deal of barley, it is because of the injustice of his work to the piece of land that he owns or it is because of the injustice of his workers. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, s

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ حِيلَةُ الرَّجُلِ فِي بَابِ مَكْسَبِهِ.

“I once heard him (the Imam) (a.s.), saying, ‘The skillfulness of a man is for his earning a living.’”

قُلْتُ لَا أَزَالُ أُعْطِي الرَّجُلَ الْمَالَ فَيَقُولُ قَدْ هَلَكَ أَوْ ذَهَبَ فَمَا عِنْدَكَ حِيلَةٌ تَحْتَالُهَا لِي فَقَالَ أَعْطِ الرَّجُلَ أَلْفَ دِرْهَمٍ وَ أَقْرِضْهَا إِيَّاهُ وَ أَعْطِهِ عِشْرِينَ دِرْهَماً يَعْمَلُ بِالْمَالِ كُلِّهِ وَ تَقُولُ هَذَا رَأْسُ مَالِي وَ هَذَا رَأْسُ مَالِكَ فَمَا أَصَبْتَ مِنْهُمَا جَمِيعاً فَهُوَ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَكَ فَسَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ لَا ب

‘I still give goods to this man and he says that it is destroyed or is spent, so what kind of plan can help it?’ He (the planner) said, ‘You can give the man one thousand dirham and give it to him as loan; then give him twenty dirham to work with the asset and say to him, “This is my capital and that is your capital. W

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ لَجُلُوسُ الرَّجُلِ فِي دُبُرِ صَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ إِلَى طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ أَنْفَذُ فِي طَلَبِ الرِّزْقِ مِنْ رُكُوبِ الْبَحْرِ فَقُلْتُ يَكُونُ لِلرَّجُلِ الْحَاجَةُ يَخَافُ فَوْتَهَا فَقَالَ يُدْلِجُ فِيهَا وَ لْيَذْكُرِ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَإِنَّهُ فِي تَعْقِيبٍ مَا دَامَ عَلَى وُضُوءٍ[2].

‘A man’s sitting for follow-up prayer, after the morning Salat (prayer) at his prayer place until sunrise is better for his business than sailing on the ocean in search for sustenance.’ I then asked, ‘What happens if he has an urgent work which he is afraid to miss?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘He can leave for it and he is c

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَنْ طَلَبَ قَلِيلَ الرِّزْقِ كَانَ ذَلِكَ دَاعِيَهُ إِلَى اجْتِلَابِ كَثِيرٍ مِنَ الرِّزْقِ [وَ مَنْ تَرَكَ قَلِيلًا مِنَ الرِّزْقِ كَانَ ذَلِكَ دَاعِيَهُ إِلَى ذَهَابِ كَثِيرٍ مِنَ الرِّزْقِ‌].

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘If one searches for little amounts of sustenance it leads to attract greater amounts of sustenance, and if one gives up small amounts of sustenance it leads to going away of the greater amount of sustenance.’”

شَهِدْتُ إِسْحَاقَ بْنَ عَمَّارٍ يَوْماً وَ قَدْ شَدَّ كِيسَهُ وَ هُوَ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَقُومَ فَجَاءَهُ إِنْسَانٌ يَطْلُبُ دَرَاهِمَ بِدِينَارٍ فَحَلَّ الْكِيسَ فَأَعْطَاهُ دَرَاهِمَ بِدِينَارٍ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ مَا كَانَ فَضْلُ هَذَا الدِّينَارِ فَقَالَ إِسْحَاقُ مَا فَعَلْتُ هَذَا رَغْبَةً فِي فَضْلِ الدِّينَارِ وَ لَكِنْ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ مَنِ اسْتَقَلَّ قَلِيلَ الرِّزْقِ حُ

“One day I saw Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar pack his bag, ready to move, when a man came asking to exchange dirham with dinar. He opened his bag, gave him dirham and took the dinar. I then said, ‘Allah is free of all defects, how dinar can be better?’ Ishaq said, ‘I did not do it because of my interest in dinar, but I heard abu ‘A

مَرَّ بِيَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فَقَالَ أَيَّ شَيْ‌ءٍ تَصْنَعِينَ يَا أُمَّ الْحَسَنِ قُلْتُ أَغْزِلُ فَقَالَ أَمَا إِنَّهُ أَحَلُّ الْكَسْبِ أَوْ مِنْ أَحَلِّ الْكَسْبِ.

‘I am spinning to make yarn.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘That is a very sweet way of earning’ -or that he said- ‘of the sweetest way of earning.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ كَانَ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص مُؤْمِنٌ فَقِيرٌ شَدِيدُ الْحَاجَةِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الصُّفَّةِ وَ كَانَ مُلَازِماً لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص عِنْدَ مَوَاقِيتِ الصَّلَاةِ كُلِّهَا لَا يَفْقِدُهُ فِي شَيْ‌ءٍ مِنْهَا وَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَرِقُّ لَهُ وَ يَنْظُرُ إِلَى حَاجَتِهِ وَ غُرْبَتِهِ فَيَقُولُ يَا سَعْدُ لَوْ قَدْ جَاءَنِي شَيْ‌ءٌ لَأَغْنَيْتُكَ قَالَ فَأَبْطَأَ ذَلِكَ عَلَى ر

“I once heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.), saying, ‘During the time of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, there was a believing man, poor and very needy of the people of the platform (in front of Masjid). He always kept very close to the Messenge