Imam Ali

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص يَحْبِسُ الرَّجُلَ إِذَا الْتَوَى عَلَى غُرَمَائِهِ ثُمَّ يَأْمُرُ فَيَقْسِمُ مَالَهُ بَيْنَهُمْ بِالْحِصَصِ فَإِنْ أَبَى بَاعَهُ فَيَقْسِمُ يَعْنِي مَالَهُ‌[1].

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ‘Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), would keep in custody a procrastinating debtor; then command to distribute his assets among his creditors proportionate to their shares, and if he (the debtor) disagreed, he (the Imam) sold his assets, then distributed it among his creditors.’”

أُتِيَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص بِرَجُلٍ تَكَفَّلَ بِنَفْسِ رَجُلٍ فَحَبَسَهُ فَقَالَ اطْلُبْ صَاحِبَكَ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once a man who had presented his person to bail out another man was brought before ‘Amir al-Mu’minin who placed him in custody and commanded him to present the man whom he had bailed out.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْتَرِفَ الْأَمِينَ وَ فِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يُحِبُّ الْمُؤْمِنَ الْمُحْتَرِفَ.

“Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, loves persons who are trustworthy and possess technical skills/” In another Hadith it is said, ‘Allah, most High, loves the skillful believer.’”

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

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص‌ أَدُّوا الْأَمَانَةَ وَ لَوْ إِلَى قَاتِلِ وُلْدِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘You must return a trust even if an assassin of the children of the prophet has left it with you.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَ عَلَيْكُمْ بِأَدَاءِ الْأَمَانَةِ إِلَى مَنِ ائْتَمَنَكُمْ وَ لَوْ أَنَّ قَاتِلَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ع ائْتَمَنَنِي عَلَى أَمَانَةٍ لَأَدَّيْتُهَا إِلَيْهِ.

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘You must maintain piety before Allah and you must return a trust to the one who has entrusted you with it. Even if the assassin of Ali ibn abu Talib entrusted me with something, I had to return it to him safely.’”

إِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص كَانَ يَقُولُ‌ فِي الدَّابَّةِ إِذَا سَرَحَهَا أَهْلُهَا أَوْ عَجَزُوا عَنْ عَلَفِهَا أَوْ نَفَقَتِهَا فَهِيَ لِلَّذِي أَحْيَاهَا قَالَ وَ قَضَى أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فِي رَجُلٍ تَرَكَ دَابَّتَهُ فِي مَضِيعَةٍ فَقَالَ إِنْ تَرَكَهَا فِي كَلَإٍ وَ مَاءٍ وَ أَمْنٍ فَهِيَ لَهُ يَأْخُذُهَا مَتَى شَاءَ وَ إِنْ تَرَكَهَا فِي غَيْرِ كَلَإٍ وَ لَا مَاءٍ فَهِيَ لِمَنْ أَحْيَاهَا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘If a horse is released by its owner or if he is not able to feed it or pay its expenses, it then is for one who revives it.’ He (the Imam) has said, ‘Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), issued a judgment about the case of a man who had left his horse in an

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ لَأَنْ أُهْدِيَ لِأَخِي الْمُسْلِمِ هَدِيَّةً تَنْفَعُهُ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أَتَصَدَّقَ بِمِثْلِهَا.

Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘Presenting a gift to my Muslim brother which can benefit him is more beloved to me than giving charity.’”

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

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ لَيْسَ بَيْنَ الرَّجُلِ وَ وَلَدِهِ رِبًا وَ لَيْسَ بَيْنَ السَّيِّدِ وَ عَبْدِهِ رِبًا[2].

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘There is no Riba ’ between a man and his sons as well between a master and his slave.”’

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ‌ تَعَرَّضُوا لِلتِّجَارَةِ فَإِنَّ فِيهَا غِنًى لَكُمْ عَمَّا فِي أَيْدِي النَّاسِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘Engage yourselves in business; it helps you become independent of what is in the hands of people.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَقُولُ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ يَا مَعْشَرَ التُّجَّارِ الْفِقْهَ ثُمَّ الْمَتْجَرَ الْفِقْهَ ثُمَّ الْمَتْجَرَ الْفِقْهَ ثُمَّ الْمَتْجَرَ وَ اللَّهِ لَلرِّبَا فِي هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ أَخْفَى مِنْ دَبِيبِ النَّمْلِ عَلَى الصَّفَا شُوبُوا أَيْمَانَكُمْ بِالصِّدْقِ التَّاجِرُ فَاجِرٌ وَ الْفَاجِرُ فِي النَّارِ إِلَّا مَنْ أَخَذَ الْحَقَّ وَ أَعْطَى الْحَقَّ.

“I heard Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), saying from the pulpit, ‘O people who do business, you must learn fiqh (laws), then go in business, you must learn fiqh (laws) then go in business, you must learn fiqh (laws) then go in business. I swear by Allah, Riba ’ creeps in this nation more quietly than an ant’s moving on a hard

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع بِالْكُوفَةِ عِنْدَكُمْ يَغْتَدِي كُلَّ يَوْمٍ بُكْرَةً مِنَ الْقَصْرِ فَيَطُوفُ فِي أَسْوَاقِ الْكُوفَةِ سُوقاً سُوقاً وَ مَعَهُ الدِّرَّةُ عَلَى عَاتِقِهِ وَ كَانَ لَهَا طَرَفَانِ وَ كَانَتْ تُسَمَّى السَّبِيبَةَ[1] فَيَقِفُ عَلَى أَهْلِ كُلِّ سُوقٍ فَيُنَادِي يَا مَعْشَرَ التُّجَّارِ اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَإِذَا سَمِعُوا صَوْتَهُ ع أَلْقَوْا مَا بِأَيْدِيهِمْ وَ أَرْعَوْا

3. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Ahmad ibn Muhammad from and Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father all from ibn Mahbub from ‘Amr ibn abu al-Miqdam from Jabir, who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, lived among y

مَرَّ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع عَلَى جَارِيَةٍ قَدِ اشْتَرَتْ لَحْماً مِنْ قَصَّابٍ وَ هِيَ تَقُولُ زِدْنِي فَقَالَ لَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ زِدْهَا فَإِنَّهُ أَعْظَمُ لِلْبَرَكَةِ.

“Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), once said to a butcher about a slave-girl who had purchased meat from his shop and who was asking for more, ‘You must give her more; it has greater blessings.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ‌ مَنِ اتَّجَرَ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ ارْتَطَمَ فِي الرِّبَا ثُمَّ ارْتَطَمَ قَالَ وَ كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَقُولُ لَا يَقْعُدَنَّ فِي السُّوقِ إِلَّا مَنْ يَعْقِلُ الشِّرَاءَ وَ الْبَيْعَ.[4]

‘If one does business without knowledge, he plunges in Riba ’ again and again.’ Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), would also say, ‘One who does not understand buying and selling must not sit in the market place for doing business.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ سُوقُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ كَمَسْجِدِهِمْ فَمَنْ سَبَقَ إِلَى مَكَانٍ فَهُوَ أَحَقُّ بِهِ إِلَى اللَّيْلِ وَ كَانَ لَا يَأْخُذُ عَلَى بُيُوتِ السُّوقِ الْكِرَاءَ[1].

‘The market-place of Muslims is like their Masjid. Whoever comes first to a place in it is more rightful than others to benefit thereof.’ He did not charge any rent for the use of houses of the market-place.’”

قَامَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع عَلَى دَارِ ابْنِ أَبِي مُعَيْطٍ وَ كَانَ يُقَامُ فِيهَا الْإِبِلُ فَقَالَ يَا مَعَاشِرَ السَّمَاسِرَةِ[2] أَقِلُّوا الْأَيْمَانَ فَإِنَّهَا مَنْفَقَةٌ لِلسِّلْعَةِ مَمْحَقَةٌ لِلرِّبْحِ.

“Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), once stood on the house of ibn abu Mu‘ayt where camel men stayed, and said, ‘O middlemen people, you must reduce swearing; it makes a merchandise easily marketable but destroys the profit.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص‌ مَنْ بَاعَ نَخْلًا قَدْ أَبَّرَهُ فَثَمَرَتُهُ‌[3] لِلْبَائِعِ إِلَّا أَنْ يَشْتَرِطَ الْمُبْتَاعُ ثُمَّ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع قَضَى بِهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘If one sells palm trees which he has pollinated, its dates belong to the seller unless the buyer stipulates otherwise. Ali (a.s.), then said that this is how the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their

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.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي بَصِيرٍ أُحِبُّ أَنْ تَسْأَلَ- أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ اسْتَبْدَلَ قَوْصَرَتَيْنِ فِيهِمَا بُسْرٌ مَطْبُوخٌ بِقَوْصَرَةٍ فِيهَا تَمْرٌ مُشَقَّقٌ‌[1] قَالَ فَسَأَلَهُ أَبُو بَصِيرٍ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ ع هَذَا مَكْرُوهٌ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَصِيرٍ وَ لِمَ يُكْرَهُ فَقَالَ كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ع يَكْرَهُ أَنْ يَسْتَبْدِلَ وَسْقاً مِنْ تَمْرِ الْمَدِينَةِ بِوَسْقَيْنِ مِنْ تَمْرِ خَيْبَرَ

“I once asked abu Basir to ask abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who exchanges two baskets of fresh half-ripe dates for one basket of Mushaqaq (stone-free) dates. Abu Basir asked him (the Imam) and he (the Imam) said, ‘It is Makruh (detestable).’ Abu Basir then asked, ‘Why it is Makruh (detestable)?’ He (

أَنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كَرِهَ اللَّحْمَ بِالْحَيَوَانِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), disliked exchange of meat for animals.”

إِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ نَهَى أَنْ يُشْتَرَى شَبَكَةُ الصَّيَّادِ يَقُولَ اضْرِبْ بِشَبَكَتِكَ فَمَا خَرَجَ فَهُوَ مِنْ مَالِي بِكَذَا وَ كَذَا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), prohibited buying the net of the fisherman by saying, ‘Spread your net and whatever comes in is mine for so and so amount.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ مَنْ بَاعَ سِلْعَةً فَقَالَ إِنَّ ثَمَنَهَا كَذَا وَ كَذَا يَداً بِيَدٍ وَ ثَمَنَهَا كَذَا وَ كَذَا نَظِرَةً فَخُذْهَا بِأَيِّ ثَمَنٍ شِئْتَ وَ جَعَلَ صَفْقَتَهَا وَاحِدَةً فَلَيْسَ لَهُ إِلَّا أَقَلُّهُمَا وَ إِنْ كَانَتْ نَظِرَةً[2] قَالَ وَ قَالَ ع مَنْ سَاوَمَ بِثَمَنَيْنِ أَحَدُهُمَا عَاجِلًا وَ الْآخَرُ نَظِرَةً فَلْيُسَمِّ أَحَدَهُمَا قَبْلَ الصَّفْقَةِ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ’If one sells certain goods and says that its price in a hand in hand deal is so and so and in a deferred payment deal is so and so, so take which ever you like and makes it a package deal, he can only take what costs the least even if it is the deal with th

قَضَى أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلِيٌّ ع فِي رَجُلٍ أَمَرَهُ نَفَرٌ لِيَبْتَاعَ لَهُمْ بَعِيراً بِنَقْدٍ وَ يَزِيدُونَهُ فَوْقَ ذَلِكَ نَظِرَةً فَابْتَاعَ لَهُمْ بَعِيراً وَ مَعَهُ بَعْضُهُمْ فَمَنَعَهُ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ مِنْهُمْ فَوْقَ وَرِقِهِ نَظِرَةً.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu Najran from ‘Asim ibn Hamid from Muhammad ibn Qays who has said the following: “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali (a.s.), in the case of a man who was ordered by certain persons to ask to sell to them a camel and they had agreed to pay m

قَضَى أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص فِي وَلِيدَةٍ بَاعَهَا ابْنُ سَيِّدِهَا وَ أَبُوهُ غَائِبٌ فَاسْتَوْلَدَهَا الَّذِي اشْتَرَاهَا فَوَلَدَتْ مِنْهُ غُلَاماً ثُمَّ جَاءَ سَيِّدُهَا الْأَوَّلُ فَخَاصَمَ سَيِّدَهَا الْآخَرَ فَقَالَ وَلِيدَتِي بَاعَهَا ابْنِي بِغَيْرِ إِذْنِي فَقَالَ الْحُكْمُ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ وَلِيدَتَهُ وَ ابْنَهَا فَنَاشَدَهُ الَّذِي اشْتَرَاهَا فَقَالَ لَهُ خُذِ ابْنَهُ الَّذِي بَاعَكَ الْوَلِيدَةَ حَتَّى

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), issued a judgment in the case of a slave-girl who is the mother of a child who is sold by the son of her master in the absence of his father. The buyer made her to become pregnant and a boy was born. Then her first master came and disputed the second master, s

قَضَى أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فِي رَجُلٍ اشْتَرَى جَارِيَةً فَوَطِئَهَا ثُمَّ وَجَدَ فِيهَا عَيْباً قَالَ تُقَوَّمُ وَ هِيَ صَحِيحَةٌ وَ تُقَوَّمُ وَ بِهَا الدَّاءُ ثُمَّ يَرُدُّ الْبَائِعُ عَلَى الْمُبْتَاعِ فَضْلَ مَا بَيْنَ الصِّحَّةِ وَ الدَّاءِ[3].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin, in the case of a man who bought a slave-girl and did sexual intercourse with her, then found defect in her, issued a judgment that said, ‘She must be evaluated as perfect as well as defective; then the seller must refund the difference of the two prices to the bu

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ فِي رَجُلٍ أَعْطَى رَجُلًا وَرِقاً فِي وَصِيفٍ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى فَقَالَ لَهُ صَاحِبُهُ لَا نَجِدُ لَكَ وَصِيفاً[1] خُذْ مِنِّي قِيمَةَ وَصِيفِكَ الْيَوْمَ وَرِقاً قَالَ فَقَالَ لَا يَأْخُذُ إِلَّا وَصِيفَهُ أَوْ وَرِقَهُ الَّذِي أَعْطَاهُ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ لَا يَزْدَادُ عَلَيْهِ شَيْئاً.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin, about the case of a man who gave a note to another man for a servant for an appointed time and his party said, ‘I could not find a servant for you, you take from me the cost of your servant today in the form of the value.’ He (’Amir al- Mu’minin) has said, ‘He can re

دَخَلَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع سُوقَ التَّمَّارِينَ فَإِذَا امْرَأَةٌ قَائِمَةٌ تَبْكِي وَ هِيَ تُخَاصِمُ رَجُلًا تَمَّاراً فَقَالَ لَهَا مَا لَكِ قَالَتْ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ اشْتَرَيْتُ مِنْ هَذَا تَمْراً بِدِرْهَمٍ فَخَرَجَ أَسْفَلُهُ رَدِيّاً لَيْسَ مِثْلَ الَّذِي رَأَيْتُ قَالَ فَقَالَ لَهُ رُدَّ عَلَيْهَا فَأَبَى حَتَّى قَالَهَا ثَلَاثاً فَأَبَى فَعَلَاهُ بِالدِّرَّةِ حَتَّى رَدَّ عَلَيْهَا وَ كَانَ عَلِ

“Once ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), entered the market of the date sellers and saw a standing woman who was crying and disputing with a man who sold dates. He (the Imam) asked her, ‘What is the matter with you?’ She replied, ‘O ’Amir al-Mu’minin, I bought dates from this man for one dirham and underneath it is of bad quali

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص يَقُولُ‌ لَا يَجُوزُ الْعَرَبُونُ إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ نَقْداً مِنَ الثَّمَنِ‌[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin would say, ‘Deposit or down payment is not permissible unless it is the cash portion of the price of the goods purchased.’”

قَضَى أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص فِي كُلِّ رَهْنٍ لَهُ غَلَّةٌ أَنَّ غَلَّتَهُ تُحْسَبُ لِصَاحِبِ الرَّهْنِ مِمَّا عَلَيْهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin had issued a judgment that said, ‘Whoever leaves an income-producing al-Rahn (security deposit), such income is counted in favor of the owner of al-Rahn (security deposit) against what he owes.’”

إِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع قَالَ: فِي الْأَرْضِ الْبُورِ[2] يَرْتَهِنُهَا الرَّجُلُ لَيْسَ فِيهَا ثَمَرَةٌ فَزَرَعَهَا وَ أَنْفَقَ عَلَيْهَا مَالَهُ إِنَّهُ يَحْتَسِبُ لَهُ نَفَقَتَهُ وَ عَمَلَهُ خَالِصاً ثُمَّ يَنْظُرُ نَصِيبَ الْأَرْضِ فَيَحْسُبُهُ مِنْ مَالِهِ الَّذِي ارْتَهَنَ بِهِ الْأَرْضَ حَتَّى يَسْتَوْفِيَ مَالَهُ فَإِذَا اسْتَوْفَى مَالَهُ فَلْيَدْفَعِ الْأَرْضَ إِلَى صَاحِبِهَا.

14. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu Najran from ‘Asim ibn Humayd from Muhammad ibn al-Qays who has said the following: Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘If one holds a piece of barren land as al-Rahn (security deposit) which has no fruits and he farms it and incurs

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.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص‌ فِي رَجُلٍ لَهُ عَلَى رَجُلٍ مَالٌ فَيَتَقَاضَاهُ وَ لَا يَكُونُ عِنْدَهُ فَيَقُولُ هُوَ عِنْدَكَ مُضَارَبَةً قَالَ لَا يَصْلُحُ حَتَّى يَقْبِضَهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that about the case of a man who owed a certain amount of assets to another man who demanded it but he did not have it, then told him to keep it as capital for Mudarabah (profit sharing), ’Amir al-Mu’minin, has said, ‘It is not valid until he takes possession.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص‌ فِي الْمُضَارِبِ مَا أَنْفَقَ فِي سَفَرِهِ فَهُوَ مِنْ جَمِيعِ الْمَالِ وَ إِذَا قَدِمَ بَلْدَتَهُ فَمَا أَنْفَقَ فَهُوَ مِنْ نَصِيبِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin, about Mudarabah (profit sharing), has said, ‘Whatever he spends during his journey is from the whole of the capital, but when he is back home then whatever he spends is from his own share.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ وَ كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يُضَمِّنُ الْقَصَّارَ وَ الصَّائِغَ احْتِيَاطاً لِلنَّاسِ وَ كَانَ أَبِي يَتَطَوَّلُ عَلَيْهِ إِذَا كَانَ مَأْمُوناً[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin, would hold a cleaner liable as well as a dyer as precautionary measures to protect the interests of the people but my father would deal with them more graciously if they were trusted ones.’”

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يُضَمِّنُ الْقَصَّارَ وَ الصَّبَّاغَ وَ الصَّائِغَ احْتِيَاطاً عَلَى أَمْتِعَةِ النَّاسِ وَ كَانَ لَا يُضَمِّنُ ع مِنَ الْغَرَقِ وَ الْحَرَقِ وَ الشَّيْ‌ءِ الْغَالِبِ وَ إِذَا غَرِقَتِ السَّفِينَةُ وَ مَا فِيهَا فَأَصَابَهُ النَّاسُ فَمَا قَذَفَ بِهِ الْبَحْرُ عَلَى سَاحِلِهِ فَهُوَ لِأَهْلِهِ وَ هُمْ أَحَقُّ بِهِ وَ مَا غَاصَ عَلَيْهِ النَّاسُ وَ تَرَكَهُ صَاحِبُهُ فَهُوَ لَهُمْ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ‘Amir al-Mu’minin would hold cleaners, jewelers and dyers liable as precautionary measure to protect the interests of the people; but he would not hold them liable for things burnt or drowned. When a ship drowned with its contents and people found things thrown on shore, it was for

أَنَ‌ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص أُتِيَ بِصَاحِبِ حَمَّامٍ وُضِعَتْ عِنْدَهُ الثِّيَابُ فَضَاعَتْ فَلَمْ يُضَمِّنْهُ وَ قَالَ إِنَّمَا هُوَ أَمِينٌ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once the owner of a public bath house with whom clothes were left and were lost, was brought before ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), who did not hold him liable and said that he was trusted.’”

أَنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع رُفِعَ إِلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ اسْتَأْجَرَ رَجُلًا لِيُصْلِحَ بَابَهُ فَضَرَبَ الْمِسْمَارَ فَانْصَدَعَ الْبَابُ فَضَمَّنَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once a man who had hired another man to mend his door and who by driving a nail into the door had damaged it, came for judgment before ’Amir al- Mu’minin, and he (’Amir al-Mu’minin) held him liable for the door.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ‌ الْأَجِيرُ الْمُشَارِكُ هُوَ ضَامِنٌ إِلَّا مِنْ سَبُعٍ أَوْ مِنْ غَرَقٍ أَوْ حَرَقٍ أَوْ لِصٍّ مُكَابِرٍ.

7. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan ibn Shammun from ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman from Misma’ ibn ‘Abd al-Malik who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘One hired and a partner are liable unless it (the loss) is b

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ لَا يَبْتَاعُ رَجُلٌ فِضَّةً بِذَهَبٍ إِلَّا يَداً بِيَدٍ وَ لَا يَبْتَاعُ ذَهَباً بِفِضَّةٍ إِلَّا يَداً بِيَدٍ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘One must not sell silver for gold unless it is in a hand in hand deal; and gold is not sold in exchange for silver unless it is in a hand in hand deal.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ لَا بَأْسَ بِأَنْ يَأْخُذَ الرَّجُلُ الدَّرَاهِمَ بِمَكَّةَ وَ يَكْتُبَ لَهُمْ سَفَاتِجَ أَنْ يُعْطُوهَا بِالْكُوفَةِ.

‘It is not unlawful if a man takes dirhams in Makkah and writes for them (his people) notes to pay them in al-Kufah.’”

لَيْسَ لِلْيَهُودِيِّ وَ النَّصْرَانِيِّ شُفْعَةٌ وَ قَالَ لَا شُفْعَةَ إِلَّا لِشَرِيكٍ غَيْرِ مُقَاسِمٍ وَ قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع وَصِيُّ الْيَتِيمِ بِمَنْزِلَةِ أَبِيهِ يَأْخُذُ لَهُ الشُّفْعَةَ إِنْ كَانَ لَهُ رَغْبَةٌ فِيهِ وَ قَالَ لِلْغَائِبِ شُفْعَةٌ.

“Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.), has said, ‘Al-Shuf’ (one’s rights of pre-emption) does not apply in the case of the Jew and the Christian.‘ And he said, ‘It only applies to a partner who has not concluded the partnership.’ He (the Imam) has said, that ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) has said, ‘The Executor of the will for an orphan is

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَكْتُبُ إِلَى عُمَّالِهِ لَا تُسَخِّرُوا الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَ مَنْ سَأَلَكُمْ غَيْرَ الْفَرِيضَةِ فَقَدِ اعْتَدَى فَلَا تُعْطُوهُ وَ كَانَ يَكْتُبُ يُوصِي بِالْفَلَّاحِينَ خَيْراً وَ هُمُ الْأَكَّارُونَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin, would write to his agents, ‘You must not make Muslims to perform free labor. Whoever of you asks for what is not obligatory, he has committed transgression and you must not give him anything.’ He (‘Amir al-Mu’minin) would write and recommend about farmers good ad

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.”’

قَضَى أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ فِي رَجُلٍ كَانَ لَهُ غُلَامٌ فَاسْتَأْجَرَهُ مِنْهُ صَائِغٌ أَوْ غَيْرُهُ قَالَ إِنْ كَانَ ضَيَّعَ شَيْئاً أَوْ أَبَقَ مِنْهُ فَمَوَالِيهِ ضَامِنُونَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ‘Amir al-Mu’minin, issued judgment in favor of a man whose slave was hired by a goldsmith or another man. The judgment said, ‘If he has caused certain damage or has run away with something, the masters are held responsible. 5 ”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ‌ مَنِ اسْتَعَارَ عَبْداً مَمْلُوكاً لِقَوْمٍ فَعِيبَ فَهُوَ ضَامِنٌ وَ مَنِ اسْتَعَارَ حُرّاً صَغِيراً فَعِيبَ فَهُوَ ضَامِنٌ‌[4].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘If one uses the services of the slave of a people and causes damage to him, he is responsible. If one uses the works of a small free person and causes damage to that person, he is responsible.”’

اخْتَصَمَ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع رَجُلَانِ اشْتَرَى أَحَدُهُمَا مِنَ الْآخَرِ بَعِيراً وَ اسْتَثْنَى الْبَائِعُ الرَّأْسَ وَ الْجِلْدَ ثُمَّ بَدَا لِلْمُشْتَرِي أَنْ يَبِيعَهُ فَقَالَ لِلْمُشْتَرِي هُوَ شَرِيكُكَ فِي الْبَعِيرِ عَلَى قَدْرِ الرَّأْسِ وَ الْجِلْدِ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once two people brought their dispute before ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.). One of them had purchased a camel from the other one, and the seller had excluded the head and the skin. The buyer then decided to sell it. He (the Imam) said to the buyer, ‘His share in the camel is proportion

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِذَا نَادَى الْمُنَادِي فَلَيْسَ لَكَ أَنْ تَزِيدَ وَ إِنَّمَا يُحَرِّمُ الزِّيَادَةَ النِّدَاءُ وَ يُحِلُّهَا السُّكُوتُ‌[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), would say, ‘If one is calling to what he sells, you do not have to increase; only announcing makes increasing unlawful and remaining silent makes the increase lawful.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ لَا يَحِلُّ مَنْعُ الْمِلْحِ وَ النَّارِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not lawful to deny salt and fire (to those who ask for it).”’

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.’”