Charity & Zakat

دَخَلْتُ أَنَا وَ الْمُعَلَّى وَ عُثْمَانُ بْنُ عِمْرَانَ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَلَمَّا رَآنَا قَالَ مَرْحَباً مَرْحَباً بِكُمْ وُجُوهٌ تُحِبُّنَا وَ نُحِبُّهَا جَعَلَكُمُ اللَّهُ مَعَنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ فَقَالَ لَهُ عُثْمَانُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع نَعَمْ مَهْ‌[2] قَالَ إِنِّي رَجُلٌ مُوسِرٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ بَارَكَ اللَّهُ لَكَ فِي يَسَارِكَ قَالَ وَ يَجِي‌ءُ الرَّجُلُ

“I went to visit abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.). Two other people, al-Mu‘alla’ and ‘Uthman ibn ‘Umar, also were present with me. On seeing us, he welcomed us and offered greetings of peace, saying, ‘I welcome the faces that love us and we love them. May Allah keep you with us in this world and in the next life.’ Uthman then sai

قَرْضُ الْمُؤْمِنِ غَنِيمَةٌ وَ تَعْجِيلُ خَيْرٍ إِنْ أَيْسَرَ أَدَّاهُ وَ إِنْ مَاتَ احْتُسِبَ مِنَ الزَّكَاةِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that providing a loan for a believing person is an (important) gain and a good deed if done quickly. If he becomes financially capable, he repays, but if he dies, the provider of loan can count it as payment for zakat.”

مَنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يُظِلَّهُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ لَا ظِلَّ إِلَّا ظِلُّهُ قَالَهَا ثَلَاثاً فَهَابَهُ النَّاسُ أَنْ يَسْأَلُوهُ فَقَالَ فَلْيُنْظِرْ مُعْسِراً أَوْ لِيَدَعْ لَهُ مِنْ حَقِّهِ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), once, spoke to us and repeated the following phrase three times. ‘If one wishes that Allah provide him shadow on the Day when there will be no shadow except His shadow,’ and no one had the courage to ask him to explain, he (Imam) then said, ‘He should extend the due date of repayment of a loan

إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ فِي يَوْمٍ حَارٍّ وَ حَنَّى كَفَّهُ مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَسْتَظِلَّ مِنْ فَوْرِ جَهَنَّمَ‌[2] قَالَهَا ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ فَقَالَ النَّاسُ فِي كُلِّ مَرَّةٍ نَحْنُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ مَنْ أَنْظَرَ غَرِيماً أَوْ تَرَكَ الْمُعْسِرَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ لِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ إِنَّ أَبِي أَخْبَرَنِي أَنَّهُ لَزِمَ غَرِيماً لَهُ فِي الْمَسْجِ

“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, bending his palm on a hot day, said, ‘Who wants to provide a shadow for himself against the heat of the blaze of hell fire?’ He repeated the sentence three times,

خَلُّوا سَبِيلَ الْمُعْسِرِ كَمَا خَلَّاهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that you must leave alone a borrower who has difficulty repaying a loan, just as Allah does (extend the due time for payment of loan if the borrower has difficulty repaying. . . ” (see (2:280)).

صَعِدَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص الْمِنْبَرَ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ وَ صَلَّى عَلَى أَنْبِيَائِهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ لِيُبَلِّغِ الشَّاهِدُ مِنْكُمُ الْغَائِبَ أَلَا وَ مَنْ أَنْظَرَ مُعْسِراً كَانَ لَهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ صَدَقَةٌ بِمِثْلِ مَالِهِ حَتَّى يَسْتَوْفِيَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- وَ إِنْ كانَ ذُو عُسْرَةٍ فَنَ

4. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Yahya ibn ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Hassan ibn al-Hassan who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that one day the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ لِعَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ سَيَابَةَ دَيْناً عَلَى رَجُلٍ قَدْ مَاتَ وَ قَدْ كَلَّمْنَاهُ أَنْ يُحَلِّلَهُ فَأَبَى فَقَالَ وَيْحَهُ أَ مَا يَعْلَمُ أَنَّ لَهُ بِكُلِّ دِرْهَمٍ عَشَرَةً إِذَا حَلَّلَهُ فَإِذَا لَمْ يُحَلِّلْهُ فَإِنَّمَا لَهُ دِرْهَمٌ بَدَلَ دِرْهَمٍ.

“Once I said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘A man who died had borrowed (money) from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Sayabah, whom we asked to waive the loan in favor of the dead person, but he refused. He (the Imam) said, “Woe is upon him! Why does he not realize that for every dirham, he can receive the reward for ten dirhams, were h

دَخَلَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بِشْرٍ الْوَشَّاءُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَسْأَلُهُ أَنْ يُكَلِّمَ شِهَاباً أَنْ يُخَفِّفَ عَنْهُ حَتَّى يَنْقَضِيَ الْمَوْسِمُ وَ كَانَ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ أَلْفُ دِينَارٍ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِ فَأَتَاهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ قَدْ عَرَفْتَ حَالَ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ انْقِطَاعَهُ إِلَيْنَا[1] وَ قَدْ ذَكَرَ أَنَّ لَكَ عَلَيْهِ أَلْفَ دِينَارٍ لَمْ تَذْهَبْ فِي بَطْنٍ وَ لَا فَرْجٍ وَ إِنَّمَا ذَهَبَتْ دَيْناً عَل

“Once Muhammad ibn Bishr al-Washsha’ came to visit abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), asking the Imam to speak to Shihab to relieve him of repayment of a loan until the end of the time for Hajj. He owed him one thousand dinars. The Imam sent someone to call him. He (Shihab) came and the Imam said to him, ‘As you know Muhammad’s co

مَنْ عَظُمَتْ نِعْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اشْتَدَّتْ مَئُونَةُ النَّاسِ عَلَيْهِ فَاسْتَدِيمُوا النِّعْمَةَ بِاحْتِمَالِ الْمَئُونَةِ وَ لَا تُعَرِّضُوهَا لِلزَّوَالِ فَقَلَّ مَنْ زَالَتْ عَنْهُ النِّعْمَةُ فَكَادَتْ أَنْ تَعُودَ إِلَيْهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when one’s realization of the bounties of Allah becomes intense, it increases his spending for people. You should continue preserving bounties by means of bearing the cost of maintenance. Do not expose bounties to losses. Once bounties are lost, very rarely do they return.”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ تَظَاهَرَتْ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ اللَّهِ نِعْمَةٌ إِلَّا اشْتَدَّتْ مَئُونَةُ النَّاسِ عَلَيْهِ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَقُمْ لِلنَّاسِ بِحَوَائِجِهِمْ فَقَدْ عَرَضَ النِّعْمَةَ لِلزَّوَالِ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ وَ مَنْ يَقْدِرُ أَنْ يَقُومَ لِهَذَا الْخَلْقِ بِحَوَائِجِهِمْ فَقَالَ إِنَّمَا النَّاسُ فِي هَذَا الْمَوْضِعِ وَ اللَّهِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Whoever finds himself with an abundance of Allah’s bounties, increases his spending for people. One who does not help people exposes the bounties to losses.’ I (the narrator) said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause. Who can spend to help all these creatures?’

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لِحُسَيْنٍ الصَّحَّافِ‌ يَا حُسَيْنُ مَا ظَاهَرَ اللَّهُ عَلَى عَبْدٍ النِّعَمَ حَتَّى ظَاهَرَ عَلَيْهِ مَئُونَةَ النَّاسِ فَمَنْ صَبَرَ لَهُمْ وَ قَامَ بِشَأْنِهِمْ زَادَهُ اللَّهُ‌ فِي نِعَمِهِ عَلَيْهِ عِنْدَهُمْ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَصْبِرْ لَهُمْ وَ لَمْ يَقُمْ بِشَأْنِهِمْ أَزَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَنْهُ تِلْكَ النِّعْمَةَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to Husayn al-Sahhaf, ‘O Husayn, whenever Allah grants abundant bounties to a person, his spending for people also increases. If one remains patient for spending on people, Allah increases the bounties for him before people. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, removes the bount

مَنْ عَظُمَتْ عَلَيْهِ النِّعْمَةُ اشْتَدَّتْ مَئُونَةُ النَّاسِ عَلَيْهِ فَإِنْ هُوَ قَامَ بِمَئُونَتِهِمْ اجْتَلَبَ زِيَادَةَ النِّعْمَةِ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ إِنْ لَمْ يَفْعَلْ فَقَدْ عَرَضَ النِّعْمَةَ لِزَوَالِهَا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that one who finds himself with abundant bounties, he increases his spending to help people also. If he continues spending for them, the bounties increase by the will of Allah, but if he does not, he exposes the bounties to loss.’”

قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع‌ يَا ابْنَ عَرَفَةَ إِنَّ النِّعَمَ كَالْإِبِلِ الْمُعْتَقَلَةِ فِي عَطَنِهَا[1] عَلَى الْقَوْمِ مَا أَحْسَنُوا جِوَارَهَا فَإِذَا أَسَاءُوا مُعَامَلَتَهَا وَ إِنَالَتَهَا نَفَرَتْ عَنْهُمْ.

“Abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.), has said, ‘O ibn ‘Arafah, bounties are like guarded camels around drinking water. It is up to people to maintain good relations with the camel. If they fail to keep the good relations, the camel runs away from them.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ أَحْسِنُوا جِوَارَ النِّعَمِ قُلْتُ وَ مَا حُسْنُ جِوَارِ النِّعَمِ قَالَ الشُّكْرُ لِمَنْ أَنْعَمَ بِهَا وَ أَدَاءُ حُقُوقِهَا.

‘Keep good neighborly relations with bounties/ I then asked, ‘How is that done?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Thank the One who has granted bounties and pay the rights due on the bounties/”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ أَحْسِنُوا جِوَارَ نِعَمِ اللَّهِ وَ احْذَرُوا أَنْ تَنْتَقِلَ عَنْكُمْ إِلَى غَيْرِكُمْ أَمَا إِنَّهَا لَمْ تَنْتَقِلْ عَنْ أَحَدٍ قَطُّ فَكَادَتْ أَنْ تَرْجِعَ إِلَيْهِ قَالَ وَ كَانَ عَلِيٌّ ع يَقُولُ قَلَّ مَا أَدْبَرَ شَيْ‌ءٌ فَأَقْبَلَ.

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘You should keep good neighborly relations with the bounties of Allah, and guard them being transferred from you to others; if bounties transfer away from a person, they very rarely return. Ali (a.s.), would say, “It is very rare for something to come forward once it goes away.’””

سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الْأَوَّلَ ع وَ هُوَ فِي‌ الطَّوَافِ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الْجَوَادِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ لِكَلَامِكَ وَجْهَيْنِ فَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَسْأَلُ عَنِ الْمَخْلُوقِ فَإِنَّ الْجَوَادَ الَّذِي يُؤَدِّي مَا افْتَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَسْأَلُ عَنِ الْخَالِقِ فَهُوَ الْجَوَادُ إِنْ أَعْطَى وَ هُوَ الْجَوَادُ إِنْ مَنَعَ لِأَنَّهُ إِنْ أَعْطَاكَ أَعْطَاكَ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ وَ إِنْ مَنَعَ

“A man once asked abu al-Hassan, the 1st (a.s.), when he was performing Tawaf (walking seven times around the Ka‘bah), ‘Tell me about generosity.’ The Imam replied, ‘Your question has two sides. If you are asking about a generous creature, the answer is that a generous creature is one who pays what Allah has made oblig

قُلْتُ لَهُ مَا حَدُّ السَّخَاءِ فَقَالَ تُخْرِجُ مِنْ مَالِكَ الْحَقَّ الَّذِي أَوْجَبَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ فَتَضَعُهُ فِي مَوْضِعِهِ.

“I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘What is the limit of generosity?’ The Imam replied, ‘It is to pay what Allah has made obligatory on you to pay to properly deserving recipients.’”

السَّخِيُّ مُحَبَّبٌ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ مُحَبَّبٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خُلِقَ مِنْ طِينَةٍ عَذْبَةٍ وَ خُلِقَ مَاءُ عَيْنَيْهِ مِنْ مَاءِ الْكَوْثَرِ وَ الْبَخِيلُ مُبَغَّضٌ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ مُبَغَّضٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خُلِقَ مِنْ طِينَةٍ سَبِخَةٍ وَ خُلِقَ مَاءُ عَيْنَيْهِ مِنْ مَاءِ الْعَوْسَجِ‌[1].

“Ja’far (a.s.), from his ancestors, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘A generous person is beloved in the heavens and on earth. Such persons are created from sweet clay. The water of the eyes

السَّخِيُّ الْحَسَنُ الْخُلُقِ فِي كَنَفِ اللَّهِ لَا يَسْتَخْلِي اللَّهُ مِنْهُ حَتَّى يُدْخِلَهُ الْجَنَّةَ وَ مَا بَعَثَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ نَبِيّاً وَ لَا وَصِيّاً إِلَّا سَخِيّاً وَ مَا كَانَ أَحَدٌ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ إِلَّا سَخِيّاً وَ مَا زَالَ أَبِي يُوصِينِي بِالسَّخَاءِ حَتَّى مَضَى وَ قَالَ مَنْ أَخْرَجَ مِنْ مَالِهِ الزَّكَاةَ تَامَّةً فَوَضَعَهَا فِي مَوْضِعِهَا لَمْ يُسْأَلْ مِنْ أَيْنَ اكْتَسَبْتَ

“Abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.), has said, ‘A generous person who possesses good moral discipline is under Allah’s protection and Allah does not leave such a person alone until He admits him to Paradise. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has never sent a prophet or an executor of the will of the prophets who is n

أَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص وَفْدٌ مِنَ الْيَمَنِ وَ فِيهِمْ رَجُلٌ كَانَ أَعْظَمَهُمْ كَلَاماً وَ أَشَدَّهُمْ اسْتِقْصَاءً فِي مُحَاجَّةِ النَّبِيِّ ص فَغَضِبَ النَّبِيُّ ص حَتَّى الْتَوَى عِرْقُ الْغَضَبِ بَيْنَ عَيْنَيْهِ وَ تَرَبَّدَ وَجْهُهُ وَ أَطْرَقَ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ-[3] فَأَتَاهُ جَبْرَئِيلُ ع فَقَالَ رَبُّكَ يُقْرِئُكَ السَّلَامَ وَ يَقُولُ لَكَ هَذَا رَجُلٌ سَخِيٌّ يُطْعِمُ الطَّعَامَ فَسَكَنَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ص

"A delegate from Yemen once came to the Messenger of Allah (sw). Among them, there was a man who was the greatest among them in speaking and most intense in arguing with the Prophet (sw). The Prophet (sw) became angry and the sweat of anger appeared between his eyes, his complexion changed, and he began to look down on

إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع كَانَ أَبَا أَضْيَافٍ فَكَانَ إِذَا لَمْ يَكُونُوا عِنْدَهُ خَرَجَ يَطْلُبُهُمْ وَ أَغْلَقَ بَابَهُ وَ أَخَذَ الْمَفَاتِيحَ يَطْلُبُ الْأَضْيَافَ وَ إِنَّهُ رَجَعَ إِلَى دَارِهِ فَإِذَا هُوَ بِرَجُلٍ أَوْ شِبْهِ رَجُلٍ فِي الدَّارِ فَقَالَ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بِإِذْنِ مَنْ دَخَلْتَ هَذِهِ الدَّارَ قَالَ دَخَلْتُهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهَا يُرَدِّدُ ذَلِكَ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ فَعَرَفَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ ع أَنَّهُ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Ibrahim (a.s.), was the father of guest- entertaining people. Whenever he did not have a guest, he would go out to search for a guest. He would close his door and take the keys with him when looking for guests. Once he returned home and found a person, or someone similar to a perso

أَتَى رَجُلٌ النَّبِيَّ ص فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَيُّ النَّاسِ أَفْضَلُهُمْ إِيمَاناً قَالَ أَبْسَطُهُمْ كَفّاً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once a man came to the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and said, ‘O the Messenger of Allah, who among people is of more excellent belief?’ He replied, ‘He is one whose hands are more open than others.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ يُؤْتَى يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ بِرَجُلٍ فَيُقَالُ احْتَجَّ فَيَقُولُ يَا رَبِّ خَلَقْتَنِي وَ هَدَيْتَنِي فَأَوْسَعْتَ عَلَيَّ فَلَمْ أَزَلْ أُوسِعُ عَلَى خَلْقِكَ وَ أُيَسِّرُ عَلَيْهِمْ لِكَيْ تَنْشُرَ عَلَيَّ هَذَا الْيَوْمَ رَحْمَتَكَ وَ تُيَسِّرَهُ فَيَقُولُ الرَّبُّ جَلَّ ثَنَاؤُهُ وَ تَعَالَى ذِكْرُهُ صَدَقَ عَبْدِي أَدْخِلُوهُ الْجَنَّةَ.

The Messenger of Allah (sw) has said, ‘On the Day of Judgment a man will be brought and will be told to present his argument (to support his merits). He will say, "O Lord, You created me and guided me, You provided for me abundantly, and I have always extended Your provision to Your creation and made it easy for them,

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع يَقُولُ‌ السَّخِيُّ قَرِيبٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ قَرِيبٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ السَّخَاءُ شَجَرَةٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ مَنْ تَعَلَّقَ بِغُصْنٍ مِنْ أَغْصَانِهَا دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ.

‘A generous person is close to Allah, close to Paradise and close to people.’ I also heard him say, ‘Generosity is a tree in Paradise. Whoever holds to one of its branches will enter Paradise.’”

السَّخِيُّ يَأْكُلُ طَعَامَ النَّاسِ لِيَأْكُلُوا مِنْ طَعَامِهِ وَ الْبَخِيلُ لَا يَأْكُلُ مِنْ طَعَامِ النَّاسِ لِئَلَّا يَأْكُلُوا مِنْ طَعَامِهِ.

‘A generous person eats people’s food so that they eat his food. A stingy person does not eat people’s food so that they will not eat his food.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع لِابْنِهِ الْحَسَنِ ع يَا بُنَيَّ مَا السَّمَاحَةُ قَالَ الْبَذْلُ فِي الْيُسْرِ وَ الْعُسْرِ.

‘It is providing assistance in both easy and difficult conditions.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لِبَعْضِ جُلَسَائِهِ أَ لَا أُخْبِرُكَ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ يُقَرِّبُ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ يُقَرِّبُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةَ وَ يُبَاعِدُ مِنَ النَّارِ فَقَالَ بَلَى فَقَالَ عَلَيْكَ بِالسَّخَاءِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ خَلَقَ خَلْقاً بِرَحْمَتِهِ لِرَحْمَتِهِ فَجَعَلَهُمْ لِلْمَعْرُوفِ أَهْلًا وَ لِلْخَيْرِ مَوْضِعاً وَ لِلنَّاسِ وَجْهاً يُسْعَى إِلَيْهِمْ لِكَيْ يُحْيُوهُمْ كَمَا يُحْيِي الْمَطَرُ الْأَرْضَ الْمُجْدِب

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to a certain person in his presence, ‘Should I tell you about something that gets you close to Allah and to paradise and away from hell fire?’ He said, ‘Yes, please do so.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘You must maintain generosity. Allah has created a creature by His kindness for His kind

أَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَى مُوسَى ع أَنْ لَا تَقْتُلِ السَّامِرِيَّ فَإِنَّهُ سَخِيٌّ.

“He (the Imam) has said, ‘Allah the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, sent revelation to Moses and told him not to kill the Samiriy because he was a generous person.”

شَابٌّ سَخِيٌّ مُرَهَّقٌ فِي الذُّنُوبِ‌[1] أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ شَيْخٍ عَابِدٍ بَخِيلٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that a young generous man excessively involved in sins is more beloved to Allah than an old worshipping man who is stingy.”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ خِيَارُكُمْ سُمَحَاؤُكُمْ وَ شِرَارُكُمْ بُخَلَاؤُكُمْ وَ مِنْ خَالِصِ الْإِيمَانِ الْبِرُّ بِالْإِخْوَانِ وَ السَّعْيُ فِي حَوَائِجِهِمْ وَ إِنَّ الْبَارَّ بِالْإِخْوَانِ لَيُحِبُّهُ الرَّحْمَنُ وَ فِي ذَلِكَ مَرْغَمَةٌ لِلشَّيْطَانِ وَ تَزَحْزُحٌ عَنِ النِّيرَانِ‌[2] وَ دُخُولُ الْجِنَانِ يَا جَمِيلُ أَخْبِرْ بِهَذَا غُرَرَ أَصْحَابِكَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مَنْ غُرَرُ أَص

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘The virtuous ones among you are the generous ones, and the wicked ones among you are the stingy ones. You must do good to your brothers (in belief) and striving to help them comes from pure belief. The Beneficent loves those who do good to their brothers (in belief), and such manne

إِنَّ الشَّمْسَ لَتَطْلُعُ وَ مَعَهَا أَرْبَعَةُ أَمْلَاكٍ مَلَكٌ يُنَادِي يَا صَاحِبَ الْخَيْرِ أَتِمَّ وَ أَبْشِرْ وَ مَلَكٌ يُنَادِي يَا صَاحِبَ الشَّرِّ انْزِعْ وَ أَقْصِرْ وَ مَلَكٌ يُنَادِي أَعْطِ مُنْفِقاً خَلَفاً وَ آتِ مُمْسِكاً تَلَفاً وَ مَلَكٌ يَنْضِحُهَا بِالْمَاءِ وَ لَوْ لَا ذَلِكَ اشْتَعَلَتِ الْأَرْضُ‌[2].

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said that when the sun rises, there are four angels with it. One angel calls, ‘O people of good deeds, complete your good deeds and for you there is glad news.’ Another angel calls, ‘O people of evil deeds, you must stop and stay away from evil deeds.’ The other angel says, To spend for deservin

هُوَ الرَّجُلُ يَدَعُ مَالَهُ لَا يُنْفِقُهُ فِي طَاعَةِ اللَّهِ بُخْلًا ثُمَّ يَمُوتُ فَيَدَعُهُ لِمَنْ يَعْمَلُ فِيهِ بِطَاعَةِ اللَّهِ أَوْ فِي‌ مَعْصِيَةِ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ عَمِلَ بِهِ فِي طَاعَةِ اللَّهِ رَآهُ فِي مِيزَانِ غَيْرِهِ فَرَآهُ حَسْرَةً وَ قَدْ كَانَ الْمَالُ لَهُ وَ إِنْ كَانَ عَمِلَ بِهِ فِي مَعْصِيَةِ اللَّهِ قَوَّاهُ بِذَلِكَ الْمَالِ حَتَّى عَمِلَ بِهِ فِي مَعْصِيَةِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

This is about the meaning of the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, Thus Allah shows them their deeds that will make them regretful. (2:162)’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, This is a man who keeps his property without spending in obedience to Allah due to his stinginess. He then dies and leaves it

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ أَيْقَنَ بِالْخَلَفِ سَخَتْ نَفْسُهُ بِالنَّفَقَةِ.

The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, “When one who believes with certainty in receiving reward (from Allah), his soul allows him to spend generously.’””

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ فِي كَلَامٍ لَهُ‌ وَ مَنْ يَبْسُطْ يَدَهُ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ إِذَا وَجَدَهُ يُخْلِفِ اللَّهُ لَهُ مَا أَنْفَقَ فِي دُنْيَاهُ وَ يُضَاعِفْ لَهُ فِي آخِرَتِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, in one of his speeches, ‘If one extends his hand to provide Benevolent Assistance when he is able to do so, Allah replaces, in this world, what he has spent and will grant them double reward in the next life.’”

قَرَأْتُ فِي كِتَابِ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع يَا أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ الْمَوَالِيَ إِذَا رَكِبْتَ أَخْرَجُوكَ مِنَ الْبَابِ الصَّغِيرِ فَإِنَّمَا ذَلِكَ مِنْ بُخْلٍ مِنْهُمْ لِئَلَّا يَنَالَ مِنْكَ أَحَدٌ خَيْراً وَ أَسْأَلُكَ بِحَقِّي عَلَيْكَ لَا يَكُنْ مَدْخَلُكَ وَ مَخْرَجُكَ إِلَّا مِنَ الْبَابِ الْكَبِيرِ فَإِذَا رَكِبْتَ فَلْيَكُنْ مَعَكَ ذَهَبٌ وَ فِضَّةٌ ثُمَّ لَا يَسْأَلُكَ

‘O abu Ja’far, I am told that the servants lead you out of the house through the small door so that no one receives any assistance from you and it is due to their stinginess. I ask you through my rights upon you; you must not use any other door for your exit or entrance besides the main door. When you want to ride, you

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ الْأَيْدِي ثَلَاثَةٌ سَائِلَةٌ وَ مُنْفِقَةٌ وَ مُمْسِكَةٌ وَ خَيْرُ الْأَيْدِي الْمُنْفِقَةُ.

There are three kinds of hands: the asking hand, the withholding hand, and the spending hand, of which the best hand is the spending hand.’”

قَالَ: يَا حُسَيْنُ أَنْفِقْ وَ أَيْقِنْ بِالْخَلَفِ مِنَ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَبْخَلْ عَبْدٌ وَ لَا أَمَةٌ بِنَفَقَةٍ فِيمَا يُرْضِي اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَّا أَنْفَقَ أَضْعَافَهَا فِيمَا يُسْخِطُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘O Husayn, you must spend (for deserving causes) and be certain about Allah’s replacing what you have spent. Any male or female servant (of Allah) who withholds spending for deserving causes that please Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ends up spending a double amount on such t

يُنْزِلُ اللَّهُ الْمَعُونَةَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ إِلَى الْعَبْدِ بِقَدْرِ الْمَئُونَةِ فَمَنْ أَيْقَنَ بِالْخَلَفِ سَخَتْ نَفْسُهُ بِالنَّفَقَةِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah or abu Ja‘far, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, has said, ‘Allah sends help from Heaven equal to the amount of expenditure. When one is certain about (Allah’s) replacing what is spent, his soul allows him to spend generously.”

دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ مَوْلًى لَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ هَلْ أَنْفَقْتَ الْيَوْمَ شَيْئاً قَالَ لَا وَ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع فَمِنْ أَيْنَ يُخْلِفُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا أَنْفِقْ وَ لَوْ دِرْهَماً وَاحِداً.

“The narrator has said, ‘Once, one of the servants of abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.), came in and the Imam asked, “Have you spent (for deserving causes) anything today?” He (the servant) replied, “No, I have not done so.” Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), then said, “Wherefrom will Allah then grant us replacement? You must spend (fo

مَنْ يَضْمَنُ أَرْبَعَةً بِأَرْبَعَةِ أَبْيَاتٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ أَنْفِقْ وَ لَا تَخَفْ فَقْراً وَ أَنْصِفِ النَّاسَ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ وَ أَفْشِ السَّلَامَ فِي الْعَالَمِ وَ اتْرُكِ الْمِرَاءَ وَ إِنْ كُنْتَ مُحِقّاً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that one who is ready to guarantee to do four things will get four guaranteed homes in Paradise. They are: spending (for deserving causes) without fear from poverty, yielding to justice for people even against one’s own-self, offering greetings of peace loud and clearly in the world, an

أَنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ سَمِعَ رَجُلًا يَقُولُ إِنَّ الشَّحِيحَ أَغْدَرُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِ‌[1] فَقَالَ لَهُ كَذَبْتَ إِنَّ الظَّالِمَ قَدْ يَتُوبُ وَ يَسْتَغْفِرُ وَ يَرُدُّ الظُّلَامَةَ عَلَى أَهْلِهَا وَ الشَّحِيحُ إِذَا شَحَّ مَنَعَ الزَّكَاةَ وَ الصَّدَقَةَ وَ صِلَةَ الرَّحِمِ وَ قِرَى الضَّيْفِ وَ النَّفَقَةَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَ أَبْوَابَ الْبِرِّ وَ حَرَامٌ عَلَى الْجَنَّةِ أَنْ

“’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), once heard a man say, ‘A greedy person has more excuses than an unjust person has.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘What you said is false. An unjust person may repent, ask for forgiveness and return usurped property. A greedy person, upon exercising his greed, may withhold payment of zakat, charity, ke

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ لِلَّهِ فِي عَبْدٍ حَاجَةٌ ابْتَلَاهُ بِالْبُخْلِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘When Allah is not interested in a person, He allows greediness to dominate him.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص لِبَنِي سَلِمَةَ يَا بَنِي سَلِمَةَ مَنْ سَيِّدُكُمْ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ سَيِّدُنَا رَجُلٌ فِيهِ بُخْلٌ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص وَ أَيُّ دَاءٍ أَدْوَى مِنَ الْبُخْلِ ثُمَ‌ قَالَ بَلْ سَيِّدُكُمْ الْأَبْيَضُ الْجَسَدِ- الْبَرَاءُ بْنُ مَعْرُورٍ.

“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, once asked banu Salmah, ‘O banu Salmah, who is your master and leader?’ They replied, ‘O Messenger of Allah, our chief is a stingy man.’ The Messenger of Allah the

الْبَخِيلُ مَنْ بَخِلَ بِمَا افْتَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ.

“Abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), has said, ‘A stingy person is one who exercises stinginess in paying what Allah has made obligatory upon him to pay.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَا مَحَقَ الْإِسْلَامَ مَحْقَ الشُّحِّ شَيْ‌ءٌ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ لِهَذَا الشُّحِّ دَبِيباً كَدَبِيبِ النَّمْلِ وَ شُعَباً كَشُعَبِ الشِّرَكِ وَ فِي نُسْخَةٍ أُخْرَى الشَّوْكِ.

‘No other thing is more effacing to Islam than stinginess.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Greediness creeps like an ant and has branches (or thorns) like polytheism.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ لَيْسَ بِالْبَخِيلِ الَّذِي يُؤَدِّي الزَّكَاةَ الْمَفْرُوضَةَ فِي مَالِهِ وَ يُعْطِي الْبَائِنَةَ فِي قَوْمِهِ.

“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, has said, ‘One who pays zakat that is due on his property and presents gifts to his people is not a stingy person.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع تَدْرِي مَا الشَّحِيحُ قُلْتُ هُوَ الْبَخِيلُ قَالَ الشُّحُّ أَشَدُّ مِنَ الْبُخْلِ إِنَّ الْبَخِيلَ يَبْخَلُ بِمَا فِي يَدِهِ وَ الشَّحِيحُ يَشُحُّ عَلَى مَا فِي أَيْدِي النَّاسِ وَ عَلَى مَا فِي يَدَيْهِ حَتَّى لَا يَرَى مِمَّا فِي أَيْدِي النَّاسِ شَيْئاً إِلَّا تَمَنَّى أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُ بِالْحِلِّ وَ الْحَرَامِ وَ لَا يَقْنَعُ بِمَا رَزَقَهُ اللَّهُ.[5]

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), asked me, ‘Do you know who a greedy person is?’ I replied, ‘He is a stingy person.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘A greedy person is worse than a stingy one. A stingy person is stingy about what is already in his hands. A greedy person is greedy about things that are in the hands of others, as well as ab

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ لَيْسَ الْبَخِيلُ مَنْ أَدَّى الزَّكَاةَ الْمَفْرُوضَةَ مِنْ مَالِهِ وَ أَعْطَى الْبَائِنَةَ[1] فِي قَوْمِهِ إِنَّمَا الْبَخِيلُ حَقُّ الْبَخِيلِ مَنْ لَمْ يُؤَدِّ الزَّكَاةَ الْمَفْرُوضَةَ مِنْ مَالِهِ وَ لَمْ يُعْطِ الْبَائِنَةَ فِي قَوْمِهِ وَ هُوَ يُبَذِّرُ فِيمَا سِوَى ذَلِكَ.

“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, has said, ’One who pays zakat that is due on his property and presents gifts to his people is not stingy. A real stingy person is one who does not pay zakat that is ob

يَأْتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ مَنْ سَأَلَ النَّاسَ عَاشَ وَ مَنْ سَكَتَ مَاتَ قُلْتُ فَمَا أَصْنَعُ إِنْ أَدْرَكْتُ ذَلِكَ الزَّمَانَ قَالَ تُعِينُهُمْ بِمَا عِنْدَكَ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَجِدْ فَتُجَاهِدُ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that a time will come when people who ask for help will survive, and those who do not ask for help will die. I then asked, ‘What shall I do if I find myself in such a time?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘Help people by means of what you have and strive hard if you do not have anything.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ أَفْضَلُ الصَّدَقَةِ صَدَقَةٌ عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى‌[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, ‘The most virtuous charity is that which is given from someone without need (wealthy).’”