Charity & Zakat

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ الضِّيَافَةُ أَوَّلَ يَوْمٍ وَ الثَّانِيَ وَ الثَّالِثَ وَ مَا بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَإِنَّهَا صَدَقَةٌ تُصُدِّقَ بِهَا عَلَيْهِ قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ ص لَا يَنْزِلُ أَحَدُكُمْ عَلَى أَخِيهِ حَتَّى يُوثِمَهُ مَعَهُ‌[1] قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ كَيْفَ يُوثِمُهُ قَالَ حَتَّى لَا يَكُونَ عِنْدَهُ مَا يُنْفِقُ عَلَيْهِ.

“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, ‘Special treatment for a guest is in the first day, in the second day and on the third day. Anything beyond this is charity that you give to him.’ He (th

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَلْطَعُ الْقَصْعَةَ[1] وَ يَقُولُ مَنْ لَطَعَ قَصْعَةً فَكَأَنَّمَا تَصَدَّقَ بِمِثْلِهَا.

‘The Messenger of Allah, when eating would wipe the dish clean and say, “Whoever, wipes the dish clean is as if has given charity as much.’””

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرِ بْنِ الرِّضَا ع فَقُلْتُ لَهُ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُلْصِقَ بَطْنِي بِبَطْنِكَ فَقَالَ هَاهُنَا يَا أَبَا إِسْمَاعِيلَ وَ كَشَفَ عَنْ بَطْنِهِ وَ حَسَرْتُ عَنْ بَطْنِي وَ أَلْزَقْتُ بَطْنِي بِبَطْنِهِ ثُمَّ أَجْلَسَنِي وَ دَعَا بِطَبَقٍ فِيهِ زَبِيبٌ فَأَكَلْتُ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ فِي الْحَدِيثِ فَشَكَا إِلَيَّ مَعِدَتَهُ وَ عَطِشْتُ‌ فَاسْتَقَيْتُ مَاءً فَقَالَ يَا جَارِيَةُ اسْقِيهِ مِنْ نَبِي

“I once visited abu Ja‘far, ibn al-Rida’ (a.s.), and said to him, ‘I want to touch your belly with my belly.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Here O abu Tsma‘il,’ He uncovered his belly and I uncovered my belly and touched his belly with my belly. He then made me sit and called for a plate of raisins. I ate and he began to speak

كَانَ عِنْدَ أَبِي قَوْمٌ فَاخْتَلَفُوا فِي النَّبِيذِ فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ الْقَدَحُ الَّذِي يُسْكِرُ هُوَ حَرَامٌ فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ قَلِيلُ مَا أَسْكَرَ وَ كَثِيرُهُ حَرَامٌ فَرَدُّوا الْأَمْرَ إِلَى أَبِي ع فَقَالَ أَبِي أَ رَأَيْتُمُ الْقِسْطَ[3] لَوْ لَا مَا يُطْرَحُ فِيهِ أَوَّلًا كَانَ يَمْتَلِئُ وَ كَذَلِكَ الْقَدَحُ الْآخَرُ لَوْ لَا الْأَوَّلُ مَا أَسْكَرَ قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ ع إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ مَ

6. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Harun ibn Muslim from Mas’adah ibn Sadaqah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Once there was a group of people with my father and they had different views about al-Nabidh. Certain ones among them said, “The cupful (of al-Nabidh

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ النَّاسَ يَرْوُونَ أَنَّ لَكَ مَالًا كَثِيراً فَقَالَ مَا يَسُوؤُنِي ذَاكَ إِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع مَرَّ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ عَلَى نَاسٍ شَتَّى مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ وَ عَلَيْهِ قَمِيصٌ مُخَرَّقٌ فَقَالُوا أَصْبَحَ عَلِيٌّ لَا مَالَ لَهُ فَسَمِعَهَا أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فَأَمَرَ الَّذِي يَلِي صَدَقَتَهُ أَنْ يَجْمَعَ تَمْرَهُ وَ لَا يَبْعَثَ إِلَى إِنْسَانٍ شَيْئاً وَ أَنْ يُوَفِّرَه

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘People say you have a great wealth . 5 He (the Imam) said, ‘It does not affect me badly because ’Amir al-Mu’minin one day passed by different groups of Quraysh with a very old shirt on him and they said, ‘Ali has become very poor and has no assets . 5 ’Amir al-Mu 5 minin heard it

إِنَّ أُنَاساً بِالْمَدِينَةِ قَالُوا لَيْسَ لِلْحَسَنِ ع مَالٌ فَبَعَثَ الْحَسَنُ ع إِلَى رَجُلٍ بِالْمَدِينَةِ فَاسْتَقْرَضَ مِنْهُ أَلْفَ دِرْهَمٍ وَ أَرْسَلَ بِهَا إِلَى الْمُصَدِّقِ وَ قَالَ هَذِهِ صَدَقَةُ مَالِنَا فَقَالُوا مَا بَعَثَ الْحَسَنُ ع بِهَذِهِ مِنْ تِلْقَاءِ نَفْسِهِ إِلَّا وَ لَهُ مَالٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that in al-Madinah people said, ‘Al-Hassan (a.s.), has no assets . 5 Al-Hassan (a.s.), sent to a man in al-Madinah, borrowed one thousand dirham from him and sent it to the charity collector saying, ‘It is the charity due on our assets . 5 People said, ‘Al-Hassan (a.s.), has not sent it

إِنَّ عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ ع اشْتَدَّتْ حَالُهُ حَتَّى تَحَدَّثَ بِذَلِكَ أَهْلُ الْمَدِينَةِ فَبَلَغَهُ ذَلِكَ فَتَعَيَّنَ أَلْفَ دِرْهَمٍ ثُمَّ بَعَثَ بِهَا إِلَى صَاحِبِ الْمَدِينَةِ وَ قَالَ هَذِهِ صَدَقَةُ مَالِي.

“Ali ibn al-Husayn, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, lived in serious financial condition and people of al-Madinah began to speak about it. It came to his notice. He assigned one thousand dirham and sent it to the governor of al-Madinah saying, ‘It is the charity due on our assets.’”

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع يَلْبَسُ فِي الشِّتَاءِ الْخَزَّ وَ الْمِطْرَفَ الْخَزَّ وَ الْقَلَنْسُوَةَ الْخَزَّ فَيَشْتُو فِيهِ‌[1] وَ يَبِيعُ الْمِطْرَفَ فِي الصَّيْفِ وَ يَتَصَدَّقُ بِثَمَنِهِ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ- مَنْ حَرَّمَ زِينَةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي أَخْرَجَ لِعِبادِهِ وَ الطَّيِّباتِ مِنَ الرِّزْقِ‌.

‘Ali ibn al-Husayn, ‘Alayhim al- Salam, in winter would wear al-Khazz (skin or fur of an animal that lives in water) decorated on both sides and a hat of al-Khazz for winter, then sell them in the summer and give its value in charity.’ He (the Imam) then read, ‘Who has made unlawful the beautiful things that Allah, mos

قُلْتُ لَهُ الرَّجُلُ لَهُ الْوَلَدُ أَ يَسَعُهُ أَنْ يَجْعَلَ مَالَهُ لِقَرَابَتِهِ فَقَالَ هُوَ مَالُهُ يَصْنَعُ بِهِ مَا شَاءَ إِلَى أَنْ يَأْتِيَهُ الْمَوْتُ إِنَّ لِصَاحِبِ‌ الْمَالِ أَنْ يَعْمَلَ بِمَالِهِ مَا شَاءَ مَا دَامَ حَيّاً إِنْ شَاءَ وَهَبَهُ وَ إِنْ شَاءَ تَصَدَّقَ بِهِ وَ إِنْ شَاءَ تَرَكَهُ إِلَى أَنْ يَأْتِيَهُ الْمَوْتُ فَإِنْ أَوْصَى بِهِ فَلَيْسَ لَهُ إِلَّا الثُّلُثُ إِلَّا أَنَّ الْفَضْلَ فِي

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who has a son; if he can give his assets to his relatives. He (the Imam) said, ‘They are his assets, he can do to them whatever he wants until death comes upon him; the owner can do whatever he wants as long as he is alive. He can give it as a gift or charity

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ أُوْصِيَ لَهُ بِوَصِيَّةٍ فَمَاتَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَقْبِضَهَا وَ لَمْ يَتْرُكْ عَقِباً قَالَ اطْلُبْ لَهُ وَارِثاً أَوْ مَوْلًى فَادْفَعْهَا إِلَيْهِ قُلْتُ فَإِنْ لَمْ أَعْلَمْ لَهُ وَلِيّاً قَالَ اجْهَدْ عَلَى أَنْ تَقْدِرَ لَهُ عَلَى وَلِيٍّ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَجِدْهُ وَ عَلِمَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِنْكَ الْجِدَّ فَتَصَدَّقْ بِهَا[2].

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about the case of man in whose favor a will is made but he dies before taking possession and has not left any heirs. He (the Imam) said, ‘You must search for his heirs or master then give it to him.’ I then asked, ‘What happens if I cannot find any guardian for him?’ He (the Imam) s

كَتَبَ الْخَلِيلُ بْنُ هَاشِمٍ إِلَى ذِي الرِّئَاسَتَيْنِ وَ هُوَ وَالِي نَيْسَابُورَ أَنَّ رَجُلًا مِنَ الْمَجُوسِ مَاتَ وَ أَوْصَى لِلْفُقَرَاءِ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ مِنْ مَالِهِ فَأَخَذَهُ قَاضِي نَيْسَابُورَ فَجَعَلَهُ فِي فُقَرَاءِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَكَتَبَ الْخَلِيلُ إِلَى ذِي الرِّئَاسَتَيْنِ بِذَلِكَ فَسَأَلَ الْمَأْمُونَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ عِنْدِي فِي ذَلِكَ شَيْ‌ءٌ فَسَأَلَ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع فَقَالَ أَبُو الْحَس

“Once, Khalil ibn Hashim wrote to Dhi al-Riyasatayn who was the governor of Nisabur and asked that a Zoroastrian man has died and has made a will about a certain amount from his assets for the poor. The judge of Nisabur took the amount and gave it to the poor Muslims. Dhu al-Riyasatayn asked Ma’mun about it. Ma’mun who

فِي رَجُلٍ أَوْصَى بِأَكْثَرَ مِنَ الثُّلُثِ وَ أَعْتَقَ مَمْلُوكَهُ فِي مَرَضِهِ فَقَالَ إِنْ‌ كَانَ أَكْثَرَ مِنَ الثُّلُثِ رُدَّ إِلَى الثُّلُثِ وَ جَازَ الْعِتْقُ‌[1].

“About the case of a man who makes a will about more than one-third of his legacy, or setting free a slave during his illness, abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘If it is more than one-third it is returned to one-third and setting free of slave is permissible/”

إِنْ أَعْتَقَ رَجُلٌ عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ خَادِماً لَهُ ثُمَّ أَوْصَى بِوَصِيَّةٍ أُخْرَى أُلْقِيَتِ الْوَصِيَّةُ وَ أُعْتِقَ الْخَادِمُ مِنْ ثُلُثِهِ إِلَّا أَنْ يَفْضُلَ مِنَ الثُّلُثِ مَا يَبْلُغُ الْوَصِيَّةَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If a man when about to die sets free a servant, then makes another will, the will is dropped and the servant is set free from the one-third of his legacy except if the will exceeds one-third of the legacy.”’

فِي رَجُلٍ أَوْصَى عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ بِمَالٍ لِذَوِي قَرَابَتِهِ وَ أَعْتَقَ مَمْلُوكاً لَهُ وَ كَانَ جَمِيعُ مَا أَوْصَى بِهِ يَزِيدُ عَلَى الثُّلُثِ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ فِي وَصِيَّتِهِ فَقَالَ يَبْدَأُ بِالْعِتْقِ فَيُنَفِّذُهُ.

“This about the case of a man who makes a will when about to die, for relatives and setting free of a slave but the total exceeds one-third of the legacy and about how to deal with it. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘First it is executed about setting free of the slave then about the rest.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ حَضَرَهُ الْمَوْتُ فَأَعْتَقَ مَمْلُوكَهُ وَ أَوْصَى بِوَصِيَّةٍ فَكَانَ أَكْثَرَ مِنَ الثُّلُثِ قَالَ يُمْضَى عِتْقُ الْغُلَامِ وَ يَكُونُ النُّقْصَانُ فِيمَا بَقِيَ.

“About the case of a man who when about to die sets free his slave and makes a will but the total is more than one-third of his legacy, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is executed about the setting free of the slave and the deficit falls on the rest of the will.’”

قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ عَلْقَمَةَ بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ أَوْصَانِي أَنْ أُعْتِقَ عَنْهُ رَقَبَةً فَأَعْتَقْتُ عَنْهُ امْرَأَةٌّأَ فَتُجْزِيهِ أَوْ أُعْتِقُ عَنْهُ مِنْ مَالِي قَالَ يُجْزِيهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي إِنَّ فَاطِمَةَ أُمَّ ابْنِي أَوْصَتْ أَنْ أُعْتِقَ عَنْهَا رَقَبَةً فَأَعْتَقْتُ عَنْهَا امْرَأَةً[2].

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘’Alqamah ibn Muhammad has made a will that I must set free a slave for him, and I set free for him a woman: if this is sufficient or must I set free for him from my own property.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is sufficient.’ He (the Imam) then said to me, ‘Fatimah, mother of my son, m

سَأَلَنِي رَجُلٌ عَنِ امْرَأَةٍ تُوُفِّيَتْ وَ لَمْ تَحُجَّ فَأَوْصَتْ أَنْ يُنْظَرَ قَدْرُ مَا يُحَجُّ بِهِ فَسُئِلَ عَنْهُ فَإِنْ كَانَ أَمْثَلَ أَنْ يُوضَعَ فِي فُقَرَاءِ وُلْدِ فَاطِمَةَ وُضِعَ فِيهِمْ وَ إِنْ كَانَ‌ الْحَجُّ 5 أَمْثَلَ حُجَّ عَنْهَا فَقُلْتُ لَهُ إِنْ كَانَتْ عَلَيْهَا حَجَّةٌ مَفْرُوضَةٌ فَأَنْ يُنْفَقَ مَا أَوْصَتْ بِهِ فِي الْحَجِّ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ يُقْسَمَ فِي غَيْرِ ذَلِكَ‌[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A man once asked me about a woman who died without performing al-Hajj but made a will about an amount which is sufficient for al-Hajj. He asked if it is better to spend it on the needy people from the descendents of Fatimah, ‘Alayha al-Salam, it will be done so; if performing al-Hajj

إِنْ كَانَ صَرُورَةً يُحَجُّ عَنْهُ مِنْ وَسَطِ الْمَالِ وَ إِنْ كَانَ غَيْرَ صَرُورَةٍ فَمِنَ الثُّلُثِ.

“This is about the case of a man who dies but makes a will to perform al-Hajj for him. He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said, ‘If it is his first al-Hajj then al-Hajj is performed from the center of the legacy, but if it is not his first al-Hajj then it is paid for from the one-third of his legacy.’”

ابْدَأْ بِالْحَجِّ فَإِنَّهُ مَفْرُوضٌ فَإِنْ بَقِيَ شَيْ‌ءٌ فَاجْعَلْهُ فِي الصَّدَقَةِ طَائِفَةً وَ فِي 5 الْعِتْقِ طَائِفَةً.

“About the case of a woman who makes a will to set free a slave, pay charity and al-Hajj but there is not enough, he (the Imam) (a.s.), said that first is al-Hajj because it is obligatory and if anything remains extra then spend something on charity and something for setting free a slave.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَوْصَى بِثَلَاثِينَ دِينَاراً يُعْتَقُ بِهَا رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا فَلَمْ يُوجَدْ بِذَلِكَ قَالَ يُشْتَرَى مِنَ النَّاسِ فَيُعْتَقُ.

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about the case of a man who has made a will about thirty dinars to set free a man from our people but it cannot be done with that much. (The Imam) said, ‘A slave then must be bought from other people for this purpose.’”

سَأَلْتُ عَبْداً صَالِحاً ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ هَلَكَ فَأَوْصَى بِعِتْقِ نَسَمَةٍ مُسْلِمَةٍ بِثَلَاثِينَ دِينَاراً فَلَمْ يُوجَدْ لَهُ بِالَّذِي سَمَّى قَالَ مَا أَرَى لَهُمْ أَنْ يَزِيدُوا عَلَى الَّذِي سَمَّى قُلْتُ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَجِدُوا قَالَ فَلْيَشْتَرُوا مِنْ عُرْضِ النَّاسِ مَا لَمْ يَكُنْ نَاصِباً.

“I once asked the virtuous servant of Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who has made a will about thirty dinar to set free a Muslim slave but it cannot be done with that amount. He (the Imam) said, ‘They must then buy from the rest of the people as long as he is not hostile to ‘A’immah (a.s.).’”

أَنَّ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع مَاتَ وَ تَرَكَ سِتِّينَ مَمْلُوكاً فَأَعْتَقَ ثُلُثَهُمْ فَأَقْرَعْتُ بَيْنَهُمْ وَ أَخْرَجْتُ الثُّلُثَ.

“The Shaykh (a.s.), has said that abu Ja‘far (a.s.), died and left sixty slaves of whom he set free one-third and I determined such slaves by raffle and took the one-third away.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنْ مُحَرَّرَةٍ أَعْتَقَهَا أَخِي وَ قَدْ كَانَتْ تَخْدُمُ مَعَ الْجَوَارِي وَ كَانَتْ فِي عِيَالِهِ فَأَوْصَانِي أَنْ أُنْفِقَ عَلَيْهَا مِنَ الْوَسَطِ فَقَالَ‌ إِنْ كَانَتْ مَعَ الْجَوَارِي وَ أَقَامَتْ عَلَيْهِنَّ فَأَنْفِقْ عَلَيْهَا وَ اتَّبِعْ وَصِيَّتَهُ‌[1].

“I once asked abu Ja’far (a.s.), about a slave-girl who was set free by my brother who served with slave-girls and was in his dependents. He made a will to spend for her from the center of the legacy. He (the Imam) said, ‘If she was with the slave-girls and managed them, then you must spend for her and execute the will

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَوْصَى أَنْ يُعْتَقَ عَنْهُ نَسَمَةٌ بِخَمْسِمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ مِنْ ثُلُثِهِ فَاشْتُرِيَ نَسَمَةٌ بِأَقَلَّ مِنْ خَمْسِمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ وَ فَضَلَتْ فَضْلَةٌ فَمَا تَرَى قَالَ تُدْفَعُ الْفَضْلَةُ إِلَى النَّسَمَةِ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ تُعْتَقَ ثُمَّ تُعْتَقُ عَنِ الْمَيِّتِ‌[2].

“I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who made a will to set free a slave for five hundred dirham from the one-third of his legacy. A slave was bought for less than five hundred dirham and something remained extra. What do you say about it? He (the Imam) said, ‘Give the extra to the slave before

أَوْصَتْ إِلَيَّ امْرَأَةٌ مِنْ أَهْلِي بِثُلُثِ مَالِهَا وَ أَمَرَتْ أَنْ يُعْتَقَ وَ يُحَجَّ وَ يُتَصَدَّقَ فَلَمْ يَبْلُغْ ذَلِكَ فَسَأَلْتُ أَبَا حَنِيفَةَ عَنْهَا فَقَالَ تَجْعَلُ أَثْلَاثاً ثُلُثاً فِي الْعِتْقِ وَ ثُلُثاً فِي الْحَجِّ وَ ثُلُثاً فِي الصَّدَقَةِ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقُلْتُ إِنَّ امْرَأَةً مِنْ أَهْلِي مَاتَتْ وَ أَوْصَتْ إِلَيَّ بِثُلُثِ مَالِهَا وَ أَمَرَتْ أَنْ يُعْتَقَ ع

“A woman of our family made a will about one-third of her legacy and asked to set free a slave, perform al-Hajj and give charity; but the one-third was not sufficient. I asked abu Hanifah about it and he said, ’Make it in three equal parts and spend one part for each cause/ I then visited abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), and sa

فِي رَجُلٍ أَوْصَى عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ أَعْتِقْ فُلَاناً وَ فُلَاناً وَ فُلَاناً وَ فُلَاناً وَ فُلَاناً فَنَظَرْتُ فِي ثُلُثِهِ فَلَمْ يَبْلُغْ أَثْمَانَ قِيمَةِ الْمَمَالِيكِ الْخَمْسَةِ الَّتِي أَمَرَ بِعِتْقِهِمْ قَالَ يُنْظَرُ إِلَى الَّذِينَ سَمَّاهُمْ وَ يُبْدَأُ بِعِتْقِهِمْ فَيُقَوَّمُونَ وَ يُنْظَرُ إِلَى ثُلُثِهِ فَيُعْتَقُ مِنْهُ أَوَّلُ شَيْ‌ءٍ ثُمَّ الثَّانِي ثُمَّ الثَّالِثُ ثُمَّ الرَّابِعُ ثُمَّ الْخَامِ

“About the case of a man who at the time of his death makes a will to set free a slave so and so and so and so. I looked into the one-third of his legacy and found that it is not even equal to one-eighth of the five slaves whom he had mentioned, he (the Imam) (a.s.), said, ‘You must evaluate the slaves and begin settin

سُئِلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ كَانَ فِي سَفَرٍ وَ مَعَهُ جَارِيَةٌ لَهُ وَ غُلَامَانِ مَمْلُوكَانِ فَقَالَ لَهُمَا أَنْتُمَا حُرَّانِ لِوَجْهِ اللَّهِ وَ اشْهَدَا أَنَّ مَا فِي بَطْنِ جَارِيَتِي هَذِهِ مِنِّي فَوَلَدَتْ غُلَاماً فَلَمَّا قَدِمُوا عَلَى الْوَرَثَةِ أَنْكَرُوا ذَلِكَ وَ اسْتَرَقُّوهُمْ ثُمَّ إِنَّ الْغُلَامَيْنِ أُعْتِقَا بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَشَهِدَا بَعْدَ مَا أُعْتِقَا أَنَّ مَوْلَاهُمَا الْأَ

“Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about the case of a man who on a journey was with a slave-girl and two slaves. He said to them, ‘You are free for the sake of Allah and bear witness that the child in the womb of the slave-girl is from me. She gave birth to a son. When they came back, the heir refused the will and

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ تَحْضُرُهُ الْوَفَاةُ وَ لَهُ مَمَالِيكُ لِخَاصَّةِ نَفْسِهِ وَ لَهُ مَمَالِيكُ فِي شِرْكَةِ رَجُلٍ آخَرَ فَيُوصِي فِي وَصِيَّتِهِ مَمَالِيكِي أَحْرَارٌ مَا حَالُ مَمَالِيكِهِ الَّذِينَ فِي الشِّرْكَةِ فَقَالَ يُقَوَّمُونَ عَلَيْهِ إِنْ كَانَ مَالُهُ يَحْتَمِلُ ثُمَّ هُمْ أَحْرَارٌ[1].

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about the case of a man who is about to die and sets free all of his slaves. He owns certain slaves and certain others with a partner and about the condition of the ones that he owns with a partner. He (the Imam) said, ‘His slaves of the partnership must be evaluated; if his share co

فِي رَجُلٍ تُوُفِّيَ وَ تَرَكَ جَارِيَةً أَعْتَقَ ثُلُثَهَا فَتَزَوَّجَهَا الْوَصِيُّ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُقْسَمَ شَيْ‌ءٌ مِنَ الْمِيرَاثِ أَنَّهَا تُقَوَّمُ وَ تُسْتَسْعَى هِيَ وَ زَوْجُهَا فِي بَقِيَّةِ ثَمَنِهَا بَعْدَ مَا يُقَوَّمُ فَمَا أَصَابَ الْمَرْأَةَ مِنْ عِتْقٍ أَوْ رِقٍّ فَهُوَ يَجْرِي عَلَى وَلَدِهَا[2].

“This is about the case of a man who dies and leaves as his legacy a slave-girl whose one-third he sets free and the executor of the will marries her before the distribution of the legacy. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘She is appraised, then with her husband both are made to work to pay for the remaining of her cos

أَوْصَى إِلَيَّ رَجُلٌ بِتَرِكَتِهِ وَ أَمَرَنِي أَنْ أَحُجَّ بِهَا عَنْهُ فَنَظَرْتُ فِي ذَلِكَ فَإِذَا شَيْ‌ءٌ يَسِيرٌ لَا يَكْفِي لِلْحَجِّ فَسَأَلْتُ أَبَا حَنِيفَةَ وَ فُقَهَاءَ أَهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ فَقَالُوا تَصَدَّقْ بِهَا عَنْهُ فَلَمَّا حَجَجْتُ لَقِيتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ الْحَسَنِ فِي الطَّوَافِ فَسَأَلْتُهُ وَ قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ رَجُلًا مِنْ مَوَالِيكُمْ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ مَاتَ وَ أَوْصَى بِتَرِكَتِهِ إِ

“A man made a will and asked me to pay for al-Hajj from his legacy, but when I examined his legacy it was not sufficient. I then asked abu Hanifah and the jurists of al-Kufah. They said that I must give as charity on his behalf. When I performed al-Hajj, I met ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Hassan during tawaf. I asked him, saying,

إِذْ أَتَى عَلَى الْغُلَامِ عَشْرُ سِنِينَ فَإِنَّهُ يَجُوزُ لَهُ فِي مَالِهِ مَا أَعْتَقَ وَ تَصَدَّقَ وَ أَوْصَى عَلَى حَدٍّ مَعْرُوفٍ وَ حَقٍّ فَهُوَ جَائِزٌ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘When a boy becomes ten years old it then is permissible for him to use his assets, like freeing, charity and making a will within the limits of law.”’

لَا صَدَقَةَ وَ لَا عِتْقَ إِلَّا مَا أُرِيدَ بِهِ وَجْهُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ’Giving charity or setting free a slave is not valid unless it is for the sake of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious.”’

أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ لَا صَدَقَةَ وَ لَا عِتْقَ إِلَّا مَا أُرِيدَ بِهِ وَجْهُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ’Giving charity or setting free a slave is not valid unless it is for the sake of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious.’”

إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَةُ مُحْدَثَةٌ إِنَّمَا كَانَ النَّاسُ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص يَنْحَلُونَ وَ يَهَبُونَ وَ لَا يَنْبَغِي لِمَنْ أَعْطَى لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ شَيْئاً أَنْ يَرْجِعَ فِيهِ قَالَ وَ مَا لَمْ يُعْطِ لِلَّهِ وَ فِي اللَّهِ فَإِنَّهُ يَرْجِعُ فِيهِ نِحْلَةً كَانَتْ أَوْ هِبَةً حِيزَتْ أَوْ لَمْ تُحَزْ[2] وَ لَا يَرْجِعُ الرَّجُلُ فِيمَا يَهَبُ لِامْرَأَتِهِ وَ لَا الْمَرْأَةُ فِيمَا تَهَبُ لِزَوْجِ

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Charity has emerged newly. In the time of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, people would give gifts and presents. It is not proper for one who has given something to Allah, most Majestic, most Gloriou

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَتَصَدَّقُ بِالصَّدَقَةِ أَ لَهُ أَنْ يَرْجِعَ فِي صَدَقَتِهِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الصَّدَقَةَ مُحْدَثَةٌ إِنَّمَا كَانَ النُّحْلُ وَ الْهِبَةُ وَ لِمَنْ وَهَبَ أَوْ نَحَلَ أَنْ يَرْجِعَ فِي هِبَتِهِ حِيزَ أَوْ لَمْ يُحَزْ وَ لَا يَنْبَغِي لِمَنْ أَعْطَى [لِلَّهِ‌] شَيْئاً أَنْ يَرْجِعَ فِيهِ.

“I once asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who gives charity; if he can take it back. He (the Imam) said, ‘Charity is new. There were gifts and grants. One who provides a gift or a grant is able to take back the grant or gift, regardless of whether the recipient has taken it in his possession or not;

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الرَّجُلُ يَتَصَدَّقُ عَلَى وُلْدِهِ بِصَدَقَةٍ وَ هُمْ صِغَارٌ أَ لَهُ أَنْ يَرْجِعَ فِيهَا قَالَ لَا الصَّدَقَةُ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who gives charity (which is not obligatory) to his small children; if he can take it back. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, because charity is for Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ صَدَقَةِ مَا لَمْ تُقْسَمْ وَ لَمْ تُقْبَضْ فَقَالَ جَائِزَةٌ إِنَّمَا أَرَادَ النَّاسُ النُّحْلَ فَأَخْطَئُوا.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about charity which is not distributed or possessed by the recipient. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is permissible (for the donor to use it); people had the intention to gift it but they made a mistake (in calling it a charity).”’

فِي الرَّجُلِ يَتَصَدَّقُ عَلَى وُلْدٍ قَدْ أَدْرَكُوا إِذَا لَمْ يَقْبِضُوا حَتَّى يَمُوتَ فَهُوَ مِيرَاثٌ فَإِنْ تَصَدَّقَ عَلَى مَنْ لَمْ يُدْرِكْ مِنْ وُلْدِهِ فَهُوَ جَائِزٌ لِأَنَّ وَالِدَهُ هُوَ الَّذِي يَلِي أَمْرَهُ وَ قَالَ لَا يَرْجِعُ فِي الصَّدَقَةِ إِذَا ابْتَغَى بِهَا وَجْهَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ قَالَ الْهِبَةُ وَ النِّحْلَةُ يَرْجِعُ فِيهَا إِنْ شَاءَ حِيزَتْ أَوْ لَمْ تُحَزْ إِلَّا لِذِي رَحِمٍ

“This is about the case of a man who gives charity to his grown up (mature) children. They do not take possession until he dies. Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘It remains as part of the legacy; but if he gives it as charity to his small children, then it (giving such charity) is permissible; their father is the one who

إِنْ تَصَدَّقْتَ بِصَدَقَةٍ لَمْ تَرْجِعْ إِلَيْكَ وَ لَمْ تَشْتَرِهَا إِلَّا أَنْ تُورَثَ‌[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If you give charity, then do not take it back or buy it back unless it comes back to you in the form of an inherited legacy.”’

فِي الرَّجُلِ يَجْعَلُ لِوُلْدِهِ شَيْئاً وَ هُمْ صِغَارٌ ثُمَّ يَبْدُو لَهُ أَنْ يَجْعَلَ مَعَهُمْ غَيْرَهُمْ مِنْ وُلْدِهِ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ.

“About the case of a man who gives something to his small children then he decides to make his other children share it with them, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not harmful.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَتَصَدَّقُ عَلَى وُلْدِهِ وَ هُمْ صِغَارٌ بِالْجَارِيَةِ ثُمَّ تُعْجِبُهُ الْجَارِيَةُ وَ هُمْ صِغَارٌ فِي عِيَالِهِ أَ تَرَى أَنْ يُصِيبَهَا أَوْ يُقَوِّمَهَا قِيمَةَ عَدْلٍ فَيُشْهِدَ بِثَمَنِهَا عَلَيْهِ أَمْ يَدَعَ ذَلِكَ كُلَّهُ فَلَا يَعْرِضَ لِشَيْ‌ءٍ مِنْهُ- قَالَ يُقَوِّمُهَا قِيمَةَ عَدْلٍ وَ يَحْتَسِبُ بِثَمَنِهَا لَهُمْ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ وَ يَمَسُّهَا.

“This is about the case of a man who gives a slave-girl as charity to his small children. He then begins to like the slave-girl but the children are small as his dependents, if he can touch the slave-girl, or appraise her for a fair price, then make witnesses to bear testimony to his owing such price to his children, o

إِذَا كَانَتِ الْهِبَةُ قَائِمَةً بِعَيْنِهَا فَلَهُ أَنْ يَرْجِعَ وَ إِلَّا فَلَيْسَ لَهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If the gift still exists as it was given, it can be taken back, otherwise, one cannot do so.’”

هِيَ عَلَيْكِ صَدَقَةٌ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ قَالَ ذَلِكَ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَلْيُمْضِهَا وَ إِنْ كَانَ لَمْ يَقُلْ فَلَهُ أَنْ يَرْجِعَ إِنْ شَاءَ فِيهَا[1].

“This is about the case of a man who has a slave-girl and his wife gives him trouble about her. Thus, he says, ‘She is charity for you.’ One of the two Imam, (abu Ja‘far or abu ‘Abd Allah), ‘Alayhim al- Salam, has said, ‘If he has done so for the sake of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, he must comply with what he

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَكُونُ لَهُ عَلَى الرَّجُلِ الدَّرَاهِمُ فَيَهَبُهَا لَهُ أَ لَهُ أَنْ يَرْجِعَ فِيهَا قَالَ لَا.

13. Muhammad ibn Tsma‘il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man to whom another man owes a certain amount of dirham and he gives it as a gift to him (the indebted); if he can change

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ تَصَدَّقَ بِصَدَقَةٍ عَلَى حَمِيمٍ أَ يَصْلُحُ لَهُ أَنْ يَرْجِعَ فِيهَا قَالَ لَا وَ لَكِنْ إِنِ احْتَاجَ فَلْيَأْخُذْ مِنْ حَمِيمِهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ مَا تَصَدَّقَ بِهِ عَلَيْهِ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who gives a certain amount of charity to his friend; if he can change his mind and take it back from him. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, he cannot do so but if he needs he can take from other assets of his friend which is other than what he had given as charity to

فِي الرَّجُلِ يَتَصَدَّقُ بِالصَّدَقَةِ أَ يَحِلُّ لَهُ أَنْ يَرِثَهَا قَالَ نَعَمْ.

“About the case of a man who gives something in charity if he can inherit it, one of the two Imam, (abu Ja‘far or abu ‘Abd Allah), ‘Alayhim al-Salam, has said, ‘Yes, he can do so.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَعْطَى أُمَّهُ عَطِيَّةً فَمَاتَتْ وَ كَانَتْ قَدْ قَبَضَتِ الَّذِي أَعْطَاهَا وَ بَانَتْ بِهِ‌[2] قَالَ هُوَ وَ الْوَرَثَةُ فِيهَا سَوَاءٌ.

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about the case of a man who gives a gift to his mother and she dies. She had taken the gift away from him in her possession. He (the Imam) said, ‘He and the other heirs are the same in dealing with that item.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع إِنَّ أُمِّي تَصَدَّقَتْ عَلَيَّ بِدَارٍ لَهَا أَوْ قَالَ بِنَصِيبٍ لَهَا فِي دَارٍ فَقَالَتْ لِيَ اسْتَوْثِقْ لِنَفْسِكَ‌[1] فَكَتَبْتُ عَلَيْهَا أَنِّي اشْتَرَيْتُ وَ أَنَّهَا قَدْ بَاعَتْنِي وَ قَبَضَتِ الثَّمَنَ فَلَمَّا مَاتَتْ قَالَ الْوَرَثَةُ احْلِفْ أَنَّكَ اشْتَرَيْتَ وَ نَقَدْتَ الثَّمَنَ فَإِنْ حَلَفْتُ لَهُمْ أَخَذْتُهُ وَ إِنْ لَمْ أَحْلِفْ لَهُمْ لَمْ يُعْطُونِي شَيْئاً قَالَ

“I once said to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), that my mother gave me the house that belonged to her - or he said her share in a house - and told me to register it in my name. I then wrote that I have bought it from her. She has sold it to me and has received the payment. When she died, the heirs asked me to take an oath that I

تَصَدَّقَ أَبِي عَلَيَّ بِدَارٍ وَ قَبَضْتُهَا ثُمَّ وُلِدَ لَهُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ أَوْلَادٌ فَأَرَادَ أَنْ يَأْخُذَهَا مِنِّي وَ يَتَصَدَّقَ بِهَا عَلَيْهِمْ فَسَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ ذَلِكَ وَ أَخْبَرْتُهُ بِالْقِصَّةِ فَقَالَ لَا تُعْطِهَا إِيَّاهُ قُلْتُ فَإِنَّهُ إِذاً يُخَاصِمُنِي قَالَ فَخَاصِمْهُ وَ لَا تَرْفَعْ صَوْتَكَ عَلَى صَوْتِهِ.

“My father gave a house as charity to me and I took possession thereof but thereafter other children were born to him and he wanted to take the house back from me to give it to them. I explained the story to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), who said, ‘Do not give it to him.’ I then said, ‘He will dispute it with me.’ He (the Ima

إِذَا عُوِّضَ صَاحِبُ الْهِبَةِ فَلَيْسَ لَهُ أَنْ يَرْجِعَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If a gift-giver receives something in exchange, he then cannot take back what he has given as gift.’”