Fasting

رَأَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص فِي مَنَامِهِ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ يَصْعَدُونَ عَلَى مِنْبَرِهِ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ وَ يُضِلُّونَ النَّاسَ عَنِ الصِّرَاطِ الْقَهْقَرَى فَأَصْبَحَ كَئِيباً حَزِيناً قَالَ فَهَبَطَ عَلَيْهِ جَبْرَئِيلُ ع فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا لِي أَرَاكَ كَئِيباً حَزِيناً قَالَ يَا جَبْرَئِيلُ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ فِي لَيْلَتِي هَذِهِ يَصْعَدُونَ مِنْبَرِي مِنْ بَعْدِي وَ يُضِلُّونَ النَّاسَ عَنِ الصّ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that in his dream, the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, saw banu ‘Umayyah climb on his pulpit after him and mislead people from the right path and take them backward. He remained sad and depressed. Jibril

لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ هِيَ أَوَّلُ السَّنَةِ وَ هِيَ آخِرُهَا[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the night of destiny is the beginning of the year, and it also is the end of it (the year before).”

فِي لَيْلَةِ تِسْعَ عَشْرَةَ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ التَّقْدِيرُ وَ فِي لَيْلَةِ إِحْدَى وَ عِشْرِينَ الْقَضَاءُ وَ فِي لَيْلَةِ ثَلَاثٍ وَ عِشْرِينَ إِبْرَامُ مَا يَكُونُ فِي السَّنَةِ إِلَى مِثْلِهَا لِلَّهِ جَلَّ ثَنَاؤُهُ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَاءُ فِي خَلْقِهِ‌[2].

“In the nineteenth night of the month of Ramadan is measurement and determination; in the twenty-first night is decision; and in the twenty-third night is verification of what has to take place during the coming year up to the next night of destiny. Allah, glorious is his praise, does whatever He wills about His creati

تَقُولُ فِي الْعَشْرِ الْأَوَاخِرِ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فِي كُلِّ لَيْلَةٍ- أَعُوذُ بِجَلَالِ وَجْهِكَ الْكَرِيمِ أَنْ يَنْقَضِيَ عَنِّي شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ أَوْ يَطْلُعَ الْفَجْرُ مِنْ لَيْلَتِي هَذِهِ وَ لَكَ قِبَلِي ذَنْبٌ أَوْ تَبِعَةٌ تُعَذِّبُنِي عَلَيْهِ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that during the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan, you should say the following prayer. ‘O Allah, I seek refuge with the glory of Your honorable face against the condition in which the month of Ramadan will pass or this night will dawn while I may have committed sins or such deed

أَنْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَلَى أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ وَ أَنْ تَجْعَلَ اسْمِي فِي هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةِ فِي السُّعَدَاءِ- وَ رُوحِي مَعَ الشُّهَدَاءِ وَ إِحْسَانِي فِي عِلِّيِّينَ وَ إِسَاءَتِي مَغْفُورَةً وَ أَنْ تَهَبَ لِي يَقِيناً تُبَاشِرُ بِهِ قَلْبِي وَ إِيمَاناً يَذْهَبُ بِالشَّكِّ عَنِّي وَ تُرْضِيَنِي بِمَا قَسَمْتَ لِي وَ آتِنا فِي الدُّنْيا حَسَنَةً وَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَ قِنَا عَذَابَ الْحَرِيقِ وَ

2. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ali ibn al-Husayn from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ayyub ibn Yaqtin or others from ’A’immah, recipients of divine supreme covenant, who have said the following: “During the first night of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan, recite this prayer. ‘O the One, (You have the power)

فِي الدُّعَاءِ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فِي كُلِّ لَيْلَةٍ تَقُولُ- اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ فِيمَا تَقْضِي وَ تُقَدِّرُ مِنَ الْأَمْرِ الْمَحْتُومِ فِي الْأَمْرِ الْحَكِيمِ مِنَ الْقَضَاءِ الَّذِي لَا يُرَدُّ وَ لَا يُبَدَّلُ أَنْ تَكْتُبَنِي مِنْ حُجَّاجِ بَيْتِكَ الْحَرَامِ الْمَبْرُورِ حَجُّهُمْ الْمُكَفَّرِ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّئَاتُهُمْ الْمَغْفُورِ ذُنُوبُهُمْ الْمَشْكُورِ سَعْيُهُمْ وَ أَنْ تَجْعَلَ فِي مَا تَقْضِي

‘O Allah, I appeal before You in the case of whatever You decide and measure of the inevitable issues of the matters of wisdom, of the destiny that does not change or alter, to list my name among those who perform Hajj of Your respected House, with virtuous Hajj, expatiated wickedness, forgiven sins and appreciated eff

تُكَرِّرُ فِي لَيْلَةِ ثَلَاثٍ وَ عِشْرِينَ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ هَذَا الدُّعَاءَ سَاجِداً وَ قَائِماً وَ قَاعِداً وَ عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ وَ فِي الشَّهْرِ كُلِّهِ وَ كَيْفَ أَمْكَنَكَ وَ مَتَى حَضَرَكَ مِنْ دَهْرِكَ تَقُولُ بَعْدَ تَحْمِيدِ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى وَ الصَّلَاةِ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ص- اللَّهُمَّ كُنْ لِوَلِيِّكَ فُلَانِ بْنِ فُلَانٍ فِي هَذِهِ السَّاعَةِ وَ فِي كُلِّ سَاعَةٍ وَلِيّاً وَ حَافِظاً وَ

4. Muhammad ibn ‘Isa has narrated through the chain of his narrators who has narrated the following:: “The virtuous ones, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, have said the following that you should repeat this prayer during the twenty-third night of the month of Ramadan, while in prostration, standing, sitting and in all conditions and

إِذَا كَانَتْ آخِرُ لَيْلَةٍ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَقُلِ اللَّهُمَّ هَذَا شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلْتَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنَ وَ قَدْ تَصَرَّمَ‌[1] وَ أَعُوذُ بِوَجْهِكَ الْكَرِيمِ يَا رَبِّ أَنْ يَطْلُعَ الْفَجْرُ مِنْ لَيْلَتِي هَذِهِ أَوْ يَتَصَرَّمَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ وَ لَكَ قِبَلِي تَبِعَةٌ أَوْ ذَنْبٌ تُرِيدُ أَنْ تُعَذِّبَنِي بِهِ يَوْمَ أَلْقَاكَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that during the last night of the month of Ramadan, say this prayer. ‘O Allah, this is the month of Ramadan when You revealed the Holy Quran, and now it has ended. I seek refuge with Your honorable face, against my remaining in a condition, O Lord, that this night ends up with dawn or t

فِي وَدَاعِ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ- اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ قُلْتَ فِي كِتَابِكَ الْمُنْزَلِ- شَهْرُ رَمَضانَ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ‌ وَ هَذَا شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ وَ قَدْ تَصَرَّمَ فَأَسْأَلُكَ بِوَجْهِكَ الْكَرِيمِ وَ كَلِمَاتِكَ التَّامَّةِ إِنْ كَانَ بَقِيَ عَلَيَّ ذَنْبٌ لَمْ تَغْفِرْهُ لِي أَوْ تُرِيدُ أَنْ تُعَذِّبَنِي عَلَيْهِ أَوْ تُقَايِسَنِي بِهِ أَنْ يَطْلُعَ‌[2] فَجْرُ هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةِ أَوْ يَتَصَرَّمَ هَذ

6. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ahmad ibn Ishaq from Sa‘dan ibn Muslim from abu Basir who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that to say farewell to the month of Ramadan say this. ‘O Allah, You have said in Your book, “The month of Ramadan is that when the Holy Quran was re

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لِي‌ أَمَا إِنَّ فِي الْفِطْرِ تَكْبِيراً وَ لَكِنَّهُ مَسْتُورٌ-[2] قَالَ قُلْتُ وَ أَيْنَ هُوَ قَالَ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْفِطْرِ فِي الْمَغْرِبِ وَ الْعِشَاءِ الْآخِرَةِ وَ فِي صَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ وَ فِي صَلَاةِ الْعِيدِ ثُمَّ يُقْطَعُ قَالَ قُلْتُ كَيْفَ أَقُولُ قَالَ تَقُولُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَ لِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ

“Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) said to me, ‘On al-Fitr (first day of the month of Shawwal), there is Takbir (saying ‘Allah is greater than what can be described’), but it is concealed.’ I (the narrator) then asked, ‘Where is it?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘It is during the night of al-Fitr, in Maghrib and the last ‘Isha’, and in t

تُكَبِّرُ لَيْلَةَ الْفِطْرِ وَ صَبِيحَةَ الْفِطْرِ كَمَا تُكَبِّرُ فِي الْعَشْرِ.

"You should say Takbir in the night of al-Fitr and in the morning of al-Fitr, just as you say Takbir during the tenth (day of the month of Dhu al-Hajjah).”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ النَّاسَ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ الْمَغْفِرَةَ تَنْزِلُ عَلَى مَنْ صَامَ- شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ فَقَالَ يَا حَسَنُ إِنَّ الْقَارِيجَارَ[3] إِنَّمَا يُعْطَى أُجْرَتَهُ عِنْدَ فَرَاغِهِ ذَلِكَ لَيْلَةَ الْعِيدِ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَمَا يَنْبَغِي لَنَا أَنْ نَعْمَلَ فِيهَا فَقَالَ إِذَا غَرَبَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَاغْتَسِلْ وَ إِذَا صَلَّيْتَ الثَّلَاثَ الْمَغْرِبِ فَارْفَعْ يَ

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘People say that forgiveness descends upon the fasting people during the month of Ramadan in the night of destiny.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘O al- Hassan, al-Qarijar (a worker) receives his wages upon completion of his task on the night of ‘Id (first of Shawwal).’ I then said, ‘I pray

اطْعَمْ‌[1] يَوْمَ الْفِطْرِ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَخْرُجَ إِلَى الْمُصَلَّى.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that you should take food, on the day of al-Fitr before going to the prayer place.”

لِيَطْعَمْ يَوْمَ الْفِطْرِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ وَ لَا يَطْعَمْ يَوْمَ أَضْحًى حَتَّى يَنْصَرِفَ الْإِمَامُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that on the day of al-Fitr, one should have food before salat (prayer); however, on the day of Adha’, one should not have any food until after the prayer leader leaves.”

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص‌ إِذَا كَانَ أَوَّلُ يَوْمٍ مِنْ شَوَّالٍ نَادَى مُنَادٍ أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ اغْدُوا إِلَى جَوَائِزِكُمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا جَابِرُ جَوَائِزُ اللَّهِ لَيْسَتْ بِجَوَائِزِ هَؤُلَاءِ الْمُلُوكِ ثُمَّ قَالَ هُوَ يَوْمُ الْجَوَائِزِ.

‘The Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, “When it is the first day of the month of Shawwal, an announcer announces, ‘O believers, come to receive your presents.”” He (the Imam) then said, ‘O Jabir, presents that Allah gives away are not

إِذَا كَانَ صَبِيحَةُ يَوْمِ الْفِطْرِ نَادَى مُنَادٍ اغْدُوا إِلَى جَوَائِزِكُمْ‌[2].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when it is the morning of the day of al-Fitr, an announcer announces, ‘Come to receive your presents.’”

إِذَا شَهِدَ عِنْدَ الْإِمَامِ شَاهِدَانِ أَنَّهُمَا رَأَيَا الْهِلَالَ مُنْذُ ثَلَاثِينَ يَوْماً أَمَرَ الْإِمَامُ بِالْإِفْطَارِ وَ صَلَّى فِي ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ إِذَا كَانَا شَهِدَا قَبْلَ زَوَالِ الشَّمْسِ فَإِنْ شَهِدَا بَعْدَ زَوَالِ الشَّمْسِ أَمَرَ الْإِمَامُ بِإِفْطَارِ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ وَ أَخَّرَ الصَّلَاةَ إِلَى الْغَدِ فَصَلَّى بِهِمْ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘If two witnesses testify before the Imam to their seeing the new moon after thirty days, the Imam issues a commandment to discontinue fasting. He (the Imam) performs Salat (prayer) on that day if they have seen it before Zawal (declining of the sun toward the west at noontime), but if the

إِذَا أَصْبَحَ النَّاسُ صِيَاماً وَ لَمْ يَرَوُا الْهِلَالَ وَ جَاءَ قَوْمٌ عُدُولٌ يَشْهَدُونَ عَلَى الرُّؤْيَةِ فَلْيُفْطِرُوا وَ لْيَخْرُجُوا مِنَ الْغَدِ أَوَّلَ النَّهَارِ إِلَى عِيدِهِمْ.

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ahmad in a marfu‘ manner who has said the following: “He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said, ‘If people are fasting and have not seen the new moon, then a just people come and testify to their seeing the new moon they must discontinue fasting and on the morning of the next

قُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مَا تَقُولُ فِي الصَّوْمِ فَإِنَّهُ قَدْ رُوِيَ أَنَّهُمْ لَا يُوَفَّقُونَ لِصَوْمٍ فَقَالَ أَمَا إِنَّهُ قَدْ أُجِيبَتْ دَعْوَةُ الْمَلَكِ فِيهِمْ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ وَ كَيْفَ ذَلِكَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَالَ إِنَّ النَّاسَ لَمَّا قَتَلُوا الْحُسَيْنَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ أَمَرَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى مَلَكاً يُنَادِي أَيَّتُهَا الْأُمَّةُ الظَّالِمَةُ الْقَاتِلَةُ عِتْرَةَ نَبِيِّ

“I once asked abu Ja‘far, the 2nd (a.s.), ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, what do you say about fasting? It is narrated that they never unite in the matter of fasting? He (the Imam) said, ‘It is because the prayer of the angel is answered about them? I (the narrator) then asked, ‘How is that

قَالَ: يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ مَا مِنْ عِيدٍ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ- أَضْحًى وَ لَا فِطْرٍ إِلَّا وَ هُوَ يُجَدِّدُ لآِلِ مُحَمَّدٍ فِيهِ حُزْناً قُلْتُ وَ لِمَ ذَاكَ قَالَ لِأَنَّهُمْ يَرَوْنَ حَقَّهُمْ فِي يَدِ غَيْرِهِمْ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘O ‘Abdullah, there is no ‘Id for the Muslims, neither al-Adha’ nor al-Fitr, except that it renews sadness for the family of Muhammad.’ I then asked, ‘Why is it so?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘Because they see their rights in the hands of others.”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ لَمَّا ضُرِبَ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ ع بِالسَّيْفِ فَسَقَطَ رَأْسُهُ ثُمَ‌[1] ابْتُدِرَ لِيُقْطَعَ رَأْسُهُ نَادَى مُنَادٍ مِنْ بُطْنَانِ الْعَرْشِ أَلَا أَيَّتُهَا الْأُمَّةُ الْمُتَحَيِّرَةُ الضَّالَّةُ بَعْدَ نَبِيِّهَا لَا وَفَّقَكُمُ اللَّهُ لِأَضْحًى وَ لَا لِفِطْرٍ قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَلَا جَرَمَ وَ اللَّهِ مَا وُفِّقُوا وَ لَا يُوَفَّقُونَ حَتَّى يَثْأَرَ

‘When al-Husayn ibn Ali (a.s.) was hit with the sword and his head fell, and they were about to sever his head, an announcer announced from the depth of the Throne, “O straying nation in confusion after its Prophet, Allah will not unite you in al-Adha’ and in al-Fitr!” He (the narrator) said that abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) t

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع إِنِّي أَفْطَرْتُ يَوْمَ الْفِطْرِ عَلَى تِينٍ وَ تَمْرَةٍ فَقَالَ لِي جَمَعْتَ بَرَكَةً وَ سُنَّةً.

“I once said to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), ‘I used fig and dates for breaking my fast on the day of Fitr.' He (the Imam) said, ‘You have brought together blessing and a noble tradition.'”

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِذَا أُتِيَ بِطِيبٍ يَوْمَ الْفِطْرِ بَدَأَ بِنِسَائِهِ.

“If the Messenger of Allah (sw) would receive any perfumes on the day of al-Fitr, he would first present it to his wives.“

كُلُّ مَنْ ضَمَمْتَ إِلَى عِيَالِكَ مِنْ حُرٍّ أَوْ مَمْلُوكٍ فَعَلَيْكَ أَنْ تُؤَدِّيَ الْفِطْرَةَ عَنْهُ‌[4] قَالَ وَ إِعْطَاءُ الْفِطْرَةِ قَبْلَ الصَّلَاةِ أَفْضَلُ وَ بَعْدَ الصَّلَاةِ صَدَقَةٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Whomever you include in you dependents, free people or slaves it then is obligatory upon you to pay al-Fitrah for them.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Paying al- Fitrah before Salat (prayer) is better and after Salat (prayer) it is charity.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْفِطْرَةِ فَقَالَ عَلَى الصَّغِيرِ وَ الْكَبِيرِ وَ الْحُرِّ وَ الْعَبْدِ عَنْ كُلِّ إِنْسَانٍ صَاعٌ مِنْ حِنْطَةٍ أَوْ صَاعٌ مِنْ تَمْرٍ أَوْ صَاعٌ مِنْ زَبِيبٍ.

‘It is obligatory upon small, grown up people, free and slaves. The amount of al-Fitrah for every human being is one Sa‘ (three kilograms). It can be paid from wheat or dates or raisins.’”

التَّمْرُ فِي الْفِطْرَةِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ غَيْرِهِ لِأَنَّهُ أَسْرَعُ مَنْفَعَةً وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّهُ إِذَا وَقَعَ فِي يَدِ صَاحِبِهِ أَكَلَ مِنْهُ قَالَ وَ قَالَ نَزَلَتِ الزَّكَاةُ وَ لَيْسَ لِلنَّاسِ أَمْوَالٌ وَ إِنَّمَا كَانَتِ الْفِطْرَةُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Paying al-Fitrah in the form of dates is better than other items because its benefit is immediate. As soon as it reaches the hands of the recipient he eats thereof.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Zakat had come but people had no taxable assets. It was only al- Fitrah.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ الْفِطْرَةُ إِنْ أَعْطَيْتَ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَخْرُجَ إِلَى الْعِيدِ فَهِيَ فِطْرَةٌ وَ إِنْ كَانَتْ بَعْدَ مَا تَخْرُجُ إِلَى الْعِيدِ فَهِيَ صَدَقَةٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If you pay before going out for Salat (prayer) on ‘Id day it is al-Fitrah, but if you pay after you go out for ‘Id it then is charity.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْفِطْرَةِ كَمْ نَدْفَعُ عَنْ كُلِّ رَأْسٍ مِنَ الْحِنْطَةِ وَ الشَّعِيرِ وَ التَّمْرِ وَ الزَّبِيبِ قَالَ صَاعٌ بِصَاعِ النَّبِيِّ ص.

“I once asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), about the amount of wheat, barley, dates or raisins for each person as al-Fitrah. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is one Sa’ of the Sa‘ of the Prophet (sw).”’

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ تَعْجِيلِ الْفِطْرَةِ بِيَوْمٍ فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ قُلْتُ فَمَا تَرَى بِأَنْ نَجْمَعَهَا وَ نَجْعَلَ قِيمَتَهَا وَرِقاً[3] وَ نُعْطِيَهَا رَجُلًا وَاحِداً مُسْلِماً قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about paying al-Fitrah one day earlier. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’ I then asked, ‘Is it permissible to collect al-Fitrah and then turn it into waraq (cash) and give it to one Muslim person?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’”

لَا بَأْسَ بِأَنْ يُعْطِيَ الرَّجُلُ عَنْ عِيَالِهِ وَ هُمْ غُيَّبٌ عَنْهُ وَ يَأْمُرَهُمْ فَيُعْطُونَ عَنْهُ وَ هُوَ غَائِبٌ عَنْهُمْ.

‘It is not harmful to pay al-Fitrah for one’s dependents who are not present, and one can instruct his dependents to pay for him in case one is not present.’”

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى الرَّجُلِ ع أَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الْفِطْرَةِ وَ كَمْ تُدْفَعُ قَالَ فَكَتَبَ سِتَّةُ أَرْطَالٍ مِنْ تَمْرٍ بِالْمَدَنِيِّ وَ ذَلِكَ تِسْعَةُ أَرْطَالٍ بِالْبَغْدَادِيِّ.

‘It is six Artal of dates by al-Madiniy Artal which is nine Artal by al- Baghdadiy ones.”’

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع عَلَى يَدَيْ أَبِي‌[2] جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ أَصْحَابَنَا اخْتَلَفُوا فِي الصَّاعِ بَعْضُهُمْ يَقُولُ الْفِطْرَةُ بِصَاعِ الْمَدَنِيِّ وَ بَعْضُهُمْ يَقُولُ بِصَاعِ الْعِرَاقِيِّ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيَّ الصَّاعُ سِتَّةُ أَرْطَالٍ بِالْمَدَنِيِّ وَ تِسْعَةُ أَرْطَالٍ بِالْعِرَاقِيِّ قَالَ وَ أَخْبَرَنِي أَنَّهُ يَكُونُ بِالْوَزْنِ أَلْفاً وَ مِائَةً وَ سَبْعِينَ وَزْنَةً.

“I once wrote to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), through my father asking, ‘May I be sacrificed for you, our people have differences about al-Sa’. Some of them say that al-Fitra is by al-Sa‘ al-Madaniy and others say it is by al-Sa‘ al-‘Iraqiy. He (the Imam) wrote back to me: ‘Al-Sa‘ is six Artal by al-Madaniy, and nine Artal by

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الرَّجُلُ لَا يَكُونُ عِنْدَهُ شَيْ‌ءٌ مِنَ الْفِطْرَةِ إِلَّا مَا يُؤَدِّي عَنْ نَفْسِهِ وَحْدَهَا يُعْطِيهِ غَرِيباً أَوْ يَأْكُلُ هُوَ وَ عِيَالُهُ قَالَ يُعْطِي بَعْضَ عِيَالِهِ ثُمَّ يُعْطِي الْآخَرُ عَنْ نَفْسِهِ يُرَدِّدُونَهَا فَيَكُونُ عَنْهُمْ جَمِيعاً فِطْرَةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who has an amount which is only sufficient for him if he can give it to an outsider destitute or himself and (his) family use it. He (the Imam) said, ‘He can give to one of his dependents who then gives to another and so on, one person gives to other one and it will be o

قُلْتُ الْفَقِيرُ الَّذِي يُتَصَدَّقُ عَلَيْهِ هَلْ عَلَيْهِ صَدَقَةُ الْفِطْرَةِ فَقَالَ‌[3] نَعَمْ يُعْطِي مِمَّا يُتَصَدَّقُ بِهِ عَلَيْهِ‌[4].

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who receives al-Fitrah: if he is required to pay al-Fitrah. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, he is required to pay al-Fitrah from what he receives as al- Fitrah.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنْ مَوْلُودٍ وُلِدَ لَيْلَةَ الْفِطْرِ عَلَيْهِ فِطْرَةٌ قَالَ لَا قَدْ خَرَجَ الشَّهْرُ قَالَ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ يَهُودِيٍّ- أَسْلَمَ لَيْلَةَ الْفِطْرِ عَلَيْهِ فِطْرَةٌ قَالَ لَا.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a new born on the night of al-Fitr; if there is al-Fitrah obligatory. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, al-Fitrah is not obligatory because the month is passed.’ I then asked, about a Jew who becomes a Muslim on the night of al-Fitr. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, al-Fitrah is no

كَتَبْتُ إِلَيْهِ الْوَصِيُّ يُزَكِّي عَنِ الْيَتَامَى زَكَاةَ الْفِطْرَةِ إِذَا كَانَ لَهُمْ مَالٌ فَكَتَبَ لَا زَكَاةَ عَلَى يَتِيمٍ وَ عَنْ مَمْلُوكٍ يَمُوتُ مَوْلَاهُ وَ هُوَ عَنْهُ غَائِبٌ فِي بَلَدٍ آخَرَ وَ فِي يَدِهِ مَالٌ لِمَوْلَاهُ- وَ يَحْضُرُ الْفِطْرُ أَ يُزَكِّي عَنْ نَفْسِهِ مِنْ مَالِ مَوْلَاهُ وَ قَدْ صَارَ لِلْيَتَامَى قَالَ نَعَمْ‌[1].

“I once wrote to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), and asked if the executor of the will is required to pay al-Fitrah for the orphans if they have any assets. He (the Imam) wrote, ‘There is no al-Fitrah on orphans.’ I asked if a slave whose master dies who is in another location, and there is a certain amount of assets of his mast

قُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ هَلْ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْبَوَادِي الْفِطْرَةُ قَالَ فَقَالَ الْفِطْرَةُ عَلَى كُلِّ مَنِ اقْتَاتَ قُوتاً فَعَلَيْهِ أَنْ يُؤَدِّيَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ الْقُوتِ.

‘al-Fitrah is on every one who consumes food, thus it is obligatory to pay from what one consumes.’”

سُئِلَ عَنْ رَجُلٍ فِي الْبَادِيَةِ لَا يُمْكِنُهُ الْفِطْرَةُ قَالَ يَتَصَدَّقُ بِأَرْبَعَةِ أَرْطَالٍ مِنْ لَبَنٍ.

“I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who lives in a remote village and is not able to pay al-Fitrah. He (the Imam) said, ’He is required to pay by four Artal of milk.”’

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَكُونُ عِنْدَهُ الضَّيْفُ مِنْ إِخْوَانِهِ فَيَحْضُرُ يَوْمُ الْفِطْرِ يُؤَدِّي عَنْهُ الْفِطْرَةَ قَالَ نَعَمْ الْفِطْرَةُ وَاجِبَةٌ عَلَى كُلِّ مَنْ يَعُولُ مِنْ ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنْثَى صَغِيرٍ أَوْ كَبِيرٍ حُرٍّ أَوْ مَمْلُوكٍ.

“I once asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who has a guest from his brothers and the day of al-Fitrah comes; if he must pay al-Fitrah for him. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, al-Fitrah is obligatory for everyone whom you count of your dependents, male, female, children, grown up, free or slaves.’”

لَا بَأْسَ أَنْ يُعْطِيَ الرَّجُلُ الرَّجُلَ عَنْ رَأْسَيْنِ وَ ثَلَاثَةٍ وَ أَرْبَعَةٍ يَعْنِي الْفِطْرَةَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not harmful to pay al-Fitrah for two, three, or four people to one man.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنْ زَكَاةِ الْفِطْرَةِ قَالَ تُعْطِيهَا الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَجِدْ مُسْلِماً فَمُسْتَضْعَفاً وَ أَعْطِ ذَا قَرَابَتِكَ مِنْهَا إِنْ شِئْتَ‌[2].

“I once asked abu Ja’far (a.s.), about Zakat of al-Fitrah. He (the Imam) said, ‘Pay it to the Muslims. If you do not find one, pay to a Mustaz‘af (mentally and physically weak) or pay to your relatives, if you like.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ صَدَقَةِ الْفِطْرَةِ أُعْطِيهَا غَيْرَ أَهْلِ وَلَايَتِي مِنْ فُقَرَاءِ جِيرَانِي قَالَ نَعَمْ الْجِيرَانُ أَحَقُّ بِهَا لِمَكَانِ الشُّهْرَةِ.

“I once asked abu Ibrahim (a.s.), about al-Fitrah; if I can pay it to poor neighboring people who are not of the people of my Wilayah (people who believe in the Divine Authority of ’A’immah). He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, neighbors are more deserving because of the popularity (of fatwa about the privileges of neighbors).”’

يُؤَدِّي الرَّجُلُ زَكَاةَ الْفِطْرَةِ عَنْ مُكَاتَبِهِ وَ رَقِيقِ امْرَأَتِهِ وَ عَبْدِهِ النَّصْرَانِيِّ وَ الْمَجُوسِيِّ وَ مَا أَغْلَقَ عَلَيْهِ بَابَهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is permissible to pay Zakat al-Fitrah to a slave who has contracted his freedom, slave of one’s wife, his own Christian, Zoroastrian slave and those who have closed the door on themselves.’”

قَالَ: اذْهَبْ فَأَعْطِ عَنْ عِيَالِنَا[1] الْفِطْرَةَ وَ أَعْطِ عَنِ الرَّقِيقِ وَ اجْمَعْهُمْ وَ لَا تَدَعْ مِنْهُمْ أَحَداً فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ تَرَكْتَ مِنْهُمْ إِنْسَاناً تَخَوَّفْتُ عَلَيْهِ الْفَوْتَ قُلْتُ وَ مَا الْفَوْتُ قَالَ الْمَوْتُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said to me, ‘Go and pay al-Fitrah for our dependents and pay for the slaves for all of them and do not leave anyone. If you left out a soul from them I will be afraid for the loss.’ I asked, ‘What kind of loss is it?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is death.’”

بَعَثْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع بِدَرَاهِمَ لِي وَ لِغَيْرِي وَ كَتَبْتُ إِلَيْهِ أُخْبِرُهُ أَنَّهَا مِنْ فِطْرَةِ الْعِيَالِ فَكَتَبَ بِخَطِّهِ قَبَضْتُ وَ قَبِلْتُ.

“I once sent a certain amount of dirham that belonged to me and someone else to abu al-Hassan, al- Rida’ (a.s.), and wrote to inform him that it is of al-Fitrah of the family. He (the Imam) wrote with his hand writing, ‘I received and accepted.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْفِطْرَةِ لِمَنْ هِيَ قَالَ لِلْإِمَامِ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ فَأُخْبِرُ أَصْحَابِي قَالَ نَعَمْ مَنْ أَرَدْتَ أَنْ تُطَهِّرَهُ مِنْهُمْ وَ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِأَنْ تُعْطِيَ وَ تَحْمِلَ ثَمَنَ ذَلِكَ وَرِقاً.

“I once asked him (the Imam) about al-Fitrah, ‘To whom does it belong?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It belongs to the Imam.’ I then asked, ‘Can I tell my people about it?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, if you like to cleanse certain ones among them.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘It is not harmful to change the price of al-Fitrah in

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الثَّالِثِ ع أَنَّ قَوْماً سَأَلُونِي عَنِ الْفِطْرَةِ وَ يَسْأَلُونِّي أَنْ يَحْمِلُوا قِيمَتَهَا إِلَيْكَ وَ قَدْ بَعَثَ إِلَيْكَ هَذَا الرَّجُلُ عَامَ أَوَّلَ‌[3] وَ سَأَلَنِي أَنْ أَسْأَلَكَ فَنَسِيتُ ذَلِكَ وَ قَدْ بَعَثْتُ إِلَيْكَ الْعَامَ عَنْ كُلِّ رَأْسٍ مِنْ عِيَالِي بِدِرْهَمٍ عَلَى قِيمَةِ تِسْعَةِ أَرْطَالٍ‌ بِدِرْهَمٍ‌[1] فَرَأْيُكَ جَعَلَنِيَ اللَّهُ فِدَاكَ فِي ذَلِكَ ف

“I once wrote to abu al-Hassan, the third (a.s.), that a (certain) people have asked me about al-Fitrah. They ask if they can bring its price to you. In the year before, this man had delivered to you. He had asked me to ask you but I had forgotten about it. This year I have sent you for every one of my dependents one d

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِذَا كَانَ الْعَشْرُ الْأَوَاخِرُ اعْتَكَفَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ وَ ضُرِبَتْ لَهُ قُبَّةٌ مِنْ شَعْرٍ وَ شَمَّرَ الْمِئْزَرَ[3] وَ طَوَى فِرَاشَهُ وَ قَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ وَ اعْتَزَلَ النِّسَاءَ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَمَّا اعْتِزَالُ النِّسَاءِ فَلَا[4].

“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, in the last ten days of the month of Ramadan would retire in Masjid in seclusion for Ttikaf with a tent made of animals’ wool pitched for him. He (the Messenger o

كَانَتْ بَدْرٌ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَلَمْ يَعْتَكِفْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص فَلَمَّا أَنْ كَانَ مِنْ قَابِلٍ اعْتَكَفَ عَشْرَيْنِ‌[5] عَشْراً لِعَامِهِ وَ عَشْراً قَضَاءً لِمَا فَاتَهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘(The battle of) Badr took place in the month of Ramadan. The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, did not do Ttikaf. In the next year he performed Ttikaf for twenty days. Ten days were for the current year a

اعْتَكَفَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فِي الْعَشْرِ الْأُوَلِ ثُمَّ اعْتَكَفَ فِي الثَّانِيَةِ فِي الْعَشْرِ الْوُسْطَى ثُمَّ اعْتَكَفَ فِي الثَّالِثَةِ فِي الْعَشْرِ الْأَوَاخِرِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَزَلْ يَعْتَكِفُ فِي الْعَشْرِ الْأَوَاخِرِ.

‘The Messenger of Allah (sw) performed I'tikaf in the first ten days of the month of Ramadan. In the second year it was in the second ten days and then in the third year in the last ten days of the month of Ramadan. Thereafter it was all the time in the last ten days of the month of Ramadan.’”