Fasting

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنْ قَضَاءِ الْحَائِضِ الصَّلَاةَ ثُمَّ تَقْضِي الصَّوْمَ‌[4] قَالَ لَيْسَ عَلَيْهَا أَنْ تَقْضِيَ الصَّلَاةَ وَ عَلَيْهَا أَنْ تَقْضِيَ صَوْمَ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ عَلَيَّ وَ قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص كَانَ‌ يَأْمُرُ بِذَلِكَ فَاطِمَةَ ع وَ كَانَتْ تَأْمُرُ بِذَلِكَ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ‌[1].

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about a woman who experiences Hayd (menses). I asked about Qada’ (compensatory prayer) of Salah (prayer) she has missed and that of fast. He (the Imam) said, ‘She is not required to perform Qada’ (compensatory prayer) of Salah (prayer) but she is required to do Qada’ (compensatory praye

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع إِنَّ الْمُغِيرَةَ بْنَ سَعِيدٍ رَوَى عَنْكَ أَنَّكَ قُلْتَ لَهُ إِنَّ الْحَائِضَ تَقْضِي الصَّلَاةَ فَقَالَ مَا لَهُ لَا وَفَّقَهُ اللَّهُ إِنَّ امْرَأَةَ عِمْرَانَ نَذَرَتْ مَا فِي بَطْنِهَا مُحَرَّراً وَ الْمُحَرَّرُ لِلْمَسْجِدِ يَدْخُلُهُ ثُمَّ لَا يَخْرُجُ مِنْهُ أَبَداً فَلَمَّا وَضَعَتْها قالَتْ رَبِّ إِنِّي وَضَعْتُها أُنْثى‌ ... وَ لَيْسَ الذَّكَرُ كَالْأُنْثى‌ فَلَمَّا وَضَعَتْهَا

“I once said to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), that al-Mughirah ibn Sa‘id has narrated from you that you have said, ‘A woman is required to perform Qada’ (compensatory prayer) of Salah (prayer) she has missed when experiencing Hayd (menses). He (the Imam) said, ‘What has happened to him, may Allah not accord him. The wife of ‘Imra

إِذَا عَقَلَ الصَّلَاةَ قُلْتُ مَتَى تَجِبُ الصَّلَاةُ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ إِذَا كَانَ ابْنَ سِتِّ سِنِينَ وَ الصِّيَامُ إِذَا أَطَاقَهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about Salah (prayer) of a child. He (the Imam) said, ‘There is Salah (prayer) for him when he is able to understand it (Salah (prayer)).’ I (the narrator) then asked, ‘When it becomes obligatory for him? He (the Imam) said, ‘It is when he is six years old and there is fasting on him wh

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ يُسْأَلُ الْمَيِّتُ فِي قَبْرِهِ عَنْ خَمْسٍ عَنْ صَلَاتِهِ وَ زَكَاتِهِ وَ حَجِّهِ وَ صِيَامِهِ وَ وَلَايَتِهِ إِيَّانَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ فَتَقُولُ الْوَلَايَةُ مِنْ جَانِبِ الْقَبْرِ لِلْأَرْبَعِ مَا دَخَلَ فِيكُنَّ مِنْ نَقْصٍ فَعَلَيَّ تَمَامُهُ.

15. It is narrated from him (narrator of the above Hadith) from his father in a marfu‘ manner who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that a deceased is asked in his grave about five issues. He is asked about his prayer, Zakat (paying charity), his Hajj, his fasting and about our, Ahl al

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص‌ مَا أَنْزَلَ الْمَوْتَ حَقَّ مَنْزِلَتِهِ مَنْ عَدَّ غَداً مِنْ أَجَلِهِ قَالَ وَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع مَا أَطَالَ عَبْدٌ الْأَمَلَ إِلَّا أَسَاءَ الْعَمَلَ وَ كَانَ يَقُولُ لَوْ رَأَى الْعَبْدُ أَجَلَهُ وَ سُرْعَتَهُ إِلَيْهِ لَأَبْغَضَ الْعَمَلَ مِنْ طَلَبِ الدُّنْيَا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘One who counts tomorrow as part of his life, he has not paid proper attention to death.’ The Imam then said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘Any servant of Allah who cherishes long-term worldly expectations, he becomes involved in bad deeds.’ ’

وَقْتُ سُقُوطِ الْقُرْصِ وَ وُجُوبِ الْإِفْطَارِ أَنْ تَقُومَ بِحِذَاءِ الْقِبْلَةِ وَ تَتَفَقَّدَ الْحُمْرَةَ الَّتِي تَرْتَفِعُ مِنَ الْمَشْرِقِ فَإِذَا جَازَتْ قِمَّةَ الرَّأْسِ إِلَى نَاحِيَةِ الْمَغْرِبِ‌[3] فَقَدْ وَجَبَ الْإِفْطَارُ وَ سَقَطَ الْقُرْصُ.

"Abu ’Abd Allah has said, ‘The disappearance of the disk (the sun), the necessary time to discontinue fasting is when facing its direction and the disappearance of the redness that rise from the east upon its reaching overhead toward the west at such time fasting is discontinued; the (disappearance of the disk (sunset)

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ وَقْتُ الْمَغْرِبِ إِذَا غَابَ الْقُرْصُ فَإِنْ رَأَيْتَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ وَ قَدْ صَلَّيْتَ فَأَعِدِ الصَّلَاةَ[4] وَ مَضَى صَوْمُكَ وَ تَكُفُّ عَنِ الطَّعَامِ إِنْ كُنْتَ أَصَبْتَ مِنْهُ شَيْئاً.

"The time for Maghrib is when the disc (of the sun) has disappeared. If you see (the sun) after that and you have prayed, then repeat the prayer, and your fast remains valid. You should refrain from food if you have eaten anything."

كَتَبَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ بْنُ الْحُصَيْنِ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ الثَّانِي ع‌ مَعِي جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَدِ اخْتَلَفَتْ مُوَالُوكَ فِي صَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يُصَلِّي إِذَا طَلَعَ الْفَجْرُ الْأَوَّلُ الْمُسْتَطِيلُ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ يُصَلِّي إِذَا اعْتَرَضَ فِي أَسْفَلِ الْأُفُقِ وَ اسْتَبَانَ وَ لَسْتُ أَعْرِفُ أَفْضَلَ الْوَقْتَيْنِ فَأُصَلِّيَ فِيهِ فَإِنْ رَأَيْتَ أَنْ تُعَلِّمَنِي أَفْضَلَ ال

1. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ali ibn Mahziyar from who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan ibn al-Husayn once wrote to Abu Ja‘far, al-Thaniy, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, ‘With me, I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, people of your followers disagree on timing of dawn Salah (

يُصَلِّيهَا وَ يُصْبِحُ صَائِماً[1].

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who remains sleeping during the time of al-‘Atmah and does not wake up until after midnight. He (the Imam) said, ‘He performs that Salah (prayer) and remains fasting until the morning.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ دَعَا أَبِي بِالْخُمْرَةِ[1] فَأُبْطِأَتْ عَلَيْهِ فَأَخَذَ كَفّاً مِنْ حَصًى فَجَعَلَهُ عَلَى الْبِسَاطِ ثُمَّ سَجَدَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Once my father asked for a prayer mat but I was not fast enough, so he took a handful of pebbles, placed them on the furnishing and performed Sajdah (prostration) on them.’”

إِنَّا نَأْمُرُ صِبْيَانَنَا بِالصَّلَاةِ إِذَا كَانُوا بَنِي خَمْسِ سِنِينَ فَمُرُوا صِبْيَانَكُمْ بِالصَّلَاةِ إِذَا كَانُوا بَنِي سَبْعِ سِنِينَ وَ نَحْنُ نَأْمُرُ صِبْيَانَنَا بِالصَّوْمِ إِذَا كَانُوا بَنِي سَبْعِ سِنِينَ بِمَا أَطَاقُوا مِنْ صِيَامِ الْيَوْمِ إِنْ كَانَ إِلَى نِصْفِ النَّهَارِ أَوْ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ أَوْ أَقَلَّ فَإِذَا غَلَبَهُمُ الْعَطَشُ وَ الْغَرَثُ‌[3] أَفْطَرُوا حَتَّى يَتَعَوَّدُوا ال

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘We instruct our children to perform Salah (prayer) when they are five years old. Instruct your children to perform Salah (prayer) when they are seven years old. We instruct our children to fast when they are seven years old if they can endure fasting even up to midday, or more than th

كَانَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع يُبَكِّرُ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ حِينَ تَكُونُ الشَّمْسُ قَدْرَ رُمْحٍ فَإِذَا كَانَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ يَكُونُ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ وَ كَانَ يَقُولُ إِنَّ لِجُمَعِ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ عَلَى جُمَعِ سَائِرِ الشُّهُورِ فَضْلًا كَفَضْلِ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ عَلَى سَائِرِ الشُّهُورِ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), would go to Masjid early Friday morning after sunrise when the sun would rise by about one spear’s length (above the horizon). In the month of Ramadan he would do so earlier and say, ‘The Fridays of the month of Ramadan have extra excellence over the Fridays of other months, just as the month of Ram

قُلْتُ لَهُ الرَّجُلُ يَخْرُجُ إِلَى الصَّيْدِ مَسِيرَةَ يَوْمٍ أَوْ يَوْمَيْنِ يُقَصِّرُ أَوْ يُتِمُّ فَقَالَ إِنْ خَرَجَ لِقُوتِهِ وَ قُوتِ عِيَالِهِ فَلْيُفْطِرْ وَ لْيُقَصِّرْ وَ إِنْ خَرَجَ لِطَلَبِ الْفُضُولِ فَلَا وَ لَا كَرَامَةَ.

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about a man who goes hunting to a place which is one or two day’s journey away. Is he required to perform his Salah (prayer) as complete or reduced? He (the Imam) said, ‘If he goes to provide for his family, he is not required to fast, and performs his Salah (prayer) as reduced. If

كَتَبْتُ إِلَيْهِ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ لِي جِمَالًا وَ لِي قُوَّامٌ عَلَيْهَا وَ قَدْ أَخْرُجُ فِيهَا إِلَى طَرِيقِ مَكَّةَ لِرَغْبَةٍ فِي الْحَجِّ أَوْ فِي النَّدْرَةِ إِلَى بَعْضِ الْمَوَاضِعِ فَهَلْ يَجِبُ عَلَيَّ التَّقْصِيرُ فِي الصَّلَاةِ وَ الصِّيَامِ فَوَقَّعَ ع إِنْ كُنْتَ لَا تَلْزَمُهَا وَ لَا تَخْرُجُ مَعَهَا فِي كُلِّ سَفَرٍ إِلَّا إِلَى مَكَّةَ فَعَلَيْكَ تَقْصِيرٌ وَ فُطُورٌ.

“I once wrote to him (the Imam) (a.s.), ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause. I have a few camels and I have a caretaker for them. At certain times I go to them on the way to Makkah because of desire for Hajj or for al-Nadrah (rarely) in certain places. Is it necessary to perform my Salah (prayer)

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع وَ أَنَا شَابٌّ فَوَصَفَ لِيَ التَّطَوُّعَ وَ الصَّوْمَ فَرَأَى ثِقْلَ ذَلِكَ فِي وَجْهِي فَقَالَ لِي إِنَّ هَذَا لَيْسَ كَالْفَرِيضَةِ مَنْ تَرَكَهَا هَلَكَ إِنَّمَا هُوَ التَّطَوُّعُ إِنْ شُغِلْتَ عَنْهُ أَوْ تَرَكْتَهُ قَضَيْتَهُ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا يَكْرَهُونَ أَنْ تُرْفَعَ أَعْمَالُهُمْ يَوْماً تَامّاً وَ يَوْماً نَاقِصاً إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ‌ الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلى‌ صَ

“I went to visit abu Ja‘far (a.s.). I was a young person. The Imam described for me optional Salawat (prayers) and fasting and he noticed from my face that I considered it heavy. He then said to me, This is not like obligatory Salawat (prayers), so that on neglecting, one is destroyed. It is optional and if you cannot

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يُصَلِّي مِنَ التَّطَوُّعِ مِثْلَيِ الْفَرِيضَةِ وَ يَصُومُ مِنَ التَّطَوُّعِ مِثْلَيِ الْفَرِيضَةِ.

“We heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying that the Messenger of Allah would perform of optional Salah (prayer) twice as much as obligatory Salah (prayer), and fast of optional fast twice as much as the obligatory one.”

حَضَرْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَأَتَاهُ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَخِي بِهِ بَلِيَّةٌ أَسْتَحْيِي أَنْ أَذْكُرَهَا فَقَالَ لَهُ اسْتُرْ ذَلِكَ وَ قُلْ لَهُ يَصُومُ يَوْمَ الْأَرْبِعَاءِ وَ الْخَمِيسِ وَ الْجُمُعَةِ وَ يَخْرُجُ إِذَا زَالَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَ يَلْبَسُ ثَوْبَيْنِ إِمَّا جَدِيدَيْنِ وَ إِمَّا غَسِيلَيْنِ حَيْثُ لَا يَرَاهُ أَحَدٌ فَيُصَلِّي وَ يَكْشِفُ عَنْ رُكْبَتَيْهِ وَ يَتَمَطَّى بِرَاحَتَي

“I visited abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), and a man also came to him saying, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, my brother suffers from something that I feel embarrassed to mention.’ The Imam said, ‘Do not mention it and tell him to fast on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. When the sun declines to the w

مَرِضْتُ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ مَرَضاً شَدِيداً حَتَّى ثَقُلْتُ وَ اجْتَمَعَتْ بَنُو هَاشِمٍ لَيْلًا لِلْجَنَازَةِ وَ هُمْ يَرَوْنَ أَنِّي مَيِّتٌ فَجَزِعَتْ أُمِّي عَلَيَّ فَقَالَ لَهَا أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع خَالِي اصْعَدِي إِلَى فَوْقِ الْبَيْتِ فَابْرُزِي إِلَى السَّمَاءِ وَ صَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ فَإِذَا سَلَّمْتِ فَقُولِي اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ وَهَبْتَهُ لِي وَ لَمْ يَكُ شَيْئاً اللَّهُمَّ وَ إِنِّي أَسْتَوْهِبُكَهُ م

“I became seriously ill in the month of Ramadan. I was not able to get up. Banu Hashim gathered at night for burial, seeing me about to die. My mother was restless. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), told her, ‘My aunt, climb on the house, expose your head under the sky, perform two Rak‘at Salah (prayer) and after Salam say, “O Al

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ لَمَّا أُنْزِلَتْ آيَةُ الزَّكَاةِ خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوالِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَ تُزَكِّيهِمْ‌ بِها[2] وَ أُنْزِلَتْ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَأَمَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص مُنَادِيَهُ فَنَادَى فِي النَّاسِ أَنَّ اللَّهَ فَرَضَ عَلَيْكُمُ الزَّكَاةَ كَمَا فَرَضَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصَّلَاةَ فَفَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَ الْفِضَّةِ وَ فَرَضَ الصَّدَقَةَ مِنَ الْإِبِلِ و

2. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Ahmad ibn Muhammad all from ibn Mahbub from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, has said that once this verse of the Holy Quran was revealed to the Messenger of Allah. ‘Collect religious tax (zakat) from them to purify and cle

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الرَّجُلُ يَكُونُ عِنْدَهُ الْمَالُ أَ يُزَكِّيهِ إِذَا مَضَى نِصْفُ السَّنَةِ قَالَ لَا وَ لَكِنْ حَتَّى يَحُولَ عَلَيْهِ الْحَوْلُ وَ يَحِلَّ عَلَيْهِ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ لِأَحَدٍ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ صَلَاةً إِلَّا لِوَقْتِهَا وَ كَذَلِكَ الزَّكَاةُ وَ لَا يَصُومُ أَحَدٌ شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ إِلَّا فِي شَهْرِهِ إِلَّا قَضَاءً وَ كُلُّ فَرِيضَةٍ إِنَّمَا تُؤَدَّى إِذَا حَلَّتْ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who pays Zakat when half of the year passes. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, he must allow one year to pass. Just as it is not permissible to perform Salah (prayer) before its time, so also is Zakat. No one can fast for the month of Ramadan in a month other than the month of Ra

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع رَجُلٌ كَانَ عِنْدَهُ مِائَتَا دِرْهَمٍ غَيْرَ دِرْهَمٍ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ شَهْراً ثُمَّ أَصَابَ دِرْهَماً بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فِي الشَّهْرِ الثَّانِيَ عَشَرَ فَكَمَلَتْ عِنْدَهُ مِائَتَا دِرْهَمٍ أَ عَلَيْهِ زَكَاتُهَا قَالَ لَا حَتَّى يَحُولَ عَلَيْهِ الْحَوْلُ وَ هِيَ مِائَتَا دِرْهَمٍ فَإِنْ كَانَتْ مِائَةً وَ خَمْسِينَ دِرْهَماً فَأَصَابَ خَمْسِينَ بَعْدَ أَنْ يَمْضِيَ شَهْرٌ فَلَا زَكَاةَ عَلَيْه

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about a man who has two hundred dirham less one dirham for eleven months, then he gains one more dirham thereafter during the twelfth month to complete the two hundred. Is there Zakat on him? He (the Imam) said, ‘No, Zakat is not due on him until a year passes and it is two hundred dirh

فِي الرَّجُلِ يَكُونُ فِي بَعْضِ هَذِهِ الْأَهْوَاءِ الْحَرُورِيَّةِ وَ الْمُرْجِئَةِ وَ الْعُثْمَانِيَّةِ وَ الْقَدَرِيَّةِ ثُمَّ يَتُوبُ وَ يَعْرِفُ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ وَ يُحْسِنُ رَأْيَهُ أَ يُعِيدُ كُلَّ صَلَاةٍ صَلَّاهَا أَوْ صَوْمٍ أَوْ زَكَاةٍ أَوْ حَجٍّ أَوْ لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ إِعَادَةُ شَيْ‌ءٍ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ إِعَادَةُ شَيْ‌ءٍ مِنْ ذَلِكَ غَيْرِ الزَّكَاةِ لَا بُدَّ أَنْ يُؤَدِّيَهَا لِأَنَّهُ وَ

“Abu Ja‘far, and abu ’Abd Allah, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, were asked about the case of one who follows such opinions as al-Harawriyah, al-Murji’ah, al-‘Uthmaniyah and al-Qadriyah. He then repents and recognizes this issue (the Divine Authority of ’A’immah) and corrects his opinion, is he required to perform the Qada’ (compen

كَتَبَ إِلَيَّ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَنَّ كُلَّ عَمَلٍ عَمِلَهُ النَّاصِبُ فِي حَالِ ضَلَالِهِ أَوْ حَالِ نَصْبِهِ ثُمَّ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ عَرَّفَهُ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ فَإِنَّهُ يُؤْجَرُ عَلَيْهِ وَ يُكْتَبُ لَهُ إِلَّا الزَّكَاةَ فَإِنَّهُ يُعِيدُهَا لِأَنَّهُ وَضَعَهَا فِي غَيْرِ مَوْضِعِهَا وَ إِنَّمَا مَوْضِعُهَا أَهْلُ الْوَلَايَةِ وَ أَمَّا الصَّلَاةُ وَ الصَّوْمُ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ قَضَاؤُهُمَا.

’Every deed that a Nasib (one hostile to ’A’immah) does in his condition as such, then Allah grants him the favor of making him to acknowledge this issue (the Divine Authority of ’A’immah), He gives him the reward for all of his deeds except Zakat which he must pay again. It is because of his giving it to improper bene

قُلْتُ لَهُ أَوْصِنِي فَقَالَ آمُرُكَ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ ثُمَّ سَكَتَ فَشَكَوْتُ إِلَيْهِ قِلَّةَ ذَاتِ يَدِي وَ قُلْتُ وَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ عَرِيتُ حَتَّى بَلَغَ مِنْ عُرْيَتِي أَنَّ أَبَا فُلَانٍ نَزَعَ ثَوْبَيْنِ كَانَا عَلَيْهِ وَ كَسَانِيهِمَا فَقَالَ صُمْ وَ تَصَدَّقْ قُلْتُ أَتَصَدَّقُ مِمَّا وَصَلَنِي بِهِ إِخْوَانِي وَ إِنْ كَانَ قَلِيلًا قَالَ تَصَدَّقْ بِمَا رَزَقَكَ اللَّهُ وَ لَوْ آثَرْتَ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ.

“I once said to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), ‘Please instruct me with good advice.’ He said, ‘I advise you to observe piety before Allah.’ He was silent for a while. I then complained to him about my poverty, saying, ‘By Allah, I do not have any clothes, and it is so much that abu so and so took off two pieces of his clothes

الْمَعْرُوفُ ابْتِدَاءٌ وَ أَمَّا مَنْ أَعْطَيْتَهُ بَعْدَ الْمَسْأَلَةِ فَإِنَّمَا كَافَيْتَهُ بِمَا بَذَلَ لَكَ مِنْ وَجْهِهِ يَبِيتُ لَيْلَتَهُ أَرِقاً مُتَمَلْمِلًا يَمْثُلُ بَيْنَ الرَّجَاءِ وَ الْيَأْسِ‌[2] لَا يَدْرِي أَيْنَ يَتَوَجَّهُ لِحَاجَتِهِ ثُمَّ يَعْزِمُ بِالْقَصْدِ لَهَا فَيَأْتِيكَ وَ قَلْبُهُ يَرْجُفُ وَ فَرَائِصُهُ تُرْعَدُ قَدْ تَرَى دَمَهُ فِي وَجْهِهِ لَا يَدْرِي أَ يَرْجِعُ بِكَأْبَةٍ أَمْ بِف

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that charity is that which is given before an appeal by the recipient. Giving charity after an appeal by the recipient is compensation for using the dignity of his face when he appealed and his passing the night worried and anxious in hope and despair without knowing which direction to

بُنِيَ الْإِسْلَامُ عَلَى خَمْسَةِ أَشْيَاءَ عَلَى الصَّلَاةِ وَ الزَّكَاةِ وَ الْحَجِّ وَ الصَّوْمِ وَ الْوَلَايَةِ وَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص الصَّوْمُ جُنَّةٌ مِنَ النَّارِ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Islam is founded on five isssues. It is founded on Salat (prayer), zakat, al-Hajj, Fasting and al-Wilayat (belief in Divine Authority of ’A’immah). The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Fasting is a shield against the fire of hell.”

لِأَصْحَابِهِ أَ لَا أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ إِنْ أَنْتُمْ فَعَلْتُمُوهُ تَبَاعَدَ الشَّيْطَانُ مِنْكُمْ كَمَا تَبَاعَدَ الْمَشْرِقُ مِنَ الْمَغْرِبِ قَالُوا بَلَى قَالَ الصَّوْمُ يُسَوِّدُ وَجْهَهُ وَ الصَّدَقَةُ تَكْسِرُ ظَهْرَهُ وَ الْحُبُّ فِي اللَّهِ وَ الْمُوَازَرَةُ عَلَى الْعَمَلِ الصَّالِحِ يَقْطَعُ دَابِرَهُ وَ الِاسْتِغْفَارُ يَقْطَعُ وَتِينَهُ‌[2] وَ لِكُلِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ زَكَاةٌ وَ زَكَاةُ الْأَبْدَانِ الصِّيَا

“Abu ‘Abd Allah, has narrated from his ancestors, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, who have stated this Hadith. ‘Once, the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, asked his companions, ‘Should I tell you something which, if you do it, will keep Satan away from you

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَ لَا أُخْبِرُكَ بِأَصْلِ الْإِسْلَامِ وَ فَرْعِهِ‌ وَ ذِرْوَتِهِ وَ سَنَامِهِ‌[1] قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ أَصْلُهُ الصَّلَاةُ وَ فَرْعُهُ الزَّكَاةُ وَ ذِرْوَتُهُ وَ سَنَامُهُ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَ لَا أُخْبِرُكَ بِأَبْوَابِ الْخَيْرِ إِنَّ الصَّوْمَ جُنَّةٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once asked me, ‘Should I tell you what the root, the branch, the peak and the highest point of Islam is?’ I replied, ‘Please, do so.’ He said, ‘The root of Islam is salat (prayer), its branch is zakat, and its peak and highest point is al-Jihad in the way of Allah. Should I tell you about the do

لِكُلِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ زَكَاةٌ وَ زَكَاةُ الْأَجْسَادِ الصَّوْمُ.

“He (the Imam) (a.s.), said, ‘Everything has a cleanser; the cleanser for bodies is fasting.”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ أَبِي‌ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَصُومُ يَوْماً تَطَوُّعاً يُرِيدُ مَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَيُدْخِلُهُ اللَّهُ بِهِ الْجَنَّةَ.

“When a person completes a day of optional fasting for the sake of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, Allah admits him in Paradise.’””

إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ الصَّوْمُ لِي وَ أَنَا أَجْزِي عَلَيْهِ‌[2].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Allah, the most Blessed, the most High, has said, ‘Fasting is for Me, and I reward for it.’”

الصَّبْرُ الصِّيَامُ وَ قَالَ إِذَا نَزَلَتْ‌ بِالرَّجُلِ النَّازِلَةُ وَ الشَّدِيدَةُ فَلْيَصُمْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ- وَ اسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ يَعْنِي الصِّيَامَ.

“This is about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ‘Seek support through patience.’ (2:45) Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘“Patience” is a reference to fasting.’ He further said, ‘If a man faces severe difficulties, he should fast. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has said, “Seek sup

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مَنْ صَامَ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَوْماً فِي شِدَّةِ الْحَرِّ فَأَصَابَهُ ظَمَأٌ وَكَّلَ اللَّهُ بِهِ أَلْفَ مَلَكٍ يَمْسَحُونَ وَجْهَهُ وَ يُبَشِّرُونَهُ حَتَّى إِذَا أَفْطَرَ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَهُ مَا أَطْيَبَ رِيحَكَ وَ رَوْحَكَ مَلَائِكَتِي اشْهَدُوا أَنِّي قَدْ غَفَرْتُ لَهُ‌[2].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one, for the sake of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, fasts on a very hot day, causing him to experience a great deal of thirst, Allah assigns a thousand angels for his safety who wipe his face until he discontinues his fast.’ Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ الصَّائِمُ فِي عِبَادَةٍ وَ إِنْ كَانَ عَلَى فِرَاشِهِ مَا لَمْ يَغْتَبْ مُسْلِماً.

“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, ‘A fasting person, even when resting in bed, is in the state of worshipping as long as he does not backbite a Muslim.’”

مَنْ كَتَمَ صَوْمَهُ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لِمَلَائِكَتِهِ عَبْدِي اسْتَجَارَ مِنْ عَذَابِي فَأَجِيرُوهُ وَ وَكَّلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى مَلَائِكَتَهُ بِالدُّعَاءِ لِلصَّائِمِينَ وَ لَمْ يَأْمُرْهُمْ بِالدُّعَاءِ لِأَحَدٍ إِلَّا اسْتَجَابَ لَهُمْ فِيهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that if a person fasts secretly, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, says to His angels, ‘My servant has sought protection against my punishment, you must give him protection.’ Allah, the most Blessed, the most High, then assigns His angels to pray for the fasting people and in

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَكَّلَ مَلَائِكَتَهُ بِالدُّعَاءِ لِلصَّائِمِينَ وَ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي جَبْرَئِيلُ ع عَنْ رَبِّهِ أَنَّهُ قَالَ مَا أَمَرْتُ مَلَائِكَتِي بِالدُّعَاءِ لِأَحَدٍ مِنْ خَلْقِي إِلَّا اسْتَجَبْتُ لَهُمْ فِيهِ.

Jibril has informed me from his Lord who has said, “When I command My angels to pray in favor of someone, I do not leave their prayers without acceptance.’””

نَوْمُ الصَّائِمِ عِبَادَةٌ وَ نَفَسُهُ تَسْبِيحٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that a fasting person’s sleeping is also counted as worshipping and his breathing as speaking of the glory of Allah.”

أَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَى مُوسَى‌ ع مَا يَمْنَعُكَ مِنْ مُنَاجَاتِي فَقَالَ يَا رَبِّ أُجِلُّكَ عَنِ الْمُنَاجَاةِ لِخُلُوفِ‌[1] فَمِ الصَّائِمِ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَيْهِ يَا مُوسَى لَخُلُوفُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدِي مِنْ رِيحِ الْمِسْكِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, sent revelation to Moses, thereby asking him, ‘What keeps you from speaking to Me?’ Moses replied, ‘It is to keep away the bad breath of fasting in order to respect your glory.’ Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, then sent him

قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع‌ قِيلُوا[2] فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يُطْعِمُ الصَّائِمَ وَ يَسْقِيهِ فِي مَنَامِهِ.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘Rest in the form of a short nap between sunrise and noontime; Allah gives food and water to a fasting person during his sleep.”’

لِلصَّائِمِ فَرْحَتَانِ فَرْحَةٌ عِنْدَ إِفْطَارِهِ وَ فَرْحَةٌ عِنْدَ لِقَاءِ رَبِّهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that a fasting person enjoys two occasions of happiness: one is at the time of ending his fast, and the other is when he meets his Lord.”

إِذَا رَأَى الصَّائِمُ قَوْماً يَأْكُلُونَ أَوْ رَجُلًا يَأْكُلُ سَجَّتْ كُلُّ شَعْرَةٍ مِنْهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when a fasting person observes people or a person eating food, every piece of his hair feels a kind of covering (tranquility).”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مَنْ صَامَ لِلَّهِ يَوْماً فِي شِدَّةِ الْحَرِّ فَأَصَابَهُ ظَمَأٌ وَكَّلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِ أَلْفَ مَلَكٍ يَمْسَحُونَ وَجْهَهُ وَ يُبَشِّرُونَهُ حَتَّى إِذَا أَفْطَرَ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مَا أَطْيَبَ رِيحَكَ وَ رَوْحَكَ مَلَائِكَتِي اشْهَدُوا أَنِّي قَدْ غَفَرْتُ لَهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one, for the sake of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, fasts on a very hot day, causing him to experience a great deal of thirst, Allah assigns a thousand angels for his safety who wipe his face until the time he discontinues his fast. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most

إِنَّ عِدَّةَ الشُّهُورِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ اثْنا عَشَرَ شَهْراً فِي كِتابِ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ‌ السَّماواتِ وَ الْأَرْضَ‌ فَغُرَّةُ الشُّهُورِ شَهْرُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ ذِكْرُهُ وَ هُوَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ وَ قَلْبُ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ وَ نَزَلَ الْقُرْآنُ فِي أَوَّلِ لَيْلَةٍ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَاسْتَقْبِلِ الشَّهْرَ بِالْقُرْآنِ.

The Holy Quran came during the first night of the month of Ramadan; thus, the month is welcomed with the Holy Quran.”

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يُوصِي وُلْدَهُ إِذَا دَخَلَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ فَأَجْهِدُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ فَإِنَّ فِيهِ تُقَسَّمُ الْأَرْزَاقُ وَ تُكْتَبُ الْآجَالُ وَ فِيهِ يُكْتَبُ وَفْدُ اللَّهِ الَّذِينَ يَفِدُونَ إِلَيْهِ وَ فِيهِ لَيْلَةٌ الْعَمَلُ فِيهَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْعَمَلِ فِي أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ.

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), giving advice to his children in the beginning of the month of Ramadan. The Imam said, ‘Make yourselves to work hard; in it (month of Ramadan), sustenance is distributed and the duration of lives is written down. During this month, it is decided who should join the delegation before Alla

مَنْ لَمْ يُغْفَرْ لَهُ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ لَمْ يُغْفَرْ لَهُ إِلَى قَابِلٍ إِلَّا أَنْ يَشْهَدَ عَرَفَةَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that if one is not forgiven in the month of Ramadan, one will not be forgiven until the coming month of Ramadan unless he attends ‘Arafah (the ninth of the month of Dhul Hajjah).”

خَطَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص النَّاسَ فِي آخِرِ جُمُعَةٍ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّهُ قَدْ أَظَلَّكُمْ‌[1] شَهْرٌ فِيهِ لَيْلَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ وَ هُوَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ فَرَضَ اللَّهُ صِيَامَهُ وَ جَعَلَ قِيَامَ لَيْلَةٍ فِيهِ بِتَطَوُّعِ صَلَاةٍ كَتَطَوُّعِ صَلَاةِ سَبْعِينَ لَيْلَةً فِيمَا سِوَاهُ مِنَ الشُّهُورِ وَ جَعَلَ لِمَنْ تَطَوَّعَ فِيهِ بِ

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya and people other than him have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub, from abu Ayyub from abu al-Ward, who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Once, the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their servi

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ لَمَّا حَضَرَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ وَ ذَلِكَ فِي ثَلَاثٍ بَقِينَ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ قَالَ لِبِلَالٍ نَادِ فِي النَّاسِ فَجَمَعَ النَّاسَ ثُمَّ صَعِدَ الْمِنْبَرَ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ هَذَا الشَّهْرَ قَدْ خَصَّكُمُ اللَّهُ بِهِ وَ حَضَرَكُمْ وَ هُوَ سَيِّدُ الشُّهُورِ لَيْلَةٌ فِيهِ‌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ تُغْلَقُ فِيهِ أَبْوَابُ النَّارِ وَ تُفَ

5. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad, from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from, Fadalah ibn Ayyub from Sayf ibn ‘Ami rah from ‘ Abd Allah ibn ‘ Abd Allah from a man who has said the following: ”Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his famil

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يُقْبِلُ بِوَجْهِهِ إِلَى النَّاسِ فَيَقُولُ يَا مَعْشَرَ النَّاسِ إِذَا طَلَعَ هِلَالُ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ غُلَّتْ مَرَدَةُ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَ فُتِحَتْ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ وَ أَبْوَابُ الْجِنَانِ وَ أَبْوَابُ الرَّحْمَةِ وَ غُلِّقَتْ أَبْوَابُ النَّارِ وَ اسْتُجِيبَ الدُّعَاءُ وَ كَانَ لِلَّهِ فِيهِ عِنْدَ كُلِّ فِطْرٍ عُتَقَاءُ يُعْتِقُهُمُ اللَّهُ مِنَ النَّارِ وَ يُنَادِي مُنَادٍ كُلَّ لَيْلَة

The Messenger of Allah (sw) used to turn his face to the people and say, "O people, when the crescent of the month of Ramadan appears, the rebellious devils are chained; the gates of the sky, the gates of Paradise, and the gates of mercy are opened; the gates of Hell are closed; and prayers are answered. Allah has, at

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي كُلِّ لَيْلَةٍ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ عُتَقَاءَ وَ طُلَقَاءَ مِنَ النَّارِ إِلَّا مَنْ أَفْطَرَ عَلَى مُسْكِرٍ فَإِذَا كَانَ فِي آخِرِ لَيْلَةٍ مِنْهُ أَعْتَقَ فِيهَا مِثْلَ مَا أَعْتَقَ فِي جَمِيعِهِ.

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘Every night in the month of Ramadan, Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, liberates many people and releases them from hellfire, except those who drink intoxicating liquor. During the last night of this month, Allah frees and releases a number of people equal to all that He had fre

مَنْ فَطَّرَ صَائِماً فَلَهُ مِثْلُ أَجْرِهِ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the reward for one who serves food to a fasting person is equal to the reward for the fasting person for his fasting.”