The Book of Zakat

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ الصَّدَقَةُ تَدْفَعُ مِيتَةَ السَّوْءِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.), has said, ’Charity dispels wicked forms of death.’”

الْبِرُّ وَ الصَّدَقَةُ يَنْفِيَانِ الْفَقْرَ وَ يَزِيدَانِ فِي الْعُمُرِ وَ يَدْفَعَانِ تِسْعِينَ‌[1] مِيتَةَ السَّوْءِ. - وَ فِي خَبَرٍ آخَرَ وَ يَدْفَعَانِ عَنْ شِيعَتِي مِيتَةَ السَّوْءِ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Benevolence and charity remove poverty, increase longevity of life and dispel seventy kinds of wicked forms of death.” Another Hadith has said that it ‘dispels wicked forms of death from our Shi`a.’”

لَأَنْ أَحُجَّ حَجَّةً أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أُعْتِقَ رَقَبَةً وَ رَقَبَةً حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَى عَشَرَةٍ وَ مِثْلَهَا وَ مِثْلَهَا حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَى سَبْعِينَ وَ لَأَنْ أَعُولَ أَهْلَ بَيْتٍ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ أُشْبِعَ جَوْعَتَهُمْ وَ أَكْسُوَ عَوْرَتَهُمْ وَ أَكُفَّ وُجُوهَهُمْ عَنِ النَّاسِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أَحُجَّ حَجَّةً وَ حَجَّةً وَ حَجَّةً حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَى عَشْرٍ وَ عَشْرٍ وَ عَشْرٍ وَ

3. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from abu ‘Abd Allah from his father from Khalaf ibn Hammad from Isma‘il al-Jawhariy from abu Basir who has said the following: “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘I like performing Hajj more than setting free a slave, another slave and another slave . . .’ He w

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ صَدَّقَ بِالْخَلَفِ جَادَ بِالْعَطِيَّةِ[2].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.), has said, ‘One who is certain of (good) consequences, he strives to make it a good gift.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ دَاوُوا مَرْضَاكُمْ بِالصَّدَقَةِ وَ ادْفَعُوا الْبَلَاءَ بِالدُّعَاءِ[1] وَ اسْتَنْزِلُوا الرِّزْقَ بِالصَّدَقَةِ فَإِنَّهَا تُفَكُ‌[2] مِنْ بَيْنِ لُحِيِّ سَبْعِمِائَةِ شَيْطَانٍ وَ لَيْسَ شَيْ‌ءٌ أَثْقَلَ عَلَى الشَّيْطَانِ مِنَ الصَّدَقَةِ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِ وَ هِيَ تَقَعُ فِي يَدِ الرَّبِّ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى قَبْلَ أَنْ تَقَعَ فِي يَدِ الْعَبْدِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Cure your illnesses by giving charity, repel misfortunes with prayer, and allow means of sustenance to descend upon you by giving charity. Charity finds its way through the beards of seven hundred Satans. No other thing is heavier upon Satan than when you give charity to a believing p

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ أَرْضُ الْقِيَامَةِ نَارٌ مَا خَلَا ظِلَّ الْمُؤْمِنِ فَإِنَّ صَدَقَتَهُ تُظِلُّهُ.

‘The land on the Day of Judgment is all fire except the shadow of a believing person. His charity provides him shadow.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ الصَّدَقَةُ بِالْيَدِ تَقِي مِيتَةَ السَّوْءِ وَ تَدْفَعُ سَبْعِينَ نَوْعاً مِنْ أَنْوَاعِ الْبَلَاءِ وَ تُفَكُّ عَنْ لُحِيِّ سَبْعِينَ شَيْطَاناً كُلُّهُمْ يَأْمُرُهُ أَنْ لَا يَفْعَلَ.

“I heard abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘Giving charity by one’s own hand repels seventy kinds of misfortune, which finds its way out through the beards of seven hundred Satans who all try to stop him from giving charity.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ كَانَ فِي وَصِيَّةِ النَّبِيِّ ص- لِأَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ وَ سَلَامُهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ أَمَّا الصَّدَقَةُ فَجُهْدَكَ جُهْدَكَ‌[3] حَتَّى يُقَالَ قَدْ أَسْرَفْتَ وَ لَمْ تُسْرِفْ.

‘It is in the will of the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, which is addressed to ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.). “As far as charity is concerned, strive to do your best until it is said that you have exceeded the limit, but in fact you have not excee

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ يُسْتَحَبُّ لِلْمَرِيضِ أَنْ يُعْطِيَ السَّائِلَ بِيَدِهِ وَ يَأْمُرَ السَّائِلَ أَنْ يَدْعُوَ لَهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that it is preferable for a person suffering from illness to give charity with his own hand to one who asks for charity, then ask him to pray for him.”

حِينَ حَضَرَ قِيَامِي مُرِ الصَّبِيَّ فَلْيَتَصَدَّقْ بِيَدِهِ بِالْكِسْرَةِ وَ الْقَبْضَةِ وَ الشَّيْ‌ءِ وَ إِنْ قَلَّ فَإِنَّ كُلَّ شَيْ‌ءٍ يُرَادُ بِهِ اللَّهُ وَ إِنْ قَلَّ بَعْدَ أَنْ تَصْدُقَ النِّيَّةُ فِيهِ عَظِيمٌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ- فَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِثْقالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْراً يَرَهُ وَ مَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِثْقالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُ‌[1] وَ قَالَ‌ فَلَا اقْتَحَمَ الْعَقَبَةَ وَ ما أَدْراكَ مَا ال

“I informed abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.), about the passing away of my two sons and that only one small son is living. The Imam said, ‘You should give charity for his safety.’ When I was about to leave, he said, ‘Ask your son to give charity with his own hands; it can be a piece, a handful or even something very small.

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ تَصَدَّقُوا وَ لَوْ بِصَاعٍ مِنْ تَمْرٍ وَ لَوْ بِبَعْضِ صَاعٍ وَ لَوْ بِقَبْضَةٍ وَ لَوْ بِبَعْضِ قَبْضَةٍ وَ لَوْ بِتَمْرَةٍ وَ لَوْ بِشِقِّ تَمْرَةٍ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ فَبِكَلِمَةٍ لَيِّنَةٍ فَإِنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ لَاقٍ اللَّهَ فَقَائِلٌ لَهُ أَ لَمْ أَفْعَلْ بِكَ أَ لَمْ أَجْعَلْكَ سَمِيعاً بَصِيراً أَ لَمْ أَجْعَلْ لَكَ مَالًا وَ وَلَداً فَيَقُولُ بَلَى فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَ

“This is a narration of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), from the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause. He (the Messenger of Allah) has said, ‘You must give charity even if it is one Sa‘ (a certain unit of measurement) of dates or less, or a handful or

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ بَكِّرُوا بِالصَّدَقَةِ وَ ارْغَبُوا فِيهَا فَمَا مِنْ مُؤْمِنٍ يَتَصَدَّقُ بِصَدَقَةٍ يُرِيدُ بِهَا مَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ لِيَدْفَعَ اللَّهُ بِهَا عَنْهُ شَرَّ مَا يَنْزِلُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ فِي ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ إِلَّا وَقَاهُ اللَّهُ شَرَّ مَا يَنْزِلُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ فِي ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ.

“I heard abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘You must not be late in giving charity, and be interested in it. Any believing person who just for the sake of Allah gives charity so that Allah may protect him against the evil of things that come down from the heaven to earth on that day, that person should know that Allah does

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ لَيَدْفَعُ بِالصَّدَقَةِ الدَّاءَ وَ الدُّبَيْلَةَ[1] وَ الْحَرَقَ وَ الْغَرَقَ وَ الْهَدْمَ وَ الْجُنُونَ وَ عَدَّ ص سَبْعِينَ بَاباً مِنَ السُّوءِ.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfaliy from al-Sakuniy who has said the following: “This is a narration of abu Ja‘far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, from his ancestors. The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘Allah,

مَرَّ يَهُودِيٌّ بِالنَّبِيِّ ص فَقَالَ السَّامُ عَلَيْكَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص عَلَيْكَ فَقَالَ أَصْحَابُهُ إِنَّمَا سَلَّمَ عَلَيْكَ بِالْمَوْتِ قَالَ الْمَوْتُ عَلَيْكَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص وَ كَذَلِكَ رَدَدْتُ ثُمَّ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص إِنَّ هَذَا الْيَهُودِيَّ يَعَضُّهُ أَسْوَدُ فِي قَفَاهُ فَيَقْتُلُهُ قَالَ فَذَهَبَ الْيَهُودِيُّ فَاحْتَطَبَ حَطَباً كَثِيراً فَاحْتَمَلَهُ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَلْبَثْ أَنِ انْصَرَفَ فَ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘One day a Jewish man passed by the Holy Prophet, who said, “Assam Alaykum,” and the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, said, “Wa ‘Alayka” (the same to you). His companions said, ‘What the Jewish person sai

قَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع‌ كَانُوا يَرَوْنَ أَنَّ الصَّدَقَةَ تُدْفَعُ بِهَا عَنْ الرَّجُلِ الظَّلُومِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Ali (a.s.), has said, ‘They (reliable people) were of the opinion that by giving charity, a man saves himself from suffering injustice.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ بَكِّرُوا بِالصَّدَقَةِ فَإِنَّ الْبَلَاءَ لَا يَتَخَطَّاهَا.

‘Do not be late in giving charity; misfortunes cannot bypass it (charity).”’

إِنَّ الصَّدَقَةَ لَتَدْفَعُ سَبْعِينَ بَلِيَّةً مِنْ بَلَايَا الدُّنْيَا مَعَ مِيتَةِ السَّوْءِ إِنَّ صَاحِبَهَا لَا يَمُوتُ مِيتَةَ السَّوْءِ أَبَداً مَعَ مَا يُدَّخَرُ لِصَاحِبِهَا فِي الْآخِرَةِ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Giving charity repels seventy kinds of worldly misfortunes as well as disgraceful death. One who gives charity never dies a disgraceful death and will have his reward on the Day of Judgment.”

مَنْ تَصَدَّقَ بِصَدَقَةٍ حِينَ يُصْبِحُ أَذْهَبَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ نَحْسَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ.

"Whoever gives charity in the morning, Allah removes from him the distress of that day."

قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع لِإِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ ذَكَرَ لَهُ أَنَّ ابْنَهُ صَدَّقَ عَنْهُ قَالَ إِنَّهُ رَجُلٌ‌[1] قَالَ فَمُرْهُ أَنْ يَتَصَدَّقَ وَ لَوْ بِالْكِسْرَةِ مِنَ الْخُبْزِ ثُمَّ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع إِنَّ رَجُلًا مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ كَانَ لَهُ ابْنٌ وَ كَانَ لَهُ مُحِبّاً فَأُتِيَ فِي مَنَامِهِ فَقِيلَ لَهُ إِنَّ ابْنَكَ لَيْلَةَ يَدْخُلُ بِأَهْلِهِ يَمُوتُ قَالَ فَلَمَّا كَانَ تِلْكَ

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), once in response to the words of Isma‘il ibn Muhammad that his son had given charity on his behalf and that he is a man, said this. ‘Ask him to give charity, even if it is only a small piece of bread.’ The Imam then said that abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘A man in banu Israel had a son whom he lo

كَانَ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَ رَجُلٍ قِسْمَةُ أَرْضٍ وَ كَانَ الرَّجُلُ صَاحِبَ نُجُومٍ وَ كَانَ يَتَوَخَّى‌[2] سَاعَةَ السُّعُودِ فَيَخْرُجُ فِيهَا وَ أَخْرُجُ أَنَا فِي سَاعَةِ النُّحُوسِ فَاقْتَسَمْنَا فَخَرَجَ لِي خَيْرُ الْقِسْمَيْنِ فَضَرَبَ الرَّجُلُ يَدَهُ الْيُمْنَى عَلَى الْيُسْرَى ثُمَّ قَالَ مَا رَأَيْتُ كَالْيَوْمِ قَطُّ قُلْتُ وَيْلَ الْآخَرِ وَ مَا ذَاكَ‌[1] قَالَ إِنِّي صَاحِبُ نُجُومٍ أَخْرَجْتُكَ فِي سَاع

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said a man and I shared a piece of land. The man was an astrologer. He would find the lucky hour for his coming out of his home and an unlucky hour for me to come out of my home. We divided it, and my share was the better one. The man struck his hand against the other and said, ‘I have never

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ كَانَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ وَلَدٌ فَوُلِدَ لَهُ غُلَامٌ وَ قِيلَ لَهُ إِنَّهُ يَمُوتُ لَيْلَةَ عُرْسِهِ فَمَكَثَ الْغُلَامُ فَلَمَّا كَانَ لَيْلَةُ عُرْسِهِ نَظَرَ إِلَى شَيْخٍ كَبِيرٍ ضَعِيفٍ فَرَحِمَهُ الْغُلَامُ فَدَعَاهُ فَأَطْعَمَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ السَّائِلُ أَحْيَيْتَنِي أَحْيَاكَ اللَّهُ قَالَ فَأَتَاهُ آتٍ فِي النَّوْمِ فَقَالَ لَهُ سَلِ ابْنَكَ مَا صَنَعَ فَسَأ

“I heard abu al-Hassan (a.s.), say, ‘Among banu Israel there was a man who did not have a son. When he became the father of a son, he was told that his son would die on the night of his marriage. The boy waited until the night of his marriage, when he saw a frail, old man. He felt sympathy for him and invited him for f

كُنْتُ مَعَ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع فِي مَسْجِدِ الرَّسُولِ ص فَسَقَطَ شُرْفَةٌ مِنْ شُرَفِ الْمَسْجِدِ فَوَقَعَتْ عَلَى رَجُلٍ فَلَمْ تَضُرَّهُ وَ أَصَابَتْ رِجْلَهُ فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع سَلُوهُ أَيَّ شَيْ‌ءٍ عَمِلَ الْيَوْمَ فَسَأَلُوهُ فَقَالَ خَرَجْتُ وَ فِي كُمِّي تَمْرٌ فَمَرَرْتُ بِسَائِلٍ فَتَصَدَّقْتُ عَلَيْهِ بِتَمْرَةٍ فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع بِهَا دَفَعَ اللَّهُ عَنْكَ.

“I was in the presence of abu Ja‘far (a.s.), in the Masjid of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause. At that time, one of the extended over-hangings of the Masjid fell on a man and injured his leg. Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), told us to ask him abou

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ صَدَقَةُ السِّرِّ تُطْفِئُ غَضَبَ الرَّبِّ.

“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, ’Giving charity out of public sight extinguishes the anger of the Lord.’”

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ يَا عَمَّارُ الصَّدَقَةُ وَ اللَّهِ فِي السِّرِّ أَفْضَلُ مِنَ الصَّدَقَةِ فِي الْعَلَانِيَةِ وَ كَذَلِكَ وَ اللَّهِ الْعِبَادَةُ فِي السِّرِّ أَفْضَلُ مِنْهَا فِي الْعَلَانِيَةِ.

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to me, ‘O ‘Ammar, giving charity, by Allah, out of public sight, is more virtuous than giving charity publicly. In the same way, worshipping Allah out of public sight is more virtuous than worshipping Him in public.’ ”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ صَدَقَةُ السِّرِّ تُطْفِئُ غَضَبَ الرَّبِّ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى.

“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, ’Giving charity out of public sight extinguishes the anger of the Lord, Allah, the most Blessed, the most High.’”

كَانَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِذَا أَعْتَمَ‌[1] وَ ذَهَبَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ شَطْرُهُ أَخَذَ جِرَاباً فِيهِ خُبْزٌ وَ لَحْمٌ وَ الدَّرَاهِمُ فَحَمَلَهُ عَلَى عُنُقِهِ ثُمَّ ذَهَبَ بِهِ إِلَى أَهْلِ الْحَاجَةِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ فَقَسَمَهُ فِيهِمْ وَ لَا يَعْرِفُونَهُ فَلَمَّا مَضَى أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَدُوا ذَلِكَ فَعَلِمُوا أَنَّهُ كَانَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع.

“When it became dark and a part of the night had passed, abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), would pick up on his shoulder a sack of bread, meat and money and go to the needy people of al-Madinah, distribute it among them, and no one knew who he was. When abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), passed away, they missed him and realized that he (th

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِذَا طَرَقَكُمْ سَائِلٌ ذَكَرٌ بِلَيْلٍ فَلَا تَرُدُّوهُ.

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, ‘If a needy person comes to you during the night asking for help, you must not turn him away (without giving any charity).’”

خَرَجَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فِي لَيْلَةٍ قَدْ رُشَّتْ‌[2] وَ هُوَ يُرِيدُ ظُلَّةَ بَنِي سَاعِدَةَ فَاتَّبَعْتُهُ فَإِذَا هُوَ قَدْ سَقَطَ مِنْهُ شَيْ‌ءٌ فَقَالَ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ اللَّهُمَّ رُدَّ عَلَيْنَا قَالَ فَأَتَيْتُهُ فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ فَقَالَ مُعَلًّى قُلْتُ نَعَمْ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَقَالَ لِي الْتَمِسْ بِيَدِكَ فَمَا وَجَدْتَ مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ فَادْفَعْهُ إِلَيَّ فَإِذَا أَنَا بِخُبْزٍ مُنْتَشِرٍ كَثِيرٍ

“One rainy night, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), went out to Zullah of banu Sa‘idah. I followed him and saw that some of his things fell down. He said, ‘Bismillah (by the name of Allah). O Lord, please return it back to us.’ I went to him and greeted him with the greetings of peace. He said, ‘Is it you, Mu‘alla’?’ I replied, ‘

إِنَّ الصَّدَقَةَ تَقْضِي الدَّيْنَ وَ تَخْلُفُ بِالْبَرَكَةِ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Giving charity pays off debts and leaves behind blessings.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ تَصَدَّقُوا فَإِنَّ الصَّدَقَةَ تَزِيدُ فِي الْمَالِ كَثْرَةً وَ تَصَدَّقُوا رَحِمَكُمُ اللَّهُ.

“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, ‘Give charity; charity increases wealth a great deal. Give charity, may Allah grant you favors.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لِمُحَمَّدٍ ابْنِهِ يَا بُنَيَّ كَمْ فَضَلَ مَعَكَ مِنْ تِلْكَ النَّفَقَةِ قَالَ أَرْبَعُونَ دِينَاراً قَالَ اخْرُجْ فَتَصَدَّقْ بِهَا قَالَ إِنَّهُ لَمْ يَبْقَ مَعِي غَيْرُهَا قَالَ تَصَدَّقْ بِهَا فَإِنَ‌ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يُخْلِفُهَا أَ مَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ لِكُلِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ مِفْتَاحاً وَ مِفْتَاحَ الرِّزْقِ الصَّدَقَةُ فَتَصَدَّقْ بِهَا فَفَعَلَ فَمَا لَبِثَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to his son, Muhammad, ‘Son, how much is left with you of that (money) for expenses?’ He replied, ‘Forty dinars are left.’ He said, ‘You should go out and give it away as charity.’ The son said, ‘No more money is left with me besides this.’ The Imam said, ‘You should give it as charity,

اسْتَنْزِلُوا الرِّزْقَ بِالصَّدَقَةِ.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘Make the means of sustenance descend to you by giving charity.’”

مَا أَحْسَنَ عَبْدٌ الصَّدَقَةَ فِي الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا أَحْسَنَ اللَّهُ الْخِلَافَةَ عَلَى وُلْدِهِ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ وَ قَالَ حُسْنُ الصَّدَقَةِ يَقْضِي الدَّيْنَ وَ يَخْلُفُ عَلَى الْبَرَكَةِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Whenever a man gives charity of the best quality, Allah replaces it for him with children in the same way (of best quality children) after his passing away.” The Imam has also said, ‘Giving charity of best quality pays off debts and leaves behind blessings.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ وَصَلَ قَرِيباً بِحَجَّةٍ أَوْ عُمْرَةٍ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ حَجَّتَيْنِ وَ عُمْرَتَيْنِ وَ كَذَلِكَ مَنْ حَمَلَ عَنْ حَمِيمٍ‌[1] يُضَاعِفُ اللَّهُ لَهُ الْأَجْرَ ضِعْفَيْنِ.

‘The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, “For one who helps a relative to perform Hajj or ‘Umrah, Allah writes it as though it was two Hajj and two ‘Umrah. Likewise is the case when a friend helps his friend, that is, Allah doubles

سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَيُّ الصَّدَقَةِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ عَلَى ذِي الرَّحِمِ الْكَاشِحِ‌[2].

‘It is charity to a hostile relative.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ الصَّدَقَةُ بِعَشَرَةٍ وَ الْقَرْضُ بِثَمَانِيَةَ عَشَرَ[3] وَ صِلَةُ الْإِخْوَانِ بِعِشْرِينَ وَ صِلَةُ الرَّحِمِ بِأَرْبَعَةٍ وَ عِشْرِينَ.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father, from al-Nawfaliy from al-Sakuniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has stated the following Hadith. ‘The Messenger of Allah has, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, said, ‘The reward

أَرْضَاكُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَسْبَغُكُمْ عَلَى عِيَالِهِ.

“Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), has said, ’Of the people among you with whom Allah is most happy, is the one who improves the quality of life of his family the most.”

قَالَ رَجُلٌ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع إِنَّ لِي ضَيْعَةً بِالْجَبَلِ أَسْتَغِلُّهَا فِي كُلِّ سَنَةٍ ثَلَاثَ آلَافِ دِرْهَمٍ فَأُنْفِقُ عَلَى عِيَالِي مِنْهَا أَلْفَيْ دِرْهَمٍ وَ أَتَصَدَّقُ مِنْهَا بِأَلْفِ دِرْهَمٍ فِي كُلِّ سَنَةٍ فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع إِنْ كَانَتِ الْأَلْفَانِ تَكْفِيهِمْ فِي جَمِيعِ مَا يَحْتَاجُونَ إِلَيْهِ لِسَنَتِهِمْ فَقَدْ نَظَرْتَ لِنَفْسِكَ وَ وُفِّقْتَ لِرُشْدِكَ وَ أَجْرَيْتَ نَفْسَكَ فِي

“Once a man said to abu Ja’far (a.s.), ‘I have a certain amount of property in the mountains from which I receive three thousand dirham profit every year. I spend two thousand dirham for my family and one thousand dirham for charity every year.’ Abu Ja’far (a.s.), then said, ‘If the two thousand is enough for all of th

يَنْبَغِي لِلرَّجُلِ أَنْ يُوَسِّعَ عَلَى عِيَالِهِ كَيْلَا يَتَمَنَّوْا مَوْتَهُ وَ تَلَا هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ- وَ يُطْعِمُونَ الطَّعامَ عَلى‌ حُبِّهِ مِسْكِيناً وَ يَتِيماً وَ أَسِيراً[2] قَالَ الْأَسِيرُ عِيَالُ الرَّجُلِ يَنْبَغِي لِلرَّجُلِ إِذَا زِيدَ فِي النِّعْمَةِ أَنْ يَزِيدَ أُسَرَاءَهُ فِي السَّعَةِ عَلَيْهِمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ فُلَاناً أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ بِنِعْمَةٍ فَمَنَعَهَا أُسَرَاءَهُ وَ جَعَلَهَا

‘A man should better the quality of life of his family so that they may not wish for his death.’ He then recited this from the Holy Quran, “They give food, because of their love for Him, to a destitute, orphan and captive.” (76:8) Captive (in this verse) is a reference to one’s family; thus, he should improve the quali

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ الْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى وَ ابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ‌[3].

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘A providing hand is better than an asking hand, and you should begin providing for your family.’”

قَالَ: صَاحِبُ النِّعْمَةِ يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِ التَّوْسِعَةُ عَنْ عِيَالِهِ.

“Al-Rida (a.s.), has said, ‘A wealthy person should improve the quality of life of his family.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ الْمُؤْمِنُ يَأْكُلُ بِشَهْوَةِ أَهْلِهِ وَ الْمُنَافِقُ يَأْكُلُ أَهْلُهُ بِشَهْوَتِهِ.

The Messenger of Allah (sw) said, "The believer eats according to the desires of his family, while the hypocrite eats according to his own desires."

نَعَمْ إِنَّ النَّفْسَ إِذَا عَرَفَتْ قُوتَهَا قَنِعَتْ بِهِ وَ نَبَتَ عَلَيْهِ اللَّحْمُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked, ‘Did the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, provide proper sustenance for his family?’ The Imam replied, ‘Yes, when a soul knows how much it needs, it then becomes satisfied with that much and flesh grows

كَفَى بِالْمَرْءِ إِثْماً أَنْ يُضَيِّعَ مَنْ يَعُولُهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is enough sin for one not to provide for his family and lose them.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَلْعُونٌ مَلْعُونٌ مَنْ أَلْقَى كَلَّهُ عَلَى النَّاسِ مَلْعُونٌ مَلْعُونٌ مَنْ ضَيَّعَ مَنْ يَعُولُ.

‘Condemned is one, indeed condemned is one who shifts his burden upon the people, and so also is one who loses his family and does not provide sustenance for them.’”

قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع‌ لَأَنْ أَدْخُلَ السُّوقَ وَ مَعِي دَرَاهِمُ أَبْتَاعُ بِهِ لِعِيَالِي لَحْماً وَ قَدْ قَرِمُوا[2] أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أُعْتِقَ نَسَمَةً.

“Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), has said, ‘I love going to the market to buy meat for my family who strongly desire it, more than setting free an enslaved soul.’”

كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع إِذَا أَصْبَحَ خَرَجَ غَادِياً فِي طَلَبِ الرِّزْقِ فَقِيلَ لَهُ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أَيْنَ تَذْهَبُ فَقَالَ أَتَصَدَّقُ لِعِيَالِي قِيلَ لَهُ أَ تَتَصَدَّقُ قَالَ مَنْ طَلَبَ الْحَلَالَ فَهُوَ مِنَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ صَدَقَةٌ عَلَيْهِ.

‘I want to give charity to my family.’ People then asked, ‘Is it charity?’ He then replied, ‘One who earns in lawful way; his earnings are Allah’s charity for him.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ يَأْخُذُ بِأَدَبِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِذَا وَسَّعَ عَلَيْهِ اتَّسَعَ وَ إِذَا أَمْسَكَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْسَكَ.[3]

“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 believing person follows the discipline of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious. When Allah grants him extended favors, he becomes generous;

مِنْ سَعَادَةِ الرَّجُلِ أَنْ يَكُونَ الْقَيِّمَ عَلَى عِيَالِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that it is of the prosperity of man to support and provide for his family.”

سَمِعْتُ الرِّضَا ع يَقُولُ‌ يَنْبَغِي لِلْمُؤْمِنِ أَنْ يَنْقُصَ مِنْ قُوتِ عِيَالِهِ فِي الشِّتَاءِ وَ يَزِيدَ فِي وَقُودِهِمْ.

‘A man should spare from the means of his sustenance to provide fuel for his family during winter.’”