إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى يُحِبُّ إِهْرَاقَ الدِّمَاءِ[2] وَ إِطْعَامَ الطَّعَامِ.
“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah, the most Blessed, the most High, loves (shedding blood of edible animals) for serving meat and food.’”
مِنْ أَحَبِّ الْأَعْمَالِ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِشْبَاعُ جَوْعَةِ الْمُؤْمِنِ أَوْ تَنْفِيسُ كُرْبَتِهِ أَوْ قَضَاءُ دَيْنِهِ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that of the most beloved deeds in the sight of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, is satisfying the hunger of a believer, relieving his suffering, or paying off his debts.”
إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يُحِبُّ إِطْعَامَ الطَّعَامِ وَ إِرَاقَةَ الدِّمَاءِ.
“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, loves serving food and shedding blood (of edible animals for meat to serve for food).’”
أُتِيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص بِأُسَارَى فَقُدِّمَ رَجُلٌ مِنْهُمْ لِيُضْرَبَ عُنُقُهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ جَبْرَئِيلُ أَخِّرْ هَذَا الْيَوْمَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ فَرَدَّهُ وَ أَخْرَجَ غَيْرَهُ حَتَّى كَانَ هُوَ آخِرَهُمْ فَدَعَا بِهِ لِيُضْرَبَ عُنُقُهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ جَبْرَئِيلُ يَا مُحَمَّدُ رَبُّكَ يُقْرِئُكَ السَّلَامَ وَ يَقُولُ لَكَ إِنَّ أَسِيرَكَ هَذَا يُطْعِمُ الطَّعَامَ وَ يَقْرِي الضَّيْفَ وَ يَصْبِرُ عَلَى النَّائِبَةِ وَ ي
9. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam, from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from a man who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that certain prisoners of war were brought before the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his fa
الرِّزْقُ أَسْرَعُ إِلَى مَنْ يُطْعِمُ الطَّعَامَ مِنَ السِّكِّينِ فِي السَّنَامِ.
“Ja’far from his father (a.s.), has narrated that the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘Sustenance comes to a man, who serves food, faster than a knife goes into the hump on the back of a camel.’”
كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَقُولُ مِنْ مُوجِبَاتِ مَغْفِرَةِ الرَّبِّ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى إِطْعَامُ الطَّعَامِ.
“Abu al-Hassan (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, would say, ‘Of the reasons for the Lord, the Most Blessed, the most High, to grant forgiveness is one’s serving food.’”
كَانَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع إِذَا أَكَلَ أُتِيَ بِصَحْفَةٍ[1] فَتُوضَعُ بِقُرْبِ مَائِدَتِهِ فَيَعْمِدُ إِلَى أَطْيَبِ الطَّعَامِ مِمَّا يُؤْتَى بِهِ فَيَأْخُذُ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَيْئاً فَيَضَعُ فِي تِلْكَ الصَّحْفَةِ ثُمَّ يَأْمُرُ بِهَا لِلْمَسَاكِينِ ثُمَّ يَتْلُو هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ- فَلَا اقْتَحَمَ الْعَقَبَةَ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ عَلِمَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ كُلُّ إِنْسَانٍ يَقْدِرُ عَلَى عِتْقِ رَق
“Abu al-Hassan, al-Rida (a.s.), would ask for an empty plate before having food. He would keep it on one side at the table, then pick up the best of food from each kind brought for him, place them on the empty plate, and ask his people to give it to destitute people. He then would read this, ‘. . . they have not entere
قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِمَا لِيُنْفِقِ الرَّجُلُ بِالْقَصْدِ وَ بُلْغَةِ الْكَفَافِ وَ يُقَدِّمُ مِنْهُ فَضْلًا لآِخِرَتِهِ فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ أَبْقَى لِلنِّعْمَةِ وَ أَقْرَبُ إِلَى الْمَزِيدِ مِنَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ أَنْفَعُ فِي الْعَافِيَةِ.
’One should spend moderately to a sufficient limit and send the extra for his next life. This is a better conservation of bounties, closer to its increase from Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, and more beneficial for good health (or consequences).’”
إِنَّ الْقَصْدَ أَمْرٌ يُحِبُّهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ إِنَّ السَّرَفَ أَمْرٌ يُبْغِضُهُ اللَّهُ حَتَّى طَرْحَكَ النَّوَاةَ فَإِنَّهَا تَصْلُحُ لِلشَّيْءِ وَ حَتَّى صَبَّكَ فَضْلَ شَرَابِكَ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that moderation is a matter that Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, loves, and extravagance is a thing that Allah hates. It applies even to one’s throwing the stone inside the piece of a date; it can be useful for something, and to throwing the leftover of what you drink.’”
فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ يَسْئَلُونَكَ ما ذا يُنْفِقُونَ قُلِ الْعَفْوَ[4] قَالَ الْعَفْوُ الْوَسَطُ.
“About the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ‘They ask you about what should spend (for the sake of Allah). Say, “It is disregarding. . .’” (2: 219), Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The word “al-‘Afw (disregarding)” refers to spending moderately.’”
قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ الْقَصْدُ مَثْرَاةٌ وَ السَّرَفُ مَتْوَاةٌ[1].
“’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘Moderation leads to increase, and extravagance leads to destruction.’”
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص ثَلَاثٌ مُنْجِيَاتٌ فَذَكَرَ الثَّالِثُ الْقَصْدُ فِي الْغِنَى وَ الْفَقْرِ[2].
the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘Three things work as means of salvation for a person and he described moderation, in both poverty and financial well-being, to be one of such means.’”
سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ ضَمِنْتُ لِمَنِ اقْتَصَدَ أَنْ لَا يَفْتَقِرَ.
“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘I guarantee safety from poverty in favor of one who observes moderation (in spending).”
لَوْ أَنَّ رَجُلًا أَنْفَقَ مَا فِي يَدَيْهِ فِي سَبِيلٍ مِنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ مَا كَانَ أَحْسَنَ وَ لَا وُفِّقَ أَ لَيْسَ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى- وَ لا تُلْقُوا بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ وَ أَحْسِنُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ[3] يَعْنِي الْمُقْتَصِدِينَ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that all kinds of one’s spending for the sake of Allah, on any one of His causes, is not a good or successful spending. Allah, the most High says, ‘You must not throw yourselves in perdition. Do good; Allah loves those who do good.’ (2:195) “Doers of good” refers to those who observe mo
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَا عُبَيْدُ إِنَّ السَّرَفَ يُورِثُ الْفَقْرَ وَ إِنَّ الْقَصْدَ يُورِثُ الْغِنَى.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘O ‘Ubayd, excessive spending causes poverty but moderation leads to wealth.’”
قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع مَا عَالَ امْرُؤٌ فِي اقْتِصَادٍ.
“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), once said, ‘With moderation, one does not suffer poverty.’”
لَهُ إِنَّا نَكُونُ فِي طَرِيقِ مَكَّةَ فَنُرِيدُ الْإِحْرَامَ فَنَطَّلِي وَ لَا تَكُونُ مَعَنَا نُخَالَةٌ نَتَدَلَّكُ بِهَا مِنَ النُّورَةِ فَنَتَدَلَّكُ بِالدَّقِيقِ وَ قَدْ دَخَلَنِي مِنْ ذَلِكَ مَا اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِهِ فَقَالَ أَ مَخَافَةَ الْإِسْرَافِ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ فِيمَا أَصْلَحَ الْبَدَنَ إِسْرَافٌ إِنِّي رُبَّمَا أَمَرْتُ بِالنَّقِيِّ فَيُلَتُ[1] بِالزَّيْتِ فَأَتَدَلَّكُ بِهِ إِنَّمَا الْإِ
“Once, I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘On our way to Makkah, we wanted to wear the special dress for Ihram (a certain act of Hajj), but we did not have proper material for shaving, and we did not have bran or flour to use in place of lime. We used flour for this purpose. Allah knows that I had a strange feeling about i
إِذَا جَادَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى عَلَيْكُمْ فَجُودُوا وَ إِذَا أَمْسَكَ عَنْكُمْ فَأَمْسِكُوا وَ لَا تُجَاوِدُوا اللَّهَ فَهُوَ الْأَجْوَدُ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when Allah, the most Blessed, the most High, gives to you generously, be generous to yourselves; when He withholds, you should also do so, but do not try to surpass Him; He is more generous than you are.”
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص مَنِ اقْتَصَدَ فِي مَعِيشَتِهِ رَزَقَهُ اللَّهُ وَ مَنْ بَذَّرَ حَرَمَهُ 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, ‘Whoever maintains moderation, Allah grants him sustenance, but He deprives one who spends excessively.’”
سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع يَقُولُ الرِّفْقُ نِصْفُ الْعَيْشِ وَ مَا عَالَ امْرُؤٌ فِي اقْتِصَادِهِ.
“I heard abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), say, ‘Easing off in spending is half of one’s sustenance, and with observance of moderation, one does not become poor.’”
تَلَا أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ- وَ الَّذِينَ إِذا أَنْفَقُوا لَمْ يُسْرِفُوا وَ لَمْ يَقْتُرُوا وَ كانَ بَيْنَ ذلِكَ قَواماً[3] قَالَ فَأَخَذَ قَبْضَةً مِنْ حَصًى وَ قَبَضَهَا بِيَدِهِ فَقَالَ هَذَا الْإِقْتَارُ الَّذِي ذَكَرَهُ اللَّهُ فِي كِتَابِهِ ثُمَّ قَبَضَ قَبْضَةً أُخْرَى فَأَرْخَى كَفَّهُ كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ قَالَ هَذَا الْإِسْرَافُ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ قَبْضَةً أُخْرَى[1] فَأَرْخَى بَعْضَهَا وَ أَمْسَكَ
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once, read this verse from the Holy Quran. . those who do not spend excessively or with severe austerity, but with moderation,’ (25: 67) he (the Imam) then picked up a handful of pebbles and kept them firmly in his hand, saying, ‘This is severe austerity that Allah has mentioned in His book.’ He
سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الْأَوَّلَ ع- عَنِ النَّفَقَةِ عَلَى الْعِيَالِ فَقَالَ مَا بَيْنَ الْمَكْرُوهَيْنِ الْإِسْرَافِ وَ الْإِقْتَارِ.
“Once I asked abu al-Hassan, the 1st (a.s.), about the expenses of one’s dependents. He (the Imam) replied, ‘It is between the two detestable limits: namely, excessive spending and severe austerity.’”
أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ مَعَ الْإِسْرَافِ قِلَّةَ الْبَرَكَةِ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘There is very little blessing with excessive spending.’”
رُبَّ فَقِيرٍ هُوَ أَسْرَفُ مِنَ الْغَنِيِّ إِنَّ الْغَنِيَّ يُنْفِقُ مِمَّا أُوتِيَ وَ الْفَقِيرَ يُنْفِقُ مِنْ غَيْرِ مَا أُوتِيَ.
“Sometimes poor people may spend more excessively than a wealthy one. A wealthy person spends from what he has received, but a poor person spends from that which does not belong to him.’”
سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ آتُوا حَقَّهُ يَوْمَ حَصادِهِ وَ لا تُسْرِفُوا إِنَّهُ لا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِينَ[2] فَقَالَ كَانَ فُلَانُ بْنُ فُلَانٍ الْأَنْصَارِيُّ سَمَّاهُ وَ كَانَ لَهُ حَرْثٌ وَ كَانَ إِذَا أَخَذَ يَتَصَدَّقُ بِهِ وَ يَبْقَى هُوَ وَ عِيَالُهُ بِغَيْرِ شَيْءٍ فَجَعَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ ذَلِكَ سَرَفاً.
“A man once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ‘Give His right on the day of its harvest and do not spend excessively; He does not love excessive spenders.’ (6:141) He (the Imam) said, ‘So and so, he mentioned his name, Ansariy (people of al-Madinah) had a farm.
فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ لا تَجْعَلْ يَدَكَ مَغْلُولَةً إِلى عُنُقِكَ وَ لا تَبْسُطْها كُلَّ الْبَسْطِ فَتَقْعُدَ مَلُوماً مَحْسُوراً[3] قَالَ الْإِحْسَارُ الْفَاقَةُ.
“This is about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ‘You must not make your hands tied up to your neck nor open it excessively so you remain blame-worth and tied up.’ (17:29) Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ‘Mahsur (tied up) means severe austerity.’”
كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَجَاءَ سَائِلٌ فَقَامَ إِلَى مِكْتَلٍ[4] فِيهِ تَمْرٌ فَمَلَأَ يَدَهُ فَنَاوَلَهُ ثُمَّ جَاءَ آخَرُ فَسَأَلَهُ فَقَامَ فَأَخَذَ بِيَدِهِ فَنَاوَلَهُ ثُمَّ جَاءَ آخَرُ فَسَأَلَهُ فَقَامَ فَأَخَذَ بِيَدِهِ فَنَاوَلَهُ ثُمَّ جَاءَ آخَرُ فَسَأَلَهُ فَقَامَ فَأَخَذَ بِيَدِهِ فَنَاوَلَهُ ثُمَّ جَاءَ آخَرُ فَقَالَ اللَّهُ رَازِقُنَا وَ إِيَّاكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص كَانَ
7. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from his father from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from Musa ibn Bakr from ‘Ajlan who has said the following: “Once, I was in the presence of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when a man came asking for help. He (the Imam) gave him a handful of dates from a basket. Then another
الْقَوَامُ هُوَ الْمَعْرُوفُ- عَلَى الْمُوسِعِ قَدَرُهُ وَ عَلَى الْمُقْتِرِ قَدَرُهُ مَتاعاً بِالْمَعْرُوفِ حَقًّا عَلَى الْمُحْسِنِينَ[2] عَلَى قَدْرِ عِيَالِهِ وَ مَئُونَتِهِمُ الَّتِي هِيَ صَلَاحٌ لَهُ وَ لَهُمْ وَ لا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْساً إِلَّا ما آتاها.
“This is about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ‘It (moderation) was in between . . .’ (25:67), the Imam said, ‘Al-Qawam (moderation) is a Benevolent Assistance,’ ‘. . . proportionate to the abilities of a wealthy and poor person is a right upon the people of good deeds.’
فِي قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى- وَ الَّذِينَ إِذا أَنْفَقُوا لَمْ يُسْرِفُوا وَ لَمْ يَقْتُرُوا وَ كانَ بَيْنَ ذلِكَ قَواماً فَبَسَطَ كَفَّهُ وَ فَرَّقَ أَصَابِعَهُ وَ حَنَاهَا شَيْئاً[3] وَ عَنْ قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى- وَ لا تَبْسُطْها كُلَّ الْبَسْطِ فَبَسَطَ رَاحَتَهُ وَ قَالَ هَكَذَا وَ قَالَ الْقَوَامُ مَا يَخْرُجُ مِنْ بَيْنِ الْأَصَابِعِ وَ يَبْقَى فِي الرَّاحَةِ مِنْهُ شَيْءٌ.
“This is about the words of Allah, most High, ‘Those who, when spending, do not do it excessively or with severe austerity, but with moderation.’ He opened his palm and tilted it a little to one side. About the words of Allah, most High, ‘Do not open your hand excessively . . .’ (25:67) he opened up his palm all the wa
قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَدْنَى مَا يَجِيءُ مِنْ حَدِّ الْإِسْرَافِ فَقَالَ ابْتِذَالُكَ ثَوْبَ صَوْنِكَ وَ إِهْرَاقُكَ فَضْلَ إِنَائِكَ وَ أَكْلُكَ التَّمْرَ وَ رَمْيَكَ النَّوَى هَاهُنَا وَ هَاهُنَا.
‘What is the minimum limit of excessive spending?’ The Imam replied, ‘It is when you give away your clothes that you need for protection, burning the leftovers in your cooking utensils, and eating dates and scattering the stones inside them here and there.’”
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَرْبَعَةٌ لَا يُسْتَجَابُ لَهُمْ أَحَدُهُمْ كَانَ لَهُ مَالٌ فَأَفْسَدَهُ فَيَقُولُ يَا رَبِّ ارْزُقْنِي فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَ لَمْ آمُرْكَ بِالاقْتِصَادِ[4].
‘Four people’s prayers are not accepted. One is he who destroys his wealth and appeals, “Lord, grant me sustenance.’” Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, then says, “Did I not command you to observe moderation?””’
قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ أَوَّلُ مَا يُبْدَأُ بِهِ فِي الْآخِرَةِ صَدَقَةُ الْمَاءِ يَعْنِي فِي الْأَجْرِ.
The first charity for which one will be rewarded in the next life is providing water for drinking. ‘“
أَفْضَلُ الصَّدَقَةِ إِبْرَادُ كَبِدٍ حَرَّى[1].
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the best charity is cooling off a thirsty liver.”
مَنْ سَقَى الْمَاءَ فِي مَوْضِعٍ يُوجَدُ فِيهِ الْمَاءُ كَانَ كَمَنْ أَعْتَقَ رَقَبَةً وَ مَنْ سَقَى الْمَاءَ فِي مَوْضِعٍ لَا يُوجَدُ فِيهِ الْمَاءُ كَانَ كَمَنْ أَحْيَا نَفْساً وَ مَنْ أَحْيَا نَفْساً فَكَأَنَّما أَحْيَا النَّاسَ جَمِيعاً.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that if one provides water for a thirsty person and there is water available, his reward is equal to the reward of setting free of a slave. If there is no other water available, its reward is then equal to the reward of saving a life, and the reward for one who saves a life is like savi
كُنْتُ مَعَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع بَيْنَ مَكَّةَ وَ الْمَدِينَةِ فَمَرَرْنَا عَلَى رَجُلٍ فِي أَصْلِ شَجَرَةٍ وَ قَدْ أَلْقَى بِنَفْسِهِ فَقَالَ مِلْ بِنَا إِلَى هَذَا الرَّجُلِ فَإِنِّي أَخَافُ أَنْ يَكُونَ قَدْ أَصَابَهُ عَطَشٌ فَمِلْنَا فَإِذَا رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْفَرَاسِينَ[2] طَوِيلُ الشَّعْرِ فَسَأَلَهُ أَ عَطْشَانُ أَنْتَ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ فَقَالَ لِي انْزِلْ يَا مُصَادِفُ فَاسْقِهِ فَنَزَلْتُ وَ سَقَيْتُهُ ثُمَّ رَ
“Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and I were between Makkah and al-Madinah. We passed by a man who had thrown himself near the trunk of a tree. He (the Imam) said, ‘Allow us to see this man. I am afraid he is thirsty. We went to him. He was a man from the Farasin (a certain people) and had long hairs. He (the Imam) asked, ‘
جَاءَ أَعْرَابِيٌّ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ص فَقَالَ عَلِّمْنِي عَمَلًا أَدْخُلُ بِهِ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَالَ أَطْعِمِ الطَّعَامَ وَ أَفْشِ السَّلَامَ قَالَ فَقَالَ لَا أُطِيقُ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَهَلْ لَكَ إِبِلٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَانْظُرْ بَعِيراً وَ اسْقِ عَلَيْهِ أَهْلَ بَيْتٍ لَا يَشْرَبُونَ الْمَاءَ إِلَّا غِبّاً فَلَعَلَّهُ لَا يَنْفُقُ[1] بَعِيرُكَ وَ لَا يَنْخَرِقُ سِقَاؤُكَ حَتَّى تَجِبَ لَكَ الْجَنَّةُ.
“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said that once an Arab man came to the Prophet (sw) and said, ‘Teach me a good deed whereby I can go to Paradise. He said, ‘Serve food and offer greetings of peace aloud.‘ He (the Imam) has said that the man then said, ‘I cannot afford this.‘ He (the Holy Prophet) asked, ‘Do you have a camel?‘ He
إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى يُحِبُّ إِبْرَادَ الْكَبِدِ الْحَرَّى[2] وَ مَنْ سَقَى كَبِداً حَرَّى مِنْ بَهِيمَةٍ أَوْ غَيْرِهَا أَظَلَّهُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ لَا ظِلَّ إِلَّا ظِلُّهُ.
“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah, the most Blessed, the most High, loves cooling off a thirsty liver. Whoever cools off a thirsty liver of an animal or others, Allah on the Day of Judgment provides him a shadow when there is no shadow except His shadow.”
إِنَّ أُنَاساً مِنْ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ أَتَوْا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص فَسَأَلُوهُ أَنْ يَسْتَعْمِلَهُمْ عَلَى صَدَقَاتِ الْمَوَاشِي وَ قَالُوا يَكُونُ لَنَا هَذَا السَّهْمُ الَّذِي جَعَلَهُ اللَّهُ لِلْعَامِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا فَنَحْنُ أَوْلَى بِهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَا بَنِي عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ إِنَّ الصَّدَقَةَ لَا تَحِلُّ لِي وَ لَا لَكُمْ وَ لَكِنِّي قَدْ وُعِدْتُ الشَّفَاعَةَ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ اللّ
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once certain people of Banu Hashim came to the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and asked him to appoint them for collecting zakat on cattle. Therefore, the share of zakat collectors should be given t
رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِنَّ الصَّدَقَةَ أَوْسَاخُ أَيْدِي النَّاسِ وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ حَرَّمَ عَلَيَّ مِنْهَا وَ مِنْ غَيْرِهَا مَا قَدْ حَرَّمَهُ وَ إِنَّ الصَّدَقَةَ لَا تَحِلُّ لِبَنِي عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ لَوْ قَدْ قُمْتُ عَلَى بَابِ الْجَنَّةِ ثُمَّ أَخَذْتُ بِحَلْقَتِهِ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمْ أَنِّي لَا أُؤْثِرُ عَلَيْكُمْ فَارْضَوْا لِأَنْفُسِكُمْ بِمَا رَضِيَ اللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ لَكُمْ
‘Charity is filth of the hands of people. Allah has prohibited me to accept it and certain other things for my own use. Charity is not lawful for the children of ‘Abd al-Muttalib.’ He then said, ‘By Allah, when I will stand at the door of Paradise and get hold of its handle, you must know that I will not give preferenc
قُلْتُ لَهُ أَ تَحِلُّ الصَّدَقَةُ لِبَنِي هَاشِمٍ فَقَالَ إِنَّمَا تِلْكَ الصَّدَقَةُ الْوَاجِبَةُ عَلَى النَّاسِ لَا تَحِلُّ لَنَا فَأَمَّا غَيْرُ ذَلِكَ فَلَيْسَ بِهِ بَأْسٌ وَ لَوْ كَانَ كَذَلِكَ مَا اسْتَطَاعُوا أَنْ يَخْرُجُوا إِلَى مَكَّةَ هَذِهِ الْمِيَاهُ عَامَّتُهَا صَدَقَةٌ.
“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘Is receiving charity lawful for the children of al- Hashim?’ He replied, ‘What is not lawful for us to receive of the people’s charity is obligatory charity. One is harmless when receiving charities other than obligatory. Had it been otherwise, they could not even go to Makkah; the
قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَ تَحِلُّ الصَّدَقَةُ لِمَوَالِي بَنِي هَاشِمٍ قَالَ نَعَمْ.
The Imam said, ‘Yes, it is lawful.’”
سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الصَّدَقَةِ الَّتِي حُرِّمَتْ عَلَى بَنِي هَاشِمٍ مَا هِيَ قَالَ هِيَ الزَّكَاةُ قُلْتُ فَتَحِلُّ صَدَقَةُ بَعْضِهِمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ قَالَ نَعَمْ.
‘It is zakat.’ I then asked, ‘Can they receive zakat from each other?’ He replied, ‘Yes, they can do so. ’’’(This Hadith is best explained by Fatwa).
أَعْطُوا الزَّكَاةَ مَنْ أَرَادَهَا مِنْ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ فَإِنَّهَا تَحِلُّ لَهُمْ وَ إِنَّمَا تَحْرُمُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ص وَ الْإِمَامِ الَّذِي مِنْ بَعْدِهِ وَ الْأَئِمَّةِ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِمْ أَجْمَعِينَ.
‘You can pay Zakat to whoever wants it from Banu Hashim because it is lawful for them. It is unlawful only for the Prophet (sw) and for the Imam after him, and for the Imams, may the blessings of Allah be upon them all.’
مَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ أَنْ يَصِلَنَا فَلْيَصِلْ فُقَرَاءَ شِيعَتِنَا وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ أَنْ يَزُورَ قُبُورَنَا فَلْيَزُرْ قُبُورَ صُلَحَاءِ إِخْوَانِنَا.
“Abu al-Hassan al-Awwal, the 1st (a.s.), has said, ‘Whoever is unable to keep good relations with us (by presenting gifts) should maintain good relations with poor people of our followers, and those who cannot visit our graves should visit the graves of our virtuous brothers (in belief).”’
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص مَنْ صَنَعَ إِلَى أَحَدٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِي يَداً كَافَيْتُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ.
"The Messenger of Allah (sw) said: 'Whoever does good to any member of my household, I will be his guarantor on the Day of Judgment.'"
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِنِّي شَافِعٌ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ لِأَرْبَعَةِ أَصْنَافٍ وَ لَوْ جَاءُوا بِذُنُوبِ أَهْلِ الدُّنْيَا رَجُلٌ نَصَرَ ذُرِّيَّتِي وَ رَجُلٌ بَذَلَ مَالَهُ لِذُرِّيَّتِي عِنْدَ الْمَضِيقِ وَ رَجُلٌ أَحَبَّ ذُرِّيَّتِي بِاللِّسَانِ وَ بِالْقَلْبِ وَ رَجُلٌ يَسْعَى فِي حَوَائِجِ ذُرِّيَّتِي إِذَا طُرِدُوا أَوْ شُرِّدُوا.
"The Messenger of Allah (sw) has said, “On the Day of Judgment I will intercede on behalf of four kinds of people, even though they may come with the sins of the people of the world. (Of such people is) A man who has supported my offspring, one who has spent his property for my offspring in difficult times, a man who l
كَانَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَسْأَلُ شِهَاباً[2] مِنْ زَكَاتِهِ لِمَوَالِيهِ وَ إِنَّمَا حُرِّمَتِ الزَّكَاةُ عَلَيْهِمْ دُونَ مَوَالِيهِمْ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), would ask Shihab (ibn ‘Abd Rabbihi) to pay zakat due from him to his (Imam’s) servants. It is not permissible for them (’A’immah) to receive zakat, but it is permissible for their servants.”
يَعْنِي الزَّكَاةَ الْمَفْرُوضَةَ قَالَ قُلْتُ- وَ إِنْ تُخْفُوها وَ تُؤْتُوهَا الْفُقَراءَ قَالَ يَعْنِي النَّافِلَةَ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا يَسْتَحِبُّونَ إِظْهَارَ الْفَرَائِضِ وَ كِتْمَانَ النَّوَافِلِ.
“This is about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ‘If you pay charity in public, it still is fine. . (2:270) Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, It is about obligatory zakat.’ I (the narrator) then mentioned Allah’s words that say, ‘If they hide it and give to the poor. . . .’ (2:270) The Imam said, ‘Th
سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الزَّكَاةِ تَجِبُ عَلَيَّ فِي مَوْضِعٍ لَا يُمْكِنُنِي أَنْ أُؤَدِّيَهَا قَالَ اعْزِلْهَا فَإِنِ اتَّجَرْتَ بِهَا فَأَنْتَ ضَامِنٌ لَهَا وَ لَهَا الرِّبْحُ وَ إِنْ تَوِيَتْ[1] فِي حَالِ مَا عَزَلْتَهَا مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ تَشْغَلَهَا فِي تِجَارَةٍ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكَ وَ إِنْ لَمْ تَعْزِلْهَا وَ اتَّجَرْتَ بِهَا فِي جُمْلَةِ مَالِكَ فَلَهَا بِقِسْطِهَا مِنَ الرِّبْحِ وَ لَا وَضِيعَةَ عَلَيْهَا.
“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about an amount of zakat which has become obligatory for me to pay in a place where I cannot pay. He said, ‘Keep the amount on one side. If you do business with it, you are responsible for it and for its profit. If you die after keeping the amount on the side and without doing any busin
نَعَمْ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ شَيْءٌ أَحَبَّ إِلَيَّ مِنْهُ فَأَنَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَتَصَدَّقَ بِأَحَبِّ الْأَشْيَاءِ إِلَيَّ.
”Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was seen giving sugar for charity. Someone asked, ‘Do you give sugar for charity?’ He (Imam) replied, ‘Yes, there is not anything more beloved to me than sugar, so I love to give for charity what is most beloved to me.’”