سَأَلْتُ أَبَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع عَنْ عِظَامِ الْفِيلِ يَحِلُّ بَيْعُهُ أَوْ شِرَاؤُهُ الَّذِي يُجْعَلُ مِنْهُ الْأَمْشَاطُ فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ قَدْ كَانَ لِأَبِي مِنْهُ مُشْطٌ أَوْ أَمْشَاطٌ.
‘It is not unlawful. My father (a.s.), had such a comb or combs.”’
كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَسْأَلُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ لَهُ خَشَبٌ فَبَاعَهُ مِمَّنْ يَتَّخِذُ مِنْهُ بَرَابِطَ فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ وَ عَنْ رَجُلٍ لَهُ خَشَبٌ فَبَاعَهُ مِمَّنْ يَتَّخِذُهُ صُلْبَانَ قَالَ لَا[2].
“I once wrote to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and asked about a man who had a piece of wood and sold it to those who make barbat (musical tool) out of it. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful.’
لَا بَأْسَ بِبَيْعِ الْعَذِرَةِ.
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Selling animal dung is not unlawful.’”
أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْفُهُودِ وَ سِبَاعِ الطَّيْرِ هَلْ يُلْتَمَسُ التِّجَارَةُ فِيهَا قَالَ نَعَمْ.
“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about Cheetah and predator birds; if business could be sought with them. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is possible.’”
سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ التُّوتِ[2] أَبِيعُهُ يُصْنَعْ بِهِ الصَّلِيبُ وَ الصَّنَمُ قَالَ لَا.
“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about my selling mulberry wood from which they made crosses and idols. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, it is not permissible.’”
كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يُؤَاجِرُ سَفِينَتَهُ وَ دَابَّتَهُ مِمَّنْ يَحْمِلْ فِيهَا أَوْ عَلَيْهَا الْخَمْرَ وَ الْخَنَازِيرَ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ.
“I once wrote to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and asked about the case of a man who rented his ship or stumper to those who carried wine and pigs on them. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful.’”
إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص نَهَى عَنِ الْقِرْدِ أَنْ تُشْتَرَى أَوْ تُبَاعَ.
“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, prohibited buying and selling of monkeys.’”
سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يُؤَاجِرُ بَيْتَهُ يُبَاعُ فِيهَا الْخَمْرُ قَالَ حَرَامٌ أُجْرَتُهُ.
“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who rented his house to those who used it for selling wine. He (the Imam) said, ‘Its rent is unlawful.’”
كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِذْ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ مُعَتِّبٌ فَقَالَ رَجُلَانِ بِالْبَابِ فَقَالَ أَدْخِلْهُمَا فَدَخَلَا فَقَالَ أَحَدُهُمَا إِنِّي رَجُلٌ سَرَّاجٌ أَبِيعُ جُلُودَ النَّمِرِ فَقَالَ مَدْبُوغَةٌ هِيَ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ لَيْسَ بِهِ بَأْسٌ.
There are two people at the door.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Bring them inside.’ They came inside and one of them said, ‘I am a saddle maker and I sell skins of tigers.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘Are they (skins) tanned?’ He replied, ‘Yes, they are tanned.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful.’”
كَتَبْتُ إِلَيْهِ قَوَائِمُ السُّيُوفِ الَّتِي تُسَمَّى السَّفَنَ[4] أَتَّخِذُهَا مِنْ جُلُودِ السَّمَكِ فَهَلْ يَجُوزُ الْعَمَلُ لَهَا وَ لَسْنَا نَأْكُلُ لُحُومَهَا فَكَتَبَ ع لَا بَأْسَ[5].
“I once wrote to him (the Imam) (a.s.), and asked, ‘There is a certain sheathing of swords called al-Safan (sandpaper) which is from skin of fish; if it is permissible to work with and we do not eat its meat.’ He (the Imam) wrote back, ‘It is not unlawful.’”