Rare Ahadith

اخْتَصَمَ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع رَجُلَانِ اشْتَرَى أَحَدُهُمَا مِنَ الْآخَرِ بَعِيراً وَ اسْتَثْنَى الْبَائِعُ الرَّأْسَ وَ الْجِلْدَ ثُمَّ بَدَا لِلْمُشْتَرِي أَنْ يَبِيعَهُ فَقَالَ لِلْمُشْتَرِي هُوَ شَرِيكُكَ فِي الْبَعِيرِ عَلَى قَدْرِ الرَّأْسِ وَ الْجِلْدِ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once two people brought their dispute before ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.). One of them had purchased a camel from the other one, and the seller had excluded the head and the skin. The buyer then decided to sell it. He (the Imam) said to the buyer, ‘His share in the camel is proportion

شَهِدْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ هُوَ يُحَاسِبُ وَكِيلًا لَهُ وَ الْوَكِيلُ يُكْثِرُ أَنْ يَقُولَ وَ اللَّهِ مَا خُنْتُ وَ اللَّهِ مَا خُنْتُ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَا هَذَا خِيَانَتُكَ وَ تَضْيِيعُكَ عَلَيَّ مَالِي سَوَاءٌ لِأَنَّ الْخِيَانَةَ شَرُّهَا عَلَيْكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص لَوْ أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ هَرَبَ مِنْ رِزْقِهِ لَتَبِعَهُ حَتَّى يُدْرِكَهُ كَمَا أَنَّهُ إِنْ هَرَبَ مِنْ أَ

“I once saw abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), examine an account with his agent who very often said, ‘By Allah, I have not committed treachery, by Allah I have not committed treachery.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), then said, ‘O you, wasting my assets and your committing treachery is the same; the wickedness of treachery is on you.’ He

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّهُ قَدْ ذَهَبَ مَالِي وَ تَفَرَّقَ مَا فِي يَدِي وَ عِيَالِي كَثِيرٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِذَا قَدِمْتَ الْكُوفَةَ فَافْتَحْ بَابَ حَانُوتِكَ وَ ابْسُطْ بِسَاطَكَ وَ ضَعْ مِيزَانَكَ وَ تَعَرَّضْ لِرِزْقِ رَبِّكَ‌[3] قَالَ فَلَمَّا أَنْ قَدِمَ فَتَحَ بَابَ حَانُوتِهِ وَ بَسَطَ بِسَاطَهُ وَ وَضَعَ مِيزَانَهُ قَالَ فَتَعَجَّبَ مَنْ حَوْلَهُ بِأَنْ لَيْسَ فِي بَيْتِهِ

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from abu ‘Umarah al-Tayyar who has said the following: “I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, that my assets are gone, my belongings have scattered and I have a large family. Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, then said, ‘When you arri

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَيُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ مَعَاشُكَ قَالَ قُلْتُ غُلَامَانِ لِي وَ جَمَلَانِ قَالَ فَقَالَ اسْتَتِرْ بِذَلِكَ مِنْ إِخْوَانِكَ‌[2] فَإِنَّهُمْ إِنْ لَمْ يَضُرُّوكَ لَمْ يَنْفَعُوكَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once asked me, ‘How do you make a living?’ I replied, ‘I have two slaves and two camels.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘You must not speak about it to your brothers (in belief); if they do not harm, they do not benefit you either.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ رِزْقُهُ فِي التِّجَارَةِ وَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ رِزْقُهُ فِي السَّيْفِ وَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ رِزْقُهُ فِي لِسَانِهِ.

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘The sustenance of certain people is in trading, others have it in their sword and certain ones in their tongue.”’

مَنْ ضَاقَ عَلَيْهِ الْمَعَاشُ أَوْ قَالَ الرِّزْقُ فَلْيَشْتَرِ صِغَاراً وَ لْيَبِعْ كِبَاراً[3]. - وَ رُوِيَ عَنْهُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ ع‌ مَنْ أَعْيَتْهُ الْحِيلَةُ فَلْيُعَالِجِ الْكُرْسُفَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘One who faces constraint in his living’ -or he (the Imam) said ‘in his sustenance- should buy small ones (of animal) and sell large ones.’” It is also narrated from him (the Imam) that if one’s plans do not work he should work in al-kursuf (a certain kind of fabric).

كُلُّ مَا افْتَتَحَ بِهِ الرَّجُلُ رِزْقَهُ فَهُوَ تِجَارَةٌ.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘With whatever (lawful) means one opens the door to his sustenance it is business and trade.’”

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِذَا نَادَى الْمُنَادِي فَلَيْسَ لَكَ أَنْ تَزِيدَ وَ إِنَّمَا يُحَرِّمُ الزِّيَادَةَ النِّدَاءُ وَ يُحِلُّهَا السُّكُوتُ‌[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), would say, ‘If one is calling to what he sells, you do not have to increase; only announcing makes increasing unlawful and remaining silent makes the increase lawful.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَنْ زَرَعَ حِنْطَةً فِي أَرْضٍ فَلَمْ يَزْكُ زَرْعُهُ‌[2] أَوْ خَرَجَ زَرْعُهُ كَثِيرَ الشَّعِيرِ فَبِظُلْمٍ عَمِلَهُ فِي مِلْكِ رَقَبَةِ الْأَرْضِ أَوْ بِظُلْمٍ لِمُزَارِعِيهِ وَ أَكَرَتِهِ لِأَنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ- فَبِظُلْمٍ مِنَ الَّذِينَ هادُوا حَرَّمْنا عَلَيْهِمْ طَيِّباتٍ أُحِلَّتْ لَهُمْ‌[3] يَعْنِي لُحُومَ الْإِبِلِ وَ الْبَقَرِ وَ الْغَنَمِ وَ قَالَ إ

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘If one plants wheat in a land and it does not come pure or the plantation grows with a great deal of barley, it is because of the injustice of his work to the piece of land that he owns or it is because of the injustice of his workers. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, s

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَتًى صَادَقَتْهُ جَارِيَةٌ فَدَفَعَتْ إِلَيْهِ أَرْبَعَةَ آلَافِ دِرْهَمٍ ثُمَّ قَالَتْ لَهُ إِذَا فَسَدَ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَكَ رُدَّ عَلَيَّ هَذِهِ الْأَرْبَعَةَ آلَافٍ فَعَمِلَ بِهَا الْفَتَى وَ رَبِحَ ثُمَّ إِنَّ الْفَتَى تَزَوَّجَ وَ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَتُوبَ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ قَالَ يَرُدُّ عَلَيْهَا الْأَرْبَعَةَ آلَافِ دِرْهَمٍ وَ الرِّبْحُ لَهُ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who becomes a friend of a young woman who gives him four thousand dirham and says, ‘If our friendship is destroyed you can return the dirhams to me.’ He works with it and makes profits. The young man marries and wants to repent, what

نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَنْ يُؤْكَلُ مَا تَحْمِلُ النَّمْلَةُ بِفِيهَا وَ قَوَائِمِهَا.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah prohibited eating of what ants carry in their mouth or with their legs.”

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ حِيلَةُ الرَّجُلِ فِي بَابِ مَكْسَبِهِ.

“I once heard him (the Imam) (a.s.), saying, ‘The skillfulness of a man is for his earning a living.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنْ رَجُلٍ صَادَقَتْهُ امْرَأَةٌ فَأَعْطَتْهُ مَالًا فَمَكَثَ فِي يَدِهِ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ إِنَّهُ بَعْدُ خَرَجَ مِنْهُ قَالَ يَرُدُّ إِلَيْهَا مَا أَخَذَ مِنْهَا وَ إِنْ كَانَ فَضَلَ فَهُوَ لَهُ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who becomes friends with a woman who gives him a certain amount of asset which remains in his hands for as long as Allah wants; then he spends from it. He (the Imam) said, ‘He must return it to her and if anything extra is left it is

كَتَبَ مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ ع‌ رَجُلٌ يَكُونُ لَهُ عَلَى رَجُلٍ مِائَةُ دِرْهَمٍ فَيَلْزَمُهُ فَيَقُولُ لَهُ أَنْصَرِفُ إِلَيْكَ إِلَى عَشَرَةِ أَيَّامٍ وَ أَقْضِي حَاجَتَكَ فَإِنْ لَمْ أَنْصَرِفْ فَلَكَ عَلَيَّ أَلْفُ دِرْهَمٍ حَالَّةً مِنْ غَيْرِ شَرْطٍ وَ أَشْهَدَ بِذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ دَعَاهُمْ إِلَى الشَّهَادَةِ فَوَقَّعَ ع لَا يَنْبَغِي لَهُمْ أَنْ يَشْهَدُوا إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَ لَا يَنْبَغِي لِصَ

‘They must only testify to what is true and the creditor must only take what is his right, by the will of Allah.’”

مَرَرْتُ مَعَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فِي سُوقِ النُّحَاسِ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ هَذَا النُّحَاسُ أَيُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ أَصْلُهُ فَقَالَ فِضَّةٌ إِلَّا أَنَّ الْأَرْضَ أَفْسَدَتْهَا فَمَنْ قَدَرَ عَلَى أَنْ يُخْرِجَ الْفَسَادَ مِنْهَا انْتَفَعَ بِهَا.

‘It is silver but the land spoils it and if one can take away the invalidity, he can benefit from it.’”

قُلْتُ لَا أَزَالُ أُعْطِي الرَّجُلَ الْمَالَ فَيَقُولُ قَدْ هَلَكَ أَوْ ذَهَبَ فَمَا عِنْدَكَ حِيلَةٌ تَحْتَالُهَا لِي فَقَالَ أَعْطِ الرَّجُلَ أَلْفَ دِرْهَمٍ وَ أَقْرِضْهَا إِيَّاهُ وَ أَعْطِهِ عِشْرِينَ دِرْهَماً يَعْمَلُ بِالْمَالِ كُلِّهِ وَ تَقُولُ هَذَا رَأْسُ مَالِي وَ هَذَا رَأْسُ مَالِكَ فَمَا أَصَبْتَ مِنْهُمَا جَمِيعاً فَهُوَ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَكَ فَسَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ لَا ب

‘I still give goods to this man and he says that it is destroyed or is spent, so what kind of plan can help it?’ He (the planner) said, ‘You can give the man one thousand dirham and give it to him as loan; then give him twenty dirham to work with the asset and say to him, “This is my capital and that is your capital. W

شَكَوْنَا إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع ذَهَابَ ثِيَابِنَا عِنْدَ الْقَصَّارِينَ فَقَالَ‌ اكْتُبُوا عَلَيْهَا بَرَكَةٌ لَنَا فَفَعَلْنَا ذَلِكَ فَمَا ذَهَبَ لَنَا بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ ثَوْبٌ.

“We complained before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the loss of our clothes with the cleaners. He (the Imam) said, ‘Write on them, “Blessing for us.’” We did so and did not lose any cloth thereafter.”

إِذَا أَصَابَتْكُمْ مَجَاعَةٌ فَاعْبَثُوا بِالزَّبِيبِ.[1]

‘When you are hungry play (eat slowly) with raisins.

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ لَا يَحِلُّ مَنْعُ الْمِلْحِ وَ النَّارِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not lawful to deny salt and fire (to those who ask for it).”’

كَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ ص خَلِيطٌ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ فَلَمَّا بُعِثَ ع لَقِيَهُ خَلِيطُهُ فَقَالَ لِلنَّبِيِّ ص جَزَاكَ اللَّهُ مِنْ خَلِيطٍ خَيْراً فَقَدْ كُنْتَ تُوَاتِي وَ لَا تُمَارِي فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ ص وَ أَنْتَ فَجَزَاكَ اللَّهُ مِنْ خَلِيطٍ خَيْراً فَإِنَّكَ لَمْ تَكُنْ تَرُدُّ رِبْحاً وَ لَا تُمْسِكُ ضِرْساً[2].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, had an occasional companion from the time of ignorance. When he (the Messenger of Allah) was commissioned as the Holy Prophet, he met him and said to the Holy Prophet, O

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ أَوْدَعَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنَ اللُّصُوصِ دَرَاهِمَ أَوْ مَتَاعاً وَ اللِّصُّ مُسْلِمٌ هَلْ يَرُدُّ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ لَا يَرُدُّ عَلَيْهِ فَإِنْ أَمْكَنَهُ أَنْ يَرُدَّ عَلَى صَاحِبِهِ فَعَلَ وَ إِلَّا كَانَ فِي يَدِهِ بِمَنْزِلَةِ اللُّقَطَةِ يُصِيبُهَا فَيُعَرِّفُهَا حَوْلًا فَإِنْ أَصَابَ صَاحِبَهَا رَدَّهَا عَلَيْهِ وَ إِلَّا تَصَدَّقَ بِهَا فَإِنْ جَاءَ صَاحِبُهَا بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ خ

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a Muslim man with whom a thieving man leaves a certain amount of dirham and he is a Muslim also; if he must return it to him. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, he must not return it. If he can find the owner he must give it to him; otherwise, he mus

سَأَلْتُ عَبْداً صَالِحاً فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ كُنَّا مُرَافِقِينَ لِقَوْمٍ بِمَكَّةَ فَارْتَحَلْنَا عَنْهُمْ وَ حَمَلْنَا بَعْضَ مَتَاعِهِمْ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَ قَدْ ذَهَبَ الْقَوْمُ وَ لَا نَعْرِفُهُمْ وَ لَا نَعْرِفُ أَوْطَانَهُمْ فَقَدْ بَقِيَ الْمَتَاعُ عِنْدَنَا فَمَا نَصْنَعُ بِهِ قَالَ فَقَالَ تَحْمِلُونَهُ حَتَّى تَلْحَقُوهُمْ بِالْكُوفَةِ فَقَالَ يُونُسُ قُلْتُ لَهُ لَسْتُ أَعْرِفُهُمْ وَ لَا نَدْرِي كَ

“This is concerning my question before the virtuous servant of Allah saying, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, we in Makkah had travel-mates, and when they left and we also left we carried certain items of their goods without knowing and they had gone. We did not know their places and the good

سَأَلَهُ ذَرِيحٌ الْمُحَارِبِيُّ عَنِ الْمَمْلُوكِ يَأْخُذُ اللُّقَطَةَ قَالَ وَ مَا لِلْمَمْلُوكِ وَ اللُّقَطَةِ لَا يَمْلِكُ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ شَيْئاً فَلَا يَعْرِضُ لَهَا الْمَمْلُوكُ فَإِنَّهُ يَنْبَغِي لَهُ‌[1] أَنْ يُعَرِّفَهَا سَنَةً فَإِنْ جَاءَ طَالِبُهَا دَفَعَهَا إِلَيْهِ وَ إِلَّا كَانَتْ فِي مَالِهِ فَإِنْ مَاتَ كَانَ مِيرَاثاً لِوَلَدِهِ وَ لِمَنْ وَرِثَهُ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَجِئْ لَهَا طَالِبٌ كَانَتْ فِي أَمْوَ

“This is concerning my question of Dhariyh al-Muharibiy before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a slave who takes an item that is found. He (the Imam) said, ‘What a slave has to do with an item found! He does not own anything for himself. A slave must not have bothered about it. He must announce it in public for one year.

نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص عَنِ الْكَشُوفِ وَ هُوَ أَنْ تُضْرَبَ النَّاقَةُ وَ وَلَدُهَا طِفْلٌ‌[3] إِلَّا أَنْ يُتَصَدَّقَ بِوَلَدِهَا أَوْ يُذْبَحَ وَ نَهَى أَنْ يُنْزَى حِمَارٌ عَلَى عَتِيقَةٍ.

“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 exposing a she-camel before a he-camel for breeding, unless the young is given in charity or is slaughtered as well as a donkey to leap (mount) over an

كَانَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا بِالْمَدِينَةِ فَضَاقَ ضَيْقاً شَدِيداً وَ اشْتَدَّتْ حَالُهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع اذْهَبْ فَخُذْ حَانُوتاً فِي السُّوقِ وَ ابْسُطْ بِسَاطاً وَ لْيَكُنْ عِنْدَكَ جَرَّةٌ مِنْ مَاءٍ وَ الْزَمْ بَابَ حَانُوتِكَ قَالَ فَفَعَلَ الرَّجُلُ فَمَكَثَ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ قَالَ ثُمَّ قَدِمَتْ رِفْقَةٌ مِنْ مِصْرَ فَأَلْقَوْا مَتَاعَهُمْ كُلُّ رَجُلٍ مِنْهُمْ عِنْدَ مَعْرِفَتِهِ‌[4] و

“A certain person of our people lived in al-Madinah and he suffered severe constraints. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said to him, ‘You must go to find a shop in the market, set up your display and keep a jar of water with you and guard the door of your shop. He (the narrator) has said that he followed the instruction and rem

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنِّي اتَّخَذْتُ رَحًى فِيهَا مَجْلِسِي وَ يَجْلِسُ إِلَيَّ فِيهَا أَصْحَابِي فَقَالَ ذَاكَ رِفْقُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌[1].

‘That is a blessing from Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ لَجُلُوسُ الرَّجُلِ فِي دُبُرِ صَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ إِلَى طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ أَنْفَذُ فِي طَلَبِ الرِّزْقِ مِنْ رُكُوبِ الْبَحْرِ فَقُلْتُ يَكُونُ لِلرَّجُلِ الْحَاجَةُ يَخَافُ فَوْتَهَا فَقَالَ يُدْلِجُ فِيهَا وَ لْيَذْكُرِ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَإِنَّهُ فِي تَعْقِيبٍ مَا دَامَ عَلَى وُضُوءٍ[2].

‘A man’s sitting for follow-up prayer, after the morning Salat (prayer) at his prayer place until sunrise is better for his business than sailing on the ocean in search for sustenance.’ I then asked, ‘What happens if he has an urgent work which he is afraid to miss?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘He can leave for it and he is c

يَأْتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ عَضُوضٌ‌[3] يَعَضُّ كُلُّ امْرِئٍ عَلَى مَا فِي يَدَيْهِ وَ يَنْسَى الْفَضْلَ وَ قَدْ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ لا تَنْسَوُا الْفَضْلَ بَيْنَكُمْ‌[4] يَنْبَرِي فِي ذَلِكَ الزَّمَانِ قَوْمٌ يُعَامِلُونَ الْمُضْطَرِّينَ هُمْ شِرَارُ الْخَلْقِ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘There will come a biting time upon people. Everyone will keep tight with whatever is in his hand and forget about generosity. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has said, ‘You must not forget generosity among yourselves.’ (2:239) At that time a people appears who deals (unjustly) w

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَنْ طَلَبَ قَلِيلَ الرِّزْقِ كَانَ ذَلِكَ دَاعِيَهُ إِلَى اجْتِلَابِ كَثِيرٍ مِنَ الرِّزْقِ [وَ مَنْ تَرَكَ قَلِيلًا مِنَ الرِّزْقِ كَانَ ذَلِكَ دَاعِيَهُ إِلَى ذَهَابِ كَثِيرٍ مِنَ الرِّزْقِ‌].

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘If one searches for little amounts of sustenance it leads to attract greater amounts of sustenance, and if one gives up small amounts of sustenance it leads to going away of the greater amount of sustenance.’”

شَهِدْتُ إِسْحَاقَ بْنَ عَمَّارٍ يَوْماً وَ قَدْ شَدَّ كِيسَهُ وَ هُوَ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَقُومَ فَجَاءَهُ إِنْسَانٌ يَطْلُبُ دَرَاهِمَ بِدِينَارٍ فَحَلَّ الْكِيسَ فَأَعْطَاهُ دَرَاهِمَ بِدِينَارٍ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ مَا كَانَ فَضْلُ هَذَا الدِّينَارِ فَقَالَ إِسْحَاقُ مَا فَعَلْتُ هَذَا رَغْبَةً فِي فَضْلِ الدِّينَارِ وَ لَكِنْ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ مَنِ اسْتَقَلَّ قَلِيلَ الرِّزْقِ حُ

“One day I saw Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar pack his bag, ready to move, when a man came asking to exchange dirham with dinar. He opened his bag, gave him dirham and took the dinar. I then said, ‘Allah is free of all defects, how dinar can be better?’ Ishaq said, ‘I did not do it because of my interest in dinar, but I heard abu ‘A

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ أَعْيَتْهُ الْقُدْرَةُ فَلْيُرَبِّ صَغِيراً. زَعَمَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عِيسَى أَنَّ الْغِفَارِيَّ مِنْ وُلْدِ أَبِي ذَرٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ‌[1].

“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, ‘One who is tired of power must cherish small ones.’” Muhammad ibn ‘Isa thinks that al-Ghifariy is of the children of abu Dharr, may Allah be pleased wit

مَرَّ بِيَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فَقَالَ أَيَّ شَيْ‌ءٍ تَصْنَعِينَ يَا أُمَّ الْحَسَنِ قُلْتُ أَغْزِلُ فَقَالَ أَمَا إِنَّهُ أَحَلُّ الْكَسْبِ أَوْ مِنْ أَحَلِّ الْكَسْبِ.

‘I am spinning to make yarn.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘That is a very sweet way of earning’ -or that he said- ‘of the sweetest way of earning.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِذَا رَأَيْتَ الرَّجُلَ يُخْرِجُ مِنْ مَالِهِ فِي طَاعَةِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ أَصَابَهُ مِنْ حَلَالٍ وَ إِذَا أَخْرَجَهُ فِي مَعْصِيَةِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ أَصَابَهُ مِنْ حَرَامٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When you see a man who takes out from his assets in obedience to Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, then you must be certain that he has earned it by lawful ways, and when he takes it in disobedience to Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, you must rest assured that he has earned it

قُلْتُ الرَّجُلُ يَخْرُجُ ثُمَّ يَقْدَمُ عَلَيْنَا وَ قَدْ أَفَادَ الْمَالَ الْكَثِيرَ فَلَا نَدْرِي اكْتَسَبَهُ مِنْ حَلَالٍ أَوْ حَرَامٍ فَقَالَ إِذَا كَانَ ذَلِكَ فَانْظُرْ فِي أَيِّ وَجْهٍ يُخْرِجُ نَفَقَاتِهِ فَإِنْ كَانَ يُنْفِقُ فِيمَا لَا يَنْبَغِي مِمَّا يَأْثَمُ عَلَيْهِ فَهُوَ حَرَامٌ.

“I once said to abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), a man traveled and then came back with a great deal of assets and we did not know if he had earned it in a lawful or unlawful ways. He (the Imam) said, ‘If such is the case, look how he spends it. If he spends in ways that he is not supposed to spend or is of the sinful ways it t

مَرَّ النَّبِيُّ ص عَلَى رَجُلٍ وَ مَعَهُ ثَوْبٌ يَبِيعُهُ وَ كَانَ الرَّجُلُ طَوِيلًا وَ الثَّوْبُ قَصِيراً فَقَالَ لَهُ اجْلِسْ فَإِنَّهُ أَنْفَقُ لِسِلْعَتِكَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, once passed by a man who sold clothes. The man was tall and the cloth was short. He (the Messenger of Allah) said, ‘Sit down; it is more useful for your commodity.”’

جِئْتُ بِكِتَابٍ إِلَى أَبِي أَعْطَانِيهِ إِنْسَانٌ فَأَخْرَجْتُهُ مِنْ كُمِّي فَقَالَ لِي يَا بُنَيَّ لَا تَحْمِلْ فِي كُمِّكَ شَيْئاً فَإِنَّ الْكُمَّ مِضْيَاعٌ‌[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘I once took a letter to my father that a man had sent and I took it out of my sleeves. He (the Imam) said, ‘My son, do not keep anything in your sleeves; it causes loss of things.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ يَأْتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ يَشْكُونَ فِيهِ رَبَّهُمْ قُلْتُ وَ كَيْفَ يَشْكُونَ فِيهِ رَبَّهُمْ قَالَ يَقُولُ الرَّجُلُ وَ اللَّهِ مَا رَبِحْتُ شَيْئاً مُنْذُ كَذَا وَ كَذَا وَ لَا آكُلُ وَ لَا أَشْرَبُ إِلَّا مِنْ رَأْسِ مَالِي وَيْحَكَ وَ هَلْ أَصْلُ مَالِكَ وَ ذِرْوَتُهُ إِلَّا مِنْ رَبِّكَ.

“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, ‘There will come a time when people complain before their Lord.’ I then asked, ‘How they will complain before their Lord?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘A man will

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ كَانَ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص مُؤْمِنٌ فَقِيرٌ شَدِيدُ الْحَاجَةِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الصُّفَّةِ وَ كَانَ مُلَازِماً لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص عِنْدَ مَوَاقِيتِ الصَّلَاةِ كُلِّهَا لَا يَفْقِدُهُ فِي شَيْ‌ءٍ مِنْهَا وَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَرِقُّ لَهُ وَ يَنْظُرُ إِلَى حَاجَتِهِ وَ غُرْبَتِهِ فَيَقُولُ يَا سَعْدُ لَوْ قَدْ جَاءَنِي شَيْ‌ءٌ لَأَغْنَيْتُكَ قَالَ فَأَبْطَأَ ذَلِكَ عَلَى ر

“I once heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.), saying, ‘During the time of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, there was a believing man, poor and very needy of the people of the platform (in front of Masjid). He always kept very close to the Messenge

كُلُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ يَكُونُ فِيهِ حَلَالٌ وَ حَرَامٌ فَهُوَ حَلَالٌ لَكَ أَبَداً حَتَّى أَنْ تَعْرِفَ الْحَرَامَ مِنْهُ بِعَيْنِهِ فَتَدَعَهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘All things that exist in lawful and unlawful forms are considered lawful for you until you recognize it (the unlawful one) to be exactly the unlawful item, then you must avoid it.’”

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ كُلُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ هُوَ لَكَ حَلَالٌ حَتَّى تَعْلَمَ أَنَّهُ حَرَامٌ بِعَيْنِهِ فَتَدَعَهُ مِنْ قِبَلِ نَفْسِكَ وَ ذَلِكَ مِثْلُ الثَّوْبِ يَكُونُ قَدِ اشْتَرَيْتَهُ وَ هُوَ سَرِقَةٌ أَوِ الْمَمْلُوكِ عِنْدَكَ وَ لَعَلَّهُ‌ حُرٌّ قَدْ بَاعَ نَفْسَهُ أَوْ خُدِعَ فَبِيعَ أَوْ قُهِرَ أَوِ امْرَأَةٍ تَحْتَكَ وَ هِيَ أُخْتُكَ أَوْ رَضِيعَتُكَ وَ الْأَشْيَاءُ كُلُّهَا عَلَى هَذَا حَتَّى يَسْتَبِينَ لَكَ غَيْ

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘All things are lawful for you until you recognize it to be exactly an unlawful item which you must avoid from your own side. One such example is a cloth which you may have purchased and it is proved a stolen cloth; or a slave who is with you and perhaps he is free who has s

قُلْتُ لِلرِّضَا ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ النَّاسَ رَوَوْا أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص كَانَ إِذَا أَخَذَ فِي طَرِيقٍ رَجَعَ فِي غَيْرِهِ فَكَذَا كَانَ يَفْعَلُ قَالَ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ وَ أَنَا أَفْعَلُهُ كَثِيراً فَافْعَلْهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي أَمَا إِنَّهُ أَرْزَقُ لَكَ.

“I once asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), saying, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, people narrate that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, whenever he walked on a road would not return from the same, if this is how it was

شَكَوْتُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع حَالِي وَ انْتِشَارَ أَمْرِي عَلَيَّ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي إِذَا قَدِمْتَ الْكُوفَةَ فَبِعْ وِسَادَةً مِنْ بَيْتِكَ بِعَشَرَةِ دَرَاهِمَ وَ ادْعُ إِخْوَانَكَ وَ أَعِدَّ لَهُمْ طَعَاماً وَ سَلْهُمْ يَدْعُونَ اللَّهَ لَكَ قَالَ فَفَعَلْتُ وَ مَا أَمْكَنَنِي ذَلِكَ حَتَّى بِعْتُ وِسَادَةً وَ اتَّخَذْتُ طَعَاماً كَمَا أَمَرَنِي وَ سَأَلْتُهُمْ أَنْ يَدْعُوا اللَّهَ لِي قَالَ فَوَ اللَّهِ

‘When you arrive in al-Kufah, sell a piece of pillow from your home for ten dirham, invite your brothers, prepare food for them and ask them to pray for you to Allah.’ He (the narrator) has said, ‘I followed the instruction but it was not possible without selling the piece of pillow to prepare food as he (the Imam) had

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ص‌ لَيْسَ بِوَلِيٍّ لِي مَنْ أَكَلَ مَالَ مُؤْمِنٍ حَرَاماً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘One who consumes the assets of a believing person in unlawful ways is not of my follower and friends.’”

كَتَبْتُ إِلَيْهِ يَعْنِي أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الثَّالِثَ ع وَ أَنَا بِالْمَدِينَةِ سَنَةَ إِحْدَى وَ ثَلَاثِينَ وَ مِائَتَيْنِ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ رَجُلٌ أَمَرَ رَجُلًا يَشْتَرِي لَهُ مَتَاعاً أَوْ غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ فَاشْتَرَاهُ فَسُرِقَ مِنْهُ أَوْ قُطِعَ عَلَيْهِ الطَّرِيقُ مِنْ مَالِ مَنْ ذَهَبَ الْمَتَاعُ مِنْ مَالِ الْآمِرِ أَوْ مِنْ مَالِ الْمَأْمُورِ فَكَتَبَ س مِنْ مَالِ الْآمِرِ.

“I once wrote to him (the Imam) (abu al-Hassan, al-Thalith) from al-Madinah in the year two hundred thirty-one, saying, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, a man commands another man to buy goods for him or other things which he buys but the goods are stolen or are looted on the way, from whose

إِنَّ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ جُعِلَ رِزْقُهُ فِي السَّيْفِ وَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ جُعِلَ رِزْقُهُ فِي التِّجَارَةِ وَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ جُعِلَ رِزْقُهُ فِي لِسَانِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Of the people there are those who earn their living from the sword, others from trade and still others earn by their tongue.’”

كَانَ بِالْمَدِينَةِ عِنْدَنَا رَجُلٌ يُكَنَّى أَبَا الْقَمْقَامِ وَ كَانَ مُحَارَفاً[1] فَأَتَى أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع فَشَكَا إِلَيْهِ حِرْفَتَهُ وَ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ لَا يَتَوَجَّهُ فِي حَاجَةٍ فَيُقْضَى لَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع قُلْ فِي آخِرِ دُعَائِكَ مِنْ صَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ الْعَظِيمِ أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ وَ أَسْأَلُهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ عَشْرَ مَرَّاتٍ قَالَ أَبُو الْقَمْقَامِ فَلَزِمْتُ ذَل

“In al-Madinah there was a man with us, called abu al-Qamqa’m who was unfortunate. He went to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), and complained before him against his condition and informed him (the Imam) that wherever he goes for something he fails. Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), said, ‘In your last prayer in the morning, say, ‘Free of all

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ لَا تُمَانِعُوا قَرْضَ الْخَمِيرِ وَ الْخُبْزِ وَ اقْتِبَاسَ النَّارِ فَإِنَّهُ يَجْلِبُ الرِّزْقَ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْبَيْتِ مَعَ مَا فِيهِ مِنْ مَكَارِمِ الْأَخْلَاقِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘You must not deny loaning yeast for bread-making and taking fire to start a fire; because it attracts sustenance to the family along with high moral manners.’”

وَجَدَ رَجُلٌ رِكَازاً[3] عَلَى عَهْدِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فَابْتَاعَهُ أَبِي مِنْهُ بِثَلَاثِمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ وَ مِائَةِ شَاةٍ مُتْبِعٍ‌[4] فَلَامَتْهُ أُمِّي وَ قَالَتْ أَخَذْتَ هَذِهِ بِثَلَاثِمِائَةِ شَاةٍ أَوْلَادُهَا مِائَةٌ وَ أَنْفُسُهَا مِائَةٌ وَ مَا فِي بُطُونِهَا مِائَةٌ قَالَ فَنَدِمَ أَبِي فَانْطَلَقَ لِيَسْتَقِيلَهُ فَأَبَى عَلَيْهِ الرَّجُلُ فَقَالَ خُذْ مِنِّي عَشْرَ شِيَاهٍ خُذْ مِنِّي عِشْرِين

“A man during the time of ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), had found a treasure and my father bought it from him for three hundred dirham and one hundred sheep followed by their young; and my mother blamed him for it, saying, ‘You have bought it for three hundred sheep; one hundred of their young, one hundred sheep and one hu

سُئِلَ رَجُلٌ لَهُ مَالٌ عَلَى رَجُلٍ مِنْ قِبَلِ عِينَةٍ عَيَّنَهَا[1] إِيَّاهُ فَلَمَّا حَلَّ عَلَيْهِ الْمَالُ لَمْ يَكُنْ عِنْدَهُ مَا يُعْطِيهِ فَأَرَادَ أَنْ يُقَلِّبَ عَلَيْهِ وَ يَرْبَحَ أَ يَبِيعُهُ لُؤْلُؤاً وَ غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ مَا يَسْوَى مِائَةَ دِرْهَمٍ بِأَلْفِ دِرْهَمٍ وَ يُؤَخِّرَهُ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِذَلِكَ قَدْ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ أَبِي رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ وَ أَمَرَنِي أَنْ أَفْعَلَ ذَلِكَ فِي شَيْ‌ءٍ كَان

“Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about the case of a man to whom another man owed a certain amount of assets because of ‘Aynah deal. When payment time was due he did not have anything to pay so he wanted to turn it over on him for profit; if he can sell a pearl or something else worth a hundred dirham for a thous

سَاءَتْ حَالِي فَكَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع‌[2] فَكَتَبَ إِلَيَّ أَدِمْ قِرَاءَةَ- إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنا نُوحاً إِلى‌ قَوْمِهِ‌[3] قَالَ فَقَرَأْتُهَا حَوْلًا فَلَمْ أَرَ شَيْئاً فَكَتَبْتُ إِلَيْهِ أُخْبِرُهُ بِسُوءِ حَالِي وَ أَنِّي قَدْ قَرَأْتُ- إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنا نُوحاً إِلى‌ قَوْمِهِ‌ حَوْلًا كَمَا أَمَرْتَنِي وَ لَمْ أَرَ شَيْئاً قَالَ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيَّ قَدْ وَفَى لَكَ الْحَوْلُ فَانْتَقِلْ مِنْهَا إِلَى قِرَاء

“I faced a difficult condition and wrote to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about it and he (the Imam) wrote to me, ‘Continue reading, “We sent Noah to his people ... to the end.’” (Chapter 71) I read it for one year but did not see any change. I wrote to him again to inform him (the Imam) of my difficult condition and that I have