The Book of Commerce

ذَلِكَ رَجُلٌ يَحْبِسُ نَفْسَهُ عَنِ الْمَعِيشَةِ فَلَا بَأْسَ أَنْ يَأْكُلَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ إِذَا كَانَ يُصْلِحُ لَهُمْ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فَإِنْ كَانَ الْمَالُ قَلِيلًا فَلَا يَأْكُلْ مِنْهُ شَيْئاً قَالَ قُلْتُ أَ رَأَيْتَ قَوْلَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ إِنْ تُخالِطُوهُمْ فَإِخْوانُكُمْ‌ قَالَ تُخْرِجُ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ بِقَدْرِ مَا يَكْفِيهِمْ وَ تُخْرِجُ مِنْ مَالِكَ قَدْرَ مَا يَكْفِيكَ ثُمَّ تُنْفِقُهُ قُلْتُ أَ

“About the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘One who is poor can eat within the proper limits’, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘He is a man who holds himself back from making his living (to help the orphans). It is not harmful if he eats within the proper limits when he looks after their properties. If t

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْيَتِيمِ يَكُونُ غَلَّتُهُ فِي الشَّهْرِ عِشْرِينَ دِرْهَماً كَيْفَ يُنْفَقُ عَلَيْهِ مِنْهَا قَالَ قُوتُهُ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ وَ التَّمْرِ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ أُنْفِقُ عَلَيْهِ ثُلُثَهَا قَالَ نَعَمْ وَ نِصْفَهَا.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about an orphan whose income every month is twenty dirham; how I must spend it. He (the Imam) said, ‘Spend what the orphan needs of food and dates.’ I asked if spending one-third is sufficient. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, you must spend half of the income.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع كَانَ لِي أَخٌ هَلَكَ فَأَوْصَى إِلَى أَخٍ أَكْبَرَ مِنِّي وَ أَدْخَلَنِي مَعَهُ فِي الْوَصِيَّةِ وَ تَرَكَ ابْناً لَهُ صَغِيراً وَ لَهُ مَالٌ فَيَضْرِبُ بِهِ أَخِي فَمَا كَانَ مِنْ فَضْلٍ سَلَّمَهُ لِلْيَتِيمِ وَ ضَمِنَ لَهُ مَالَهُ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ لِأَخِيكَ مَالٌ يُحِيطُ بِمَالِ الْيَتِيمِ إِنْ تَلِفَ فَلَا بَأْسَ بِهِ وَ إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ مَالٌ فَلَا يَعْرِضْ لِمَالِ الْيَتِي

“I once said to abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘I had a brother who has died and made a will in which he appointed my brother who is elder to me and myself as executors. He has left behind a small son and has left behind a certain amount of assets. My brother uses that asset in business and gives the extra to the orphan and h

الْعَامِلُ بِهِ ضَامِنٌ وَ لِلْيَتِيمِ الرِّبْحُ إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ لِلْعَامِلِ بِهِ مَالٌ وَ قَالَ إِنْ أُعْطِبَ أَدَّاهُ‌[1].

“About the case of the assets of orphans, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘One who uses the assets of the orphan in business is responsible and the profit belongs to the orphan, if the worker does not have anything of his own assets in it.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘This person is responsible to pay for any damage caused.’

فِي رَجُلٍ عِنْدَهُ مَالُ الْيَتِيمِ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ مُحْتَاجاً وَ لَيْسَ لَهُ مَالٌ فَلَا يَمَسَّ مَالَهُ وَ إِنْ [هُوَ] اتَّجَرَ بِهِ فَالرِّبْحُ لِلْيَتِيمِ وَ هُوَ ضَامِنٌ.

‘If he is poor and has no assets of his own, he must not touch the assets of the orphan; and if he uses it in business, he is responsible for it and the profit belongs to the orphan.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقُلْتُ أَمَرَنِي أَخِي أَنْ أَسْأَلَكَ عَنْ مَالِ يَتِيمٍ فِي حَجْرِهِ يَتَّجِرُ بِهِ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ لِأَخِيكَ مَالٌ يُحِيطُ بِمَالِ الْيَتِيمِ إِنْ تَلِفَ أَوْ أَصَابَهُ شَيْ‌ءٌ غَرِمَهُ لَهُ وَ إِلَّا فَلَا يَتَعَرَّضْ لِمَالِ الْيَتِيمِ.

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), that my brother has told me to ask you about the assets of an orphan who is under his (my brother’s) guardianship and he uses the assets of the orphan in business. He (the Imam) said, ‘If your brother’s assets are sufficient to cover the assets of the orphan in case it is destroye

إِنَّ عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ ع قَدْ كَانَ يَسْتَقْرِضُ مِنْ مَالِ أَيْتَامٍ كَانُوا فِي حَجْرِهِ فَلَا بَأْسَ بِذَلِكَ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who is the person in charge of the assets of an orphan; if he can borrow from such assets. He (the Imam) said, ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), would borrow from the assets of orphans under his guardianship, thus, it is not harmful.’”

قُلْتُ لَهُ رَجُلٌ وُلِّيَ مَالَ يَتِيمٍ أَ يَسْتَقْرِضُ مِنْهُ قَالَ‌ كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع يَسْتَقْرِضُ مِنْ مَالِ يَتِيمٍ كَانَ فِي حَجْرِهِ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who is the person in charge of the assets of orphans; if he can borrow from such assets. He (the Imam) said, ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), would borrow from the assets of orphans under his guardianship.’”

فِي الرَّجُلِ يَكُونُ عِنْدَ بَعْضِ أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ مَالٌ لِأَيْتَامٍ فَيَدْفَعُهُ إِلَيْهِ فَيَأْخُذُ مِنْهُ دَرَاهِمَ يَحْتَاجُ إِلَيْهَا وَ لَا يُعْلِمُ الَّذِي كَانَ عِنْدَهُ الْمَالُ لِلْأَيْتَامِ أَنَّهُ أَخَذَ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ شَيْئاً ثُمَّ تَيَسَّرَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ أَيُّ ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ لَهُ أَ يُعْطِيهِ الَّذِي كَانَ فِي يَدِهِ أَمْ يَدْفَعُهُ إِلَى الْيَتِيمِ وَ قَدْ بَلَغَ وَ هَلْ يُجْزِئُهُ أَنْ يَدْفَعَهُ

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about the case of a man in whose family someone has the assets of orphans and he gives a certain amount of dirham to him that he needs; and the person with whom there are the assets of orphans does not know if he has taken anything from their assets. He thereafter becomes affluent. I

سُئِلَ عَنْ رَجُلٍ وُلِّيَ مَالَ يَتِيمٍ فَاسْتَقْرَضَ مِنْهُ شَيْئاً فَقَالَ إِنَّ عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ ع كَانَ اسْتَقْرَضَ مَالًا لِأَيْتَامٍ فِي حَجْرِهِ.

“Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about the case of a man who becomes the person in charge of the assets of orphans and borrows a certain amount thereof. He (the Imam) said, ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn, would borrow from the assets of orphans under his guardianship.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ ثَلَاثَةٌ لَا عُذْرَ لِأَحَدٍ فِيهَا أَدَاءُ الْأَمَانَةِ إِلَى الْبَرِّ وَ الْفَاجِرِ وَ الْوَفَاءُ بِالْعَهْدِ إِلَى الْبَرِّ وَ الْفَاجِرِ وَ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ بَرَّيْنِ كَانَا أَوْ فَاجِرَيْنِ.

“I heard abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘There are three issues in which one has no choice: They are safe return of trust of a virtuous or sinful person, keeping one’s promise to a virtuous or sinful person, and kindness to parents, regardless, of their being virtuous or sinful ones.’”

قُلْتُ لَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ مَوَالِيكَ يَسْتَحِلُّ مَالَ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ وَ دِمَاءَهُمْ وَ إِنَّهُ وَقَعَ لَهُمْ عِنْدَهُ وَدِيعَةٌ فَقَالَ أَدُّوا الْأَمَانَاتِ إِلَى أَهْلِهَا وَ إِنْ كَانُوا مَجُوسِيّاً فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ لَا يَكُونُ حَتَّى يَقُومَ قَائِمُنَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ ع فَيُحِلَّ وَ يُحَرِّمَ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘One of your Mawaliy (followers) considers use of the properties of Amawide people lawful as well as their lives. Something that they had left with him for safe-keeping is in his possession.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘You must return trusts to the rightful people

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص‌ أَدُّوا الْأَمَانَةَ وَ لَوْ إِلَى قَاتِلِ وُلْدِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘You must return a trust even if an assassin of the children of the prophet has left it with you.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَ عَلَيْكُمْ بِأَدَاءِ الْأَمَانَةِ إِلَى مَنِ ائْتَمَنَكُمْ وَ لَوْ أَنَّ قَاتِلَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ع ائْتَمَنَنِي عَلَى أَمَانَةٍ لَأَدَّيْتُهَا إِلَيْهِ.

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘You must maintain piety before Allah and you must return a trust to the one who has entrusted you with it. Even if the assassin of Ali ibn abu Talib entrusted me with something, I had to return it to him safely.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فِي وَصِيَّةٍ لَهُ‌ اعْلَمْ أَنَّ ضَارِبَ عَلِيٍّ ع بِالسَّيْفِ وَ قَاتِلَهُ لَوِ ائْتَمَنَنِي وَ اسْتَنْصَحَنِي وَ اسْتَشَارَنِي ثُمَّ قَبِلْتُ ذَلِكَ مِنْهُ لَأَدَّيْتُ إِلَيْهِ الْأَمَانَةَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said in one of his advices, ‘You must take notice that even if the assassin of Ali (a.s.), who struck him (the Imam) with his sword had entrusted me with something, asked for my opinion and consultation and I had accepted, I most certainly had to return his trust safely.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع امْرَأَةٌ بِالْمَدِينَةِ كَانَ النَّاسُ يَضَعُونَ عِنْدَهَا الْجَوَارِيَ فَتُصْلِحُهُنَّ وَ قُلْنَا مَا رَأَيْنَا مِثْلَ مَا صُبَّ عَلَيْهَا مِنَ الرِّزْقِ فَقَالَ إِنَّهَا صَدَقَتِ الْحَدِيثَ وَ أَدَّتِ الْأَمَانَةَ وَ ذَلِكَ يَجْلِبُ الرِّزْقَ. - قَالَ صَفْوَانُ وَ سَمِعْتُهُ مِنْ حَفْصٍ‌ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ.

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘There was a woman in al-Madinah and people left their slave-girls with her to train them. We said that there is no one on whom wealth is poured as it is poured before her.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is because she spoke the truth, returned the trust safely and that is what attracts

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ لَيْسَ مِنَّا مَنْ أَخْلَفَ بِالْأَمَانَةِ وَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص الْأَمَانَةُ تَجْلِبُ الرِّزْقَ وَ الْخِيَانَةُ تَجْلِبُ الْفَقْرَ.

“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 does not keep a trust safely is not of our people/ The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Trustworthiness attracts wealth and treachery attracts pove

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ يَعْنِي مُوسَى ع- عَنْ رَجُلٍ اسْتَوْدَعَ رَجُلًا مَالًا لَهُ قِيمَةٌ وَ الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ الْمَالُ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْعَرَبِ يَقْدِرُ عَلَى أَنْ لَا يُعْطِيَهُ شَيْئاً وَ لَا يَقْدِرُ لَهُ عَلَى شَيْ‌ءٍ وَ الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي اسْتَوْدَعَهُ خَبِيثٌ خَارِجِيٌّ فَلَمْ أَدَعْ شَيْئاً فَقَالَ لِي قُلْ لَهُ رُدَّهُ عَلَيْهِ فَإِنَّهُ ائْتَمَنَهُ عَلَيْهِ بِأَمَانَةِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ قُلْت

“I once asked abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), about a man who entrusted another man with a certain amount of property. The man with whom goods were left was from Arab people and he was not able to return anything. The other man was not able to do anything against him. The entrusting man was a filthy foreigner and has not a

لَمَّا هَلَكَ أَبِي سَيَابَةُ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ إِخْوَانِهِ إِلَيَّ فَضَرَبَ الْبَابَ عَلَيَّ فَخَرَجْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَعَزَّانِي وَ قَالَ لِي هَلْ تَرَكَ أَبُوكَ شَيْئاً فَقُلْتُ لَهُ لَا فَدَفَعَ إِلَيَّ كِيساً فِيهِ أَلْفُ دِرْهَمٍ وَ قَالَ لِي أَحْسِنْ حِفْظَهَا وَ كُلْ فَضْلَهَا فَدَخَلْتُ إِلَى أُمِّي وَ أَنَا فَرِحٌ فَأَخْبَرْتُهَا فَلَمَّا كَانَ بِالْعَشِيِّ أَتَيْتُ صَدِيقاً كَانَ لِأَبِي فَاشْتَرَى لِي بَضَائِع

“When my father, Sayabah, passed away, one of his brothers came to me and knocked at the door. I went out to meet him. He offered me condolence and asked, ‘Has your father left anything?’ I replied, ‘No, he has not left anything.’ He then gave to me a bag with a thousand dirham in it and said, ‘Keep it (the capital) sa

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ لِابْنِهِ مَالٌ فَيَحْتَاجُ إِلَيْهِ الْأَبُ قَالَ يَأْكُلُ مِنْهُ فَأَمَّا الْأُمُّ فَلَا تَأْكُلُ مِنْهُ إِلَّا قَرْضاً عَلَى نَفْسِهَا[1].

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man whose son owned a certain amount of wealth and his father was needy. He (the Imam) replied, ‘He has permission to use such wealth for food; however, a mother does not have such permission but she can borrow on her own responsibility.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَأْكُلُ مِنْ مَالِ وَلَدِهِ قَالَ لَا إِلَّا أَنْ يُضْطَرَّ إِلَيْهِ فَيَأْكُلَ مِنْهُ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَ لَا يَصْلُحُ لِلْوَلَدِ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ مِنْ مَالِ وَالِدِهِ شَيْئاً إِلَّا أَنْ يَأْذَنَ وَالِدُهُ‌[2].

“I once asked abu Ibrahim (a.s.), about a man who used the properties of his sons for food. He (the Imam) replied, ‘No, unless he is compelled by pressing needs, in which case he spends in a fair manner but it is not proper for the sons to spend the properties of their father without the permission of the father.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص لِرَجُلٍ أَنْتَ وَ مَالُكَ لِأَبِيكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع وَ مَا أُحِبُّ لَهُ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ مِنْ مَالِ ابْنِهِ إِلَّا مَا احْتَاجَ إِلَيْهِ مِمَّا لَا بُدَّ مِنْهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌ لا يُحِبُّ الْفَسادَ.

‘You and your property belong to your father.’ Abu Ja’far (a.s.), then said, ‘I do not like his spending from the property of his son more than what he needs for his bare necessities; Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, does not love destruction.’”

فَلْيَأْخُذْ فَإِنْ كَانَتْ أُمُّهُ حَيَّةً فَمَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ تَأْخُذَ مِنْهُ شَيْئاً إِلَّا قَرْضاً عَلَى نَفْسِهَا.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man whose son owned a certain amount of wealth and liked to take something from it. He (the Imam) replied, ‘He has permission to do so; however, were his mother alive I would not like her taking anything from his property except as a loan on her own

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَحْتَاجُ إِلَى مَالِ ابْنِهِ قَالَ يَأْكُلُ مِنْهُ مَا شَاءَ مِنْ غَيْرِ سَرَفٍ وَ قَالَ فِي كِتَابِ عَلِيٍّ ع إِنَّ الْوَلَدَ لَا يَأْخُذُ مِنْ مَالِ وَالِدِهِ شَيْئاً إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ وَ الْوَالِدَ يَأْخُذُ مِنْ مَالِ ابْنِهِ مَا شَاءَ وَ لَهُ أَنْ يَقَعَ عَلَى جَارِيَةِ ابْنِهِ إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنِ الِابْنُ وَقَعَ عَلَيْهَا وَ ذَكَرَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ لِرَجُلٍ أَنْتَ وَ مَالُكَ

“I once asked abu Ja’far (a.s.), about a man who needed to spend from the property of his son. He (the Imam) replied, ‘He has permission to use the property of his son for food as much as he wants but without excess.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is in the book of Ali (a.s.), that a son does not have permission to spend fro

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا يَحِلُّ لِلرَّجُلِ مِنْ مَالِ وَلَدِهِ قَالَ قُوتُهُ بِغَيْرِ سَرَفٍ إِذَا اضْطُرَّ إِلَيْهِ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ فَقَوْلُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص لِلرَّجُلِ الَّذِي أَتَاهُ فَقَدَّمَ أَبَاهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَنْتَ وَ مَالُكَ لِأَبِيكَ فَقَالَ إِنَّمَا جَاءَ بِأَبِيهِ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ص فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَذَا أَبِي وَ قَدْ ظَلَمَنِي مِيرَاثِي مِنْ أُمِّي فَأَخْبَرَهُ الْأَبُ أَنَّ

He (the Imam) replied, ‘He can take for his basic necessities without excess when pressing needs compel him.’ I (the narrator) then asked about the words of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, to a man who came to him and had brought his

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ امْرَأَةٌ دَفَعَتْ إِلَى زَوْجِهَا مَالًا مِنْ مَالِهَا لِيَعْمَلَ بِهِ وَ قَالَتْ لَهُ حِينَ دَفَعَتْ إِلَيْهِ أَنْفِقْ مِنْهُ فَإِنْ حَدَثَ بِكَ حَدَثٌ فَمَا أَنْفَقْتَ مِنْهُ حَلَالًا طَيِّباً فَإِنْ حَدَثَ بِي حَدَثٌ فَمَا أَنْفَقْتَ مِنْهُ فَهُوَ حَلَالٌ طَيِّبٌ فَقَالَ أَعِدْ عَلَيَّ يَا سَعِيدُ الْمَسْأَلَةَ فَلَمَّا ذَهَبْتُ أُعِيدُ الْمَسْأَلَةَ عَلَيْهِ اعْتَ

T pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, a woman gave a certain amount of property to her husband from her own property so he can use in business and she said to him upon the delivery, “You can spend from it and if something happens to you, it is lawful for you and if something happens to me and whate

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَمَّا يَحِلُّ لِلْمَرْأَةِ أَنْ تَتَصَدَّقَ بِهِ مِنْ بَيْتِ زَوْجِهَا بِغَيْرِ إِذْنِهِ قَالَ الْمَأْدُومُ.

‘It is al-Ma’dum (sauce, curry or gravy).”’

كَانَ النَّاسُ فِي الزَّمَنِ الْأَوَّلِ إِذَا وَجَدُوا شَيْئاً فَأَخَذُوهُ احْتَبَسَ فَلَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ أَنْ يَخْطُوَ[1] حَتَّى يَرْمِيَ بِهِ فَيَجِي‌ءَ طَالِبُهُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ فَيَأْخُذَهُ وَ إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدِ اجْتَرَءُوا عَلَى مَا هُوَ أَكْثَرُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ‌[2] وَ سَيَعُودُ كَمَا كَانَ.

‘In the beginning of time when people found something and took it this (act) caused them to lose the ability to move even one step until they threw away what they had found. The rightful owner then came to pick it up. People became daring to greater wrong acts but it will in a certain time come back again.”’

فِي اللُّقَطَةِ يُعَرِّفُهَا سَنَةً ثُمَّ هِيَ كَسَائِرِ مَالِهِ‌[3].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that one who finds something of value must (continue to) announce his finding for one year. Thereafter it becomes like the rest of his property.” (Consult fatwa also)

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع رَجُلٌ وَجَدَ فِي مَنْزِلِهِ دِينَاراً قَالَ يَدْخُلُ مَنْزِلَهُ غَيْرُهُ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ كَثِيرٌ قَالَ هَذَا لُقَطَةٌ قُلْتُ فَرَجُلٌ وَجَدَ فِي صُنْدُوقِهِ دِينَاراً قَالَ يُدْخِلُ أَحَدٌ يَدَهُ فِي صُنْدُوقِهِ غَيْرُهُ أَوْ يَضَعُ غَيْرُهُ فِيهِ شَيْئاً قُلْتُ لَا قَالَ فَهُوَ لَهُ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who has found a dinar in his house. He (the Imam) asked, ‘Does anyone else enter his house?’ I (the narrator) replied, ‘Yes, many people enter his house.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘This is a case of lost and found property.’ I (the narrato

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ اللُّقَطَةِ قَالَ تُعَرَّفُ سَنَةً قَلِيلًا كَانَ أَوْ كَثِيراً قَالَ وَ مَا كَانَ دُونَ الدِّرْهَمِ فَلَا يُعَرَّفُ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about lost property found. He (the Imam) said, ‘You must (continue to) announce your finding in public for one year, regardless of its quantity - whether small or a large quantity.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘If it is less than a dirham one does not need to m

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الدَّارِ يُوجَدُ فِيهَا الْوَرِقُ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَتْ مَعْمُورَةً فِيهَا أَهْلُهَا فَهُوَ لَهُمْ وَ إِنْ كَانَتْ خَرِبَةً قَدْ جَلَا عَنْهَا أَهْلُهَا فَالَّذِي وَجَدَ الْمَالَ فَهُوَ أَحَقُّ بِهِ.

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about a house wherein certain leaves (coins of silver) are found. He (the Imam) replied, ‘If it is livable and the dwellers live therein, it belongs to them; but if it is not livable, whose inhabitants have abandoned it, then it is for the one who has found it.’”

خَرَجْتُ إِلَى مَكَّةَ وَ أَنَا مِنْ أَشَدِّ النَّاسِ حَالًا فَشَكَوْتُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَلَمَّا خَرَجْتُ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ وَجَدْتُ عَلَى بَابِهِ كِيساً فِيهِ سَبْعُمِائَةِ دِينَارٍ فَرَجَعْتُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ فَوْرِي ذَلِكَ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ فَقَالَ يَا سَعِيدُ اتَّقِ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ عَرِّفْهُ فِي الْمَشَاهِدِ وَ كُنْتُ رَجَوْتُ أَنْ يُرَخِّصَ لِي فِيهِ فَخَرَجْتُ وَ أَنَا مُغْتَمٌّ فَأَتَيْتُ مِنًى وَ

“I once left for Makkah and my financial condition was the worst among people. I mentioned to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.). When I left his meeting at the door I found a bag with seven hundred dinar in it. I immediately returned to the Imam and informed him about it. He (the Imam) said, ‘Sa‘id, be pious before Allah, most Maj

قَالَ رَجُلٌ إِنِّي قَدْ أَصَبْتُ مَالًا وَ إِنِّي قَدْ خِفْتُ فِيهِ عَلَى نَفْسِي فَلَوْ أَصَبْتُ صَاحِبَهُ دَفَعْتُهُ إِلَيْهِ وَ تَخَلَّصْتُ مِنْهُ قَالَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ اللَّهِ إِنْ لَوْ أَصَبْتَهُ كُنْتَ تَدْفَعُهُ إِلَيْهِ قَالَ إِي وَ اللَّهِ قَالَ فَأَنَا وَ اللَّهِ مَا لَهُ صَاحِبٌ غَيْرِي قَالَ‌ فَاسْتَحْلَفَهُ أَنْ يَدْفَعَهُ إِلَى مَنْ يَأْمُرُهُ قَالَ فَحَلَفَ قَالَ فَاذْهَبْ فَاقْ

‘I have found a certain amount of property and because of it I am afraid for myself. I wish to find the owner to free myself of this difficulty. He (the narrator) has said, that abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), asked him, ‘Will you, by Allah, on finding the owner give it to him?’ He replied, ‘Yes, by Allah, I will do so.’ He (th

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع رَجُلٌ وَجَدَ مَالًا فَعَرَّفَهُ حَتَّى إِذَا مَضَتِ السَّنَةُ اشْتَرَى بِهِ خَادِماً فَجَاءَ طَالِبُ الْمَالِ فَوَجَدَ الْجَارِيَةَ الَّتِي اشْتُرِيَتْ بِالدَّرَاهِمِ هِيَ ابْنَتَهُ قَالَ لَيْسَ لَهُ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ إِلَّا دَرَاهِمَهُ وَ لَيْسَ لَهُ الِابْنَةُ إِنَّمَا لَهُ رَأْسُ مَالِهِ وَ إِنَّمَا كَانَتِ ابْنَتُهُ مَمْلُوكَةَ قَوْمٍ‌[2].

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘A man found a certain amount of goods and he announced about it in public for one year. He then bought a slave-girl. A man then claiming to be the owner came to him and found the slave-girl who was purchased with that money to be his daughter.’ He (the Imam

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى الرَّجُلِ أَسْأَلُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ اشْتَرَى جَزُوراً أَوْ بَقَرَةً لِلْأَضَاحِيِّ فَلَمَّا ذَبَحَهَا وَجَدَ فِي جَوْفِهَا صُرَّةٌ فِيهَا دَرَاهِمُ أَوْ دَنَانِيرُ أَوْ جَوْهَرَةٌ لِمَنْ يَكُونُ ذَلِكَ فَوَقَّعَ ع عَرِّفْهَا الْبَائِعَ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ يَعْرِفُهَا فَالشَّيْ‌ءُ لَكَ رَزَقَكَ اللَّهُ إِيَّاهُ.

‘He must announce it before the seller and if he did not know about it, then whatever is found is what Allah has granted to him.’”

مَنْ وَجَدَ شَيْئاً فَهُوَ لَهُ فَلْيَتَمَتَّعْ‌[4] بِهِ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَهُ طَالِبُهُ فَإِذَا جَاءَ طَالِبُهُ رَدَّهُ إِلَيْهِ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Whoever finds something it is for him to benefit thereby until the owner comes. He then must give it to the owner.” (Consult Fatwa also.)

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ اللُّقَطَةِ فَقَالَ لَا تَرْفَعْهَا فَإِنِ ابْتُلِيتَ بِهَا فَعَرِّفْهَا سَنَةً فَإِنْ‌ جَاءَ طَالِبُهَا وَ إِلَّا فَاجْعَلْهَا فِي عُرْضِ مَالِكَ تُجْرِي عَلَيْهَا مَا تُجْرِي عَلَى مَالِكَ حَتَّى يَجِي‌ءَ لَهَا طَالِبٌ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَجِئْ لَهَا طَالِبٌ فَأَوْصِ بِهَا فِي وَصِيَّتِكَ.

“I asked abu Ja’far (a.s.), about lost property found. He (the Imam) said, ’He must not pick it up, and if he did so, it becomes his responsibility to announce for it up to one year. If the owner did not come forward, it then becomes subject to what his other properties are until someone searching for it comes forward;

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ص فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي وَجَدْتُ شَاةً فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص هِيَ لَكَ أَوْ لِأَخِيكَ أَوْ لِلذِّئْبِ‌[1] فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي وَجَدْتُ بَعِيراً فَقَالَ مَعَهُ حِذَاؤُهُ وَ سِقَاؤُهُ حِذَاؤُهُ خُفُّهُ وَ سِقَاؤُهُ كَرِشُهُ فَلَا تَهِجْهُ‌[2].

‘I have found a sheep.’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘It is for you or your brother or a wolf.’ He then said, T have found a camel.’ The Messenger of Allah asked, ’Does it have its shoes and water container? Nevertheless, take notice, its shoes are its feet and its water container is its hump. You must not bother the c

مَنْ أَصَابَ مَالًا[3] أَوْ بَعِيراً فِي فَلَاةٍ مِنَ الْأَرْضِ قَدْ كَلَّتْ وَ قَامَتْ وَ سَيَّبَهَا[4] صَاحِبُهَا مِمَّا لَمْ يَتْبَعْهُ فَأَخَذَهَا غَيْرُهُ فَأَقَامَ عَلَيْهَا وَ أَنْفَقَ نَفَقَةً حَتَّى أَحْيَاهَا مِنَ الْكَلَالِ وَ مِنَ الْمَوْتِ فَهِيَ لَهُ وَ لَا سَبِيلَ لَهُ عَلَيْهَا وَ إِنَّمَا هِيَ مِثْلُ الشَّيْ‌ءِ الْمُبَاحِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one finds a certain amount of goods, or a camel in wilderness which has become tired has stopped walking and its owner has abandoned it; someone other than the owner then takes it, tends to it and incurs expenses to revive it from tiredness and death; it then is for him. He (the ow

إِنْ تَرَكَهَا فِي كَلَإٍ وَ مَاءٍ وَ أَمْنٍ فَهِيَ لَهُ يَأْخُذُهَا حَيْثُ أَصَابَهَا وَ إِنْ كَانَ تَرَكَهَا فِي خَوْفٍ وَ عَلَى غَيْرِ مَاءٍ وَ لَا كَلَإٍ فَهِيَ لِمَنْ أَصَابَهَا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), issued a judgment about the animal of a man who had abandoned it as follows: ‘If he has left it near water, and proper and safe pasture it is for him. He takes it wherever he finds it. If he has left it in an unsafe place, without water and pasture, it then

لَا بَأْسَ بِلُقَطَةِ الْعَصَا وَ الشِّظَاظِ وَ الْوَتِدِ وَ الْحَبْلِ وَ الْعِقَالِ وَ أَشْبَاهِهِ‌[5] قَالَ وَ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ لَيْسَ لِهَذَا طَالِبٌ‌[1].

15. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad from Hariz who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘There is no offense in picking up a stick, pieces of wood used in the saddle of camels, stage, ropes, and harnesses and similar items. He (the Imam) then said, ‘Abu Ja’far, ‘

إِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص كَانَ يَقُولُ‌ فِي الدَّابَّةِ إِذَا سَرَحَهَا أَهْلُهَا أَوْ عَجَزُوا عَنْ عَلَفِهَا أَوْ نَفَقَتِهَا فَهِيَ لِلَّذِي أَحْيَاهَا قَالَ وَ قَضَى أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فِي رَجُلٍ تَرَكَ دَابَّتَهُ فِي مَضِيعَةٍ فَقَالَ إِنْ تَرَكَهَا فِي كَلَإٍ وَ مَاءٍ وَ أَمْنٍ فَهِيَ لَهُ يَأْخُذُهَا مَتَى شَاءَ وَ إِنْ تَرَكَهَا فِي غَيْرِ كَلَإٍ وَ لَا مَاءٍ فَهِيَ لِمَنْ أَحْيَاهَا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘If a horse is released by its owner or if he is not able to feed it or pay its expenses, it then is for one who revives it.’ He (the Imam) has said, ‘Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), issued a judgment about the case of a man who had left his horse in an

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَنْ وَجَدَ ضَالَّةً فَلَمْ يُعَرِّفْهَا ثُمَّ وُجِدَتْ عِنْدَهُ فَإِنَّهَا لِرَبِّهَا وَ مِثْلَهَا[2] مِنْ مَالِ الَّذِي كَتَمَهَا.

“I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘One who finds a lost animal but does not announce in public what he has found and then it is found by the owner, it then is for the care-taker (owner) or its kind (current value) from the assets of the one who has kept it in hiding.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ الْهَدِيَّةُ عَلَى ثَلَاثَةِ أَوْجُهٍ هَدِيَّةُ مُكَافَأَةٍ وَ هَدِيَّةُ مُصَانَعَةٍ وَ هَدِيَّةٌ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌[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, ‘Gifts are of three kinds: One is a gift to compensate a favor, another is a gift for understanding (bribing) someone, and another gift is a gift from Al

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ تَكُونُ لَهُ الضَّيْعَةُ الْكَبِيرَةُ فَإِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْمِهْرَجَانِ أَوِ النَّيْرُوزِ أَهْدَوْا إِلَيْهِ الشَّيْ‌ءَ لَيْسَ هُوَ عَلَيْهِمْ يَتَقَرَّبُونَ بِذَلِكَ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ أَ لَيْسَ هُمْ مُصَلِّينَ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ فَلْيَقْبَلْ هَدِيَّتَهُمْ وَ لْيُكَافِهِمْ فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ لَوْ أُهْدِيَ إِلَيَّ كُرَاعٌ لَقَبِلْتُ وَ كَانَ ذَلِكَ مِنَ الدّ

“I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who possesses a great deal of goods. On the times of festivities or the day of Nawroz, they give him as gifts which they did not have to give him but they wanted to become nearer to him. He (the Imam) asked, ‘Are they not the ones who perform prayers?’ I (the narr

كَانَتِ الْعَرَبُ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ عَلَى فِرْقَتَيْنِ- الْحُلِّ وَ الْحُمْسِ فَكَانَتِ الْحُمْسُ قُرَيْشاً وَ كَانَتِ الْحُلُ‌[2] سَائِرَ الْعَرَبِ فَلَمْ يَكُنْ أَحَدٌ مِنَ الْحُلِّ إِلَّا وَ لَهُ حَرَمِيٌّ مِنَ الْحُمْسِ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ حَرَمِيٌّ مِنَ الْحُمْسِ لَمْ يُتْرَكْ أَنْ يَطُوفَ بِالْبَيْتِ إِلَّا عُرْيَاناً وَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص حَرَمِيّاً- لِعِيَاضِ بْنِ حِمَارٍ الْمُجَاشِعِيِ‌[3] وَ كَا

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Arabs during pre-Islamic age of ignorance were of two groups. One was al-Hull and the other al-Hums. Al-Hums were Quraysh and al-Hull was the rest of Arabs. Everyone of al-Hull group had to have a protector from al-Hums people; otherwise, they could not perform Tawaf except in a naked

مَا كَانَ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ لِصِلَةِ الرَّحِمِ فَهُوَ جَائِزٌ وَ لَهُ أَنْ يَقْبِضَهَا إِذَا كَانَ لِلثَّوَابِ.

A man gives a gift to a relative, but seeks a reward while that relative is in a position of authority. He said regarding this, "If it is for the sake of Allah, the Mighty and Exalted, and for maintaining family ties, then it is permissible, and he may accept it as long as it is given with the intention of seeking rewa

قَالَ لَهُ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْقُمِّيُّ إِنَّ لَنَا ضِيَاعاً فِيهَا بُيُوتُ النِّيرَانِ تُهْدِي إِلَيْهَا الْمَجُوسُ الْبَقَرَ وَ الْغَنَمَ وَ الدَّرَاهِمَ فَهَلْ لِأَرْبَابِ الْقُرَى أَنْ يَأْخُذُوا ذَلِكَ وَ لِبُيُوتِ نِيرَانِهِمْ قُوَّامٌ يَقُومُونَ‌ عَلَيْهَا[1] قَالَ لِيَأْخُذْهُ صَاحِبُ الْقُرَى لَيْسَ بِهِ بَأْسٌ.

‘The owners of these villages must take it and there is no offense in it.’” (Consult Fatwa also)

قُلْتُ لَهُ الرَّجُلُ الْفَقِيرُ يُهْدِي إِلَيَّ الْهَدِيَّةَ يَتَعَرَّضُ لِمَا عِنْدِي فَآخُذُهَا وَ لَا أُعْطِيهِ شَيْئاً أَ يَحِلُّ لِي قَالَ نَعَمْ هِيَ لَكَ حَلَالٌ وَ لَكِنْ لَا تَدَعْ أَنْ تُعْطِيَهُ‌[2].

“I once asked him (the Imam) about a poor man who presents to me a gift seeking nearness to me thereby and I accept it and do not give him anything as a gift. Is this lawful for me?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘It is lawful for you, however, you must not neglect to give him something.’”