The Book of Dresses, Beautification and Kindness

سَمِعْتُ عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ ص يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ اخْتَضِبُوا بِالْحِنَّاءِ فَإِنَّهُ يَجْلُو الْبَصَرَ وَ يُنْبِتُ الشَّعْرَ وَ يُطَيِّبُ الرِّيحَ وَ يُسَكِّنُ الزَّوْجَةَ.

“I once heard Ali ibn al-Husayn, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, saying that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘Apply hair dye with henna, it increases eyesight, grows hair, sweetens the smell and comforts the wife.’”

الْحِنَّاءُ يَذْهَبُ بِالسَّهَكِ‌[1] وَ يَزِيدُ فِي مَاءِ الْوَجْهِ وَ يُطَيِّبُ النَّكْهَةَ وَ يُحَسِّنُ الْوَلَدَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Applying henna dispels bad odor, increases beauty of the face, sweetens the fragrance and beautifies the child.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع إِنَّ لِي فَتَاةً قَدِ ارْتَفَعَتْ عِلَّتُهَا فَقَالَ اخْضِبْ رَأْسَهَا بِالْحِنَّاءِ فَإِنَّ الْحَيْضَ سَيَعُودُ إِلَيْهَا قَالَ فَفَعَلْتُ ذَلِكَ فَعَادَ إِلَيْهَا الْحَيْضُ.

‘Apply hair dye to her head with henna; her Hayd (menses) will return.’ He (the narrator) has said, ‘She followed the instruction and her Hayd (menses) came back.’”

ثَلَاثٌ مَنْ عَرَفَهُنَّ لَمْ يَدَعْهُنَّ جَزُّ الشَّعْرِ وَ تَشْمِيرُ الثِّيَابِ وَ نِكَاحُ الْإِمَاءِ[2].

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘If one comes to know of three things he will not ignore them. They are clipping hairs, rolling up clothes and going to bed with slave-girls.”’

قَالَ لِي‌ اسْتَأْصِلْ شَعْرَكَ‌[3] يَقِلُّ دَرَنُهُ وَ دَوَابُّهُ وَ وَسَخُهُ وَ تَغْلُظُ رَقَبَتُكَ وَ يَجْلُو بَصَرَكَ وَ فِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى وَ يَسْتَرِيحُ بَدَنُكَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to me, ‘You must clip your hairs; it reduces its smell, bugs (like flea etc.) and dirt. It thickens your neck and clears your eyesight.’” In another Hadith it is said that it comforts your body.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع إِنَّ أَصْحَابَنَا يَرْوُونَ أَنَّ حَلْقَ الرَّأْسِ فِي غَيْرِ حَجٍّ وَ لَا عُمْرَةٍ مُثْلَةٌ فَقَالَ كَانَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع إِذَا قَضَى مَنَاسِكَهُ عَدَلَ إِلَى قَرْيَةٍ يُقَالُ لَهَا سَايَةُ فَحَلَقَ.

“I once said to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), ‘Our people narrate that shaving one’s head, except for al-Hajj or al-‘Umrah, is like causing deformity.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), after al-Hajj and al-‘Umrah would go to the town called Sayah and shave his head.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ النَّاسَ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ حَلْقَ الرَّأْسِ مُثْلَةٌ فَقَالَ عُمْرَةٌ لَنَا[4] وَ مُثْلَةٌ لِأَعْدَائِنَا.

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘People say shaving of the head is like causing deformity.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is like performing al-‘Umrah for us and deformity for our enemies.’”

حَجَمَنِي الْحَجَّامُ فَحَلَقَ مِنْ مَوْضِعِ‌ النُّقْرَةِ فَرَآنِي أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع فَقَالَ أَيُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ هَذَا اذْهَبْ فَاحْلِقْ رَأْسَكَ قَالَ فَذَهَبْتُ وَ حَلَقْتُ رَأْسِي.

“I once applied cupping. The cupping man shaved that area. Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), saw me and asked, ‘What is this? Go and shave your head.’ I went and shaved my head.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا تَقُولُ فِي إِطَالَةِ الشَّعْرِ فَقَالَ كَانَ أَصْحَابُ مُحَمَّدٍ ص مُشْعِرِينَ يَعْنِي الطَّمَ‌[1].

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about growing long hairs. He (the Imam) said that companions of the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, clipped their hairs.’”

إِنِّي لَأَحْلِقُ كُلَّ جُمُعَةٍ فِيمَا بَيْنَ الطَّلْيَةِ إِلَى الطَّلْيَةِ.

‘I shave every Friday from this to that duration.’”

قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ رُبَّمَا كَثُرَ الشَّعْرُ فِي قَفَايَ فَيَغُمُّنِي غَمّاً شَدِيداً فَقَالَ لِي يَا إِسْحَاقُ أَ مَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ حَلْقَ الْقَفَا يَذْهَبُ بِالْغَمِّ.

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, at times hairs grow at my back and it causes great worries for me.’ He (the Imam) said to me, ‘O Ishaq did you not know that shaving one’s back dispels anxieties?”’

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَكُونُ لَهُ وَفْرَةٌ أَ يَفْرُقُهَا أَوْ يَدَعُهَا فَقَالَ يَفْرُقُهَا[2].

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who has long hairs: if he must leave them or part them. He (the Imam) said, ‘He must part them.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنِ اتَّخَذَ شَعْراً فَلْيُحْسِنْ وِلَايَتَهُ أَوْ لِيَجُزَّهُ.

“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 one keeps hairs he must maintain them properly or clip them.”’

قُلْتُ لَهُ أَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَفْرُقُ شَعْرَهُ قَالَ لَا إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص كَانَ إِذَا طَالَ شَعْرُهُ كَانَ إِلَى شَحْمَةِ أُذُنِهِ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), if the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, parted his hairs. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, the Messenger of Allah would keep his hairs long enough to reach his ear lobe only.’”

قُلْتُ إِنَّهُمْ يَرْوُونَ أَنَّ الْفَرْقَ مِنَ السُّنَّةِ قَالَ مِنَ السُّنَّةِ قُلْتُ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّ النَّبِيِّ ص فَرَقَ قَالَ مَا فَرَقَ النَّبِيُّ ص وَ لَا كَانَ الْأَنْبِيَاءُ ع تُمْسِكُ الشَّعْرَ.

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘They narrated that parting the hairs is of Sunnah. He (the Imam) said, ‘Of the Sunnahl’ I said, ‘They think that the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, parted his hairs.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘The Holy Proph

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الْفَرْقُ مِنَ السُّنَّةِ قَالَ لَا قُلْتُ فَهَلْ فَرَقَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ كَيْفَ فَرَقَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص وَ لَيْسَ مِنَ السُّنَّةِ قَالَ مَنْ أَصَابَهُ مَا أَصَابَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص يَفْرُقُ كَمَا فَرَقَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص فَقَدْ أَصَابَ سُنَّةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ إِلَّا فَلَا قُلْتُ لَهُ كَيْفَ ذَلِكَ قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص حِينَ صُدَّ عَنِ الْبَيْتِ وَ ق

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), if parting hairs is of Sunnah. He (the Imam) replied, ‘No, it is not of Sunnah.’ I then asked if the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, parted his hairs.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, he (the Messenger of A

رَأَيْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَأْخُذُ عَارِضَيْهِ وَ يُبَطِّنُ لِحْيَتَهُ‌[2].

“I once saw abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), remove hairs from his cheek and from under his chin.’”

مَا زَادَ مِنَ اللِّحْيَةِ عَنِ الْقَبْضَةِ فَهُوَ فِي النَّارِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ’Whatever of the beard exceeds one’s fistful is in the fire.’”

تَقْبِضُ بِيَدِكَ عَلَى اللِّحْيَةِ وَ تَجُزُّ مَا فَضَلَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The amount of beard that you must keep is what comes in inside your fist and you must clip off whatever exceeds you fist.’”

رَأَيْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع قَدْ خَفَّفَ لِحْيَتَهُ.

“I once saw abu Ja‘far (a.s.), had made his beard lighter.’”

رَأَيْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ص وَ الْحَجَّامُ يَأْخُذُ مِنْ لِحْيَتِهِ فَقَالَ دَوِّرْهَا.

“I once saw abu Ja‘far (a.s.), when the barber trimmed his beard, he (the Imam) said, ‘Make it round.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّ مِنَ السُّنَّةِ أَنْ تَأْخُذَ مِنَ الشَّارِبِ حَتَّى يَبْلُغَ الْإِطَارَ[1].

The mustache must be trimmed until the lips become visible.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَصِّ الشَّارِبِ أَ مِنَ السُّنَّةِ قَالَ نَعَمْ.

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about trimming the mustache; if it is of Sunnah. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is of Sunnah.”’

ذَكَرْنَا الْأَخْذَ مِنَ الشَّارِبِ فَقَالَ نُشْرَةٌ وَ هُوَ مِنَ السُّنَّةِ[2].

“Once we mentioned trimming the mustache before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.). He (the Imam) said, ‘It is a charm and trimming it is of Sunnah.”’

أَحْفَى شَارِبَهُ حَتَّى أَلْصَقَهُ بِالْعَسِيبِ‌[3]

trim his mustache up to the root of the hairs.”’

مَا زَادَ عَلَى الْقَبْضَةِ فَفِي النَّارِ يَعْنِي اللِّحْيَةَ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Whatever of beard exceeds the fist is in the fire.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ لَا يُطَوِّلَنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ شَارِبَهُ فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَتَّخِذُهُ مَخْبَأً يَسْتَتِرُ بِهِ.

“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, ‘You must not allow your mustache to grow long; Satan makes it his hiding place and cover.’”

مَرَّ بِالنَّبِيِّ ص رَجُلٌ طَوِيلُ اللِّحْيَةِ فَقَالَ مَا كَانَ عَلَى هَذَا لَوْ هَيَّأَ مِنْ لِحْيَتِهِ فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ الرَّجُلَ فَهَيَّأَ لِحْيَتَهُ بَيْنَ اللِّحْيَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ دَخَلَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ص فَلَمَّا رَآهُ قَالَ هَكَذَا فَافْعَلُوا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that a man with a long beard once passed by the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, who said, ‘He would not look like that had he prepared his beard.’ This remark reached that man and he prepared his beard, t

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ أَخْذُ الشَّعْرِ مِنَ الْأَنْفِ يُحَسِّنُ الْوَجْهَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Removing hairs from the nostrils (outside) beautifies the face.”

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الثَّوْبُ النَّقِيُّ يَكْبِتُ الْعَدُوَّ وَ الدُّهْنُ يَذْهَبُ بِالْبُؤْسِ وَ الْمَشْطُ لِلرَّأْسِ يَذْهَبُ بِالْوَبَاءِ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَ مَا الْوَبَاءُ قَالَ الْحُمَّى وَ الْمَشْطُ لِلِّحْيَةِ يَشُدُّ الْأَضْرَاسَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Clean and fresh clothes saddens the enemy, using oil dispels despair and combing the head removes al-Waba’.’ I then asked, ‘What is al-Waba’?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is fever. Combing the beard strengthens molar teeth.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع يَقُولُ‌ الْمَشْطُ يَذْهَبُ بِالْوَبَاءِ وَ كَانَ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مُشْطٌ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ يَتَمَشَّطُ بِهِ إِذَا فَرَغَ مِنْ صَلَاتِهِ.

‘Combing dispels al-Waba’. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), had a comb in (for) the Masjid which he used after completing Salat (prayer).”’

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع وَ فِي يَدِهِ مُشْطُ عَاجٍ يَتَمَشَّطُ بِهِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ عِنْدَنَا بِالْعِرَاقِ مَنْ يَزْعُمُ أَنَّهُ لَا يَحِلُّ التَّمَشُّطُ بِالْعَاجِ قَالَ وَ لِمَ فَقَدْ كَانَ‌ لِأَبِي ع مِنْهَا مُشْطٌ أَوْ مُشْطَانِ ثُمَّ قَالَ تَمَشَّطُوا بِالْعَاجِ فَإِنَّ الْعَاجَ يَذْهَبُ بِالْوَبَاءِ[1].

“I once visited abu Ibrahim (a.s.), and he had an ivory comb in his hand which he used. I said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, in Iraq there are people with us who think that using ivory comb is not permissible.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘For what reason it can be as you said it is, my father ha

رَأَيْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع يَتَمَشَّطُ بِمُشْطِ عَاجٍ وَ اشْتَرَيْتُهُ لَهُ.

“I saw abu al-Hassan (a.s.), using ivory comb and I bought it for him.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنِ الْعَاجِ فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ وَ إِنَّ لِي مِنْهُ لَمُشْطاً.

‘It is not unlawful and I have one ivory comb.’”

كَثْرَةُ تَسْرِيحِ الرَّأْسِ‌[2] تَذْهَبُ بِالْوَبَاءِ وَ تَجْلِبُ الرِّزْقَ وَ تَزِيدُ فِي الْجِمَاعِ.

“The Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘Combing of the head very often removes al-Waba’ (fever), attracts sustenance and increases one’s ability to go to bed with one’s wife.’”

مِنْ ذَلِكَ التَّمَشُّطُ عِنْدَ كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ.

“About the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘You must beautify yourselves near every Masjid’ abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘Of such matters one is combing at the time of every Salat (prayer).”’

إِذَا سَرَّحْتَ رَأْسَكَ وَ لِحْيَتَكَ فَأَمِرَّ الْمُشْطَ عَلَى صَدْرِكَ فَإِنَّهُ يَذْهَبُ بِالْهَمِّ وَ الْوَبَاءِ.

“Abu al-Hassan, has said, ‘When you comb your head and beard, then wipe the comb against your chest; it removes worries and al-Waba’ (fever).’”

كَثْرَةُ التَّمَشُّطِ تُقَلِّلُ الْبَلْغَمَ.

“Using the comb very often reduces phlegm.’”

مَنْ سَرَّحَ لِحْيَتَهُ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً وَ عَدَّهَا مَرَّةً مَرَّةً لَمْ يَقْرَبْهُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one uses his comb seventy times and counts it one by one, Satan will not come close to him for forty days.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ عِظَامِ الْفِيلِ مَدَاهِنِهَا[3] وَ أَمْشَاطِهَا قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهَا.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about elephant bones, its oil (perfume) containers and combs. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ تَقْلِيمُ الْأَظْفَارِ يَمْنَعُ الدَّاءَ الْأَعْظَمَ وَ يُدِرُّ الرِّزْقَ.

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Qasim ibn Yahya from his grandfather al-Hassan ibn Rashid who has said the following: “He (the Imam) (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, h

تَقْلِيمُ الْأَظْفَارِ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ يُؤْمِنُ مِنَ الْجُذَامِ وَ الْبَرَصِ وَ الْعَمَى وَ إِنْ لَمْ تَحْتَجْ فَحُكَّهَا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ’Clipping fingernails on Fridays is immunity from leprosy, vilitigo and blindness. If you do not need to trim them then at least scratch them.’”

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ خُذْ مِنْ شَارِبِكَ وَ أَظْفَارِكَ فِي كُلِّ جُمُعَةٍ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِيهَا شَيْ‌ءٌ فَحُكَّهَا لَا يُصِيبُكَ جُنُونٌ وَ لَا جُذَامٌ وَ لَا بَرَصٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, once said to me, ’You must clip your mustache and fingernails every Friday, if you do not need clipping then just scratch them. You will not be affected by insanity, leprosy and albinism.’”

تَقْلِيمُ الْأَظْفَارِ وَ أَخْذُ الشَّارِبِ فِي كُلِّ جُمُعَةٍ أَمَانٌ مِنَ الْبَرَصِ وَ الْجُنُونِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ’Clipping fingernails and mustache every Friday is immunity from albinism and insanity.’”

مِنَ السُّنَّةِ تَقْلِيمُ الْأَظْفَارِ.

‘It is of Sunnah to clip one’s fingernails.’”

إِنَّمَا قُصَّ الْأَظْفَارُ لِأَنَّهَا مَقِيلُ الشَّيْطَانِ وَ مِنْهُ يَكُونُ النِّسْيَانُ.

“Abu Ja’far, Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ’There is clipping of fingernails; it reduces Satan; and because of it (unclipped fingernails) is forgetfulness.’”

إِنَّ أَسْتَرَ وَ أَخْفَى مَا يُسَلِّطُ الشَّيْطَانَ مِنِ ابْنِ آدَمَ أَنْ صَارَ أَنْ يَسْكُنَ تَحْتَ الْأَظَافِيرِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ’The strongest cover and most secret place for Satan by which he dominates children of Adam, Alayhi al-Salam is his hiding under the fingernails.’”

قُلْتُ لَهُ مَا ثَوَابُ مَنْ أَخَذَ مِنْ شَارِبِهِ وَ قَلَّمَ أَظْفَارَهُ فِي كُلِّ جُمُعَةٍ قَالَ لَا يَزَالُ مُطَهَّراً إِلَى الْجُمُعَةِ الْأُخْرَى.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, about the reward for clipping the mustache and fingernails every Friday. He (the Imam) said, ‘He continues with cleanliness until the next Friday.’”

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ مَنْ أَخَذَ مِنْ أَظْفَارِهِ وَ شَارِبِهِ كُلَّ جُمُعَةٍ وَ قَالَ حِينَ يَأْخُذُ- بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَ بِاللَّهِ وَ عَلَى سُنَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص لَمْ يَسْقُطْ مِنْهُ قُلَامَةٌ وَ لَا جُزَازَةٌ إِلَّا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ بِهَا عِتْقَ نَسَمَةٍ وَ لَا يَمْرَضُ إِلَّا مَرَضَهُ الَّذِي يَمُوتُ فِيهِ.

There is one’s clipping his mustache and fingernails every Friday. When clipping, one should say, “In the name of Allah, with Allah, and on the Sunnah of Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause.” For every piece of clipped hair Alla

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ تَقْلِيمُ الْأَظْفَارِ وَ قَصُّ الشَّارِبِ وَ غَسْلُ الرَّأْسِ بِالْخِطْمِيِّ كُلَّ جُمُعَةٍ يَنْفِي الْفَقْرَ وَ يَزِيدُ فِي الرِّزْقِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Clipping fingernails, mustache and washing one’s head with hollyhock (marshmallow plant) every Friday banishes poverty and increases one’s sustenance.’”