The Book of Dresses, Beautification and Kindness

قَالَ رَجُلٌ لِعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَلِّمْنِي شَيْئاً فِي الرِّزْقِ فَقَالَ الْزَمْ مُصَلَّاكَ إِذَا صَلَّيْتَ الْفَجْرَ إِلَى طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ فَإِنَّهُ أَنْجَعُ‌[1] فِي طَلَبِ الرِّزْقِ مِنَ الضَّرْبِ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَأَخْبَرْتُ بِذَلِكَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ أَ لَا أُعَلِّمُكَ فِي الرِّزْقِ مَا هُوَ أَنْفَعُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ خُذْ مِنْ شَارِبِكَ وَ أَظْفَارِكَ كُلَّ جُمُعَةٍ.

“A man once asked ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Hassan to teach him something for increased sustenance. He said, ‘Remain in the place of your Salat (prayer) after the morning Salat (prayer) until sunrise; it is more useful for seeking increased sustenance than traveling in the land.’ I informed abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about it and

أَتَيْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ الْحَسَنِ فَقُلْتُ عَلِّمْنِي دُعَاءً فِي الرِّزْقِ فَقَالَ قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ تَوَلَّ أَمْرِي وَ لَا تُوَلِّ أَمْرِي غَيْرَكَ فَعَرَضْتُهُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ أَ لَا أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى مَا هُوَ أَنْفَعُ مِنْ هَذَا فِي الرِّزْقِ تَقُصُّ أَظَافِيرَكَ وَ شَارِبَكَ فِي كُلِّ جُمُعَةٍ وَ لَوْ بِحَكِّهَا.

"I went to Abdullah ibn al-Hasan and said, 'Teach me a supplication for sustenance.' He said, 'Say: O Allah, take charge of my affairs and do not entrust my affairs to anyone other than You.' I presented this to Abu Abdillah (AS), and he said, 'Shall I not guide you to what is more beneficial than this for sustenance?

رَآنِي أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع بِخُرَاسَانَ وَ أَنَا أَشْتَكِي عَيْنِي فَقَالَ أَ لَا أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى شَيْ‌ءٍ إِنْ فَعَلْتَهُ لَمْ تَشْتَكِ عَيْنَكَ فَقُلْتُ بَلَى فَقَالَ خُذْ مِنْ أَظْفَارِكَ فِي كُلِّ خَمِيسٍ قَالَ فَفَعَلْتُ فَمَا اشْتَكَيْتُ عَيْنِي إِلَى يَوْمَ أَخْبَرْتُكَ.

‘Clip your fingernails every Thursday.’ I followed the instruction and have not complained ever since of my eyes.’”

مَنْ أَدْمَنَ أَخْذَ أَظْفَارِهِ كُلَّ خَمِيسٍ لَمْ تَرْمَدْ عَيْنُهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Whoever continues clipping his fingernails every Thursday will not experience eye ache.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ لِلرِّجَالِ قُصُّوا أَظَافِيرَكُمْ وَ لِلنِّسَاءِ اتْرُكْنَ فَإِنَّهُ أَزْيَنُ لَكُنَّ.

‘Men must clip their fingernails and women must keep them because it is more beautifying for them.’”

فِي قَصِّ الْأَظْفَارِ تَبْدَأُ بِخِنْصِرِ الْأَيْسَرِ ثُمَّ تَخْتِمُ بِالْيَمِينِ.

“When clipping fingernails you must begin with the little finger of the left hand and complete it with the right hand (little fingernail).’”

احْتَبَسَ الْوَحْيُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ص فَقِيلَ لَهُ احْتَبَسَ الْوَحْيُ عَنْكَ فَقَالَ ص وَ كَيْفَ لَا يَحْتَبِسُ وَ أَنْتُمْ لَا تُقَلِّمُونَ أَظْفَارَكُمْ وَ لَا تُنَقُّونَ رَوَاجِبَكُمْ‌[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ’Once a lapse took place in coming of divine revelation to the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause. He (the Messenger of Allah) was asked, ’Has coming of divine revelation to you stopped?’ He (the Messenger of Alla

لَا بَأْسَ بِجَزِّ الشَّمَطِ وَ نَتْفِهِ‌[2] وَ جَزُّهُ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ نَتْفِهِ.

‘It is not unlawful to clip or pull out gray from the head but clipping is more likable to me.”

لَا بَأْسَ بِجَزِّ الشَّمَطِ وَ نَتْفِهِ مِنَ اللِّحْيَةِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not unlawful to pull up or clip gray from the beard.’”

أَنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع كَانَ لَا يَرَى بِجَزِّ الشَّيْبِ بَأْساً وَ يَكْرَهُ نَتْفَهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin did not consider it harmful to clip gray hairs but disliked pulling it out.’”

ع‌ أَوَّلُ مَنْ شَابَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ ع فَقَالَ يَا رَبِّ مَا هَذَا فَقَالَ نُورٌ وَ تَوْقِيرٌ قَالَ رَبِّ زِدْنِي مِنْهُ.

4. Through the same chain of narrators as that of the previous Hadith the following is narrated: “He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said, ‘The first one who noticed gray hairs was Ibrahim ‘Alayhi al-Salam, and he asked, ‘O Lord, what is this?’ He said, ‘It is light and reverence.’ He then said, ‘O Lord, increase it for me.’”

كَانَ النَّاسُ لَا يَشِيبُونَ فَأَبْصَرَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ ع شَيْباً فِي لِحْيَتِهِ فَقَالَ يَا رَبِّ مَا هَذَا فَقَالَ هَذَا وَقَارٌ فَقَالَ يَا رَبِّ زِدْنِي وَقَاراً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘People did not grow gray hairs but Ibrahim ‘Alayhi al- Salam, found gray in his beard and asked, ‘O Lord, what is this?’ He said, ‘It is reverence.’ He then said, ‘O Lord, increase my reverence.’”

الشَّيْبُ فِي مُقَدَّمِ الرَّأْسِ يُمْنٌ‌[1] وَ فِي الْعَارِضَيْنِ سَخَاءٌ وَ فِي الذَّوَائِبِ شَجَاعَةٌ وَ فِي الْقَفَا شُؤْمٌ‌[2].

‘Gray in front of the head is good fortune, on the sides is generosity, on top of the head is courage, and at the back is misfortune.’”

فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- أَ لَمْ نَجْعَلِ الْأَرْضَ كِفاتاً أَحْياءً وَ أَمْواتاً[3] قَالَ دَفْنُ الشَّعْرِ وَ الظُّفُرِ.

“About the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ’Have We not made the earth a collector (homes) of dead and living/ (77:25) abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ’It is a reference to burying of the hairs and fingernails/”

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَكْتَحِلُ بِالْإِثْمِدِ[4] إِذَا أَوَى إِلَى فِرَاشِهِ وَتْراً وَتْراً.

“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, applied al-Athmad (antimony) to his eyes before going to bed, once in each eye. 5 ”

أَرَانِي أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع مِيلًا مِنْ حَدِيدٍ وَ مُكْحُلَةً مِنْ عِظَامٍ فَقَالَ هَذَا كَانَ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ فَاكْتَحِلْ بِهِ فَاكْتَحَلْتُ.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), once showed me a pin made of iron and a powder container of bones and said that this belonged to abu al-Hassan with which he applied eye powder and I also apply eye powder to my eyes.’”

الْكُحْلُ بِاللَّيْلِ يَنْفَعُ الْعَيْنَ وَ هُوَ بِالنَّهَارِ زِينَةٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Applying eye powder to one’s eyes is beneficial to the eyes and it is beautification during the day.’”

أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ الِاكْتِحَالُ بِالْإِثْمِدِ يُطَيِّبُ النَّكْهَةَ وَ يَشُدُّ أَشْفَارَ الْعَيْنِ.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Fadl al-Flashimiy from his father and uncle who have said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Applying eye powder with Athmad (antimony) sweetens the fragrance and strengthens the edge of the eyelid.’”

الْكُحْلُ يُعْذِبُ الْفَمَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Applying eye powder sweetens the mouth.’”

الْكُحْلُ يُنْبِتُ الشَّعْرَ[2] وَ يُحِدُّ الْبَصَرَ وَ يُعِينُ عَلَى طُولِ السُّجُودِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Applying eye powder grows hairs, sharpens eyesight and helps to perform longer Sujud (prostrations).”’

الْإِثْمِدُ يَجْلُو الْبَصَرَ وَ يُنْبِتُ الشَّعْرَ وَ يَذْهَبُ بِالدَّمْعَةِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Al-Athmad (antimony) sharpens eye sight, grows hairs and banishes tears.’”

الْكُحْلُ يَزِيدُ فِي الْمُبَاضَعَةِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Applying eye powder increases the desire to go to bed with ones’ wife.’”

مَنْ نَامَ عَلَى إِثْمِدٍ غَيْرِ مُمَسَّكٍ‌[4] أَمِنَ مِنَ الْمَاءِ الْأَسْوَدِ أَبَداً مَا دَامَ يَنَامُ عَلَيْهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ’If one sleeps with eye powder containing Athmad (antimony) but without musk, he remains immune from Ma’ al-Aswad (a certain eye illness) all the time as long as he sleeps with it.”’

الْكُحْلُ يُنْبِتُ الشَّعْرَ وَ يُجَفِّفُ الدَّمْعَةَ وَ وَ يُعْذِبُ الرِّيقَ وَ يَجْلُو الْبَصَرَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Applying eye powder grows hairs, dries up tears, sweetens saliva and sharpens eyesight.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص‌ مَنِ اكْتَحَلَ فَلْيُوتِرْ وَ مَنْ فَعَلَ فَقَدْ أَحْسَنَ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَفْعَلْ فَلَا بَأْسَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘If one applies eye powder, he must do it once because it is good; and if he did not do so it is not harmful.’”

إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص كَانَ يَكْتَحِلُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَنَامَ أَرْبَعاً فِي الْيُمْنَى وَ ثَلَاثاً فِي الْيُسْرَى.

“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, applied eye powder before going to sleep-four times in the right and three in the left.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مِنْ أَخْلَاقِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ ع السِّوَاكُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ’It is of the moral discipline of the prophets to brush one’s teeth.’”

السِّوَاكُ مِنْ سُنَنِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Brushing one’s teeth is of the Sunnah and moral discipline of the prophets.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَا زَالَ جَبْرَئِيلُ ع يُوصِينِي بِالسِّوَاكِ حَتَّى خَشِيتُ أَنْ أَدْرَدَ وَ أُحْفِيَ.

3. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ja‘far ibn Muhammad al-Ash‘ariy from ibn al-Qaddah who has said the following: “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, ‘Jibril c

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ السِّوَاكُ مَطْهَرَةٌ لِلْفَمِ وَ مَرْضَاةٌ لِلرَّبِّ.

“He (the Imam) said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘Brushing one’s teeth cleanses the mouth and earns Allah’s pleasure.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ فِي السِّوَاكِ عَشَرَةُ خِصَالٍ مَطْهَرَةٌ لِلْفَمِ وَ مَرْضَاةٌ لِلرَّبِّ وَ مَفْرَحَةٌ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ وَ هُوَ مِنَ السُّنَّةِ وَ يَشُدُّ اللِّثَةَ وَ يَجْلُو الْبَصَرَ وَ يَذْهَبُ بِالْبَلْغَمِ وَ يَذْهَبُ بِالْحَفْرِ[1].

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘Tooth brushing has ten qualities. One is its cleansing the mouth, its earning the pleasure of Allah, happiness of angels, it is an act of Sunnah, it strengthens the gums, sharpens eyesight, dispels phlegm and cavities.’”

فِي السِّوَاكِ اثْنَتَا عَشْرَةَ خَصْلَةً هُوَ مِنَ السُّنَّةِ وَ مَطْهَرَةٌ لِلْفَمِ وَ مَجْلَاةٌ لِلْبَصَرِ وَ يُرْضِي الرَّبَّ وَ يَذْهَبُ بِالْبَلْغَمِ وَ يَزِيدُ فِي الْحِفْظِ وَ يُبَيِّضُ الْأَسْنَانَ وَ يُضَاعِفُ الْحَسَنَاتِ وَ يَذْهَبُ بِالْحَفْرِ وَ يَشُدُّ اللِّثَةَ وَ يُشَهِّي الطَّعَامَ وَ تَفْرَحُ بِهِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘In tooth brushing there are twelve qualities. It is an act of Sunnah, it cleanses the mouth, sharpens eyesight, earns Allah’s pleasure, dispels phlegm, improves memory, whitens the teeth, amplifies the list of good deeds, banishes cavities, strengthens gums, increases appetite for foo

السِّوَاكُ يَذْهَبُ بِالدَّمْعَةِ وَ يَجْلُو الْبَصَرَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Tooth brushing stops tears and sharpens eyesight.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ أَوْصَانِي جَبْرَئِيلُ ع بِالسِّوَاكِ حَتَّى خِفْتُ عَلَى أَسْنَانِي.

8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Jamil ibn Darraj who has said the following: “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, ‘Jibril recommend me to brush my te

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَا لِي أَرَاكُمْ قُلْحاً مَا لَكُمْ لَا تَسْتَاكُونَ‌[1].

“He (the Imam) has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, once said, ‘Why do I see you, people, with yellow teeth, what is the matter with you, why do you not brush your teeth?”

فِي وَصِيَّةِ النَّبِيِّ ص لِأَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص عَلَيْكَ بِالسِّوَاكِ لِكُلِّ صَلَاةٍ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said that it is in the will of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, to ’Amir al- Mu’minin that says, ‘You must brush your teeth for every Salat (prayer).”’

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص‌ نِعْمَ الْبَيْتُ الْحَمَّامُ يُذَكِّرُ النَّارَ وَ يَذْهَبُ بِالدَّرَنِ وَ قَالَ عُمَرُ بِئْسَ الْبَيْتُ الْحَمَّامُ يُبْدِي الْعَوْرَةَ وَ يَهْتِكُ السِّتْرَ قَالَ وَ نَسَبَ النَّاسُ قَوْلَ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع إِلَى عُمَرَ وَ قَوْلَ عُمَرَ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘The bathhouse is a very good house; it reminds of fire and banishes dirt.’ ‘Umar has said, ‘A bathhouse is the worst house; it exposes private parts and violates secrets.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘People have ascribed the words of ’Amir al-Mu’minin to ‘Umar

الْحَمَّامُ يَوْمٌ وَ يَوْمٌ لَا يُكْثِرُ اللَّحْمَ وَ إِدْمَانُهُ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ يُذِيبُ شَحْمَ الْكُلْيَتَيْنِ.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘Taking a bath one day and the day after does not increase flesh. Continuously taking a bath every day melts the fat of the kidneys.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ كانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَ الْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ فَلَا يَدْخُلِ الْحَمَّامَ إِلَّا بِمِئْزَرٍ.

‘If one believes in Allah and in the life hereafter, he must not enter a bathhouse without a loincloth.’”

مَرِضْتُ حَتَّى ذَهَبَ لَحْمِي فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى الرِّضَا ص فَقَالَ أَ يَسُرُّكَ أَنْ يَعُودَ إِلَيْكَ لَحْمُكَ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ الْزَمِ الْحَمَّامَ غِبّاً[1] فَإِنَّهُ يَعُودُ إِلَيْكَ لَحْمُكَ وَ إِيَّاكَ أَنْ تُدْمِنَهُ فَإِنَّ إِدْمَانَهُ يُورِثُ السِّلَّ.

“Once I became ill until I lost all of my flesh. I visited al-Rida’ (a.s.), who asked, ‘Will you like to see your flesh come back?’ I replied, ‘Yes, I like to see my flesh come back.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘You must continue taking a bath one day and on the day after the next day, your flesh will come back. You must not

لَا تَدْخُلِ الْحَمَّامَ إِلَّا وَ فِي جَوْفِكَ شَيْ‌ءٌ يُطْفَأُ بِهِ عَنْكَ وَهَجُ الْمَعِدَةِ[2] وَ هُوَ أَقْوَى لِلْبَدَنِ وَ لَا تَدْخُلْهُ وَ أَنْتَ مُمْتَلِئٌ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ.

‘Do not enter a bathhouse until there is something in your belly to calm down the excitement of your stomach and it is more energizing for the body. Do not enter it with your stomach full of food.’”

قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ النَّاسَ عِنْدَنَا يَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُ عَلَى الرِّيقِ أَجْوَدُ مَا يَكُونُ قَالَ لَا بَلْ يُؤْكَلُ شَيْ‌ءٌ قَبْلَهُ يُطْفِئُ الْمَرَارَةَ وَ يُسَكِّنُ حَرَارَةَ الْجَوْفِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when about to take a bath would eat something. I once asked, ‘People around us say that before eating anything is the best time for taking a bath.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘No, one must eat something before taking bath; it banished bitterness (acidity) and calms down the temperature in the belly.’”

دَخَلْتُ حَمَّاماً بِالْمَدِينَةِ فَإِذَا شَيْخٌ كَبِيرٌ وَ هُوَ قَيِّمُ الْحَمَّامِ فَقُلْتُ يَا شَيْخُ لِمَنْ هَذَا الْحَمَّامُ فَقَالَ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ ع فَقُلْتُ كَانَ يَدْخُلُهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ فَقُلْتُ كَيْفَ كَانَ يَصْنَعُ قَالَ كَانَ يَدْخُلُ فَيَبْدَأُ فَيَطْلِي عَانَتَهُ وَ مَا يَلِيهَا ثُمَّ يَلُفُّ عَلَى طَرَفِ إِحْلِيلِهِ وَ يَدْعُونِي فَأَطْلِي سَائِرَ بَدَنِهِ فَقُل

7. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Mansur ibn al-‘Abbas from Hamzah ibn ‘Abd Allah from Rib‘iy from ‘Ubayd Allah al-Dabiqiy who has said the following: “I once in al-Madinah entered a bathhouse and an old man was the manager of the bathhouse. I asked, ‘O Shaykh to whom does this bathhouse

دَخَلْتُ أَنَا وَ أَبِي وَ جَدِّي وَ عَمِّي حَمَّاماً بِالْمَدِينَةِ فَإِذَا رَجُلٌ فِي بَيْتِ الْمَسْلَخِ فَقَالَ لَنَا مِمَّنِ الْقَوْمُ فَقُلْنَا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ فَقَالَ‌ وَ أَيُّ الْعِرَاقِ قُلْنَا كُوفِيُّونَ فَقَالَ مَرْحَباً بِكُمْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكُوفَةِ أَنْتُمُ الشِّعَارُ[1] دُونَ الدِّثَارِ ثُمَّ قَالَ مَا يَمْنَعُكُمْ مِنَ الْأُزُرِ فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ عَوْرَةُ الْمُؤْمِنِ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِ

8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il ibn Bazi‘ all from Hanan ibn Sadir from his father who has said the following: “My father, grandfather, uncle and I once entered a bathhouse in al-Madinah and t

دَخَلْتُ مَعَ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ الْحَمَّامَ فَنَظَرْتُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَدِ اطَّلَى وَ اطَّلَى إِبْطَيْهِ بِالنُّورَةِ قَالَ فَخَبَّرْتُ أَبَا بَصِيرٍ فَقَالَ أَرْشِدْنِي إِلَيْهِ لِأَسْأَلَهُ عَنْهُ فَقُلْتُ قَدْ رَأَيْتُهُ أَنَا فَقَالَ أَنْتَ قَدْ رَأَيْتَهُ وَ أَنَا لَمْ أَرَهُ أَرْشِدْنِي إِلَيْهِ قَالَ فَأَرْشَدْتُهُ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَخْبَرَنِي قَائِدِي أَنَّكَ قَدِ اطَّلَيْتَ وَ

“I once entered a bathhouse with abu Basir and saw abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), who had applied (lime) and on his underarms. I then informed abu Basir and he asked me to lead him so he can ask him about it. I said, ‘I saw him.’ He said, ‘You saw him (the Imam) but I cannot see him (the Imam)? Lead me to where he is.’ I then

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى جَمَاعَةٍ مِنْ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِمْ فِي بَيْتٍ مُظْلِمٍ فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ سَلِّمْ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع فَإِنَّهُ فِي الصَّدْرِ قَالَ فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ وَ جَلَسْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ قَدْ أَحْبَبْتُ أَنْ أَلْقَاكَ مُنْذُ حِينٍ لِأَسْأَلَكَ عَنْ أَشْيَاءَ فَقَالَ سَلْ مَا بَدَا لَكَ قُلْتُ مَا تَقُولُ فِي الْحَمَّامِ قَالَ لَا تَدْخُلِ الْحَمَّامَ إِلَّا بِمِئْزَرٍ وَ غُ

10. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ali ibn al-Hakam from a man of banu Hashim who has said the following: “I once entered in dark house where a group of banu Hashim were and I offered them greeting of peace with the phrase of offering greeting. A certain one among them said, ‘Offer greeting of peace to abu al-Has

مَنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَحْمِلَ لَحْماً فَلْيَدْخُلِ الْحَمَّامَ يَوْماً وَ يَغِبُّ يَوْماً وَ مَنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَضْمُرَ[3] وَ كَانَ كَثِيرَ اللَّحْمِ فَلْيَدْخُلِ الْحَمَّامَ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ.

11. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ali ibn Ahmad ibn ‘Ushaym from Sufayman af-Ja‘fariy who has said the foifowing: “He (the Imam) has said, ‘If one wants to gain weight he should use a bathhouse one day and the day after the next day but if one is heavy and wants to lose weight he should use a bathhouse every day

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَطَّلِي بِالنُّورَةِ فَيَجْعَلُ لَهُ الدَّقِيقَ بِالزَّيْتِ يَلُتُّ بِهِ فَيَمْسَحُ بِهِ بَعْدَ النُّورَةِ لِيَقْطَعَ رِيحَهَا عَنْهُ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ.

12. Afi ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ‘ Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Hajj aj who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who applies lime, then mixes flour with oil then rubs it on him after lime to remove its smell. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not

رَأَيْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع وَ قَدْ تَدَلَّكَ بِدَقِيقٍ مَلْتُوتٍ بِالزَّيْتِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ النَّاسَ يَكْرَهُونَ ذَلِكَ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ.

“I once saw abu al-Hassan (a.s.), rubbing with flour mixed with oil and I said that people dislike it. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’”

سُئِلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ التَّدَلُّكِ بِالدَّقِيقِ بَعْدَ النُّورَةِ فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ قُلْتُ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُ إِسْرَافٌ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ فِيمَا أَصْلَحَ الْبَدَنَ إِسْرَافٌ إِنِّي رُبَّمَا أَمَرْتُ بِالنَّقِيِ‌[4] فَيُلَتُّ لِي بِالزَّيْتِ فَأَتَدَلَّكُ بِهِ إِنَّمَا الْإِسْرَافُ فِيمَا أَتْلَفَ الْمَالَ وَ أَضَرَّ بِالْبَدَنِ.

14. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Ishaq ibn ‘Abd al-’Aziz who has said the following: “Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about rubbing with flour after lime. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’ I then said, ‘They think it is misuse of flour.’