The Book of Domestic Animals

سَأَلَنِي أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع أَيَّ شَيْ‌ءٍ تَرْكَبُ قُلْتُ حِمَاراً فَقَالَ بِكَمِ ابْتَعْتَهُ قُلْتُ بِثَلَاثَةَ عَشَرَ دِينَاراً فَقَالَ إِنَّ هَذَا هُوَ السَّرَفُ أَنْ تَشْتَرِيَ حِمَاراً بِثَلَاثَةَ عَشَرَ دِينَاراً وَ تَدَعَ بِرْذَوْناً قُلْتُ يَا سَيِّدِي إِنَّ مَئُونَةَ الْبِرْذَوْنِ أَكْثَرُ مِنْ مَئُونَةِ الْحِمَارِ قَالَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الَّذِي يَمُونُ الْحِمَارَ يَمُونُ الْبِرْذَوْنَ أَ مَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ مَن

“Once abu al-Hassan (a.s.), asked me, ‘What do you ride?’ I replied, ‘It is a donkey.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘For how much have you bought it?’ I replied, ‘I have bought it for thirteen dinars.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘This is improper spending. You have bought a donkey for thirteen dinar and ignored buying a mule.’ I then

تِسْعَةُ أَعْشَارِ الرِّزْقِ مَعَ صَاحِبِ الدَّابَّةِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Nine-tenths of sustenance is with the owner of a stumper.’”

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ أَهْدَى أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص أَرْبَعَةَ أَفْرَاسٍ مِنَ الْيَمَنِ فَقَالَ سَمِّهَا لِي فَقَالَ هِيَ أَلْوَانٌ مُخْتَلِفَةٌ قَالَ فَفِيهَا وَضَحٌ‌[1] فَقَالَ نَعَمْ فِيهَا أَشْقَرُ[2] بِهِ وَضَحٌ قَالَ فَأَمْسِكْهُ عَلَيَّ قَالَ وَ فِيهَا كُمَيْتَانِ‌[3] أَوْضَحَانِ فَقَالَ أَعْطِهِمَا ابْنَيْكَ قَالَ وَ الرَّابِعُ أَدْهَمُ بَهِيمٌ‌[4] قَالَ بِعْهُ وَ اسْتَخْلِفْ بِهِ نَ

’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), sent as present to the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause. It comprised of four horses from Yemen. He (the Messenger of Allah) asked, ‘Describe them for me.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘They are of different colors.’ He (t

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ اشْتَرِ دَابَّةً فَإِنَّ مَنْفَعَتَهَا لَكَ وَ رِزْقَهَا عَلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

‘Buy a stumper; its benefit is for you and its sustenance with Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مَنِ اشْتَرَى دَابَّةً كَانَ لَهُ ظَهْرُهَا وَ عَلَى اللَّهِ رِزْقُهَا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one buys a stumper, he has the benefit of riding and its sustenance is with Allah.’”

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع اتَّخِذْ حِمَاراً يَحْمِلْ رَحْلَكَ فَإِنَّ رِزْقَهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ قَالَ فَاتَّخَذْتُ حِمَاراً وَ كُنْتُ أَنَا وَ يُوسُفُ أَخِي إِذَا تَمَّتِ السَّنَةُ حَسَبْنَا نَفَقَاتِنَا فَنَعْلَمُ مِقْدَارَهَا فَحَسَبْنَا بَعْدَ شِرَاءِ الْحِمَارِ نَفَقَاتِنَا فَإِذَا هِيَ كَمَا كَانَتْ فِي كُلِّ عَامٍ لَمْ تَزِدْ شَيْئاً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said, ‘Buy a donkey which will carry your luggage and its sustenance is with Allah/ He (the narrator) has said, ‘I then found a donkey. Yunus, my brother and I at the end of the year would do our accounts and we found that there was no difference in our budget and no increase over the expen

مِنْ سَعَادَةِ الْمُؤْمِنِ دَابَّةٌ يَرْكَبُهَا فِي حَوَائِجِهِ وَ يَقْضِي عَلَيْهَا حُقُوقَ إِخْوَانِهِ.

“It is of the good fortune of a believing person to have a stumper that he can ride to meet his own needs and the needs of his brothers (in belief).”’

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مِنْ سَعَادَةِ الْمَرْءِ الْمُسْلِمِ الْمَرْكَبُ الْهَنِي‌ءُ.

‘It is of the good fortune of a Muslim man to have a healthy stumper.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ اتَّخِذُوا الدَّابَّةَ فَإِنَّهَا زَيْنٌ وَ تُقْضَى عَلَيْهَا الْحَوَائِجُ وَ رِزْقُهَا عَلَى اللَّهِ جَلَّ ذِكْرُهُ. - قَالَ وَ حَدَّثَنِي بِهِ عَمَّارُ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ وَ زَادَ فِيهِ‌ وَ تَلْقَى عَلَيْهَا إِخْوَانَكَ. - وَ رُوِيَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: عَجَبٌ لِصَاحِبِ الدَّابَّةِ كَيْفَ تَفُوتُهُ الْحَاجَةُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘You must have a stumper; it is of beautification and helps meet one’s needs and its sustenance is with Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious.’ He (the narrator) has said that narrated to me ‘Ammar ibn al-Mubarak with the addition of ‘and ride it to meet your brothers (in belief).’ It is

مِنْ شَقَاءِ الْعَيْشِ الْمَرْكَبُ السَّوْءُ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘It is a misfortune in life to have a bad stumper.’”

لِلدَّابَّةِ عَلَى صَاحِبِهَا سِتَّةُ حُقُوقٍ لَا يُحَمِّلُهَا فَوْقَ طَاقَتِهَا وَ لَا يَتَّخِذُ ظَهْرَهَا مَجَالِسَ يَتَحَدَّثُ عَلَيْهَا وَ يَبْدَأُ بِعَلْفِهَا إِذَا نَزَلَ وَ لَا يَسِمُهَا وَ لَا يَضْرِبُهَا فِي وَجْهِهَا[1] فَإِنَّهَا تُسَبِّحُ وَ يَعْرِضُ عَلَيْهَا الْمَاءَ إِذَا مَرَّ بِهِ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A stumper has six rights on its owner. He must not load more than its power. He must not take its back as a meeting place to keep talking from there. He must feed it as soon as he disembarks, must not mark it with burns, or hit it on its face because it says Tasbih (Allah is free of

رُئِيَ أَبُو ذَرٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ يَسْقِي حِمَاراً بِالرَّبَذَةِ فَقَالَ لَهُ بَعْضُ النَّاسِ أَ مَا لَكَ يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ مَنْ يَكْفِيكَ سَقْيَ الْحِمَارِ فَقَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص يَقُولُ مَا مِنْ دَابَّةٍ إِلَّا وَ هِيَ تَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ كُلَّ صَبَاحٍ- اللَّهُمَّ ارْزُقْنِي مَلِيكاً صَالِحاً يُشْبِعُنِي مِنَ الْعَلَفِ وَ يُرْوِينِي مِنَ الْمَاءِ وَ لَا يُكَلِّفُنِي فَوْقَ طَاقَتِي فَأَنَا أُحِبُّ أَن

“Abu Dharr was seen offering water to a donkey at al-Rabadhah and certain people said to him, ‘O Abu Dharr do you not have someone who can offer water to your donkey?’ He said, ‘I once heard the Messenger of Allah (saww) saying, “Every stumper asks Allah every morning, ‘O Lord, grant me an owner who will feed me suffic

مَرَرْتُ بِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ قَدْ نَزَلَ الْحِيرَةَ فَقَالَ لِي مَا عِلَاجُكَ قُلْتُ نَخَّاسٌ فَقَالَ أَصِبْ لِي بَغْلَةً فَضْحَاءَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ وَ مَا الْفَضْحَاءُ قَالَ دَهْمَاءُ بَيْضَاءُ الْبَطْنِ بَيْضَاءُ الْأَفْحَاجِ بَيْضَاءُ الْجَحْفَلَةِ[1] قَالَ فَقُلْتُ وَ اللَّهِ مَا رَأَيْتُ مِثْلَ هَذِهِ الصِّفَةِ فَرَجَعْتُ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ فَسَاعَةً دَخَلْتُ الْخَنْدَقَ إِذَا أَنَا غُلَامٌ قَدْ أَشْفَ

“I once visited abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when he had disembarked in al-Hirah and asked me, ‘What do you do for a living?’ I replied, ‘I trade in animals.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Find for me a mule which is Fadha ’.’ I then asked saying, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, what is Fadha’?’ He (the Im

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ لَا تَضْرِبُوا الدَّوَابَّ عَلَى وُجُوهِهَا فَإِنَّهَا تُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِ اللَّهِ. - قَالَ وَ فِي حَدِيثٍ آخَرَ لَا تَسِمُوهَا فِي وُجُوهِهَا.

“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 hit the stumpers on their faces; they say Tasbih (Allah is free of all defects) with Tahmid, (all praise belongs to Allah).’ He (the narrat

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِذَا عَثَرَتِ الدَّابَّةُ تَحْتَ الرَّجُلِ فَقَالَ لَهَا تَعَسْتِ‌[3] تَقُولُ تَعَسَ أَعْصَانَا لِلرَّبِّ.

“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, ‘When a stumper stumbles and man riding it says, ‘May you be destroyed.’ The stumper says, ‘May the one of us who is most disobedient to the Lord be dest

سَأَلْتُ الصَّادِقَ ع مَتَى أَضْرِبُ دَابَّتِي تَحْتِي فَقَالَ إِذَا لَمْ تَمْشِ تَحْتَكَ كَمَشْيَتِهَا إِلَى مِذْوَدِهَا[4].

“I once asked al-Sadiq (a.s.), ‘When can I hit my stumper?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘You can do so when you are riding and it does not walk as it does when going to its manger, its feeding place.’”

اضْرِبُوهَا عَلَى النِّفَارِ وَ لَا تَضْرِبُوهَا عَلَى الْعِثَارِ[5].

7. It is narrated from the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, who has said:‘You may hit your stumpers for running away in fright but not because of their stumbling.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ لَا تَتَوَرَّكُوا عَلَى الدَّوَابِّ وَ لَا تَتَّخِذُوا ظُهُورَهَا مَجَالِسَ.

‘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 sit on the stumper with both legs hanging from one side (causing imbalance) or make its back a meeting place (talking to someone with the stumper halted and kept on hold).”’

كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَا بَهِمَتِ الْبَهَائِمُ فَلَمْ تُبْهَمْ عَنْ أَرْبَعَةٍ مَعْرِفَتِهَا بِالرَّبِّ وَ مَعْرِفَتِهَا بِالْمَوْتِ وَ مَعْرِفَتِهَا بِالْأُنْثَى مِنَ الذَّكَرِ وَ مَعْرِفَتِهَا بِالْمَرْعَى عَنِ الْخِصْبِ.

9. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from ibn Mahbub from ibn Ri’ab from abu Hamzah who has said the following: “Ali ibn al-Husayn, Alayhim al-Salam, would say, ‘Animals, no matter how unintelligent and dubious they may be, are not so in four issues: One is knowing the Lord, death, male and femal

لِكُلِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ حُرْمَةٌ وَ حُرْمَةُ الْبَهَائِمِ فِي وُجُوهِهَا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘Everything has honor. The honor of animals is in their faces.’”

مَهْمَا أُبْهِمَ عَلَى الْبَهَائِمِ مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ فَلَا يُبْهَمُ عَلَيْهَا أَرْبَعَةُ خِصَالٍ مَعْرِفَةُ أَنَّ لَهَا خَالِقاً وَ مَعْرِفَةُ طَلَبِ الرِّزْقِ وَ مَعْرِفَةُ الذَّكَرِ مِنَ الْأُنْثَى وَ مَخَافَةُ الْمَوْتِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘No matter how unintelligent the animals may be, they are not so about four issues. They know that they have a Creator, they know how to find sustenance, they know male and female and they are afraid of death.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ اضْرِبُوهَا عَلَى النِّفَارِ وَ لَا تَضْرِبُوهَا عَلَى الْعِثَارِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, 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 may hit your stumpers for their running away in fright, but do not do so for their stumbling.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع يَقُولُ‌ عَلَى كُلِّ مَنْخِرٍ مِنَ الدَّوَابِّ شَيْطَانٌ فَإِذَا أَرَادَ أَحَدُكُمْ أَنْ يُلْجِمَهَا فَلْيُسَمِّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

’In the nostrils of every stumper there is a Satan. When you want to harness them you must say, “In the name of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious.”’”

أَيُّمَا دَابَّةٍ اسْتَصْعَبَتْ عَلَى صَاحِبِهَا مِنْ لِجَامٍ وَ نِفَارٍ فَلْيَقْرَأْ فِي أُذُنِهَا أَوْ عَلَيْهَا[1]- أَ فَغَيْرَ دِينِ اللَّهِ يَبْغُونَ وَ لَهُ أَسْلَمَ مَنْ فِي السَّماواتِ وَ الْأَرْضِ طَوْعاً وَ كَرْهاً وَ إِلَيْهِ يُرْجَعُونَ‌.

‘Do you want something other than the religion of Allah, when all who are in the skies and earth are submitted to Him voluntarily, or by force and to Him they all return.’ (3:83)”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّ مِنَ الْحَقِّ أَنْ يَقُولَ الرَّاكِبُ لِلْمَاشِي الطَّرِيقَ‌[2]. - وَ فِي نُسْخَةٍ أُخْرَى‌ إِنَّ مِنَ الْجَوْرِ أَنْ يَقُولَ الرَّاكِبُ لِلْمَاشِي الطَّرِيقَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is a matter of rights that a person riding say to the one walking, ‘the road ’ (meaning please open the road, to inform him of his presence).’ In another copy it is said that a rider saying to one walking ‘the road ’ is of injustice.’”

خَرَجَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع وَ هُوَ رَاكِبٌ فَمَشَوْا مَعَهُ فَقَالَ أَ لَكُمْ حَاجَةٌ قَالُوا لَا وَ لَكِنَّا نُحِبُّ أَنْ نَمْشِيَ مَعَكَ فَقَالَ لَهُمُ انْصَرِفُوا فَإِنَّ مَشْيَ الْمَاشِي مَعَ الرَّاكِبِ مَفْسَدَةٌ لِلرَّاكِبِ وَ مَذَلَّةٌ لِلْمَاشِي‌[3].

“Once ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), came out riding and people walked with him. He (the Imam) asked, ‘Do you need me for something?’ They replied, ‘No, but we love to walk with you.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘You must go back; walking with a rider is harmful for the rider and humiliation for the walking people.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِذَا رَكِبَ الرَّجُلُ الدَّابَّةَ فَسَمَّى رَدِفَهُ مَلَكٌ يَحْفَظُهُ حَتَّى يَنْزِلَ وَ إِذَا رَكِبَ وَ لَمْ يُسَمِّ رَدِفَهُ شَيْطَانٌ فَيَقُولُ لَهُ تَغَنَّ فَإِنْ قَالَ لَهُ لَا أُحْسِنُ قَالَ لَهُ تَمَنَّ فَلَا يَزَالُ يَتَمَنَّى حَتَّى يَنْزِلَ وَ قَالَ مَنْ قَالَ إِذَا رَكِبَ الدَّابَّةَ- بِسْمِ اللَّهِ لَا حَوْلَ وَ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ- الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي هَدانا لِهذا

‘If one rides his stumper and mentions the name of Allah, an angel sits behind him to protect him until he disembarks; but if one rides his stumper without mentioning the name of Allah, a Satan sits behind him and says to him to sing. If he says, ‘I do not know singing.’ He says, ‘Wish that you could sing.’ He then con

خَرَجَ عَبْدُ الصَّمَدِ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ وَ مَعَهُ جَمَاعَةٌ فَبَصُرَ بِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ ع مُقْبِلًا رَاكِباً بَغْلًا فَقَالَ لِمَنْ مَعَهُ مَكَانَكُمْ حَتَّى أُضْحِكَكُمْ مِنْ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ فَلَمَّا دَنَا مِنْهُ قَالَ لَهُ مَا هَذِهِ الدَّابَّةُ الَّتِي لَا تُدْرِكُ‌ عَلَيْهَا الثَّأْرَ وَ لَا تَصْلُحُ عِنْدَ النِّزَالِ‌[1] فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع تَطَأْطَأَتْ عَنْ سُمُوِّ الْخَيْلِ وَ

“Once ‘Abd al-Samad came out with a group of people and he saw abu al-Hassan, Musa ibn Ja‘far, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, coming from the opposite direction on a mule. He then said to those with him, ‘Wait until I will make you laugh at Musa ibn Ja‘far.’ When close nearby he said, ‘What good is this stumper with which one cann

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ لَا يَرْتَدِفْ ثَلَاثَةٌ عَلَى دَابَّةٍ فَإِنَّ أَحَدَهُمْ مَلْعُونٌ.

Three people must not ride one stumper, one behind the other, because one of them is condemned.”’

السَّرْجُ مَرْكَبٌ مَلْعُونٌ لِلنِّسَاءِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The saddle is a condemned riding thing for women.”’

سُئِلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ جُلُودِ السِّبَاعِ فَقَالَ ارْكَبُوهَا وَ لَا تَلْبَسُوا شَيْئاً مِنْهَا تُصَلُّونَ فِيهِ.

“Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about the skins of beasts. He (the Imam) said, ‘You can use them when riding but you must not use them during performing Salat (prayer).”’

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ السَّرْجِ وَ اللِّجَامِ فِيهِ الْفِضَّةُ أَ يُرْكَبُ بِهِ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ مُمَوَّهاً[3] لَا يُقْدَرُ عَلَى نَزْعِهِ فَلَا بَأْسَ وَ إِلَّا فَلَا تَرْكَبْ بِهِ.

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about the saddle and the rein in which silver is used; if it can be used. He (the Imam) said, ‘If it is in a whitewashing (painted) form which cannot be removed, then it is not harmful, otherwise, you must not ride with it.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص لِعَلِيٍّ ع إِيَّاكَ أَنْ تَرْكَبَ مِيثَرَةً حَمْرَاءَ فَإِنَّهَا مِيثَرَةُ إِبْلِيسَ.

‘You must never use a red saddlecloth; it is the saddlecloth of Satan.’”

‌ أَنَّ عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ ع كَانَ يَرْكَبُ عَلَى قَطِيفَةٍ حَمْرَاءَ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, rode on a piece of marigold red color cloth.’”

كَانَتْ بُرَةُ نَاقَةِ[1] رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص مِنْ فِضَّةٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the ring in the nostrils of the camel of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, was made of silver.’”

إِنَّ عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ ع كَانَ لَيَبْتَاعُ الرَّاحِلَةَ بِمِائَةِ دِينَارٍ يُكْرِمُ بِهَا نَفْسَهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), bought a stumper for one hundred dinar in his own honor.”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ لَوْ يَعْلَمُ النَّاسُ كُنْهَ حُمْلَانِ اللَّهِ‌[2] لِلضَّعِيفِ مَا غَالَوْا بِبَهِيمَةٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Had people known the fact of how Allah gives strength to the weak to carry the load, carry-animals would not become expensive.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّ عَلَى ذِرْوَةِ كُلِّ بَعِيرٍ شَيْطَاناً فَامْتَهِنُوهَا لِأَنْفُسِكُمْ وَ ذَلِّلُوهَا وَ اذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّمَا يَحْمِلُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

‘On the peak of every camel there is a Satan and you must degrade him before yourselves by mentioning the name of Allah, only Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious is He who carries loads.’”

لَوْ يَعْلَمُ الْحَاجُّ مَا لَهُ مِنَ الْحُمْلَانِ مَا غَالَ أَحَدٌ بِبَعِيرٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Had the pilgrim to Makkah known what carries his load, camel would not become expensive.’”

مَرَّ بِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ أَنَا أَمْشِي عَرْضَ نَاقَتِي فَقَالَ مَا لَكَ لَا تَرْكَبُ فَقُلْتُ ضَعُفَتْ نَاقَتِي فَأَرَدْتُ أَنْ أُخَفِّفَ عَنْهَا فَقَالَ رَحِمَكَ اللَّهُ ارْكَبْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يَحْمِلُ عَنِ الضَّعِيفِ وَ الْقَوِيِّ.

“Once, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), passed by me and I was walking next to my camel. He (the Imam) asked, ‘Why are you not riding?’ I replied, ‘My camel has become weak, thus I decided to provide it relief.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘May Allah grant you blessings. Ride your camel, Allah carries for both the weak and the strong.’”

نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَنْ يُتَخَطَّى الْقِطَارُ[1] قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَ لِمَ قَالَ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْ قِطَارٍ إِلَّا وَ مَا بَيْنَ الْبَعِيرِ إِلَى الْبَعِيرِ شَيْطَانٌ.

“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 to cross and intersect the row of camels. Someone asked, ‘Why is this, O Messenger of Allah?’ He (the Messenger of Allah) said, ‘In every row of camels

اشْتَرَيْتُ إِبِلًا وَ أَنَا بِالْمَدِينَةِ مُقِيمٌ فَأَعْجَبَنِي إِعْجَاباً شَدِيداً فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الْأَوَّلِ ع فَذَكَرْتُهَا لَهُ فَقَالَ مَا لَكَ وَ لِلْإِبِلِ أَ مَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّهَا كَثِيرَةُ الْمَصَائِبِ قَالَ فَمِنْ إِعْجَابِي بِهَا أَكْرَيْتُهَا وَ بَعَثْتُ بِهَا مَعَ غِلْمَانٍ لِي إِلَى الْكُوفَةِ قَالَ فَسَقَطَتْ كُلُّهَا فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ فَقَالَ‌ فَلْيَحْذَرِ الَّذِينَ

“I once bought a camel, when I was living in al-Madinah, and I liked it very intensely. I then visited Ali ibn al-Husayn, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, and mentioned it to him. He (the Imam) said, ‘What do you have to do with camels? Did you not know that camels have many troubles?’ Because of my happiness with it I gave it for h

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ يَا صَفْوَانُ اشْتَرِ لِي جَمَلًا وَ خُذْهُ أَشْوَهَ‌[2] فَإِنَّهُ أَطْوَلُ شَيْ‌ءٍ أَعْمَاراً فَاشْتَرَيْتُ لَهُ جَمَلًا بِثَمَانِينَ دِرْهَماً فَأَتَيْتُهُ بِهِ. - وَ فِي حَدِيثٍ آخَرَ قَالَ اشْتَرِ السُّودَ الْقِبَاحَ فَإِنَّهَا أَطْوَلُ شَيْ‌ءٍ أَعْمَاراً.

‘Buy a camel for me, an ugly looking one, because it lives longer.’ I then bought for him (the Imam) a camel for eighty dirham and brought it to him (the Imam).” In another Hadith it is said that he (the Imam) said, ‘Buy the black and ugly looking one because it lives longer.’

خَرَجْنَا مَعَ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع إِلَى أَرْضِ طِيبَةَ[3] وَ مَعَهُ عَمْرُو بْنُ دِينَارٍ وَ أُنَاسٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ فَأَقَمْنَا بِطِيبَةَ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ وَ رَكِبَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع عَلَى جَمَلٍ صَعْبٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ عَمْرُو بْنُ دِينَارٍ مَا أَصْعَبَ بَعِيرَكَ فَقَالَ أَ وَ مَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ إِنَّ عَلَى ذِرْوَةِ كُلِّ بَعِيرٍ شَيْطَاناً فَامْتَهِنُوهَا وَ ذَلِّلُوهَا وَ اذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّه

“Once we left with abu Ja‘far (a.s.), to Ard of Taybah (name of a place between Makkah and al-Madinah) and ‘Amr ibn Dinar was with him (the Imam) as well as other ones of his people. We stopped at Taybah as long as Allah willed, and abu Ja‘far rode a difficult camel. ‘Amr ibn Dinar said, ‘Your camel is very difficult.’

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ إِيَّاكُمْ‌ وَ الْإِبِلَ الْحُمْرَ فَإِنَّهَا أَقْصَرُ الْإِبِلِ أَعْمَاراً.

“I once heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.), saying, ‘Beware of red camels because the life of such camels is the shortest.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ اخْتَارَ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ شَيْئاً اخْتَارَ مِنَ الْإِبِلِ النَّاقَةَ وَ مِنَ الْغَنَمِ الضَّائِنَةَ.

11. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla’ ibn Muhammad from al-Washsha’ from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has chosen something from everything and from camels, He has chosen she-camels and from sheep He ha

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ يَا بُنَيَّ اتَّخِذِ الْغَنَمَ وَ لَا تَتَّخِذِ الْإِبِلَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to me, ‘Son, keep sheep but do not keep camels.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ نِعْمَ الْمَالُ الشَّاةُ.

‘The best asset is sheep.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ نَظِّفُوا مَرَابِضَهَا وَ امْسَحُوا رُغَامَهَا[1].

‘You must clean the fold of the sheep and dust from them.’”

إِذَا اتَّخَذَ أَهْلُ بَيْتٍ شَاةً أَتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ بِرِزْقِهَا وَ زَادَ فِي أَرْزَاقِهِمْ وَ ارْتَحَلَ الْفَقْرُ عَنْهُمْ مَرْحَلَةً فَإِنِ اتَّخَذَ شَاتَيْنِ أَتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ بِأَرْزَاقِهِمَا وَ زَادَ فِي أَرْزَاقِهِمْ وَ ارْتَحَلَ الْفَقْرُ عَنْهُمْ مَرْحَلَتَيْنِ فَإِنِ اتَّخَذُوا ثَلَاثَةً أَتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ بِأَرْزَاقِهِمْ وَ ارْتَحَلَ الْفَقْرُ عَنْهُمْ رَأْساً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If a family keeps one sheep, Allah provides her sustenance, increases their sustenance and dispels poverty from them by a distance (of one day’s journey). If a family keeps two sheep, Allah provides their sustenance and increases their sustenance and dispels poverty from them by two d