The Book of Domestic Animals

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَا مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتٍ يَكُونُ عِنْدَهُمْ شَاةٌ لَبُونٌ إِلَّا قُدِّسُوا فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ مَرَّتَيْنِ قُلْتُ وَ كَيْفَ يُقَالُ لَهُمْ قَالَ يُقَالُ لَهُمْ بُورِكْتُمْ بُورِكْتُمْ.

“I once heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.), saying, ‘If a family keeps a milking sheep, such family is revered twice a day.’ I (the narrator) then asked, ‘What is said to such family?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is said to the family, “You have received blessings, you have received blessings.’””

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَا مِنْ مُؤْمِنٍ يَكُونُ فِي مَنْزِلِهِ عَنْزٌ حَلُوبٌ إِلَّا قُدِّسَ أَهْلُ‌ ذَلِكَ الْمَنْزِلِ وَ بُورِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَإِنْ كَانَتَا اثْنَتَيْنِ قُدِّسُوا وَ بُورِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ مَرَّتَيْنِ قَالَ فَقَالَ بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِنَا وَ كَيْفَ يُقَدَّسُونَ قَالَ يَقِفُ عَلَيْهِمْ مَلَكٌ فِي كُلِّ صَبَاحٍ فَيَقُولُ لَهُمْ قُدِّسْتُمْ وَ بُورِكَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَ طِبْتُمْ و

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘If a family keeps a milking goat, reverence and blessing is sent on them. If they are two, the family is revered and blessed twice a day.’ Certain persons of our people then said, ‘How are they revered?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘An angels stands on them every morning and says,

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص لِعَمَّتِهِ مَا يَمْنَعُكِ أَنْ تَتَّخِذِي فِي بَيْتِكِ بَرَكَةً قَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَ مَا الْبَرَكَةُ قَالَ شَاةٌ تُحْلَبُ فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ كَانَ فِي دَارِهِ شَاةٌ تُحْلَبُ أَوْ نَعْجَةٌ أَوْ بَقَرَةٌ تُحْلَبُ فَبَرَكَاتٌ كُلُّهُنَّ.

‘It is a sheep that you can milk. If one keeps a sheep in his home to milk or an ewe or a cow to milk they all are blessings.’”

دَخَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص عَلَى أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ فَقَالَ لَهَا مَا لِي لَا أَرَى فِي بَيْتِكِ الْبَرَكَةَ قَالَتْ بَلَى وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ إِنَّ الْبَرَكَةَ لَفِي بَيْتِي فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَنْزَلَ ثَلَاثَ بَرَكَاتٍ الْمَاءَ وَ النَّارَ وَ الشَّاةَ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said that once the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, went to the house of ‘Umm Salamah and said to her, ‘Why is it that I do not see blessing in your house?’ She said, ‘Yes, all praise belongs to Allah, there are bl

مَا مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتٍ تَرُوحُ عَلَيْهِمْ ثَلَاثُونَ شَاةً إِلَّا لَمْ تَزَلِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ تَحْرُسُهُمْ حَتَّى يُصْبِحُوا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If any family keeps thirty sheep in the evening in their house, angels continue to protect them until the morning.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَسِمُ الْغَنَمَ فِي وُجُوهِهَا قَالَ سِمْهَا فِي آذَانِهَا.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about if I can mark sheep on their faces. He (the Imam) said, ‘Mark them on their ears.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ سِمَةِ الْمَوَاشِي فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهَا إِلَّا فِي الْوُجُوهِ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about marking the animals. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful except their faces.’”

الْحَمَامُ مِنْ طُيُورِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ ع.

“He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said, ‘Pigeons are the birds of the Prophets, ‘Alayhim al- Salam.”’

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ أَوَّلَ حَمَامٍ كَانَ بِمَكَّةَ حَمَامٌ لِإِسْمَاعِيلَ ع.

‘The first pigeon in Makkah was the pigeon of Tsma‘il ‘Alayhi al-Salam.’”

إِنَّ أَصْلَ حَمَامِ الْحَرَمِ بَقِيَّةُ حَمَامٍ كَانَ لِإِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع اتَّخَذَهَا كَانَ يَأْنَسُ بِهَا فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يُسْتَحَبُّ أَنْ تَتَّخِذَ طَيْراً مَقْصُوصاً تَأْنَسُ بِهِ مَخَافَةَ الْهَوَامِّ.

‘The real free pigeon remaining is the pigeon that belonged to Tsma‘il ibn Ibrahim, ‘Alayhima al-Salam, who kept it for comfort. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is preferable to keep a bird with clipped wings for comfort and for (to dispel) fear from vermin.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ هَذِهِ الْحَمَامُ حَمَامُ الْحَرَمِ هِيَ مِنْ نَسْلِ حَمَامِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع الَّتِي كَانَتْ لَهُ.

‘These pigeons -the pigeons of al-Haram (the sacred area) - are of the offspring of the pigeon of Tsma‘il ibn Ibrahim, ‘Alayhima al-Salam, that belonged to him.’”

لَيْسَ مِنْ بَيْتٍ فِيهِ حَمَامٌ إِلَّا لَمْ يُصِبْ أَهْلَ ذَلِكَ الْبَيْتِ آفَةٌ مِنَ الْجِنِّ إِنَّ سُفَهَاءَ الْجِنِّ يَعْبَثُونَ فِي الْبَيْتِ فَيَعْبَثُونَ بِالْحَمَامِ وَ يَتْرُكُونَ الْإِنْسَانَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A house in which pigeons exist, the people of that house do not receive any harm from Jinn. The dimwitted Jinns play in the house, thus they play with pigeons and the people are left alone.’”

شَكَا رَجُلٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص الْوَحْشَةَ فَأَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَتَّخِذَ فِي بَيْتِهِ زَوْجَ حَمَامٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once a man complained before the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, about loneliness and fear. He (the Messenger of Allah) commanded him to keep a pair of pigeons in his house.’”

ذُكِرَتِ الْحَمَامُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ اتَّخِذُوهَا فِي مَنَازِلِكُمْ فَإِنَّهَا مَحْبُوبَةٌ لَحِقَتْهَا دَعْوَةُ نُوحٍ ع وَ هِيَ آنَسُ شَيْ‌ءٍ فِي الْبُيُوتِ.

“I once mentioned pigeons before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and he (the Imam) said, ‘You can keep them in your homes; it is a lovely (hobby). The prayer of Nuh (Noah) (a.s.), has arrived at them. It is the most comforting thing in the house.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ الْحَمَامُ طَيْرٌ مِنْ طُيُورِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ ع- الَّتِي كَانُوا يُمْسِكُونَ فِي بُيُوتِهِمْ وَ لَيْسَ مِنْ بَيْتٍ فِيهِ حَمَامٌ إِلَّا لَمْ تُصِبْ أَهْلَ ذَلِكَ الْبَيْتِ آفَةٌ مِنَ الْجِنِّ إِنَّ سُفَهَاءَ الْجِنِّ يَعْبَثُونَ فِي الْبَيْتِ فَيَعْبَثُونَ بِالْحَمَامِ وَ يَدَعُونَ النَّاسَ قَالَ فَرَأَيْتُ فِي بُيُوتِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع حَمَاماً لِابْنِهِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that pigeons are of the birds of the Prophets, ‘Alayhim al- Salam, who kept them in their homes. Any home in which there is a pigeon, the people therein are not harmed by the dimwitted ones of Jinn who plays in the house, thus they play with the pigeons and leave the people alone.’ I t

قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع وَ نَظَرَ إِلَى حَمَامٍ فِي بَيْتِهِ مَا مِنِ انْتِفَاضٍ يَنْتَفِضُ بِهَا إِلَّا نَفَّرَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مَنْ دَخَلَ الْبَيْتَ مِنْ عُزْمَةِ أَهْلِ الْأَرْضِ‌[1].

9. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Qasim ibn Yahya from his grandfather al-Hassan ibn Rashid from Ya‘qub ibn Ja‘far who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), looked at pigeons in his house and said, ‘With every vibration that it causes, Allah thereby dispels from the house

كُنْتُ جَالِساً فِي بَيْتِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَنَظَرْتُ إِلَى حَمَامٍ رَاعِبِيٍ‌[2] يُقَرْقِرُ طَوِيلًا فَنَظَرَ إِلَيَّ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ يَا دَاوُدُ تَدْرِي مَا يَقُولُ هَذَا الطَّيْرُ قُلْتُ لَا وَ اللَّهِ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَالَ يَدْعُو عَلَى قَتَلَةِ الْحُسَيْنِ ع فَاتَّخِذُوا فِي مَنَازِلِكُمْ.

“I once was sitting in the house of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and I looked at a pigeon of Ra’‘ibiy kind (name of a place) that made a long sound. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), looked at me and asked, ‘O Dawud, do you know what this bird says?’ I said, ‘No, I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause.’ He (the Imam)

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ حَفِيفَ أَجْنِحَةِ الْحَمَامِ‌[3] لَتَطْرُدُ الشَّيَاطِينَ.

I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘The sound of the wings of pigeon dispels the devils.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَدْفَعُ بِالْحَمَامِ عَنْ هَدَّةِ الدَّارِ[4].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, with pigeons, keeps a house safe from crumbling down.’”

اتَّخِذُوا الْحَمَامَ الرَّاعِبِيَّةَ فِي بُيُوتِكُمْ فَإِنَّهَا تَلْعَنُ قَتَلَةَ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ ع وَ لَعَنَ اللَّهُ قَاتِلَهُ

‘You must keep al-Ra’‘ibiy pigeon in your homes because it condemns the murderers of al-Husayn ibn Ali, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, and Allah has condemned his killer.’”

اسْتَهْدَانِي إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَأَهْدَيْتُ لَهُ طَيْراً رَاعِبِيّاً فَدَخَلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ اجْعَلُوا هَذَا الطَّيْرَ الرَّاعِبِيَّ مَعِي فِي الْبَيْتِ يُؤْنِسُنِي قَالَ وَ قَالَ عُثْمَانُ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ حَمَامٌ يَفُتُّ لَهُنَّ خُبْزاً.

“’Isma‘il ibn abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), asked me for a gift and I gave him a Ra’Tbiy bird (a pigeon). Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), came in and said, ‘Keep this al-Ra’‘ibiy bird in the house with me for comfort.’ ‘Uthman has said, ‘I once visited abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when in front of him there was a pigeon for which he (the Im

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَرَأَيْتُ عَلَى فِرَاشِهِ ثَلَاثَ حَمَامَاتٍ خُضْرٍ قَدْ ذَرَقْنَ عَلَى الْفِرَاشِ‌[2] فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ هَؤُلَاءِ الْحَمَامُ تَقْذَرُ الْفِرَاشَ فَقَالَ لَا إِنَّهُ يُسْتَحَبُّ أَنْ تُسْكَنَ فِي الْبَيْتِ.

“I once went to visit abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and I saw three green pigeons on his furnishing which had made droppings on the furnishings and I said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, these pigeons have dirtied the furnishings.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘No, it is preferable that they stay inside th

كَانَ فِي مَنْزِلِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص زَوْجُ حَمَامٍ أَحْمَرُ.

there was a pair of red pigeons.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ احْتَفَرَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع بِئْراً فَرَمَوْا فِيهَا فَأُخْبِرَ بِذَلِكَ فَجَاءَ حَتَّى وَقَفَ عَلَيْهَا فَقَالَ لَتَكُفُّنَّ أَوْ لَأُسْكِنَنَّهَا الْحَمَامَ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ حَفِيفَ أَجْنِحَتِهَا تَطْرُدُ الشَّيَاطِينَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin had dug a well, then they threw things in it and it was reported to him (the Imam). He went, stood on the well and said, ‘You must stop throwing things in it, otherwise, I will make the pigeons to use it as their living place.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), then said, ‘T

ذُكِرَ الْحَمَامُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ إِنَّهُ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ عُمَرَ رَأَى حَمَاماً يَطِيرُ وَ رَجُلٌ تَحْتَهُ يَعْدُو فَقَالَ عُمَرُ شَيْطَانٌ يَعْدُو تَحْتَهُ شَيْطَانٌ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا كَانَ إِسْمَاعِيلُ عِنْدَكُمْ فَقِيلَ صِدِّيقٌ فَقَالَ إِنَّ بَقِيَّةَ حَمَامِ الْحَرَمِ مِنْ حَمَامِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ.

“Once, pigeons were mentioned before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and a man said, ‘It has come to my knowledge that once ‘Umar saw a pigeon flying and a man underneath was running. ‘Umar then said, “One Satan runs under another Satan.” Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), then said, ‘(It is because) Tsma‘il was not there with you.’ Someon

سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ الرِّضَا ع عَنِ الزَّوْجِ مِنَ الْحَمَامِ يُفْرِخُ عِنْدَهُ يَتَزَوَّجُ الطَّيْرُ أُمَّهُ وَ ابْنَتَهُ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِمَا كَانَ بَيْنَ الْبَهَائِمِ.

“Once a man asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), about a pair of pigeons which hatched chicks with him; if a bird can mate a mother bird or daughter bird. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful with what is in animals.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الطَّيْرِ يُرْسَلُ مِنَ الْبَلَدِ الْبَعِيدِ الَّذِي لَمْ يَرَهُ قَطُّ فَيَأْتِي فَقَالَ يَا ابْنَ عُذَافِرٍ هُوَ يَأْتِي مَنْزِلَ صَاحِبِهِ مِنْ ثَلَاثِينَ فَرْسَخاً عَلَى مَعْرِفَتِهِ وَ حَسَبِهِ فَإِذَا زَادَتْ عَلَى ثَلَاثِينَ فَرْسَخاً جَاءَتْ إِلَى أَرْبَابِهَا بِأَرْزَاقِهَا[1].

“I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a bird which is set free in a faraway area and the bird has never seen it but it comes back. He (the Imam) said, ‘O ibn ‘Udha’fir, birds can come to the house of its owner from a distance of thirty farsakh (90 miles) because of its knowledge and environment, but i

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مَا أَتَى مِنْ ثَلَاثِينَ فَرْسَخاً فَبِالْهِدَايَةِ وَ مَا كَانَ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَبِالْأُكُلِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘That (bird) which comes back from a distance of thirty farsakh is because of guidance and from a distance of more than this is because of food.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الطَّيْرُ يَجِي‌ءُ مِنَ الْمَكَانِ الْبَعِيدِ قَالَ إِنَّمَا يَجِي‌ءُ لِرِزْقِهِ.

‘It comes back because of its sustenance.’”

قُلْتُ الْحَمَامُ يُرْسَلْنَ مِنَ الْمَوَاضِعِ الْبَعِيدَةِ فَيَأْتِي وَ يُرْسَلْنَ مِنَ الْمَكَانِ الْقَرِيبِ فَلَا يَأْتِي فَقَالَ إِذَا انْقَطَعَ أُكُلُهُ فَلَا يَأْتِي.

‘When its sustenance in the area is depleted, then it does not come back.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ دِيكٌ أَبْيَضُ أَفْرَقُ يَحْرُسُ دُوَيْرَةَ أَهْلِهِ وَ سَبْعَ دُوَيْرَاتٍ حَوْلَهُ.

“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, ‘A white rooster which is called afraq (white) protects the house of its people and seven other houses around it.’”

دِيكٌ أَبْيَضُ أَفْرَقُ يَحْرُسُ دُوَيْرَتَهُ وَ سَبْعَ دُوَيْرَاتٍ حَوْلَهُ وَ لَنَفْضَةٌ مِنْ حَمَامٍ مُنَمَّرَةٍ[1] أَفْضَلُ مِنْ سَبْعِ دُيُوكٍ فُرْقٍ بِيضٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A white rooster which is called afraq protects its house and seven houses around it, however, a vibration from a spotted pigeon is better than seven white roosters.”’

ذُكِرَ عِنْدَ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع حُسْنُ الطَّاوُسِ فَقَالَ لَا يَزِيدُكَ عَلَى حُسْنِ الدِّيكِ الْأَبْيَضِ شَيْ‌ءٌ قَالَ وَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ الدِّيكُ أَحْسَنُ صَوْتاً مِنَ الطَّاوُسِ وَ هُوَ أَعْظَمُ بَرَكَةً يُنَبِّهُكَ فِي مَوَاقِيتِ الصَّلَاةِ وَ إِنَّمَا يَدْعُو الطَّاوُسُ بِالْوَيْلِ لِخَطِيئَةِ الَّتِي ابْتُلِيَ بِهَا.

“Once, the beauty of peacock was mentioned before abu al-Hassan (a.s.), who said, ‘It cannot have any greater beauty over the white rooster.’ He (the narrator) has said, ‘I heard him (the Imam) saying, ‘The voice of rooster is better than the voice of peacock. It is of greater blessing because it wakes you up for the t

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ الدِّيكُ الْأَبْيَضُ صَدِيقِي وَ صَدِيقُ كُلِّ مُؤْمِنٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The white rooster is my friend and the friend of every believing person.’”

قَالَ: فِي الدِّيكِ خَمْسُ خِصَالٍ مِنْ خِصَالِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ السَّخَاءُ وَ الشَّجَاعَةُ وَ الْقَنَاعَةُ وَ الْمَعْرِفَةُ بِأَوْقَاتِ الصَّلَوَاتِ وَ كَثْرَةُ الطَّرُوقَةِ[2] وَ الْغَيْرَةِ.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘In roosters there are five qualities of the qualities of the Prophets, like bravery, contentment, knowledge of the times of Salat (prayer), the great deal of ability of mating and courage (to protect the female).”’

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص‌ صِيَاحُ الدِّيكِ صَلَاتُهُ وَ ضَرْبُهُ بِجَنَاحِهِ رُكُوعُهُ وَ سُجُودُهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘Crowing of the rooster is its Salat (prayer) and flipping of its wings is its Ruku’ (bowing down on one’s knees) and Sujud (prostrations).”’

مَنِ اتَّخَذَ فِي بَيْتِهِ‌ طَيْراً فَلْيَتَّخِذْ وَرَشَاناً فَإِنَّهُ أَكْثَرُ شَيْئاً لِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ أَكْثَرُ تَسْبِيحاً وَ هُوَ طَيْرٌ يُحِبُّنَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ’If one likes to keep birds in his house, he must keep Warshan (a kind of pigeon). It speaks of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, most often as well as Tasbih (Allah is free of all defects) and it is a bird that loves us, the Ahl al-Bayt (family of prophet Muhammad (SAW)).’”

اسْتَهْدَانِي إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع طَيْراً مِنْ طُيُورِ الْعِرَاقِ فَأَهْدَيْتُ وَرَشَاناً فَدَخَلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَرَآهُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الْوَرَشَانَ يَقُولُ بُورِكْتُمْ بُورِكْتُمْ فَأَمْسِكُوهُ.

“’Isma’il, ibn abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once, asked me to give a bird of Iraq as a gift to him. I gave him a Warshan. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), came in. He (the Imam) saw it and said, ‘ Al-Warshan says, ‘You are blessed, you are blessed’, so you must keep it.’”

إِنْ كُنْتَ لَا بُدَّ مُتَّخِذاً فَاتَّخِذْ وَرَشَاناً فَإِنَّهُ كَثِيرُ الذِّكْرِ لِلَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), prohibited his son ’Isma’il from keeping al-Fakhtah (ring pigeon) and said if you must keep a bird, keep Warshan because it speaks of Allah, most Blessed, most High, very often.’”

كَانَتْ فِي دَارِ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع فَاخِتَةٌ فَسَمِعَهَا يَوْماً وَ هِيَ تَصِيحُ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ أَ تَدْرُونَ مَا تَقُولُ هَذِهِ الْفَاخِتَةُ قَالُوا لَا قَالَ تَقُولُ فَقَدْتُكُمْ فَقَدْتُكُمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَنَفْقِدَنَّهَا قَبْلَ أَنْ تَفْقِدَنَا ثُمَّ أَمَرَ بِهَا فَذُبِحَتْ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that in the house of abu Ja‘far (a.s.), there was al-Fakhtah and he one day heard it crying. He (the Imam) said, ‘Do you know what it (al-Fakhtah) says?’ They replied, ‘No, we do not know.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It says, ‘I have lost you, I have lost you.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘We will lo

أَهْدَيْتُ إِلَى إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع صُلْصُلًا فَدَخَلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَلَمَّا رَآهَا قَالَ هَذَا الطَّيْرَ الْمَشُومَ أَخْرِجُوهُ فَإِنَّهُ يَقُولُ فَقَدْتُكُمْ فَقَدْتُكُمْ فَافْقِدُوهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَفْقِدَكُمْ.

“I once gave a Sulsul as a gift to Tsma’il, son of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), came in. When he (the Imam) saw it he said, ‘This bird is an unfortunate bird, so you must send it away. It says, ‘I have failed to find you, I have failed to find you.’ You must lose it before it fails to find you.”’

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ص فَقَالَ لِي يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ اذْهَبْ‌ بِنَا إِلَى إِسْمَاعِيلَ نَعُودُهُ وَ كَانَ شَاكِياً فَقُمْنَا وَ دَخَلْنَا عَلَى إِسْمَاعِيلَ فَإِذَا فِي مَنْزِلِهِ فَاخِتَةٌ فِي قَفَصٍ تَصِيحُ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَا بُنَيَّ مَا يَدْعُوكَ إِلَى إِمْسَاكِ هَذِهِ الْفَاخِتَةِ أَ وَ مَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّهَا مَشُومَةٌ أَ وَ مَا تَدْرِي مَا تَقُولُ قَالَ إِسْمَاعِيلُ لَا قَالَ إِنّ

“I once visited abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and he said to me, ‘O abu Muhammad, come with us to visit Tsma‘il because of his illness. We left to visit Tsma‘il and in his house we saw al-Fakhtah in a cage crying. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said, ‘Son, what has made you to keep this al- Fakhtah? Did you not know that it is a misf

يُكْرَهُ أَنْ يَكُونَ فِي دَارِ الرَّجُلِ الْمُسْلِمِ الْكَلْبُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is detestable for a Muslim to allow a dog to live in his house.”’

مَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ يَتَّخِذُ كَلْباً إِلَّا نَقَصَ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ مِنْ عَمَلِ صَاحِبِهِ قِيرَاطٌ.

2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from ibn Bukayr from Zurarah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Whoever keeps a dog, every day one Qirat (a certain unit of measurement) is reduced from the (good) deeds of his owner.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْكَلْبِ نُمْسِكُهُ فِي الدَّارِ قَالَ لَا.

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), if we can keep a dog in the house. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, you must not do so.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص‌ لَا خَيْرَ فِي الْكِلَابِ إِلَّا كَلْبَ صَيْدٍ أَوْ كَلْبَ مَاشِيَةٍ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘There is nothing good in dogs except hunting dogs or that which guards cattle.’”

لَا تُمْسِكْ كَلْبَ الصَّيْدِ فِي الدَّارِ إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ بَيْنَكَ وَ بَيْنَهُ بَابٌ.

‘You must not keep a hunting dog in the house unless there is a door between you and the dog.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ كَلْبِ الصَّيْدِ يُمْسَكُ فِي الدَّارِ قَالَ إِذَا كَانَ يُغْلَقُ دُونَهُ الْبَابُ فَلَا بَأْسَ.

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), if a hunting dog can be kept in the house. He (the Imam) said, ‘If a door can be closed in front of it, then it is not harmful.’”

الْكِلَابُ السُّودُ الْبَهِيمُ مِنَ الْجِنِ‌[1].

“One of the two Imam, (abu Ja‘far or abu ‘Abd Allah), ‘Alayhim al-Salam, has said that dogs of one color, all black are from Jinn.’”

كُنْتُ مَعَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فِيمَا بَيْنَ مَكَّةَ وَ الْمَدِينَةِ إِذَا الْتَفَتَ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ فَإِذَا كَلْبٌ أَسْوَدُ بَهِيمٌ فَقَالَ مَا لَكَ قَبَّحَكَ اللَّهُ مَا أَشَدَّ مُسَارَعَتَكَ وَ إِذَا هُوَ شَبِيهٌ بِالطَّائِرِ فَقُلْتُ مَا هَذَا جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَقَالَ هَذَا غُثَيْمٌ بَرِيدُ الْجِنِّ مَاتَ هِشَامٌ السَّاعَةَ وَ هُوَ يَطِيرُ يَنْعَاهُ فِي كُلِّ بَلْدَةٍ.

“Once I was with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), on the road between Makkah and al-Madinah and I saw on his left side a dog of one color, all black. He (the Imam) said, ‘What is the matter with you, may Allah disfigure you, how fiercely you rush!’ It then resembled a bird. I then asked, ‘What is this? I pray to Allah to keep my