The Rare Ahadith

فِي يَوْمَ الْتَقَى هُوَ وَ مُعَاوِيَةُ بِصِفِّينَ وَ رَفَعَ بِهَا صَوْتَهُ لِيُسْمِعَ أَصْحَابَهُ وَ اللَّهِ لَأَقْتُلَنَّ مُعَاوِيَةَ وَ أَصْحَابَهُ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ فِي آخِرِ قَوْلِهِ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ يَخْفِضُ بِهَا صَوْتَهُ وَ كُنْتُ قَرِيباً مِنْهُ فَقُلْتُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِنَّكَ حَلَفْتَ عَلَى مَا فَعَلْتَ ثُمَّ اسْتَثْنَيْتَ فَمَا أَرَدْتَ بِذَلِكَ فَقَالَ لِي إِنَّ الْحَرْبَ خُدْعَةٌ وَ أَنَا عِنْد

“A Shaykh of the children of ’Adi ibn Hatim narrated from his father from his grandfather who was with ’ Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali (a.s.), in his campaign against his adversaries. He has said that on the day ’Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali (a.s.), met Mu‘awiyah in Siffin, raised his voice to reach his companions and said, ’By Allah

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع إِنِّي آلَيْتُ أَنْ لَا أَشْرَبَ مِنْ لَبَنِ عَنْزِي وَ لَا آكُلَ مِنْ لَحْمِهَا فَبِعْتُهَا وَ عِنْدِي مِنْ أَوْلَادِهَا فَقَالَ لَا تَشْرَبْ مِنْ لَبَنِهَا وَ لَا تَأْكُلْ مِنْ لَحْمِهَا فَإِنَّهَا مِنْهَا.

“I once said to abu Ja’far (a.s.), that I had taken an oath not to drink from the milk of my goat and not to eat its flesh; so I sold it but its offspring has remained with me. He (the Imam) said, ‘Do not drink from its milk and do not eat from its flesh; it is from that.’”

الْمَلْزُومُ كُلُّ حِلٍّ عَلَيْهِ حَرَامٌ إِنْ بَرِحَ حَتَّى يُرْضِيَكَ فَخَرَجَ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يُرْضِيَهُ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ وَ لَا يَدْرِي مَا يَبْلُغُ يَمِينُهُ وَ لَيْسَ لَهُ فِيهَا نِيَّةٌ قَالَ لَيْسَ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ.

“An indebted man who was held by his creditor said, ‘All lawful things will be unlawful for me if I leave you, unless you agree to allow me to go.’ However, he then leaves without his creditor agreeing, about this and what he might do because of not knowing the condition of his oath and swearing, when in reality he did

سَافَرْتُ مَعَ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع إِلَى مَكَّةَ فَأَمَرَ غُلَامَهُ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ فَخَالَفَهُ إِلَى غَيْرِهِ فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع وَ اللَّهِ لَأَضْرِبَنَّكَ يَا غُلَامُ قَالَ فَلَمْ أَرَهُ ضَرَبَهُ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّكَ حَلَفْتَ لَتَضْرِبَنَّ غُلَامَكَ فَلَمْ أَرَكَ ضَرَبْتَهُ فَقَالَ أَ لَيْسَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ- وَ أَنْ تَعْفُوا أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوى‌[2].

“I once travelled with abu Ja‘far (a.s.), to Makkah and he (the Imam) commanded his slave to do something but he disobeyed and abu Ja’far (a.s.), said, ‘By Allah, I will beat you, O ghulam (servant).’ I however, did not see him beating the ghulam, thus, I asked, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your caus

مَنْ عَجَزَ عَنِ الْكَفَّارَةِ الَّتِي تَجِبُ عَلَيْهِ صَوْمٍ أَوْ عِتْقٍ أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ فِي يَمِينٍ أَوْ نَذْرٍ أَوْ قَتْلٍ أَوْ غَيْرِ ذَلِكَ مِمَّا يَجِبُ عَلَى صَاحِبِهِ فِيهِ الْكَفَّارَةُ فَالاسْتِغْفَارُ لَهُ كَفَّارَةٌ مَا خَلَا يَمِينَ الظِّهَارِ فَإِنَّهُ إِذَا لَمْ يَجِدْ مَا يُكَفِّرُ حَرُمَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يُجَامِعَهَا وَ فُرِّقَ بَيْنَهُمَا إِلَّا أَنْ تَرْضَى الْمَرْأَةُ أَنْ تَكُونَ مَعَهُ وَ لَا يُجَامِ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has stated this Hadith. ‘If one fails to pay an expiation which is due on him or setting free of a slave or charity because of an oath or a vow and commitment or murder and so forth or causes for which expiation is obligatory on him, then asking forgiveness is his choice in place of paying expia

الظِّهَارُ إِذَا عَجَزَ صَاحِبُهُ عَنِ الْكَفَّارَةِ فَلْيَسْتَغْفِرْ رَبَّهُ وَ يَنْوِي أَنْ لَا يَعُودَ[3] قَبْلَ أَنْ يُوَاقِعَ ثُمَّ لْيُوَاقِعْ وَ قَدْ أَجْزَأَ ذَلِكَ عَنْهُ مِنَ الْكَفَّارَةِ فَإِذَا وَجَدَ السَّبِيلَ إِلَى مَا يُكَفِّرُ يَوْماً مِنَ الْأَيَّامِ فَلْيُكَفِّرْ وَ إِنْ تَصَدَّقَ وَ أَطْعَمَ نَفْسَهُ وَ عِيَالَهُ فَإِنَّهُ يُجْزِئُهُ إِذَا كَانَ مُحْتَاجاً وَ إِنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ ذَلِكَ فَلْيَسْتَغْف

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that in the case of al-Zihar if the man fails to pay the expiation, he must then ask forgiveness from his Lord and keep his intention not to repeat it again before going to bed and then go to bed, it is sufficient for expiation. When he finds a way to pay the expiation in one of the da

كَتَبَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ إِلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ ع‌ رَجُلٌ حَلَفَ بِالْبَرَاءَةِ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ مِنْ رَسُولِهِ ص فَحَنِثَ مَا تَوْبَتُهُ وَ كَفَّارَتُهُ فَوَقَّعَ ع يُطْعِمُ عَشَرَةَ مَسَاكِينَ لِكُلِّ مِسْكِينٍ مُدٌّ وَ يَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

‘He must feed ten destitute people with one mud (a certain measurement) to each one and ask forgiveness from Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ مَنْ حَلَفَ فَقَالَ لَا وَ رَبِّ الْمُصْحَفِ فَحَنِثَ فَعَلَيْهِ كَفَّارَةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah, has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali (a.s.), has said, ‘If one swears saying, “No, by the Lord of the book”, then opposes it, he must pay one Kaffarah (expiation).”’

سُئِلَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع هَلْ يُطْعَمُ الْمَسَاكِينُ فِي كَفَّارَةِ الْيَمِينِ‌ لُحُومَ الْأَضَاحِيِّ فَقَالَ لَا لِأَنَّهُ قُرْبَانٌ لِلَّهِ‌[1].

“’Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali (a.s.), was asked, ‘Can the Kaffarah (expiation) because of an oath be fed to the destitute from the flesh of the offering animals for al-Hajj?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘No, because it is sacrifice for Allah.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الرَّجُلُ يَكُونُ عَلَيْهِ الْيَمِينُ فَيُحْلِفُهُ غَرِيمُهُ بِالْأَيْمَانِ الْمُغَلَّظَةِ أَنْ لَا يَخْرُجَ مِنَ الْبَلَدِ إِلَّا يُعْلِمُهُ فَقَالَ لَا يَخْرُجُ حَتَّى يُعْلِمَهُ قُلْتُ إِنْ أَعْلَمَهُ لَمْ يَدَعْهُ قَالَ إِنْ كَانَ عِلْمُهُ ضَرَراً عَلَيْهِ وَ عَلَى عِيَالِهِ فَلْيَخْرُجْ وَ لَا شَيْ‌ءَ عَلَيْهِ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who is under oath and his creditor makes him to take an oath with all seriousness not to leave the town without his knowledge. He (the Imam) said, ‘He must not leave the town without his knowledge.’ I then said that if he informs, he would not allow him to go

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ امْرَأَةٍ اسْتَوْدَعَتْ رَجُلًا مَالًا فَلَمَّا حَضَرَهَا الْمَوْتُ قَالَتْ لَهُ إِنَّ الْمَالَ الَّذِي دَفَعْتُهُ إِلَيْكَ لِفُلَانَةَ فَمَاتَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ فَأَتَى أَوْلِيَاؤُهَا الرَّجُلَ فَقَالُوا لَهُ إِنَّهُ كَانَ لِصَاحِبَتِنَا مَالٌ لَا نَرَاهُ إِلَّا عِنْدَكَ فَاحْلِفْ لَنَا مَا لَنَا قِبَلَكَ شَيْ‌ءٌ أَ يَحْلِفُ لَهُمْ قَالَ إِنْ كَانَتْ مَأْمُونَةً عِنْدَهُ فَلْيَحْلِفْ

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a woman who leaves in trust with a man a certain amount of assets; and when the time of her death comes, she tells him that the asset she has left with him belongs to so and so female person. The woman dies and her people come to him and ask him to take an oath tha

سُئِلَ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يُقْسِمُ عَلَى أَخِيهِ قَالَ لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ شَيْ‌ءٌ إِنَّمَا أَرَادَ إِكْرَامَهُ.

“Once abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about the case of a man who swears by his brother. He (the Imam) said, ‘It does not have any valid effect on him; he only wanted to honor and respect him.’”

سُئِلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ وَاقَعَ امْرَأَتَهُ وَ هِيَ حَائِضٌ قَالَ إِنْ كَانَ وَاقَعَهَا فِي اسْتِقْبَالِ الدَّمِ فَلْيَسْتَغْفِرِ اللَّهَ وَ لْيَتَصَدَّقْ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ نَفَرٍ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بِقَدْرِ قُوتِ كُلِّ رَجُلٍ مِنْهُمْ لِيَوْمِهِ وَ لَا يَعُدْ وَ إِنْ كَانَ وَاقَعَهَا فِي إِدْبَارِ الدَّمِ فِي آخِرِ أَيَّامِهَا قَبْلَ الْغُسْلِ فَلَا شَيْ‌ءَ عَلَيْهِ.

“Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about the case of a man who falls on his wife during her experiencing Hayd (menses). He (the Imam) said, Tf he has done so in the beginning of her Hayd (menses) he must ask forgiveness from Allah and give charity, to seven people of the believing ones, of one day’s meals and must

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَيُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ لَا نَذْرَ فِي مَعْصِيَةٍ قَالَ فَقَالَ كُلُّ مَا كَانَ لَكَ فِيهِ مَنْفَعَةٌ فِي دِينٍ أَوْ دُنْيَا فَلَا حِنْثَ عَلَيْكَ فِيهِ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the meaning of: ‘there is no vow and commitment in sinful matters’. He (the Imam) said, ‘Whatever is beneficial to you in the worldly matters or the hereafter, there is no violation in it.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يُظَاهِرُ مِنِ امْرَأَتِهِ يَجُوزُ عِتْقُ الْمَوْلُودِ فِي الْكَفَّارَةِ فَقَالَ كُلُّ الْعِتْقِ يَجُوزُ فِيهِ الْمَوْلُودُ إِلَّا فِي كَفَّارَةِ الْقَتْلِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ‌ فَتَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ مُؤْمِنَةٍ[1] يَعْنِي بِذَلِكَ مُقِرَّةً قَدْ بَلَغَتِ الْحِنْثَ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who involves himself in al- Zihar against his wife; if it is permissible to free a newborn slave for Kaffarah (expiation). He (the Imam) said, ‘Every kind of Kaffarah (expiation) that requires freeing of a slave, freeing of a newborn slave is sufficient for i

إِذَا كَانَ مِمَّا يُبَاعُ أَجْزَأَ عَنْهُ إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ سَمَّى فَعَلَيْهِ مَا اشْتَرَطَ وَ سَمَّى.

“About the case of a man who makes it upon himself to free a slave then sets free a paralyzed or lame one, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, Tf he is sellable, it is sufficient unless he has specified, in which case he must meet the condition.’”

إِنْ خِفْتَ عَلَى مَالِكَ وَ دَمِكَ فَاحْلِفْ تَرُدُّهُ بِيَمِينِكَ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ذَلِكَ يَرُدُّ شَيْئاً فَلَا تَحْلِفْ لَهُمْ.

“About the case of a man who swears because of taqiyah (fear), one of the two Imam, (abu Ja‘far or abu ‘Abd Allah), ‘Alayhim al-Salam, has said, Tf you fear for your belongings or life, you can swear if it can spare it; but if you see that it cannot avert anything, then do not swear.”’

إِنْ شَاءَ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَ إِنْ شَاءَ صَامَ يَوْماً وَ إِنْ شَاءَ تَصَدَّقَ بِرَغِيفٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali (a.s.), was asked about a man who makes a vow and commitment without specifying anything, has said, ‘If he wants he can perform two Rak‘at Salat (prayer) or fast for one day or give one loaf of bread for charity.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ فِي رَجُلٍ قِيلَ لَهُ فَعَلْتَ كَذَا وَ كَذَا قَالَ لَا وَ اللَّهِ مَا فَعَلْتُهُ وَ قَدْ فَعَلَهُ فَقَالَ كَذِبَةٌ كَذَبَهَا يَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ مِنْهَا.

“This is about the case of a man who after being asked, ‘Did you do such and such work?’ says, ‘No, by Allah, I have not done it’ when in fact he has done it. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amz’r al-Mu’minin, Ali (a.s.), has said, ‘It is a lie that he has spoken and he must ask Allah for forgiveness.’”

كَانَتْ مِنْ أَيْمَانِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص لَا وَ أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ.

“Of the oath of the Messenger of Allah (sw) was his saying, ‘No, and I ask Allah for forgiveness.’”

لَمَّا سُمَّ الْمُتَوَكِّلُ نَذَرَ إِنْ عُوفِيَ أَنْ يَتَصَدَّقَ بِمَالٍ كَثِيرٍ فَلَمَّا عُوفِيَ سَأَلَ الْفُقَهَاءَ عَنْ حَدِّ الْمَالِ الْكَثِيرِ فَاخْتَلَفُوا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ مِائَةُ أَلْفٍ وَ قَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَشَرَةُ آلَافٍ فَقَالُوا فِيهِ أَقَاوِيلَ مُخْتَلِفَةً فَاشْتَبَهَ عَلَيْهِ الْأَمْرُ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ نُدَمَائِهِ يُقَالُ لَهُ صَفْعَانُ أَ لَا تَبْعَثُ إِلَى هَذَا الْأَسْوَدِ فَتَسْأَلَ ع

21. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from certain persons of his people whom he has mentioned who has narrated the following: “Al-Mutawakkil specified a vow and commitment that if he recovers he will give in charity kathir (a great deal of) assets. When he recovered, he asked the scholars of law about the l