كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع أَنَّ لِي قَرَابَةً قَدْ خَطَبَ إِلَيَّ وَ فِي خُلُقِهِ شَيْءٌ فَقَالَ لَا تُزَوِّجْهُ إِنْ كَانَ سَيِّئَ الْخُلُقِ.
“I once wrote to abu al-Hassan al-Rida’ (a.s.), and asked, ‘One of my relatives has proposed for marriage but there is something in his moral manners. He (the Imam) said, ‘You must not give in marriage if his moral manners are bad/”
كُلُّ زِنًى سِفَاحٌ وَ لَيْسَ كُلُّ سِفَاحٍ زِنًى لِأَنَّ مَعْنَى الزِّنَى فِعْلُ حَرَامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ جِهَةٍ لَيْسَ فِيهِ شَيْءٌ مِنْ وُجُوهِ الْحَلَالِ فَلَمَّا كَانَ هَذَا الْفِعْلُ بِكُلِّيَّتِهِ حَرَاماً مِنْ كُلِّ وَجْهٍ كَانَتْ تِلْكَ الْعِلَّةُ رَأْسَ كُلِّ فَاحِشَةٍ وَ رَأْسَ كُلِّ حَرَامٍ حَرَّمَهُ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْفُرُوجِ كُلِّهَا وَ إِنْ كَانَ قَدْ يَكُونُ فِعْلُ الزِّنَى عَنْ تَرَاضٍ مِنَ الْعِبَادِ وَ أَج
كُنْتُ أَنَا وَ ابْنُ غَيْلَانَ الْمَدَائِنِيُّ دَخَلْنَا عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع فَقَالَ لَهُ ابْنُ غَيْلَانَ أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّهُ مَنْ كَانَ لَهُ حَمْلٌ فَنَوَى أَنْ يُسَمِّيَهُ مُحَمَّداً وُلِدَ لَهُ غُلَامٌ فَقَالَ مَنْ كَانَ لَهُ حَمْلٌ فَنَوَى أَنْ يُسَمِّيَهُ عَلِيّاً وُلِدَ لَهُ غُلَامٌ ثُمَّ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ مُحَمَّدٌ وَ مُحَمَّدٌ عَلِيٌّ شَيْئاً وَاحِداً[3] قَالَ أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ إِن
“Once ibn Ghaylan al-Mada’iniy and I visited abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), and ibn Ghaylan said to him (the Imam), ‘I pray to Allah to keep you well, I have been informed that if one’s wife is pregnant and he keeps his intention to name him Muhammad a son then is born to him.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If one’s wife is pr
قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع يَقُولُ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع إِنَّ النُّطْفَةَ تَكُونُ فِي الرَّحِمِ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً ثُمَّ تَصِيرُ عَلَقَةً أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً ثُمَّ تَصِيرُ مُضْغَةً أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً فَإِذَا كَمَلَ أَرْبَعَةُ أَشْهُرٍ بَعَثَ اللَّهُ مَلَكَيْنِ خَلَّاقَيْنِ[1] فَيَقُولَانِ يَا رَبِّ مَا تَخْلُقُ ذَكَراً أَوْ أُنْثَى فَيُؤْمَرَانِ فَيَقُولَانِ يَا رَبِّ شَقِيّاً أَوْ سَعِيداً فَيُؤ
Abu Ja'far (al-Baqir) (as) said: "Sperm in the womb after forty days becomes a clot, and then after another forty days becomes a fetus. When four months pass by, Allah sends two creating angels and they ask, “Oh Lord, what do You want to create, male or female?". They are then commanded accordingly. Then they ask, "Oh
سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع عَنِ التَّهْنِئَةِ بِالْوَلَدِ مَتَى فَقَالَ إِنَّهُ قَالَ لَمَّا وُلِدَ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ هَبَطَ جَبْرَئِيلُ بِالتَّهْنِئَةِ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ص فِي الْيَوْمِ السَّابِعِ وَ أَمَرَهُ أَنْ يُسَمِّيَهُ وَ يُكَنِّيَهُ وَ يَحْلِقَ رَأْسَهُ وَ يَعُقَّ عَنْهُ وَ يَثْقُبَ أُذُنَهُ وَ كَذَلِكَ كَانَ حِينَ وُلِدَ الْحُسَيْنُ ع أَتَاهُ فِي الْيَوْمِ السَّابِعِ فَأَمَرَهُ بِمِثْلِ ذَلِكَ
It was the birth of al-Hassan ibn Ali (a.s.). Jibril descended to congratulate the Holy Prophet (saww) on the seventh day and instructed to name him and give him a Kunyah, shave his head, offer ‘Aqiqah for him and pierce a hole in his ear. When al-Husayn (a.s.), was born Jibril came on the seventh day and instructed si
سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَكُونُ بَعْضُ وُلْدِهِ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ بَعْضٍ وَ يُقَدِّمُ بَعْضَ وُلْدِهِ عَلَى بَعْضٍ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ قَدْ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع نَحَلَ مُحَمَّداً وَ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع نَحَلَ أَحْمَدَ شَيْئاً فَقُمْتُ أَنَا بِهِ حَتَّى حُزْتُهُ لَهُ[1] فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ الرَّجُلُ يَكُونُ بَنَاتُهُ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ بَنِيهِ فَقَالَ الْ
“I once asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), about the case of a man who loves certain ones of his children more than others and gives preference to certain ones among them over the others. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), gave a present to Muhammad; so also did abu al- Hassan (a.s.), by gifting something to Ahmad a
سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ قَالَ لِامْرَأَتِهِ اعْتَدِّي فَقَدْ خَلَّيْتُ سَبِيلَكِ ثُمَّ أَشْهَدَ عَلَى رَجْعَتِهَا بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ بِأَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ غَابَ عَنْهَا قَبْلَ أَنْ يُجَامِعَهَا حَتَّى مَضَتْ لِذَلِكَ أَشْهُرٌ بَعْدَ الْعِدَّةِ أَوْ أَكْثَرُ فَكَيْفَ تَأْمُرُهُ قَالَ إِذَا أَشْهَدَ عَلَى رَجْعَتِهِ فَهِيَ زَوْجَتُهُ.
’1‘tadV (you must commence waiting period); I have opened your way. In few days he arranges witness for his going back to her; then remains absent from her before going to bed with her until months pass from the waiting period or more. What do you command in the case?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Since he has arranged for wit
كَتَبْتُ إِلَى الرِّضَا ع رَجُلٌ طَلَّقَ امْرَأَتَهُ الطَّلَاقَ الَّذِي لَا تَحِلُّ لَهُ حَتَّى تَنْكِحَ زَوْجاً غَيْرَهُ فَتَزَوَّجَهَا غُلَامٌ لَمْ يَحْتَلِمْ قَالَ لَا حَتَّى يَبْلُغَ فَكَتَبْتُ إِلَيْهِ مَا حَدُّ الْبُلُوغِ فَقَالَ مَا أَوْجَبَ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الْحُدُودَ.
“I once wrote to al-Rida’ (a.s.), and asked, ’A man has divorced his wife as such that she cannot become lawful for him in marriage without marriage with another man; but a boy who is not mature married her. He (the Imam) replied, ‘No, until he becomes mature.’ I then wrote and asked, ‘What is the limit of maturity?’ H
سَأَلَ الْمَأْمُونُ الرِّضَا ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- لا تُخْرِجُوهُنَّ مِنْ بُيُوتِهِنَّ وَ لا يَخْرُجْنَ إِلَّا أَنْ يَأْتِينَ بِفاحِشَةٍ مُبَيِّنَةٍ قَالَ يَعْنِي بِالْفَاحِشَةِ الْمُبَيِّنَةِ أَنْ تُؤْذِيَ أَهْلَ زَوْجِهَا فَإِذَا فَعَلَتْ فَإِنْ شَاءَ أَنْ يُخْرِجَهَا مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ تَنْقَضِيَ عِدَّتُهَا فَعَلَ.
“Once al-Ma’mun asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), about the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘. . . you must not send them out of their homes and they must not go out except if they commit an open indecent act’ He (the Imam) said, . . ‘open indecent act’, is a reference to her troubling the family of the man. If she
سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع عَنِ الْمَرْأَةِ تُبَارِئُ زَوْجَهَا أَوْ تَخْتَلِعُ مِنْهُ بِشَاهِدَيْنِ عَلَى طُهْرٍ مِنْ غَيْرِ جِمَاعٍ هَلْ تَبِينُ مِنْهُ فَقَالَ إِذَا كَانَ ذَلِكَ عَلَى مَا ذَكَرْتَ فَنَعَمْ قَالَ قُلْتُ قَدْ رُوِيَ لَنَا أَنَّهَا لَا تَبِينُ مِنْهُ حَتَّى يَتْبَعَهَا الطَّلَاقُ قَالَ فَلَيْسَ ذَلِكَ إِذاً خُلْعاً[1] فَقُلْتُ تَبِينُ مِنْهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ.
“I once asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), about the case of a woman who arranges al-Mubarat (disavowing) or al-Khul ‘ in the presence of two witnesses, in a Hayd (menses)-free period and without sexual intercourse; if she becomes stranger to him. He (the Imam) said, ’Yes, if it happens as you said has happened.’ I then said, ‘It
سَأَلَ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مِهْرَانَ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ ظَاهَرَ مِنْ أَرْبَعِ نِسْوَةٍ فَقَالَ يُكَفِّرُ لِكُلِّ وَاحِدَةٍ مِنْهُنَّ كَفَّارَةً وَ سَأَلَهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ ظَاهَرَ مِنِ امْرَأَتِهِ وَ جَارِيَتِهِ مَا عَلَيْهِ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ لِكُلِّ وَاحِدَةٍ مِنْهُمَا كَفَّارَةٌ عِتْقُ رَقَبَةٍ أَوْ صِيَامُ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتابِعَيْنِ أَوْ إِطْعَامُ سِتِّينَ مِسْكِيناً.
“Once, al-Husayn ibn Mehran asked abu al-Hassan al-Rida’ (a.s.), about a man who formed al-Zihar about four women. He (the Imam) said, ‘He owes expiation for each one.’ He asked him (the Imam) about a man who formed al-Zihar about his wife and his slave-girl and what must he pay. He (the Imam) said, ‘For each one he mu
سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع قُلْتُ لَهُ أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ كَيْفَ الْمُلَاعَنَةُ قَالَ فَقَالَ يَقْعُدُ الْإِمَامُ وَ يَجْعَلُ ظَهْرَهُ إِلَى الْقِبْلَةِ وَ يَجْعَلُ الرَّجُلَ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَ الْمَرْأَةَ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ.
‘The Imam sits down with his back to the al-Qiblah (al-Ka‘bah) and keeps the man on his right and the woman on his left.’”
كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يُعْتِقُ غُلَاماً صَغِيراً أَوْ شَيْخاً كَبِيراً أَوْ مَنْ بِهِ زَمَانَةٌ وَ مَنْ لَا حِيلَةَ لَهُ فَقَالَ مَنْ أَعْتَقَ مَمْلُوكاً لَا حِيلَةَ لَهُ فَإِنَّ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَعُولَهُ حَتَّى يَسْتَغْنِيَ عَنْهُ وَ كَذَلِكَ كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَفْعَلُ إِذَا أَعْتَقَ الصِّغَارَ وَ مَنْ لَا حِيلَةَ لَهُ.
Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Ibn Mahboub who said, ‘I wrote to Abu Al-Hassan Al-Reza asws and asked him asws about the man who emancipated a young boy, or an old Sheykh, one with chronic illness, and the one for whom there is no dodge for him. So he asws said: ‘The one who emancipates an owned slav
سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يُدَبِّرُ الْمَمْلُوكَ وَ هُوَ حَسَنُ الْحَالِ ثُمَّ يَحْتَاجُ هَلْ يَجُوزُ لَهُ أَنْ يَبِيعَهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ إِذَا احْتَاجَ إِلَى ذَلِكَ.
Al Husayn Bin Muhammad, from Moala Bin Muhammad, from Al Washa whom said, ‘I asked Abu Al-Hassan Al-Reza asws the man who arranged (the emancipation of) the owned slave and he was of good (financial) condition. Then he became needy. Is it allowed for him to sell him?’ He asws said: ‘Yes, when he is need for that’.
دَخَلَ ابْنُ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْمُكَارِي عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبْلَغَ اللَّهُ مِنْ قَدْرِكَ أَنْ تَدَّعِيَ مَا ادَّعَى أَبُوكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ مَا لَكَ أَطْفَأَ اللَّهُ نُورَكَ وَ أَدْخَلَ الْفَقْرَ بَيْتَكَ أَ مَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى أَوْحَى إِلَى عِمْرَانَ أَنِّي وَاهِبٌ لَكَ ذَكَراً فَوَهَبَ لَهُ مَرْيَمَ وَ وَهَبَ لِمَرْيَمَ عِيسَى ع- فَعِيسَى مِنْ مَرْيَمَ وَ مَرْيَم
سَأَلْتُ الرِّضَا ع عَنْ طُرُوقِ الطَّيْرِ بِاللَّيْلِ فِي وَكْرِهَا فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِذَلِكَ[1]. - أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَشْيَمَ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع مِثْلَهُ.
خَرَجْنَا بِسَمَكٍ نَتَلَقَّى بِهِ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع وَ قَدْ خَرَجْنَا مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ وَ قَدْ قَدِمَ هُوَ مِنْ سَفَرٍ لَهُ[1] فَقَالَ وَيْحَكَ يَا فُلَانُ لَعَلَّ مَعَكَ سَمَكاً فَقُلْتُ نَعَمْ يَا سَيِّدِي جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَقَالَ انْزِلُوا ثُمَّ قَالَ وَيْحَكَ لَعَلَّهُ زَهْوٌ قَالَ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ فَأَرَيْتُهُ فَقَالَ ارْكَبُوا لَا حَاجَةَ لَنَا فِيهِ وَ الزَّهْوُ سَمَكٌ لَيْسَ لَهُ قِشْرٌ.
10. Abu Ali al-Ash‘ariy has narrated from al-Hassan ibn Ali from his uncle Muhammad ibn Sulayman ibn Ja‘far who has said the following: “Ishaq, fisherman, narrated to me the following, ‘Once we went out with fish to meet abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.). We went out of al-Madinah and he (the Imam) was coming from his jou
كَتَبْتُ إِلَى الرِّضَا ع السَّمَكُ لَا يَكُونُ لَهُ قِشْرٌ أَ يُؤْكَلُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ مِنَ السَّمَكِ مَا يَكُونُ لَهُ زَعَارَّةٌ[3] فَيَحْتَكُّ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ فَتَذْهَبُ قُشُورُهُ وَ لَكِنْ إِذَا اخْتَلَفَ طَرَفَاهُ يَعْنِي ذَنَبَهُ وَ رَأْسَهُ فَكُلْهُ.
“I once wrote to abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), and asked if fish which has no scales can be used for food. He (the Imam) said, ‘Of fish there are those which have bad manners and they rub against everything and its scales go away, but if its two ends are different, its tail and head, then you can use it for food.’”
سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ يَصِيدُ الطَّيْرَ يُسَاوِي دَرَاهِمَ كَثِيرَةً وَ هُوَ مُسْتَوِي الْجَنَاحَيْنِ وَ يَعْرِفُ صَاحِبَهُ أَوْ يَجِيئُهُ فَيَطْلُبُهُ مَنْ لَا يَتَّهِمُهُ قَالَ لَا يَحِلُّ لَهُ إِمْسَاكُهُ يَرُدُّهُ عَلَيْهِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ فَإِنْ هُوَ صَادَ مَا هُوَ مَالِكٌ بِجَنَاحَيْهِ لَا يَعْرِفُ لَهُ طَالِباً قَالَ هُوَ لَهُ.
“I once asked al-Rida 5 (a.s.), about the case of a man who hunts a bird which is worth a large amount of dirham and it has leveled wings. He knows the owner of the bird or that he comes to ask about the bird but does not accuse him. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not lawful for him to keep. He must return it to him.’ I th
سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع يَقُولُ لَا تَقْتُلُوا الْقُنْبُرَةَ وَ لَا تَأْكُلُوا لَحْمَهَا فَإِنَّهَا كَثِيرَةُ التَّسْبِيحِ تَقُولُ فِي آخِرِ تَسْبِيحِهَا لَعَنَ اللَّهُ مُبْغِضِي آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ع.
“I once heard abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), saying, ’Do not kill the lark and do not use its flesh for food, because it says a great deal of Tasbih (Allah is free of all defects) and at the end it says, ‘May Allah condemn those who hate the family of Muhammad, ‘Alayhim al-Salam.’”
قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع إِذَا ذُبِحَتِ الشَّاةُ وَ سُلِخَتْ أَوْ سُلِخَ شَيْءٌ مِنْهَا قَبْلَ أَنْ تَمُوتَ لَمْ يَحِلَّ أَكْلُهَا.[2]
8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from in a marfu‘ manner the following: “Abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), has said, ‘When you slaughter a sheep and remove its skin or a certain part of its skin before it dies, it then is not lawful to use it for food.’”
سَأَلَ الْمَرْزُبَانُ الرِّضَا ع عَنْ ذَبِيحَةِ الصَّبِيِّ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَبْلُغَ وَ ذَبِيحَةِ الْمَرْأَةِ فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِذَبِيحَةِ الْخَصِيِّ وَ الصَّبِيِّ وَ الْمَرْأَةِ إِذَا اضْطُرُّوا إِلَيْهِ[1].
‘It is not unlawful to use for food what is slaughtered by castrated people, a child and a woman if they slaughter it properly and mention the name of Allah, if they are compelled to do so in an emergency.’”
سُئِلَ الرِّضَا ع عَنِ الْغُرَابِ الْأَبْقَعِ فَقَالَ إِنَّهُ لَا يُؤْكَلُ وَ قَالَ وَ مَنْ أَحَلَّ لَكَ الْأَسْوَدَ.
“Al-Rida’ (a.s.), was asked about the crow of several colors; if it can be use for food. He (the Imam) said, ‘Who is he that has made the black lawful for you for food?”’
سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع عَنْ بَيْضِ الْغُرَابِ فَقَالَ لَا تَأْكُلْهُ[1].
about the eggs of crows. He (the Imam) said, ‘Do not eat them.’”
سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع عَنْ آنِيَةِ الذَّهَبِ وَ الْفِضَّةِ فَكَرِهَهُمَا فَقُلْتُ قَدْ رَوَى بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِنَا أَنَّهُ كَانَ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع مِرْآةٌ مُلَبَّسَةٌ فِضَّةً فَقَالَ لَا وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ إِنَّمَا كَانَتْ لَهَا حَلْقَةٌ مِنْ فِضَّةٍ وَ هِيَ عِنْدِي ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ الْعَبَّاسَ حِينَ عُذِرَ[1] عُمِلَ لَهُ قَضِيبٌ مُلَبَّسٌ مِنْ فِضَّةٍ مِنْ نَحْوِ مَا يُعْمَلُ لِلصِّبْيَانِ تَكُونُ ف
‘When al- ‘Abbas was circumcised a stick with a silver covering was made for him like things that are made for children. It had about ten dirham of silver and abu al-Hassan, commanded to break it.’”
نَزَلَ بِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع ضَيْفٌ وَ كَانَ جَالِساً عِنْدَهُ يُحَدِّثُهُ فِي بَعْضِ اللَّيْلِ فَتَغَيَّرَ السِّرَاجُ فَمَدَّ الرَّجُلُ يَدَهُ لِيُصْلِحَهُ فَزَبَرَهُ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع ثُمَّ بَادَرَهُ بِنَفْسِهِ فَأَصْلَحَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ إِنَّا قَوْمٌ لَا نَسْتَخْدِمُ أَضْيَافَنَا.
“Once abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ ‘Alayhi al-Salam, had a guest who was sitting with him (the Imam) and speaking during the night. The lamp began to become dim and the man stretched his hand to repair it. Abu al-Hassan, stopped him seriously and he (the Imam) himself repaired the lamp saying, ‘We are a people who do not ma
كَانَ أَبِي ع يَقُولُ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَشْبَعَنَا فِي جَائِعِينَ وَ أَرْوَانَا فِي ظَامِئِينَ وَ آوَانَا فِي ضَائِعِينَ[1] وَ حَمَلَنَا فِي رَاجِلِينَ وَ آمَنَنَا فِي خَائِفِينَ وَ أَخْدَمَنَا فِي عَانِينَ[2].
“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has stated this Hadith. ‘My father would say, “All praise belongs to Allah who has made us satisfied with food among the hungry ones, quenched our thirst among the thirsty people. He has given us shelter among the homeless ones, given us means of transport among those who move without means of t
سَمِعْتُ الرِّضَا ع يَقُولُ مَنْ أَكَلَ فِي مَنْزِلِهِ طَعَاماً فَسَقَطَ مِنْهُ شَيْءٌ فَلْيَتَنَاوَلْهُ وَ مَنْ أَكَلَ فِي الصَّحْرَاءِ أَوْ خَارِجاً فَلْيَتْرُكْهُ لِطَائِرٍ أَوْ سَبُعٍ.
‘If one eats food in his house and pieces fall, he must pick them up; but if one eats in wilderness or out of the house he can leave such pieces for the birds and beasts.’”
قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص صَغِّرُوا رُغْفَانَكُمْ فَإِنَّ مَعَ كُلِّ رَغِيفٍ بَرَكَةً وَ قَالَ يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ يَقْطِينٍ رَأَيْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ يَعْنِي الرِّضَا ع يَكْسِرُ الرَّغِيفَ إِلَى فَوْقُ.
‘Make your bread of small loaves because there is blessing with each loaf.’ Ya‘qub ibn Yaqtin has said, ‘I saw abu al-Hassan (a.s.), break the bread upward.’”
بَعَثَ إِلَيْنَا الرِّضَا ع وَ هُوَ عِنْدَنَا يَطْلُبُ السَّوِيقَ فَبَعَثْنَا إِلَيْهِ بِسَوِيقٍ مَلْتُوتٍ[3] فَرَدَّهُ وَ بَعَثَ إِلَيَّ أَنَّ السَّوِيقَ إِذَا شُرِبَ عَلَى الرِّيقِ وَ هُوَ جَافٌّ أَطْفَأَ الْحَرَارَةَ وَ سَكَّنَ الْمِرَّةَ وَ إِذَا لُتَّ لَمْ يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ[1].
“Abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), once sent to us someone asking for sawiq and we sent to him (the Imam) sawiq mixed with ghee or oil. He (the Imam) returned it saying, ‘If one takes dry sawiq before breakfast it dispels temperature, calms down bitterness but when it is mixed it then does not have that effect.’”
قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع إِنَّ النَّاسَ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ مَنْ لَمْ يَأْكُلِ اللَّحْمَ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ سَاءَ خُلُقُهُ فَقَالَ كَذَبُوا وَ لَكِنْ مَنْ لَمْ يَأْكُلِ اللَّحْمَ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً تَغَيَّرَ خُلُقُهُ وَ بَدَنُهُ وَ ذَلِكَ لِانْتِقَالِ النُّطْفَةِ فِي مِقْدَارِ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً.
‘They have spoken lies. However, one who does not eat meat for forty days his manners change and it is because the seed (sperm) transfers (from one stage of development to another) within the duration of forty days.”
ذَكَرَ بَعْضُنَا اللُّحْمَانَ عِنْدَ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع فَقَالَ مَا لَحْمٌ بِأَطْيَبَ مِنْ لَحْمِ الْمَاعِزِ قَالَ فَنَظَرَ إِلَيْهِ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع وَ قَالَ لَوْ خَلَقَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مُضْغَةً هِيَ أَطْيَبُ مِنَ الضَّأْنِ لَفَدَى بِهَا إِسْمَاعِيلَ ع.
“Certain ones among us mentioned two kinds of meat before abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.). He said, ‘No other meat is better than the meat of goat.’ Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), looked at him and said, ‘Had Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, created any chunk of meat finer than that of sheep He would have presented that inst
قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع إِنَّ أَهْلَ بَيْتِي يَأْكُلُونَ لَحْمَ الْمَاعِزِ وَ لَا يَأْكُلُونَ لَحْمَ الضَّأْنِ قَالَ وَ لِمَ قُلْتُ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُ لَحْمٌ يُهَيِّجُ الْمِرَارَ فَقَالَ ع لَوْ عَلِمَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ خَيْراً مِنَ الضَّأْنِ لَفَدَى بِهِ يَعْنِي إِسْحَاقَ. هَكَذَا جَاءَ فِي الْحَدِيثِ.
‘My family eats the meat of goats but not that of sheep.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘Why they do so?’ I replied, ‘They say that it excites bitterness (stomach acid).’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Had Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, known anything better than sheep He would have presented it as ransom for Ishaq.’” This is how i
قَالَ لَنَا الرِّضَا ع أَيُّ الْإِدَامِ أَحْرَى[2] فَقَالَ بَعْضُنَا اللَّحْمُ وَ قَالَ بَعْضُنَا الزَّيْتُ وَ قَالَ بَعْضُنَا اللَّبَنُ فَقَالَ هُوَ ع لَا بَلِ الْمِلْحُ وَ لَقَدْ خَرَجْنَا إِلَى نُزْهَةٍ لَنَا وَ نَسِيَ بَعْضُ الْغِلْمَانِ الْمِلْحَ فَذَبَحُوا لَنَا شَاةً مِنْ أَسْمَنِ مَا يَكُونُ فَمَا انْتَفَعْنَا بِشَيْءٍ حَتَّى انْصَرَفْنَا.
“Al-Rida’ (a.s.), once asked us, ‘Which food is of greater preference?’ Certain ones among us said that it is meat, others said that it is oil, yet others said it is milk. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, it is salt.’ We then went outside for freshness and a certain one of servants forgot salt. They slaughtered a sheep for us
بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنِ الرِّضَا ع قَالَ: السُّكَّرُ الطَّبَرْزَدُ يَأْكُلُ الْبَلْغَمَ أَكْلًا[1].
the sugar which is chipped with a hammer eats away (abolishes) phlegm entirely.’”
دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع وَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ تَمْرٌ بَرْنِيٌّ وَ هُوَ مُجِدٌّ فِي أَكْلِهِ يَأْكُلُهُ بِشَهْوَةٍ فَقَالَ لِي يَا سُلَيْمَانُ ادْنُ فَكُلْ قَالَ فَدَنَوْتُ مِنْهُ فَأَكَلْتُ مَعَهُ وَ أَنَا أَقُولُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنِّي أَرَاكَ تَأْكُلُ هَذَا التَّمْرَ بِشَهْوَةٍ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ إِنِّي لَأُحِبُّهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَ لِمَ ذَاكَ قَالَ لِأَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص كَانَ تَمْرِيّاً وَ كَانَ
“Once I visited abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), and there were barniy dates in front of him. He (the Imam) seemed assiduous in eating it with zest. He (the Imam) said, ‘O Sulayman come close and eat.’ I then went close and ate thereof saying, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, I see you eat it
دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع بِمِنًى وَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ الثَّانِي ع عَلَى فَخِذِهِ وَ هُوَ يُقَشِّرُ لَهُ مَوْزاً وَ يُطْعِمُهُ.
1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from his father from Muhammad ibn abu ‘Umayr from Yahya ibn Musa, San’aniy who has said the following: “I once visited abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, in Mina and abu Ja‘far, al-Thaniy was in his lap. He (the Imam) peeled banana and fed hi
دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع وَ هُوَ بِمَكَّةَ وَ هُوَ يُقَشِّرُ مَوْزاً وَ يُطْعِمُهُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع فَقُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ هَذَا الْمَوْلُودُ الْمُبَارَكُ قَالَ نَعَمْ يَا يَحْيَى هَذَا الْمَوْلُودُ الَّذِي لَمْ يُولَدْ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ مِثْلُهُ مَوْلُودٌ أَعْظَمُ بَرَكَةً عَلَى شِيعَتِنَا مِنْهُ.
3. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad Ali ibn Asbat from Yahya al-San’aniy who has said the following: “I once visited abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, in Makkah. He (the Imam) peeled banana and fed it to abu Ja‘far, al-Thaniy, ‘Alayhi al-Salam. I then said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my s
سَمِعْتُ الرِّضَا ع يَقُولُ الْهِنْدَبَاءُ شِفَاءٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ دَاءٍ مَا مِنْ دَاءٍ فِي جَوْفِ ابْنِ آدَمَ إِلَّا قَمَعَهُ الْهِنْدَبَاءُ قَالَ وَ دَعَا بِهِ يَوْماً لِبَعْضِ الْحَشَمِ وَ كَانَ تَأْخُذُهُ الْحُمَّى وَ الصُّدَاعُ فَأَمَرَ أَنْ يُدَقَّ وَ صَيَّرَهُ عَلَى قِرْطَاسٍ وَ صَبَّ عَلَيْهِ دُهْنَ الْبَنَفْسَجِ وَ وَضَعَهُ عَلَى جَبِينِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَمَا إِنَّهُ يَذْهَبُ بِالْحُمَّى وَ يَنْفَعُ مِنَ الصُّدَا
9. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il who has said the following: “I once heard al-Rida’ (a.s.), saying, ‘The endive is cure for a thousand illnesses. There is no illness in the belly of the sons of Adam that endives cannot dispel.’ He (the narrator) has said, ‘One day h
كَانَ أَبُو بَصِيرٍ وَ أَصْحَابُهُ يَشْرَبُونَ النَّبِيذَ يَكْسِرُونَهُ بِالْمَاءِ فَحَدَّثْتُ بِذَلِكَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ لِي وَ كَيْفَ صَارَ الْمَاءُ يُحَلِّلُ الْمُسْكِرَ مُرْهُمْ لَا يَشْرَبُوا مِنْهُ قَلِيلًا وَ لَا كَثِيراً قُلْتُ إِنَّهُمْ يَذْكُرُونَ أَنَّ الرِّضَا مِنْ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ يُحِلُّهُ لَهُمْ فَقَالَ وَ كَيْفَ كَانَ يُحِلُّونَ آلُ مُحَمَّدٍ ع الْمُسْكِرَ- وَ هُمْ لَا يَشْرَبُونَ مِنْهُ قَل
“Abu Basir and his friends drank al-Nabidh and they broke it with water. I mentioned it before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and he (the Imam) said to me, ‘How can water make intoxicating liquor lawful? Command them not to drink from it in large or small quantities.’ I then said that they say, ‘The approval of the family of M
دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرِ بْنِ الرِّضَا ع فَقُلْتُ لَهُ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُلْصِقَ بَطْنِي بِبَطْنِكَ فَقَالَ هَاهُنَا يَا أَبَا إِسْمَاعِيلَ وَ كَشَفَ عَنْ بَطْنِهِ وَ حَسَرْتُ عَنْ بَطْنِي وَ أَلْزَقْتُ بَطْنِي بِبَطْنِهِ ثُمَّ أَجْلَسَنِي وَ دَعَا بِطَبَقٍ فِيهِ زَبِيبٌ فَأَكَلْتُ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ فِي الْحَدِيثِ فَشَكَا إِلَيَّ مَعِدَتَهُ وَ عَطِشْتُ فَاسْتَقَيْتُ مَاءً فَقَالَ يَا جَارِيَةُ اسْقِيهِ مِنْ نَبِي
“I once visited abu Ja‘far, ibn al-Rida’ (a.s.), and said to him, ‘I want to touch your belly with my belly.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Here O abu Tsma‘il,’ He uncovered his belly and I uncovered my belly and touched his belly with my belly. He then made me sit and called for a plate of raisins. I ate and he began to speak
سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع عَنِ الْفُقَّاعِ فَقَالَ هُوَ خَمْرٌ مَجْهُولٌ فَلَا تَشْرَبْهُ يَا سُلَيْمَانُ لَوْ كَانَ الدَّارُ لِي أَوِ الْحُكْمُ لَقَتَلْتُ بَائِعَهُ وَ لَجَلَدْتُ شَارِبَهُ[2].
‘It is unknown wine. Do not drink it, O Sulayman. If the house and command were in my hand I would execute its seller and whip its drinker.’”
سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع عَنِ الْفُقَّاعِ فَقَالَ هُوَ الْخَمْرُ بِعَيْنِهَا.
‘It is wine exactly.’”
كَتَبْتُ إِلَيْهِ يَعْنِي الرِّضَا ع أَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الْفُقَّاعِ قَالَ فَكَتَبَ حَرَامٌ وَ هُوَ خَمْرٌ وَ مَنْ شَرِبَهُ كَانَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ شَارِبِ الْخَمْرِ قَالَ وَ قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ الْأَخِيرُ ع لَوْ أَنَّ الدَّارَ دَارِي لَقَتَلْتُ بَائِعَهُ وَ لَجَلَدْتُ شَارِبَهُ وَ قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ الْأَخِيرُ ع حَدُّهُ حَدُّ شَارِبِ الْخَمْرِ وَ قَالَ ع هِيَ خُمَيْرَةٌ اسْتَصْغَرَهَا النَّاسُ.
‘It is unlawful and it is wine. If one drinks it he is like a wine drinker.’ He (the narrator) has said that abu al-Hassan, al-Akhir (a.s.), has said, ‘Had the house been my house I would execute its seller and whip its drinker.’ He (the Imam) has also said, ‘The penalty for drinking al-Fuqa ’ is the same as for drinki
قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع مَا تَقُولُ فِي شُرْبِ الْفُقَّاعِ فَقَالَ خَمْرٌ مَجْهُولٌ يَا سُلَيْمَانُ فَلَا تَشْرَبْهُ أَمَا إِنَّهُ يَا سُلَيْمَانُ لَوْ كَانَ الْحُكْمُ لِي وَ الدَّارُ لِي لَجَلَدْتُ شَارِبَهُ وَ لَقَتَلْتُ بَائِعَهُ.
‘It is an unknown wine, O Sulayman and do not drink it. Had the command been in my hand and the house was my house, I would whip its drinker and execute its seller.’”
سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع يَقُولُ سُئِلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْغِنَاءِ فَقَالَ هُوَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَشْتَرِي لَهْوَ الْحَدِيثِ لِيُضِلَّ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ.
’It is in the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘. . . among people there are those who buy useless things in the form of words to mislead others from the path of Allah.’”
سَمِعْتُ الرِّضَا ع يَقُولُ كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع يَلْبَسُ ثَوْبَيْنِ فِي الصَّيْفِ يُشْتَرَيَانِ بِخَمْسِمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ.
‘Ali ibn al-Husayn, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, would buy two dresses for summer, each valued at five hundred dirhams.’”
سَأَلْتُ الرِّضَا ع عَنِ الرِّيشِ أَ ذَكِيٌّ هُوَ فَقَالَ كَانَ أَبِي ع يَتَوَسَّدُ الرِّيشَ.
‘My father would use a pillow of feathers.’”
سَأَلْتُ الرِّضَا ع عَنْ جُلُودِ الْخَزِّ فَقَالَ هُوَ ذَا نَلْبَسُ الْخَزَّ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ ذَاكَ الْوَبَرُ فَقَالَ إِذَا حَلَّ وَبَرُهُ حَلَّ جِلْدُهُ.
“I once asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), about the al-Khazz (skin or fur of an animal that lives in water). He (the Imam) said, ‘It is al-Khazz that we wear.’ I then said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, that is fur.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If its fur is lawful so also is its skin.’”
كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع أَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الدَّوَابِّ الَّتِي يُعْمَلُ الْخَزُّ مِنْ وَبَرِهَا أَ سِبَاعٌ هِيَ فَكَتَبَ ع لَبِسَ الْخَزَّ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ وَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ جَدِّي ع.
‘Al-Husayn bin Ali (as) wore al-Khazz (garments made from skin or fur of an animal that lives in water), and after him my grandfather also did so.’”