Kindness & Mercy

لَبِسَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص الطَّاقَ وَ السَّاجَ وَ الْخَمَائِصَ‌[1].

dressed in al-Taq, (a certain garment) al-Saj (green pallium) and al-Khama’is (a black gown).”’

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنِ اتَّخَذَ ثَوْباً فَلْيُنَظِّفْهُ.

“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, ‘One who chooses (makes use of) clothes, he must clean it.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَكُونُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ عَشَرَةُ أَقْمِصَةٍ قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ عِشْرُونَ قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ ثَلَاثُونَ قَالَ نَعَمْ لَيْسَ هَذَا مِنَ السَّرَفِ إِنَّمَا السَّرَفُ أَنْ تَجْعَلَ ثَوْبَ صَوْنِكَ ثَوْبَ بِذْلَتِكَ‌[2].

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), if a believing person can have ten shirts. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, he can do so.’ I then asked, ‘Can he have twenty.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, he can do so.’ I asked, ‘Can he have thirty?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, he can do so. This is not profligacy and lavishness. Profligacy i

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.’”

بَعَثَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ الْعَبَّاسِ إِلَى ابْنِ الْكَوَّاءِ وَ أَصْحَابِهِ وَ عَلَيْهِ قَمِيصٌ رَقِيقٌ وَ حُلَّةٌ فَلَمَّا نَظَرُوا إِلَيْهِ قَالُوا يَا ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ أَنْتَ خَيْرُنَا فِي أَنْفُسِنَا وَ أَنْتَ تَلْبَسُ هَذَا اللِّبَاسَ فَقَالَ وَ هَذَا أَوَّلُ مَا أُخَاصِمُكُمْ فِيهِ- قُلْ‌ مَنْ حَرَّمَ زِينَةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي أَخْرَجَ لِعِبادِهِ وَ الطَّيِّباتِ مِنَ الرِّزْقِ‌[1] وَ قَال

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin sent ‘Abd Allah ibn al-‘Abbas to ibn al-Kawwa’ and his people. He was wearing a shirt of fine fabric and a gown. They looked at him and said, ‘O ibn al- ‘Abbas, you are the better among us in our belief and you wear this kind of clothes.’ He replied, ‘This is the

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ عَلَيَّ جُبَّةُ خَزٍّ وَ طَيْلَسَانُ خَزٍّ فَنَظَرَ إِلَيَّ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ عَلَيَّ جُبَّةُ خَزٍّ وَ طَيْلَسَانُ خَزٍّ فَمَا تَقُولُ فِيهِ فَقَالَ وَ مَا بَأْسٌ بِالْخَزِّ قُلْتُ وَ سَدَاهُ إِبْرِيسَمٌ قَالَ وَ مَا بَأْسٌ بِإِبْرِيسَمٍ فَقَدْ أُصِيبَ الْحُسَيْنُ ع وَ عَلَيْهِ جُبَّةُ خَزٍّ ثُمَّ قَالَ‌إِنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَبَّاسٍ لَمَّا بَعَثَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْ

“I once visited abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and I was wearing a Jubbah of silk and al-Taylisan (pallium) of silk. He (the Imam) looked at me and I asked saying, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, I am wearing a Taylisan of silk and a Jubbah of silk, what do you say about them?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘

مَرَّ سُفْيَانُ الثَّوْرِيُّ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ فَرَأَى أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ عَلَيْهِ ثِيَابٌ كَثِيرَةُ الْقِيمَةِ حِسَانٌ فَقَالَ وَ اللَّهِ لآَتِيَنَّهُ وَ لَأُوَبِّخَنَّهُ فَدَنَا مِنْهُ فَقَالَ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ مَا لَبِسَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص مِثْلَ هَذَا اللِّبَاسِ وَ لَا عَلِيٌّ ع وَ لَا أَحَدٌ مِنْ آبَائِكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص فِي زَمَانِ قَتْرٍ مُقْتِ

“Once, Sufyan al-Thawriy passed by Masjid al-Haram (the sacred area) and he saw abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), dressed in fine expensive clothes. He decided to meet him (the Imam) and scold him. He went close and said, ‘O son of the Messenger of Allah, the Messenger of Allah did not dress up with this kind of dress, Ali did no

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ بَيْنَا أَنَا فِي الطَّوَافِ وَ إِذَا بِرَجُلٍ يَجْذِبُ ثَوْبِي وَ إِذَا هُوَ عَبَّادُ بْنُ كَثِيرٍ الْبَصْرِيُّ فَقَالَ يَا جَعْفَرَ بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ تَلْبَسُ مِثْلَ هَذِهِ الثِّيَابِ وَ أَنْتَ فِي هَذَا الْمَوْضِعِ مَعَ الْمَكَانِ الَّذِي أَنْتَ فِيهِ مِنْ عَلِيٍّ ع فَقُلْتُ ثَوْبٌ فُرْقُبِيٌ‌[1] اشْتَرَيْتُهُ بِدِينَارٍ وَ كَانَ عَلِيٌّ ع فِي زَمَانٍ يَسْتَقِيمُ لَهُ مَا لَبِ

‘When I was in tawaf (walking around al- Ka‘bah) someone pulled my dress and he was ‘Abbad ibn Kathir al-Basriy saying, “O Ja‘far ibn Muhammad, you wear this kind of dress and your position to Ali (a.s.), is so close.’” I said, ‘It is a material made in Furqubiy (a place in Egypt) which I have bought for a dinar. Ali (

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَكُونُ لَهُ عَشَرَةُ أَقْمِصَةٍ يُرَاوِحُ بَيْنَهَا قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), if a man can have ten shirts, changing them every day. He (the Imam) said, ’It is not unlawful.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَكُونُ لِي ثَلَاثَةُ أَقْمِصَةٍ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ قَالَ فَلَمْ أَزَلْ حَتَّى بَلَغْتُ عَشَرَةً فَقَالَ أَ لَيْسَ يُوَدِّعُ‌[2] بَعْضُهَا بَعْضاً قُلْتُ بَلَى وَ لَوْ كُنْتُ إِنَّمَا أَلْبَسُ وَاحِداً لَكَانَ أَقَلَّ بَقَاءً قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), if I can have three shirts. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful.’ I asked again until I reached ten shirts and he (the Imam) said, ‘Does exchanging give them more durability?’ I said, ‘It does, were I to wear one of them for a longer time, it would become less durable.’ He (the

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ الْمُوسِرِ يَتَّخِذُ الثِّيَابَ الْكَثِيرَةَ الْجِيَادَ وَ الطَّيَالِسَةَ وَ الْقُمُصَ الْكَثِيرَةَ يَصُونُ بَعْضُهَا بَعْضاً يَتَجَمَّلُ بِهَا أَ يَكُونُ مُسْرِفاً قَالَ لَا لِأَنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ- لِيُنْفِقْ ذُو سَعَةٍ مِنْ سَعَتِهِ‌[3].

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who is affluent and has a great deal of clothes and very fine ones, palliums, many shirts which are used to extend the life of each shirt and beautify himself; if it is profligacy and lavishness. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, it is not lavishness because Allah, mo

كَانَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مُتَّكِئاً عَلَيَّ أَوْ قَالَ عَلَى أَبِي فَلَقِيَهُ عَبَّادُ بْنُ كَثِيرٍ الْبَصْرِيُّ- وَ عَلَيْهِ ثِيَابٌ مَرْوِيَّةٌ[1] حِسَانٌ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّكَ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِ النُّبُوَّةِ وَ كَانَ أَبُوكَ وَ كَانَ‌[2] فَمَا هَذِهِ الثِّيَابُ الْمَرْوِيَّةُ عَلَيْكَ فَلَوْ لَبِسْتَ دُونَ هَذِهِ الثِّيَابِ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَيْلَكَ يَا عَبَّادُ مَنْ حَر

“Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was leaning against me or he said, ‘against my father’ when ‘Abbad ibn Kathir al-Basriy met him (the Imam) and he (the Imam) had a dress of fabrics made in Marw (name of place) of fine quality. He (‘Abbad) said, ‘O abu ‘Abd Allah, you are of the family of the Holy Prophet, and your father w

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ النَّظِيفُ مِنَ الثِّيَابِ يُذْهِبُ الْهَمَّ وَ الْحَزَنَ وَ هُوَ طَهُورٌ لِلصَّلَاةِ.

’Amir al-Mu’minin (as) has said, "Clean clothes remove worry and sorrow, and they are purifying for prayer."

كُنْتُ حَاضِراً عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِذْ قَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ ذَكَرْتَ أَنَّ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ع كَانَ يَلْبَسُ الْخَشِنَ يَلْبَسُ الْقَمِيصَ بِأَرْبَعَةِ دَرَاهِمَ وَ مَا أَشْبَهَ ذَلِكَ وَ نَرَى عَلَيْكَ اللِّبَاسَ الْجَيِّدَ قَالَ فَقَالَ لَهُ إِنَّ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ع كَانَ يَلْبَسُ ذَلِكَ فِي زَمَانٍ لَا يُنْكَرُ وَ لَوْ لَبِسَ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ لَشُهِرَ بِهِ فَخ

“Once I was with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when a man said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep you well, you have mentioned that Ali ibn abu Talib wore very rough-textured clothes. He wore a shirt valued at four dirham and similar items and we see you wear fine clothes.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said to him, ‘Ali ibn abu Talib wore t

لَا بَأْسَ أَنْ يَكُونَ لِلرَّجُلِ عِشْرُونَ قَمِيصاً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not unlawful if one has twenty shirts. 5 ”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى يُبْغِضُ شُهْرَةَ اللِّبَاسِ‌[1].

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah, most Blessed, most High, dislikes a dress that causes public abhorrence.”’

كَفَى بِالْمَرْءِ خِزْياً أَنْ يَلْبَسَ ثَوْباً يَشْهَرُهُ أَوْ يَرْكَبَ دَابَّةً تَشْهَرُهُ.

‘It is enough humiliation for a man to wear a dress that causes public abhorrence or use such a stumper.’”

الشُّهْرَةُ خَيْرُهَا وَ شَرُّهَا فِي النَّارِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Something that causes public abhorrence is in the fire, regardless of being good or bad.’”

مَنْ لَبِسَ ثَوْباً يَشْهَرُهُ- كَسَاهُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ثَوْباً مِنَ النَّارِ.

“Al-Husayn (a.s.), has said, ‘If one wears a dress that causes public abhorrence, Allah on the Day of Judgment will make him to wear a dress of fire.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ الْبَسُوا الْبَيَاضَ فَإِنَّهُ أَطْيَبُ وَ أَطْهَرُ وَ كَفِّنُوا فِيهِ مَوْتَاكُمْ.

‘You must wear white because it is fine and pure; and shroud your dead people with it.”’

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ الْبَسُوا الْبَيَاضَ فَإِنَّهُ أَطْيَبُ وَ أَطْهَرُ وَ كَفِّنُوا فِيهِ مَوْتَاكُمْ.

‘You must wear white; it is fine and pure; and shroud your dead people with it.’”

حَمَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الْحَمْلَةَ الثَّانِيَةَ إِلَى الْكُوفَةِ وَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ الْمَنْصُورُ بِهَا فَلَمَّا أَشْرَفَ عَلَى الْهَاشِمِيَّةِ[2] مَدِينَةِ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ أَخْرَجَ رِجْلَهُ مِنْ غَرْزِ الرِّجْلِ‌[3] ثُمَّ نَزَلَ وَ دَعَا بِبَغْلَةٍ شَهْبَاءَ وَ لَبِسَ ثِيَابَ بِيضٍ وَ كُمَّةً[4] بَيْضَاءَ فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ لَهُ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ لَقَدْ تَشَبَّهْتَ بِالْأَنْبِيَاءِ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْد

“I provided abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), transportation to al-Kufah for the second time and abu Ja‘far al-Mansur was in it. When he (the Imam) arrived in al-Hashimiyah, the city of abu Ja‘far, al- Mansur, he (the Imam) pulled out his feet from the saddle’s stirrups and dismounted. He asked for al- Shahba ’ mule and dressed i

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ الْبَسُوا ثِيَابَ الْقُطْنِ فَإِنَّهَا لِبَاسُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ هُوَ لِبَاسُنَا.

‘You must wear cotton clothes because it is the clothes of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and our clothes.”’

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع وَ هُوَ فِي بَيْتٍ مُنَجَّدٍ[1] وَ عَلَيْهِ قَمِيصٌ رَطْبٌ وَ مِلْحَفَةٌ مَصْبُوغَةٌ قَدْ أَثَّرَ الصِّبْغُ عَلَى عَاتِقِهِ فَجَعَلْتُ أَنْظُرُ إِلَى الْبَيْتِ وَ أَنْظُرُ إِلَى هَيْئَتِهِ فَقَالَ يَا حَكَمُ مَا تَقُولُ فِي هَذَا فَقُلْتُ وَ مَا عَسَيْتُ أَنْ أَقُولَ وَ أَنَا أَرَاهُ عَلَيْكَ وَ أَمَّا عِنْدَنَا فَإِنَّمَا يَفْعَلُهُ الشَّابُّ الْمُرَهَّقُ‌[2] فَقَالَ لِي يَا حَكَمُ‌ م

“I once visited abu Ja‘far (a.s.), in a well-furnished house. He (the Imam) was wearing a shirt which was not fully dry and a colored bed sheet which had left its color marks on his shoulder, and I was looking at the house and to him (the Imam). He (the Imam) said, ‘O Hakam, what do you say about it?’ I replied, ’I was

لَا بَأْسَ بِلُبْسِ الْمُعَصْفَرِ.

‘It is not unlawful to wear a cloth which is dyed with al-Mu‘asfar (dye with safflower)/”

رَأَيْتُ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع ثَوْباً مُعَصْفَراً فَقَالَ إِنِّي تَزَوَّجْتُ امْرَأَةً مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ.

“I once saw abu Ja‘far (a.s.), in al-Mu‘asfar (dye with safflower) dress and he (the Imam) said that he has just married a woman from Quraysh/”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ نَهَانِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص عَنْ لُبْسِ ثِيَابِ الشُّهْرَةِ وَ لَا أَقُولُ نَهَاكُمْ عَنْ لِبَاسِ الْمُعَصْفَرِ الْمُفْدَمِ‌[1].

‘’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, prohibited the dress causing public abhorrence and I do not say he (the Messenger of Allah) prohibited you from wearing clothes dyed with safflower, sharp red color/”

يُكْرَهُ الْمُفْدَمُ إِلَّا لِلْعَرُوسِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Wearing clothes of sharp color is not desirable except for weddings/”

إِنَّا نَلْبَسُ الْمُعَصْفَرَاتِ وَ الْمُضَرَّجَاتِ‌[2].

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Wearing clothes of sharp color is not desirable except for weddings/”

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع وَ عَلَيْهِ مِلْحَفَةٌ حَمْرَاءُ جَدِيدَةٌ شَدِيدَةُ الْحُمْرَةِ فَتَبَسَّمْتُ حِينَ دَخَلْتُ فَقَالَ كَأَنِّي أَعْلَمُ لِمَ ضَحِكْتَ ضَحِكْتَ مِنْ هَذَا الثَّوْبِ الَّذِي هُوَ عَلَيَّ إِنَّ الثَّقَفِيَّةَ أَكْرَهَتْنِي عَلَيْهِ وَ أَنَا أُحِبُّهَا فَأَكْرَهَتْنِي عَلَى لُبْسِهَا ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّا لَا نُصَلِّي فِي هَذَا وَ لَا تُصَلُّوا فِي الْمُشْبَعِ الْمُضَرَّجِ قَالَ ثُمَّ دَخَلْت

“I once visited abu Ja‘far (a.s.). A sheet of sharp red color was on him. I smiled when I entered. He (the Imam) said, ‘It seems I know why you are laughing. You laugh because of this cloth on me. It is because the Thaqafiy woman forced me to wear it and I love her.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘We do not perform Salat (p

كَانَ‌ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع يَلْبَسُ الْمُعَصْفَرَ وَ الْمُنَيَّرَ[1].

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), would wear al-Mu‘asfar (dye with safflower) clothes and printed clothes.”

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع كُنَّا نَلْبَسُ الْمُعَصْفَرَ فِي الْبَيْتِ.

“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, had a sheet that was from Wars (a place in Yemen). He (the Messenger of Allah) would use it in the family. The color of the sheet had left marks on him (the Messen

صِبْغُنَا الْبَهْرَمَانُ‌[3] وَ صِبْغُ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ الزَّعْفَرَانُ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘We would dye our clothes al-Mu‘asfar (dye with safflower) and banu ’Umayyah died with saffron dye.’”

رَأَيْتُ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع طَيْلَسَاناً أَزْرَقَ‌[4].

“I saw abu al-Hassan (a.s.), wearing al-Taylisan (pallium) of blue color.’”

رَأَيْتُ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع ثَوْباً عَدَسِيّاً[5].

“I saw Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), wearing clothes of lentil color.’”

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع أَنَا وَ صَاحِبٌ لِي وَ إِذَا هُوَ فِي بَيْتٍ مُنَجَّدٍ وَ عَلَيْهِ مِلْحَفَةٌ وَرْدِيَّةٌ وَ قَدْ حَفَّ لِحْيَتَهُ وَ اكْتَحَلَ فَسَأَلْنَاهُ عَنْ مَسَائِلَ فَلَمَّا قُمْنَا قَالَ لِي يَا حَسَنُ قُلْتُ لَبَّيْكَ قَالَ إِذَا كَانَ غَداً فَائْتِنِي أَنْتَ وَ صَاحِبُكَ فَقُلْتُ نَعَمْ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَلَمَّا كَانَ مِنَ الْغَدِ دَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ وَ إِذَا هُوَ فِي بَيْتٍ لَيْسَ فِيهِ إِل

“My friend and I once visited abu Ja‘far (a.s.), when he (the Imam) was in a well- furnished home. He had a flowery sheet on him, his beard was trimmed and kohl (metallic color eye powder) was applied to his eyes. We asked him (the Imam) certain questions and when we were to leave, he (the Imam) said to me, ‘O Hassan,’

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَكْرَهُ السَّوَادَ إِلَّا فِي ثَلَاثٍ الْخُفِّ وَ الْعِمَامَةِ وَ الْكِسَاءِ.

it is detestable to wear black except three items such as slippers, turbans and gowns.”’

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع بِالْحِيرَةِ فَأَتَاهُ رَسُولُ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ[1] الْخَلِيفَةِ يَدْعُوهُ فَدَعَا بِمِمْطَرٍ[2] أَحَدُ وَجْهَيْهِ أَسْوَدُ وَ الْآخَرُ أَبْيَضُ فَلَبِسَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَمَا إِنِّي أَلْبَسُهُ وَ أَنَا أَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ لِبَاسُ أَهْلِ النَّارِ[3].

“Once I was with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), in al-Hirah (a city in Iraq) when the messenger of abu Ja‘far al-Mansur, the caliph came to call him. He (the Imam) asked for a raincoat, one side black and the other side white, and abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said, ‘I wear it but I know that it is the dress of the people of fire.””

رَأَيْتُ عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ ع وَ عَلَيْهِ دُرَّاعَةٌ سَوْدَاءُ وَ طَيْلَسَانٌ أَزْرَقُ.

“I once saw Ali ibn al-Husayn, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, wearing a black outer garment and a blue Taylisan (pallium).’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ الْكَتَّانُ مِنْ لِبَاسِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَ هُوَ يُنْبِتُ اللَّحْمَ.

‘Al-Kattan (linen) is of the garment of the Prophets and it helps the flesh to grow,’”

لَا تَلْبَسِ الصُّوفَ وَ الشَّعْرَ إِلَّا مِنْ عِلَّةٍ.

‘Do not wear wool or hairs unless because of illness.’”

الْبَسُوا الثِّيَابَ مِنَ الْقُطْنِ فَإِنَّهُ لِبَاسُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ لِبَاسُنَا وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ يَلْبَسُ الصُّوفَ وَ الشَّعْرَ إِلَّا مِنْ عِلَّةٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘You must wear clothes of cotton because it is the cloth of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, as well as our cloth. He (the Messenger of Allah) did not wear wool or hair

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ الثَّانِي ع إِنَّ بِلَادَنَا بِلَادٌ بَارِدَةٌ فَمَا تَقُولُ فِي لُبْسِ هَذَا الْوَبَرِ قَالَ الْبَسْ مِنْهَا مَا أُكِلَ وَ ضُمِنَ‌[1].

“I once asked abu Ja‘far, al-Thaniy (a.s.), saying, ‘Our land is cold. What do you say about wearing fur?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Wear that which is from edible animals and verify (that it is from edible animals).”’

رَأَيْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ عَلَيْهِ قَمِيصٌ غَلِيظٌ خَشِنٌ تَحْتَ ثِيَابِهِ وَ فَوْقَهَا جُبَّةُ صُوفٍ وَ فَوْقَهَا قَمِيصٌ غَلِيظٌ فَمَسِسْتُهَا فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ النَّاسَ يَكْرَهُونَ لِبَاسَ الصُّوفِ فَقَالَ كَلَّا كَانَ أَبِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ ع يَلْبَسُهَا وَ كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع يَلْبَسُهَا وَ كَانُوا ع يَلْبَسُونَ أَغْلَظَ ثِيَابِهِمْ إِذَا قَامُوا إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ وَ نَحْ

“I saw abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), wearing a shirt of rough texture underneath his clothes, over which was a woolen gown over which was a thick shirt and I felt it, and said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, people dislike wearing wool.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Not so, my father, Muhammad ibn Ali (a.

سَأَلْتُ الرِّضَا ع عَنِ الرِّيشِ أَ ذَكِيٌّ هُوَ فَقَالَ كَانَ أَبِي ع يَتَوَسَّدُ الرِّيشَ.

‘My father would use a pillow of feathers.’”

خَرَجَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع يُصَلِّي عَلَى بَعْضِ أَطْفَالِهِمْ وَ عَلَيْهِ جُبَّةُ خَزٍّ صَفْرَاءُ وَ مِطْرَفُ خَزٍّ أَصْفَرُ[2].

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), came out for Salat (prayer) and certain ones of his children had a gown of yellow al-Khazz (skin or fur of an animal that lives in water) with ribbon work of yellow al- Khazz.’”

كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع يَلْبَسُ الْجُبَّةَ الْخَزَّ بِخَمْسِينَ دِينَاراً وَ الْمِطْرَفَ الْخَزَّ بِخَمْسِينَ دِينَاراً.

“Abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), has said, ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, wore a gown of al-Khazz (skin or fur of an animal that lives in water) valued at fifty dinar and al-Khazz ribbon work of fifty dinar.’”

سَأَلَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع رَجُلٌ وَ أَنَا عِنْدَهُ عَنْ جُلُودِ الْخَزِّ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ بِهَا بَأْسٌ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّهَا فِي بِلَادِي وَ إِنَّمَا هِيَ كِلَابٌ تَخْرُجُ مِنَ الْمَاءِ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِذَا خَرَجَتْ مِنَ الْمَاءِ تَعِيشُ خَارِجَةً مِنَ الْمَاءِ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ لَا قَالَ فَلَا بَأْسَ.

“I, once, was with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when a man asked him (the Imam) about al- Khazz (skin or fur of an animal that lives in water). He (the Imam) said, ‘Its use is not unlawful.’ He then said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, in our land they are dogs that come out of the water.’ He (th

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع يَلْبَسُ فِي الشِّتَاءِ الْخَزَّ وَ الْمِطْرَفَ الْخَزَّ وَ الْقَلَنْسُوَةَ الْخَزَّ فَيَشْتُو فِيهِ‌[1] وَ يَبِيعُ الْمِطْرَفَ فِي الصَّيْفِ وَ يَتَصَدَّقُ بِثَمَنِهِ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ- مَنْ حَرَّمَ زِينَةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي أَخْرَجَ لِعِبادِهِ وَ الطَّيِّباتِ مِنَ الرِّزْقِ‌.

‘Ali ibn al-Husayn, ‘Alayhim al- Salam, in winter would wear al-Khazz (skin or fur of an animal that lives in water) decorated on both sides and a hat of al-Khazz for winter, then sell them in the summer and give its value in charity.’ He (the Imam) then read, ‘Who has made unlawful the beautiful things that Allah, mos

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ عَلَيَّ قَبَاءُ خَزٍّ وَ بِطَانَتُهُ خَزٌّ وَ طَيْلَسَانُ خَزٍّ مُرْتَفِعٌ‌[2] فَقُلْتُ إِنَّ عَلَيَّ ثَوْباً أَكْرَهُ لُبْسَهُ فَقَالَ وَ مَا هُوَ قُلْتُ طَيْلَسَانِي هَذَا قَالَ وَ مَا بَالُ الطَّيْلَسَانِ قُلْتُ هُوَ خَزٌّ قَالَ وَ مَا بَالُ الْخَزِّ قُلْتُ سَدَاهُ إِبْرِيسَمٌ قَالَ وَ مَا بَالُ الْإِبْرِيسَمِ قَالَ لَا يُكْرَهُ أَنْ يَكُونَ سَدَى الثَّوْبِ إِبْرِيسَماً وَ

“I once visited abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and I was wearing a gown of al-Khazz (skin or fur of an animal that lives in water) with its lining of al-Khazz, a Taylisan (pallium) of al-Khazz of very fine texture. I then said, ‘I am wearing a kind of clothing which I do not like.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘Why is that so?’ I repl