Chapter on the Virtue of Charity

أَرْضُ الْقِيَامَةِ نَارٌ مَا خَلَا ظِلَّ الْمُؤْمِنِ فَإِنَّ صَدَقَتَهُ تُظِلُّهُ

الْبِرُّ وَ الصَّدَقَةُ يَنْفِيَانِ الْفَقْرَ وَ يَزِيدَانِ فِي الْعُمُرِ وَ يَدْفَعَانِ عَنْ صَاحِبِهِمَا سَبْعِينَ مِيتَةَ سَوْءٍ

دَاوُوا مَرْضَاكُمْ بِالصَّدَقَةِ وَ ادْفَعُوا الْبَلَاءَ بِالدُّعَاءِ وَ اسْتَنْزِلُوا الرِّزْقَ بِالصَّدَقَةِ فَإِنَّهَا تَفُكُّ مِنْ بَيْنِ لَحْيَيْ سَبْعِمِائَةِ شَيْطَانٍ[1] وَ لَيْسَ شَيْءٌ أَثْقَلَ عَلَى الشَّيْطَانِ مِنَ الصَّدَقَةِ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِ وَ هِيَ تَقَعُ فِي يَدِ الرَّبِّ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى قَبْلَ أَنْ تَقَعَ فِي يَدِ الْعَبْدِ[2]

وَ قَالَ ع‌ الصَّدَقَةُ بِالْيَدِ تَقِي مِيتَةَ السَّوْءِ وَ تَدْفَعُ سَبْعِينَ نَوْعاً مِنْ أَنْوَاعِ الْبَلَاءِ وَ تَفُكُّ عَنْ لَحْيَيْ سَبْعِينَ شَيْطَاناً كُلُّهُمْ يَأْمُرُهُ أَنْ لَا يَفْعَلَ.

Hadith.1731 - "Charity given by hand protects against an evil death, wards off seventy kinds of calamities, and loosens the grip of seventy devils, all of whom urge the person not to give."

وَ قَالَ ع‌ يُسْتَحَبُّ لِلْمَرِيضِ أَنْ يُعْطِيَ السَّائِلَ بِيَدِهِ وَ يَأْمُرَ السَّائِلَ أَنْ يَدْعُوَ لَهُ.

Hadith.1732 - Imam (as) said: "It is recommended for a sick person to give to the beggar with his own hand and to ask the beggar to pray for him."

وَ قَالَ ع‌ بَاكِرُوا بِالصَّدَقَةِ[1] فَإِنَّ الْبَلَايَا لَا تَتَخَطَّاهَا[2] وَ مَنْ تَصَدَّقَ بِصَدَقَةٍ أَوَّلَ النَّهَارِ دَفَعَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ شَرَّ مَا يَنْزِلُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فِي ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ فَإِنْ تَصَدَّقَ أَوَّلَ اللَّيْلِ دَفَعَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ شَرَّ مَا يَنْزِلُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فِي تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةِ.

Hadith.1733 - Imam (as) said: "Give charity early in the day, for calamities do not surpass it. Whoever gives charity at the beginning of the day, Allah (swt) will protect him from the evil that descends from the sky that day. And if he gives charity at the beginning of the night, Allah (swt) will protect him from the

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ لَيَدْفَعُ بِالصَّدَقَةِ الدَّاءَ وَ الدُّبَيْلَةَ[3] وَ الْحَرَقَ وَ الْغَرَقَ وَ الْهَدْمَ وَ الْجُنُونَ وَ عَدَّ ع سَبْعِينَ بَاباً مِنَ الشَّرِّ[4]

وَ قَالَ ص‌ صَدَقَةُ السِّرِّ تُطْفِئُ غَضَبَ الرَّبِّ جَلَّ جَلَالُهُ‌[5].

Hadith.1735 - The Prophet (sw), peace and blessings be upon him and his family, said: "Charity given in secret extinguishes the wrath of the Lord (azj), majestic and exalted is He."

قَالَ لِي‌ يَا عَمَّارُ الصَّدَقَةُ وَ اللَّهِ فِي السِّرِّ أَفْضَلُ مِنَ الصَّدَقَةِ فِي الْعَلَانِيَةِ وَ كَذَلِكَ وَ اللَّهِ الْعِبَادَةُ فِي السِّرِّ أَفْضَلُ مِنَ الْعِبَادَةِ فِي الْعَلَانِيَةِ[6].

Hadith.1736 - Ammar narrated from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) that he said to me: "O Ammar, charity given in secret, by Allah (swt), is better than charity given openly, and likewise, by Allah (swt), worship in secret is better than worship in public."

إِذَا طَرَقَكُمْ سَائِلٌ ذَكَرٌ بِلَيْلٍ فَلَا تَرُدُّوهُ[7]

وَ قَالَ ص‌ الصَّدَقَةُ بِعَشَرَةٍ وَ الْقَرْضُ بِثَمَانِيَةَ عَشَرَ[8] وَ صِلَةُ الْإِخْوَانِ بِعِشْرِينَ وَ صِلَةُ الرَّحِمِ بِأَرْبَعَةٍ وَ عِشْرِينَ.

Hadith.1738 - The Messenger of Allah (swt), peace and blessings be upon him and his family, said: "Charity is rewarded tenfold, a loan eighteenfold, kindness to brothers twentyfold, and maintaining ties of kinship twenty-fourfold."

وَ سُئِلَ ع‌ أَيُّ الصَّدَقَةِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ عَلَى ذِي الرَّحِمِ الْكَاشِحِ‌[1].

Hadith.1739 - Imam (as) was asked: "Which charity is the best?" Imam (as) replied: "To a relative who harbors enmity (against you)."

وَ قَالَ ع‌ لَا صَدَقَةَ وَ ذُو رَحِمٍ مُحْتَاجٌ‌[2].

Hadith.1740 - Imam (as) said: "There is no (valid) charity while a relative is in need."

قَالَ ع‌ مَلْعُونٌ مَلْعُونٌ مَنْ أَلْقَى كَلَّهُ عَلَى النَّاسِ‌[3] مَلْعُونٌ مَلْعُونٌ مَنْ ضَيَّعَ مَنْ يَعُولُ‌[4].

Hadith.1741 - Imam (as) said: "Cursed, cursed is the one who burdens others with his responsibilities. Cursed, cursed is the one who neglects those under his care."

يَنْبَغِي لِلرَّجُلِ أَنْ يُوَسِّعَ عَلَى عِيَالِهِ لِئَلَّا يَتَمَنَّوْا مَوْتَهُ[5]

أَعْطِ مَنْ وَقَعَتْ فِي قَلْبِكَ الرَّحْمَةُ لَهُ وَ قَالَ أَعْطِهِ دُونَ الدِّرْهَمِ قُلْتُ أَكْثَرُ مَا يُعْطَى قَالَ أَرْبَعَةُ دَوَانِيقَ‌[6].

Hadith.1743 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) was asked about a beggar who asks without it being known what their true condition is. Imam (as) said: "Give to the one for whom your heart feels mercy." Imam (as) also said: "Give him less than a dirham." I asked, "What is the most that can be given?" Imam (as) repli

كَانَ فِيمَا نَاجَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِ مُوسَى ع أَنْ قَالَ يَا مُوسَى أَكْرِمِ السَّائِلَ بِبَذْلٍ يَسِيرٍ أَوْ بِرَدٍّ جَمِيلٍ إِنَّهُ يَأْتِيكَ مَنْ لَيْسَ بِإِنْسٍ وَ لَا جَانٍّ مَلَائِكَةٌ مِنْ مَلَائِكَةِ الرَّحْمَنِ يَبْلُونَكَ فِيمَا خَوَّلْتُكَ وَ يَسْأَلُونَكَ مِمَّا نَوَّلْتُكَ‌[7] فَانْظُرْ كَيْفَ أَنْتَ صَانِعٌ يَا ابْنَ عِمْرَانَ.

Hadith.1744 - Al-Wassafi narrates from Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) that he said: "Among the things Allah (swt), Glorified and Exalted, confided to Musa (as) was this: 'O Musa, honor the beggar, either by giving a small amount or by responding with kindness. Indeed, those who come to you may not be humans or jin

وَ قَالَ ع‌ أَعْطِ السَّائِلَ وَ لَوْ عَلَى ظَهْرِ فَرَسٍ‌[1].

Hadith.1745 - Imam (as) said: "Give to the one who asks, even if you are on horseback."

لَا تَقْطَعُوا عَلَى السَّائِلِ مَسْأَلَتَهُ[2] فَلَوْ لَا أَنَّ الْمَسَاكِينَ يَكْذِبُونَ مَا أَفْلَحَ مَنْ يَرُدُّهُمْ

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَجَاءَهُ سَائِلٌ فَأَعْطَاهُ ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ آخَرُ فَأَعْطَاهُ ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ آخَرُ فَأَعْطَاهُ ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ آخَرُ فَقَالَ وَسَّعَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ رَجُلًا لَوْ كَانَ لَهُ مَالٌ يَبْلُغُ ثَلَاثِينَ أَوْ أَرْبَعِينَ أَلْفَ دِرْهَمٍ ثُمَّ شَاءَ أَنْ لَا يُبْقِيَ مِنْهَا شَيْئاً إِلَّا وَضَعَهُ فِي حَقٍّ لَفَعَلَ فَيَبْقَى لَا مَالَ لَهُ فَيَكُونُ مِنَ الثَّلَاثَةِ ا

"I was with Abu Abdullah (as) when a beggar came to him, and he gave to him. Then another came, and he gave to him. Then a third came, and he gave to him. Then a fourth came, and he said, 'May Allah (swt) grant you abundance.' Then he said, 'If a man had wealth amounting to thirty or forty thousand dirhams and wished t

فِي السُّؤَّالِ[4] أَطْعِمُوا ثَلَاثَةً وَ إِنْ شِئْتُمْ أَنْ تَزْدَادُوا فَازْدَادُوا وَ إِلَّا فَقَدْ أَدَّيْتُمْ حَقَّ يَوْمِكُمْ

وَ قَالَ ع‌ إِذَا أَعْطَيْتُمُوهُمْ فَلَقِّنُوهُمُ الدُّعَاءَ فَإِنَّهُ يُسْتَجَابُ لَهُمْ فِيكُمْ وَ لَا يُسْتَجَابُ لَهُمْ فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ.

Hadith.1749 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "When you give to them (those in need), teach them to pray for you, for their prayers for you will be answered, though their prayers for themselves may not be."

فِي الرَّجُلِ يُعْطِي غَيْرَهُ الدَّرَاهِمَ يَقْسِمُهَا قَالَ يَجْرِي لَهُ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ مِثْلُ مَا يَجْرِي لِلْمُعْطِي وَ لَا يَنْقُصُ مِنْ أَجْرِهِ شَيْءٌ وَ لَوْ أَنَّ الْمَعْرُوفَ جَرَى عَلَى سَبْعِينَ يَداً لَأُوجِرُوا كُلُّهُمْ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْقُصَ مِنْ أَجْرِ صَاحِبِهِ شَيْءٌ[5]

وَ سُئِلَ الصَّادِقُ ع‌ أَيُّ الصَّدَقَةِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ جُهْدُ الْمُقِلِ‌[1] أَ مَا سَمِعْتَ قَوْلَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌ وَ يُؤْثِرُونَ عَلى‌ أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَ لَوْ كانَ بِهِمْ خَصاصَةٌ هَلْ تَرَى هَاهُنَا فَضْلًا[2].

Hadith.1751 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) was asked, "Which charity is the best?" Imam (as) replied: "The charity given by one in hardship. Have you not heard the words of Allah (swt), the Mighty and Glorious: 'And they give preference over themselves, even though they are in need.' Do you see any surplus her

وَ قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع‌ ضَمِنْتُ‌[3] عَلَى رَبِّي عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَنْ لَا يَسْأَلَ أَحَدٌ مِنْ غَيْرِ حَاجَةٍ إِلَّا اضْطَرَّتْهُ الْمَسْأَلَةُ يَوْماً إِلَى أَنْ يَسْأَلَ مِنْ حَاجَةٍ.

Hadith.1752 - Imam Ali ibn Al-Husayn (as) said: "I have taken a pledge from my Lord (azj), the Mighty and Glorious, that anyone who asks without necessity will one day be compelled by circumstances to beg for a real need."

وَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ اتَّبِعُوا قَوْلَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص إِنَّهُ قَالَ مَنْ فَتَحَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ بَابَ مَسْأَلَةٍ فَتَحَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ بَابَ فَقْرٍ.

Hadith.1753 - Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as), said: "Follow the saying of the Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace be upon him and his family) where he said: 'Whoever opens a door of begging for themselves, Allah (swt) will open for them a door of poverty.'"

مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ يَسْأَلُ مِنْ غَيْرِ حَاجَةٍ فَيَمُوتُ حَتَّى يُحْوِجَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَيْهَا وَ يَكْتُبَ لَهُ بِهَا النَّارَ[4]

إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى أَحَبَّ شَيْئاً لِنَفْسِهِ وَ أَبْغَضَهُ لِخَلْقِهِ أَبْغَضَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لِخَلْقِهِ الْمَسْأَلَةَ[5] وَ أَحَبَّ لِنَفْسِهِ أَنْ يُسْأَلَ وَ لَيْسَ شَيْءٌ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ أَنْ يُسْأَلَ فَلَا يَسْتَحْيِي أَحَدُكُمْ أَنْ يَسْأَلَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ وَ لَوْ شِسْعَ نَعْلٍ[6]

إِيَّاكُمْ وَ سُؤَالَ النَّاسِ فَإِنَّهُ ذُلُّ الدُّنْيَا وَ فَقْرٌ تَتَعَجَّلُونَهُ وَ حِسَابٌ طَوِيلٌ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ

لَوْ يَعْلَمُ السَّائِلُ مَا فِي الْمَسْأَلَةِ مَا سَأَلَ أَحَدٌ أَحَداً وَ لَوْ يَعْلَمُ الْمُعْطِي مَا فِي الْعَطِيَّةِ مَا رَدَّ أَحَدٌ أَحَداً

وَ جَاءَتْ فَخِذٌ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ[1] إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَسَلَّمُوا عَلَيْهِ فَرَدَّ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَامَ فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَنَا إِلَيْكَ حَاجَةٌ قَالَ هَاتُوا حَاجَتَكُمْ قَالُوا إِنَّهَا حَاجَةٌ عَظِيمَةٌ قَالَ هَاتُوا مَا هِيَ قَالُوا تَضْمَنُ لَنَا عَلَى رَبِّكَ الْجَنَّةَ فَنَكَسَ ص رَأْسَهُ وَ نَكَتَ فِي الْأَرْضِ‌[2] ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ فَقَالَ أَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ بِكُمْ عَلَى أَنْ لَا تَسْأ

Hadith.1758 - A group from the Ansar came to the Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) and greeted him with peace. He returned their greeting and said, "What is your need?" They replied: "We have a significant request of you." He said: "Tell me your request." They said: "We ask that

وَ قَالَ ع‌ اسْتَغْنُوا عَنِ النَّاسِ وَ لَوْ بِشَوْصِ السِّوَاكِ‌[3].

Hadith.1759 - Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as), said: "Be independent of people, even if it is with the splinters of a toothstick."

الْمَنُّ يَهْدِمُ الصَّنِيعَةَ

إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى كَرِهَ لِي سِتَّ خِصَالٍ وَ كَرِهْتُهُنَّ لِلْأَوْصِيَاءِ مِنْ وُلْدِي وَ أَتْبَاعِهِمْ مِنْ بَعْدِي الْعَبَثَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ وَ الرَّفَثَ فِي الصَّوْمِ وَ الْمَنَّ بَعْدَ الصَّدَقَةِ وَ إِتْيَانَ الْمَسَاجِدِ جُنُباً وَ التَّطَلُّعَ فِي الدُّورِ وَ الضَّحِكَ بَيْنَ الْقُبُورِ

وَ رُوِيَ عَنْ مَسْعَدَةَ بْنِ صَدَقَةَ عَنِ الصَّادِقِ ع عَنْ آبَائِهِ ع‌ أَنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع بَعَثَ إِلَى رَجُلٍ بِخَمْسَةِ أَوْسَاقٍ مِنْ تَمْرِ الْبُغَيْبِغَةِ[4] وَ كَانَ الرَّجُلُ‌

Hadith.1762 - Mas’ada ibn Sadaqa narrates from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as), from his forefathers (as): "Indeed, the Commander of the Faithful (as) sent to a man five wasaq (measures) of dates from al-Bughaibigha. This man was among those who would hope for his generosity, appreciate his kindness, and be conte