Usul16

Chapter on Livelihoods, Earnings, Profits, and Professions

faqih-3615Vol. 3, p. 167

إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ‌ مَا مِنْ نَفَقَةٍ أَحَبَّ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِنْ نَفَقَةِ قَصْدٍ وَ يُبْغِضُ الْإِسْرَافَ إِلَّا فِي الْحَجِّ وَ الْعُمْرَةِ فَرَحِمَ اللَّهُ مُؤْمِناً كَسَبَ طَيِّباً وَ أَنْفَقَ مِنْ قَصْدٍ أَوْ قَدَّمَ فَضْلًا[1].

Hadith.3621 - Ibn Abi Ya'fur narrated from Abu Abdullah (as) that he said: "The Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace be upon him and his family) said: 'There is no spending more beloved to Allah (swt), the Mighty and Majestic, than moderate spending. He (swt) dislikes extravagance, except in Hajj and Umrah. May Allah (swt)

faqih-3620Vol. 3, p. 167

ثَوْبُ صَوْنِكَ تَبْتَذِلُهُ‌[5] وَ فَضْلُ الْإِنَاءِ تُهَرِيقُهُ وَ قَذْفُكَ النَّوَى هَكَذَا وَ هَكَذَا[6].

Hadith.3626 - Ishaq ibn Ammar asked Abu Abdullah (as) about the least form of extravagance. Imam (as) replied: "Wearing your garment of dignity for ordinary tasks, spilling the excess of what is in your vessel, and carelessly throwing away date pits like this and that."

faqih-3621Vol. 3, p. 168

يُرَدُّ عَلَيْهِمْ دُعَاؤُهُمْ‌[1] رَجُلٌ كَانَ لَهُ مَالٌ كَثِيرٌ يَبْلُغُ ثَلَاثِينَ أَلْفاً أَوْ أَرْبَعِينَ أَلْفاً فَأَنْفَقَهُ فِي وُجُوهِهِ فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ ارْزُقْنِي فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى أَ لَمْ أَرْزُقْكَ وَ رَجُلٌ أَمْسَكَ عَنِ الطَّلَبِ‌[2] فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ ارْزُقْنِي فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى أَ لَمْ أَجْعَلْ لَكَ السَّبِيلَ إِلَى الطَّلَبِ وَ رَجُلٌ كَانَتْ عِنْدَهُ امْرَأَةٌ فَقَالَ اللّ

Hadith.3627 - Al-Walid ibn Sabih narrated from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) that he said: "Three people make supplications, but their prayers are not answered"-or he said: "their prayers are returned to them": A man who had a large amount of wealth, reaching thirty thousand or forty thousand, and spent it with

faqih-3631Vol. 3, p. 169

انْظُرْ بُيُوعاً فَاشْتَرِهَا ثُمَّ بِعْهَا فَمَا رَبِحْتَ فِيهِ فَالْزَمْهُ‌[3].

Hadith.3637 - Ishaq ibn Ammar narrated from Abu Abdullah (as): A man complained to the Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) about trade. The Prophet said: "Look for merchandise, purchase it, and then sell it. Whatever you profit from it, remain committed to it."

faqih-3633Vol. 3, p. 169

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ لَا تَكُونَنَّ دَوَّاراً فِي الْأَسْوَاقِ وَ لَا تَلِي شِرَاءَ دَقَائِقِ الْأَشْيَاءِ بِنَفْسِكَ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَنْبَغِي لِلْمَرْءِ الْمُسْلِمِ ذِي الدِّينِ وَ الْحَسَبِ أَنْ يَلِيَ شِرَاءَ دَقَائِقِ الْأَشْيَاءِ بِنَفْسِهِ مَا خَلَا ثَلَاثَةَ أَشْيَاءَ فَإِنَّهُ يَنْبَغِي لِذِي الدِّينِ وَ الْحَسَبِ أَنْ يَلِيَهَا بِنَفْسِهِ الْعَقَارَ وَ الْإِبِلَ وَ الرَّقِيقَ.

Hadith.3639 - It is narrated from Al-Arqat that Abu Abdillah (as) said: "Do not spend your time wandering through markets, nor personally handle the purchase of minor goods. It does not befit a Muslim who possesses faith and honor to involve himself directly in purchasing small items-except in three matters. It is prop

faqih-3636Vol. 3, p. 170

قُلْتُ لَهُ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ قَالَ يَضَعُهُ فِي الْحَائِطِ وَ الْبُسْتَانِ وَ الدَّارِ.

Hadith.3642 - Zurara narrated from Abu Abdillah (as): "A man does not leave behind anything more burdensome upon him than silent wealth (hoarded wealth)." I asked him, "What should he do with it?" Imam (as) replied: "Invest it in walls, orchards, and houses."

faqih-3642Vol. 3, p. 171

قَالَ‌ أَجْرُ الزَّانِيَةِ سُحْتٌ‌[1] وَ ثَمَنُ الْكَلْبِ الَّذِي لَيْسَ بِكَلْبِ الصَّيْدِ[2]

Hadith.3648 - Imam (as) said: "The wage of a prostitute is unlawful (suht), the price of a dog that is not a hunting dog is unlawful (suht), the price of wine is unlawful (suht), the earnings of a soothsayer are unlawful (suht), and the price of a dead animal is unlawful (suht). As for bribes in judgment, they amount t

faqih-3645Vol. 3, p. 172-173

لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّا نَعْمَلُ الْقَلَانِسَ فَنَجْعَلُ فِيهَا الْقُطْنَ الْعَتِيقَ فَنَبِيعُهَا وَ لَا نُبَيِّنُ لَهُمْ مَا فِيهَا فَقَالَ‌ إِنِّي لَأُحِبُّ لَكَ أَنْ تُبَيِّنَ لَهُمْ مَا فِيهَا[1].

Hadith.3651 - Al-Husayn ibn al-Mukhtar al-Qalanisi narrated: I said to Abu Abdullah (as), 'We make caps and place old cotton inside them, then sell them without informing the buyers of what is inside.' Imam (as) replied: 'I would prefer that you inform them about what is inside.'

faqih-3646Vol. 3, p. 173

إِنَّ آكِلَ مَالِ الْيَتِيمِ سَيَلْحَقُهُ وَبَالُ ذَلِكَ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ أَمَّا فِي الدُّنْيَا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ- وَ لْيَخْشَ الَّذِينَ لَوْ تَرَكُوا مِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّةً ضِعافاً خافُوا عَلَيْهِمْ فَلْيَتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَ أَمَّا فِي الْآخِرَةِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ- إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ أَمْوالَ الْيَتامى ظُلْماً إِنَّما يَأْكُلُونَ فِي بُطُونِهِمْ ناراً

faqih-3647Vol. 3, p. 173

كَتَبَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ الصَّفَّارُ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ إِلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ ع يَقُولُ‌ رَجُلٌ يُبَذْرِقُ الْقَوَافِلَ‌[2] مِنْ غَيْرِ أَمْرِ السُّلْطَانِ فِي مَوْضِعٍ مُخِيفٍ وَ يُشَارِطُونَهُ عَلَى شَيْ‌ءٍ مُسَمًّى أَ لَهُ أَنْ يَأْخُذَهُ مِنْهُمْ أَمْ لَا فَوَقَّعَ ع إِذَا آجَرَ نَفْسَهُ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ مَعْرُوفٍ أَخَذَ حَقَّهُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ.

Hadith.3653 - Muhammad bin Al-Hasan Al-Saffar, may Allah (swt) be pleased with him, wrote to Imam Abu Muhammad Al-Hasan bin Ali (as) asking: "A man escorts caravans without the order of the ruler in a fearful place, and they agree with him on a specific payment. Is it permissible for him to take it from them or not?" I

faqih-3648Vol. 3, p. 173

لَهُ سَلِّمْ ابْنَكَ مِنِّي سَنَةً بِزِيَادَةٍ هَلْ لَهُ الْخِيَارُ فِي ذَلِكَ وَ هَلْ يَجُوزُ لَهُ أَنْ يَفْسَخَ مَا وَافَقَ عَلَيْهِ الْأَوَّلُ أَمْ لَا فَكَتَبَ ع بِخَطِّهِ يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِ الْوَفَاءُ لِلْأَوَّلِ مَا لَمْ يَعْرِضْ لِابْنِهِ مَرَضٌ أَوْ ضَعْفٌ‌[3].

Hadith.3654 - Muhammad bin Isa bin Ubaid Al-Yaqtini wrote to Abu Al-Hasan Imam Ali bin Muhammad Al-Askari (as), asking: "A man entrusted his son to another man and handed him over for a year with a known wage to sew for him. Then another man came and said to him, 'Hand over your son to me for a year with an increased w

faqih-3649Vol. 3, p. 173

صَالِحٌ لَا بَأْسَ بِهَا إِذَا نَصَحَ قَدْرَ طَاقَتِهِ‌[4] قَدْ آجَرَ

Hadith.3655 - Muhammad bin Khalid Al-Barqi narrated from Muhammad bin Sinan, who narrated from Abu Al-Hasan (as) that he said: I asked him about hiring (employment). Imam (as) said: 'It is permissible and there is no harm in it as long as one does it sincerely and to the best of his ability. Indeed, Musa bin Imran (as)

faqih-3650Vol. 3, p. 174

لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الرَّجُلُ يَتَّجِرُ وَ إِنْ هُوَ آجَرَ نَفْسَهُ أُعْطِيَ أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا يُصِيبُ فِي تِجَارَتِهِ قَالَ لَا يُؤَاجِرْ نَفْسَهُ وَ لَكِنْ يَسْتَرْزِقُ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى وَ يَتَّجِرُ فَإِنَّهُ إِذَا آجَرَ نَفْسَهُ حَظَرَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ الرِّزْقَ‌[2].

I asked Abu Abdullah (as), about a man who trades but, if he hires himself out, earns more than he does in his trade. Imam (as) said: 'He should not hire himself out but rather seek sustenance from Allah (swt), the Exalted, and continue trading. For if he hires himself out, he will restrict his sustenance.'

faqih-3652Vol. 3, p. 174

الْمُسْتَأْجِرُ ضَامِنٌ لِأَجْرِ الْأَجِيرِ حَتَّى يَقْضِيَ إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ الْأَجِيرُ دَعَاهُ إِلَى ذَلِكَ فَرَضِيَ بِهِ فَإِنْ فَعَلَ فَحَقُّهُ حَيْثُ وَضَعَهُ وَ رَضِيَ بِهِ.

I asked him about a man who hired a laborer, but neither of them trusted the other, so they deposited the wages with a third person. Then that third person died without leaving anything to cover the wages, and the wages were lost. Imam (as) said: 'The employer is responsible for the wages of the laborer until they are

faqih-3655Vol. 3, p. 175

لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ إِنِّي كُنْتُ أَحْمِلُ السِّلَاحَ إِلَى أَهْلِ الشَّامِ فَأَبِيعُهُ مِنْهُمْ فَلَمَّا عَرَّفَنِيَ اللَّهُ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ ضِقْتُ بِذَلِكَ السِّلَاحِ قُلْتُ لَا أَحْمِلُ إِلَى أَعْدَاءِ اللَّهِ قَالَ احْمِلْ إِلَيْهِمْ وَ بِعْهُمْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَدْفَعُ بِهِمْ عَدُوَّنَا وَ عَدُوَّكُمْ يَعْنِي الرُّومَ قَالَ فَإِذَا كَانَتِ الْحَرْبُ بَيْنَنَا وَ بَيْنَهُمْ فَمَنْ حَمَل

I said to Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as): 'May Allah (swt) set you aright. I used to carry weapons to the people of Sham and sell them. But when Allah (swt) made me aware of this matter, I became distressed about that weaponry. I said, I will not carry it to the enemies of Allah (swt).' Imam (as) said:

faqih-3656Vol. 3, p. 175

لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا تَرَى فِي الرَّجُلِ يَلِي أَعْمَالَ السُّلْطَانِ لَيْسَ لَهُ مَكْسَبٌ إِلَّا مِنْ أَعْمَالِهِمْ وَ أَنَا أَمُرُّ بِهِ وَ أَنْزِلُ عَلَيْهِ فَيُضِيفُنِي وَ يُحْسِنُ إِلَيَّ وَ رُبَّمَا أَمَرَ لِي بِالدَّرَاهِمِ وَ الْكِسْوَةِ وَ قَدْ ضَاقَ صَدْرِي مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ لِي خُذْ وَ كُلْ مِنْهُ فَلَكَ الْمَهْنَأُ وَ عَلَيْهِ الْوِزْرُ[3].

I said to Abu Abdullah (as), 'What do you think about a man who holds positions in the service of the Sultan and has no means of livelihood except through his work for them? I pass by him, and he hosts me, treats me kindly, and sometimes gives me dirhams and clothing. I feel uneasy about this.' Imam (as) said to me: 'T

faqih-3657Vol. 3, p. 175

أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ أَمُرُّ بِالْعَامِلِ أَوْ آتِي الْعَامِلَ فَيُجِيزُنِي بِالدَّرَاهِمِ آخُذُهَا قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ وَ أَحُجُّ بِهَا قَالَ نَعَمْ وَ حُجَّ بِهَا[4].

A man asked Abu Abdullah (as), while I was present, 'May Allah (swt) rectify your affairs. I pass by the official or go to the official, and he grants me dirhams. Should I take them?' Imam (as) said: 'Yes.' I asked: 'Can I perform Hajj with them?' Imam (as) said: 'Yes, and perform Hajj with them.'

faqih-3658Vol. 3, p. 176

قَالَ لِي أَبُو الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ إِنَّ لِلَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى مَعَ السُّلْطَانِ أَوْلِيَاءَ يَدْفَعُ بِهِمْ عَنْ أَوْلِيَائِهِ‌[1].

Abu al-Hasan Imam Musa ibn Jafar Al-Kadhim (as) said to me: 'Indeed, Allah (swt), Blessed and Exalted, has allies among the rulers through whom He (swt) repels harm from His (swt) friends.'

Chapter on Livelihoods, Earnings, Profits, and Professions - Hadith topics — Usul16