This is part 14 of 22 of “The Book of Livelihood and Commerce (al-Ma'isha)”, book 18 of Al-Kafi — Hadith 8,956–9,005. The book is long enough that it is split across 22 pages so each one stays quick to load; the parts run in order and are linked at the foot of the page.
1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Hammad from al-Halabiy who has said the following: “About the case of a man who owns sheep and gives them to be maintained and paid for their maintenance from their ghee a certain amount or a known amount of dirham for every sheep, abu ‘ Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘Dirham is not unlawful but I do not like giving ghee.’”
2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from abu al-Mighra’ from Ibrahim ibn Maymun who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about the case of a shepherd of sheep in the mountains to whom sheep were given to maintain them and use their milk and wool, in addition to a certain amount of dirham for every sheep. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful.’ I then said that people of Masjid said, ‘It was not permissible because certain ones among them did not have wool or milk.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, said, ‘Can there be other arrangements better than this? He takes certain ones and leaves others.’”
3. Humayd ibn Ziyad has narrated from al-Hassan ibn Muhammad ibn Sama‘ah from certain persons of his people from Aban from Mudrik ibn al-Hazhaz who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about the case of a man who had sheep and gave them for their maintenance in exchange for their wool or Ghee or dirham. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful.’ He disliked ghee.”
4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn Mahbub from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about the case of a man who gave his sheep to a man for maintenance in exchange for Ghee and a certain amount of dirham for every sheep every month. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful in exchange for dirham, however, for ghee, I do not like unless they give milk.’”
1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from Muthanna’ from Zurarah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘One cannot buy or sell an abandoned child that is found.’”
2. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from ibn Faddal from Muthanna’ from Fiatim ibn ‘Isma’il al-Mad’iniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘A discarded child who is found is free, if he likes to have a guardian other than the one who has brought him up, he can do so. If the one who has brought him up asks for his expenses, if he is affluent he must pay him back and if he is not affluent then whatever is spent is counted as charity.’”
3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ali ibn al-Hakam from ‘Abd al-Rahman al-‘Arzamiy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah has narrated from his father, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, who has said, ‘A discarded child is free. When he grows up, he can accept the one who picked him up as his guardian; otherwise, he must pay back what he has spent for him and he then can go to find a guardian of his choice.’”
4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from Muhammad ibn Ahmad who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about the case of a discarded child. He (the Imam) said, ‘You cannot sell or buy him, but you can use his service to compensate for what you have spent for him.’”
5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad from Hariz from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja‘far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about the case of a discarded child. He (the Imam) said, ‘He is free but cannot be sold or given away as a gift.’”
6. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from his father from abu al-Jahm from abu Khadijah who has said the following: “I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, saying, ‘One born out of fornication does not recover as well as his price. Al-Mumraz does not recover for seven generations. It was asked, ‘What is al- Mumraz?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘One earns through unlawful ways and with such funds gets married or enjoys it, and a child is born for him. That child is al-Mumraz.’”
7. Al-Husayn from Muhammad has narrated from Mu’alla’ ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali from Aban from those who narrated to him who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, saying, ‘Can I buy, sell or use services of one born out of wedlock? He (the Imam) said, ‘You can buy, sell, enslave or use his services but do not buy a discarded child that is found.’”
8. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from ibn Faddal from Muthanna’ al-Hannat from abu Basir who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, saying, ‘I have a slave born out of wedlock; if I can perform al-Hajj with his price or spend it for my marriage/ He (the Imam) said, ‘You must not perform al-Hajj with it and do not spend it for your marriage.’”
1. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan ibn Yahya from ‘Abd al-Hamid ibn Sa‘d who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ibrahim, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about the bones of elephants; if it was permissible to sell or buy the combs which were made thereof. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful. My father, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, had such a comb or combs.”’
2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from ‘Umar ibn ‘Udhaynah who has said the following: “I once wrote to abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, and asked about a man who had a piece of wood and sold it to those who make barbat (musical tool) out of it. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful.’
3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Hajjal from Tha’labah from Muhammad ibn Mudarib who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘Selling animal dung is not unlawful.’”
4. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan from ‘Is ibn al-Qasim who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about Cheetah and predator birds; if business could be sought with them. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is possible.’”
5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from Aban from ‘Isa al-Qummiy from ‘Amr ibn Jarir who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about my selling mulberry wood from which they made crosses and idols. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, it is not permissible.’”
6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from ‘Umar ibn ‘Udhaynah who has said the following: “I once wrote to abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, and asked about the case of a man who rented his ship or stumper to those who carried wine and pigs on them. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful.’”
7. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan ibn Shammun from Al-‘Asamm from Misma’ who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, prohibited buying and selling of monkeys.’”
8. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn ‘Isma’il from Ali ibn al-Nu’man from ibn Muskan from ‘Abd al-Mu’min from Jabir who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about the case of a man who rented his house to those who used it for selling wine. He (the Imam) said, ‘Its rent is unlawful.’”
9. Certain persons of our people have narrated from A number of our people have narrated from abu Mukhallad al-Sarraj who has said the following: “I once was with abu ‘ Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, when Mu‘attib came in and said, There are two people at the door.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Bring them inside.’ They came inside and one of them said, ‘I am a saddle maker and I sell skins of tigers.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘Are they (skins) tanned?’ He replied, ‘Yes, they are tanned.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful.’”
10. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn ‘Isa from abu al-Qasim al-Sayqal who has said the following: “I once wrote to him (the Imam), ‘Alayhi al-Salam, and asked, ‘There is a certain sheathing of swords called al-Safan (sandpaper) which is from skin of fish; if it is permissible to work with and we do not eat its meat.’ He (the Imam) wrote back, ‘It is not unlawful.’”
1. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Ahmad ibn Muhammad all from ibn Mahbub from abu Ayyub from abu Basir who has said the following: “I once asked one of the two Imam, (abu Ja’far or abu ‘Abd Allah), ‘Alayhim al-Salam, about buying goods from cheating and stealing. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, it is not lawful unless it is mixed with other goods. The very substance of stolen goods cannot be purchased unless it is of the properties of the sultan in which case it is not unlawful.’”
2. Ibn Mahbub has narrated from Hisham ibn Salim from abu ‘Ubayd who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja‘far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about the case of one of our men who bought from the sultan of the camels of charity and sheep of charity and he knew that they took more than what is rightly due on them. He (the Imam) said, ‘Camels and sheep are just like wheat and barley and other goods. It is not unlawful unless he recognizes the very substance of what is unlawful.’ It was asked, ‘What do you say about the charity collectors who come to us, collect the charity from our sheep, then we ask them to sell them to us and they sell them? What do you say about buying from them? He (the Imam) said, ‘If he has taken them away, then it is not unlawful.’ It was asked, ‘What do you say about wheat and barley which the charity collector takes from us with his measurement and keeps it to one side: if we buy such foodstuff from him?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If he has taken possession with a certain measurement, then it is not unlawful to buy from him without measuring.”
3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali from Aban from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about the case of a man who bought from a charity collector who committed injustice. He (the Imam) said, ‘He can buy from him unless he learns that he has done injustice in collecting those goods.’”
4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from al-Qasim ibn Sulayman from Jarrah al-Mada’iniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘Buying and selling of goods obtained by cheating and stealing are not valid and not lawful.’”
5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Jamil ibn Salih who has said the following: “They wanted to sell the dates of ‘ Ayn of abu Ziyad (name of a place with farms that belonged to abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam), and I wanted to buy it but then I decided to ask permission from abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, so I asked Mu‘adh and he asked him (the Imam) about it and he (the Imam) said, ‘He can buy it because if he does not buy it someone else will buy it.’”
6. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from al-Nahdiy from ibn abu Najran from certain persons of his people who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘Whoever buys stolen goods when he knows it, he shares its shame and sin.’”
7. Ali has narrated from Salih al-Sindiy from Ja‘far ibn Bashir from al-Husayn ibn abu al-‘Ala’ from abu ‘Umar al-Sarraj who has said the following: “About the case of a man with whom stolen goods were found, abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘He is held responsible unless he presents testimony against the seller such as witnesses.”’
1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali from Ali ibn ‘Uqbah from al-Husayn ibn Musa from Burayd and Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘If one buys the foodstuff of a people who dislike such purchase, on the Day of Judgment it will be recovered for them from his flesh.’”
1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu ‘Umayr and Ali ibn Hadid from Jamil ibn Darraj from Muyassir who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘ Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about the case of a man who bought a skin sack of oil and found residue in it. He (the Imam) said, Tf he knew that the oil had such things in it, he cannot return; but if he did not know that the oil had such things in it he can return it to the owner.”’
2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Ibrahim ibn Ishaq al-Khudriy from abu Sadiq who has said the following: “Once ’Amir al-Mu’minin, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, entered the market of the date sellers and saw a standing woman who was crying and disputing with a man who sold dates. He (the Imam) asked her, ‘What is the matter with you?’ She replied, ‘O ’Amir al-Mu’minin, I bought dates from this man for one dirham and underneath it is of bad quality and it is not like what I had seen.’ He (the Imam) told him to return her dirham but he refused until he (the Imam) said it three times, but he refused; then he (the Imam) raised the whip until he returned her dirham. Ali, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, disliked camouflaging dates.’”
1. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu Nasr who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about selling juice that became wine before receiving the price. He (the Imam) said, ’If he sells fruits to one about whom the seller knows that he turns it into something unlawful, selling is not unlawful. If it is juice then it cannot be sold except for cash.’”
2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Hariz from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “About the case of a man who has a slave whom he has left at a vineyard to sell grapes or juice, but the slave goes and squeezes wine and sells it, abu ‘ Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ’The price received is not useable.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Once a man from Thaqif presented to the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, two sacks of wine and the Messenger of Allah commanded to throw them away and said, “The One who has prohibited its drinking has prohibited to accept its price also.’” Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, then said, ‘The best thing to do about what this slave has done is to give it as charity.’”
3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn abu Hamzah from abu Basir who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about the price of juice before it boiled for one who wanted to buy it so he could cook or make wine out of it. He (the Imam) said, ‘If you sell before it is wine and it is lawful, then selling is not unlawful.’”
4. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan from ibn Muskan from Yazid ibn Khalifah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, disliked selling juice for deferred payment.”
5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu Najran from Muhammad ibn Sinan from Mu‘awiyah ibn Sa‘d who has said the following: “I once asked al-Rida’, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about the case of a Christian man who had become a Muslim and he, in his possession, had wine and pigs and he owed debts; if he could sell the wine and pigs to pay off his debts. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, he cannot do so.’”
6. Safwan has narrated from ibn Muskan from Muhammad al-Halabiy who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about selling grape juice to one who turned it into something unlawful. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful if you sell when it is lawful then he turns it into unlawful; may Allah keep him away and remotely distanced.’”
7. Al-Husayn from Muhammad has narrated from Mu’alla’ ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali from Aban from abu Ayyub who has said the following: “I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, ‘A man asks his slave to sell his grapes as grape juice but he sells it as wine; then brings the price to him.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘The most beloved thing to me in this case is to give it (price) as charity.’”
8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from ‘Umar ibn ‘Udhaynah who has said the following: “I once wrote to ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, and asked about the case of a man who had a vineyard; if he could sell grapes and dates to someone who made wine or sugar out of them. He (the Imam) said, ‘He has sold it as lawful when drinking, eating was lawful, thus it is not unlawful.’”
9. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad from Hariz from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “About the case of a man to whom another man owes a certain amount of dirham who sells wine or pig when he (the creditor) is looking, then pays him from such funds. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful. For the creditor it is lawful and for the seller it is unlawful.’”
10. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from Yunus ibn Ya’qub from Mansur who has said the following: “I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, ‘A non-Muslim taxpayer owes to me a certain amount of dirham. He sells wine and pig when I am present; if it is lawful for me to take it. He (the Imam) said, ‘All he owes you are dirhams, and he has paid you dirhams.’”
11. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from ibn ‘Udhaynah from Zurarah who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about the case of a man who owed me a certain amount of dirham with which he sold wine and pigs and with such business he paid me back. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful’ or that he (the Imam) said, ‘You can take it.’”
12. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Isma’il ibn Bazi’ from Hanan from abu Kahmas who has said the following: “A man once asked abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about juice saying, ‘I have a vineyard. ‘Every year I squeeze juice and keep it in a large container, then sell it before it boils. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful but if it boils then selling is not lawful.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘We sell our dates knowing that they make wine out of it.’”
13. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ‘Isma’il ibn Marrar from Yunus who has said the following: “About the case of a of Zoroastrian man who sold wine or pigs for an appointed time, then became a Muslim before due time for payment, he (the Imam), ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘He can have his dirhams.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If one becomes a Muslim and owns wine and pigs, then dies while they are in his possession, and he owes a certain amount of debts, his creditor or guardian can sell his wine and pigs to non-Muslims to pay off his debts; but in his life time he cannot sell or keep them.’”
14. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from certain persons of our people who has said the following: “I once asked al-Rida’, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about the case of a Christian man who became a Muslim and had wine and pigs and owed debts; if he could sell his wine and pigs to pay off his debts. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, he cannot do so.’”
1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from his father from Wahab who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin would say, ‘Deposit or down payment is not permissible unless it is the cash portion of the price of the goods purchased.’”
1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Muhammad ibn Muslim from abu Hamzah who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja’far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about security deposit, mortgage and guarantor in transaction on credit. He (the Imam) said, ’It is not unlawful.”’
2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Safwan from Ya’qub ibn Shu’ayb who has said the following: “I once asked him (the Imam), ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about the case of a man who bought something on credit with al-Rahn (security deposit). He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful.’”
3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ‘Isma’il ibn Marrar from Yunus from Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Am mar who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about the case of a man who contracted for purchasing an animal or foodstuff in the form of advance payment with al-Rahn (security deposit). He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful to secure your asset.’”
Majhul· al-Majlisi
Sunni collections: text from the open hadith-api dataset. Al-Kafi: Arabic text, Muhammad Sarwar's translation and gradings from Thaqalayn.net via the Thaqalayn API. Hadith numbering follows those editions and can differ from a printed copy — check the Arabic against a trusted edition before relying on a reference.
