Chapter on Gifts
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 3|Book 2|Chapter 32
قَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "اَلْهَدِيَّةُ فِي اَلتَّوْرَاةِ غَافِرٌ عَيْناً ".
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "A gift in the Torah is described as something that blinds the eyes."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "تَهَادَوْا تَحَابُّوا".
Imam عليه السلام said: "Exchange gifts (with one another), and you will love one another."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "اَلْهَدِيَّةُ تَسُلُّ اَلسَّخَائِمَ".
Imam عليه السلام said: "A gift removes grudges (resentments)."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "نِعْمَ اَلشَّيْءُ اَلْهَدِيَّةُ أَمَامَ اَلْحَاجَةِ".
Imam عليه السلام said: "How excellent is a gift given before making a request."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: "لَوْ دُعِيتُ إِلَى كُرَاعٍ لَأَجَبْتُ وَ لَوْ أُهْدِيَ إِلَيَّ كُرَاعٌ لَقَبِلْتُ".
The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family) said: "If I were invited to a meal consisting of a trotter, I would accept, and if I were gifted a trotter, I would accept it."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "عَجِّلُوا رَدَّ ظُرُوفِ اَلْهَدَايَا فَإِنَّهُ أَسْرَعُ لِتَوَاتُرِهَا".
Imam عليه السلام said: "Hasten to return the gift containers, for it encourages the continuous giving of gifts."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ كَانَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ لاَ يَرُدُّ اَلطِّيبَ وَ اَلْحَلْوَاءَ.
Imam عليه السلام would not refuse perfume or sweets.
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ أُتِيَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ بِهَدِيَّةِ اَلنَّيْرُوزِ فَقَالَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ "مَا هَذَا" قَالُوا يَا أَمِيرَ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ اَلْيَوْمُ اَلنَّيْرُوزُ فَقَالَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ "اِصْنَعُوا لَنَا كُلَّ يَوْمٍ نَيْرُوزاً".
Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام was presented with a gift on the day of Nayrouz. Imam عليه السلام asked: "What is this?" They replied: "O Commander of the Faithful, today is Nayrouz." Imam عليه السلام said: "Make every day for us a Nayrouz."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رُوِيَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "نَيْرُوزُنَا كُلُّ يَوْمٍ".
It is narrated that Imam عليه السلام said: "Our Nayrouz is every day."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رَوَى ثُوَيْرُ بْنُ أَبِي فَاخِتَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: "أَهْدَى كِسْرَى لِلنَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ فَقَبِلَ مِنْهُ وَ أَهْدَى قَيْصَرُ لِلنَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ فَقَبِلَ مِنْهُ وَ أَهْدَتْ لَهُ اَلْمُلُوكُ فَقَبِلَ مِنْهُمْ".
Thuwair ibn Abi Fakhitah narrated from his father, from Imam Ali عليه السلام, who said: "Kisra sent a gift to the Prophet (may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family), and He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم accepted it. Caesar also sent a gift to the Prophet (may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family), and He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم accepted it. Likewise, the kings sent gifts to Him صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, and He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم accepted them."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "عُدْ مَنْ لاَ يَعُودُكَ وَ أَهْدِ إِلَى مَنْ لاَ يُهْدِي إِلَيْكَ".
Imam عليه السلام said: "Visit those who do not visit you, and give gifts to those who do not give gifts to you."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ قَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "اَلْهَدِيَّةُ ثَلاَثٌ هَدِيَّةُ مُكَافَأَةٍ وَ هَدِيَّةُ مُصَانَعَةٍ وَ هَدِيَّةٌ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ".
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "Gifts are of three types: a gift given in reciprocation, a gift given to seek favor, and a gift given for the sake of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Almighty and Glorious."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رَوَى اَلْحَسَنُ بْنُ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ اَلْكَرْخِيِّ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ عَنِ اَلرَّجُلِ يَكُونُ لَهُ اَلضَّيْعَةُ اَلْكَبِيرَةُ فَإِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ اَلْمِهْرَجَانِ وَ اَلنَّيْرُوزِ أَهْدَوْا إِلَيْهِ اَلشَّيْءَ لَيْسَ هُوَ عَلَيْهِمْ يَتَقَرَّبُونَ بِذَلِكَ اَلشَّيْءِ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ "أَ لَيْسَ هُمْ مُصَلِّينَ " قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ "فَلْيَقْبَلْ هَدِيَّتَهُمْ وَ لْيُكَافِهِمْ".
Al-Hasan ibn Mahbub narrated from Ibrahim al-Karkhi, who said: I asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام about a man who owns a large estate, and when the festivals of Mehregan and Nayrouz arrive, people gift him items, not as an obligation, but to seek closeness to him. Imam عليه السلام said: "Are they not Muslims?" I said: "Yes." Imam عليه السلام said: "Then let him accept their gifts and reciprocate them."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh, p. 248
وَ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "إِذَا أُهْدِيَ إِلَى اَلرَّجُلِ اَلْهَدِيَّةُ مِنْ طَعَامٍ وَ عِنْدَهُ قَوْمٌ فَهُمْ شُرَكَاءُ فِيهَا يَعْنِي اَلْفَاكِهَةَ وَ غَيْرَهَا".
Imam عليه السلام said: "If a man is given a gift of food and he has guests with him, then they share in it, this includes fruits and other items."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رُوِيَ عَنْ عِيسَى بْنِ أَعْيَنَ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَهْدَى إِلَى رَجُلٍ هَدِيَّةً وَ هُوَ يَرْجُو ثَوَابَهَا فَلَمْ يُثِبْهُ صَاحِبُهَا حَتَّى هَلَكَ وَ أَصَابَ اَلرَّجُلُ هَدِيَّتَهُ بِعَيْنِهَا أَ لَهُ أَنْ يُرَاجِعَهَا إِنْ قَدِرَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ قَالَ "لاَ بَأْسَ أَنْ يَأْخُذَهُ".
It is narrated from Isa ibn Ayan, who said: I asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام about a man who gave a gift to another man, hoping for a return, but the recipient did not reciprocate until he passed away. The giver then found his gift in its original form. I asked: "Is it permissible for him to take it back if he is able to?" Imam عليه السلام said: "There is no harm in taking it."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رُوِيَ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لَهُ اَلرَّجُلُ اَلْفَقِيرُ يُهْدِي إِلَيَّ اَلْهَدِيَّةَ يَتَعَرَّضُ لِمَا عِنْدِي فَآخُذُهَا وَ لاَ أُعْطِيهِ شَيْئاً أَ يَحِلُّ لِي قَالَ "نَعَمْ هِيَ لَكَ حَلاَلٌ وَ لَكِنْ لاَ تَدَعْ أَنْ تُعْطِيَهُ".
It is narrated from Ishaq ibn Ammar, who said: I asked Imam عليه السلام about a poor man who gives me a gift, hoping to receive something from me in return. Is it permissible for me to accept it without giving him anything? Imam عليه السلام said: "Yes, it is permissible for you, and it is lawful for you. However, do not neglect giving him something."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رَوَى مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ بَزِيعٍ عَنِ اَلرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ كَتَبَ بِهَا إِلَيَّ، مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ اَلْقُمِّيُّ اَلْأَشْعَرِيُّ فَقَالَ لَنَا ضِيَاعٌ فِيهَا بُيُوتُ نِيرَانٍ تُهْدِي إِلَيْهَا اَلْمَجُوسُ اَلْبَقَرَ وَ اَلْغَنَمَ وَ اَلدَّرَاهِمَ فَهَلْ يَحِلُّ لِأَرْبَابِ اَلْقُرَى أَنْ يَأْخُذُوا ذَلِكَ وَ لِبُيُوتِ نِيرَانِهِمْ قُوَّامٌ يَقُومُونَ عَلَيْهَا فَقَالَ أَبُو اَلْحَسَنِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ "لِيَأْخُذْ أَصْحَابُ اَلْقُرَى مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَلاَ بَأْسَ بِهِ".
Muhammad ibn Isma'il ibn Bazi' narrated from Imam Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha عليه السلام: I asked him about a question that Muhammad ibn Abdullah al-Qummi al-Ash'ari had written to me. He said: "We have lands where there are fire temples, and the Magians (Majus) offer cattle, sheep, and dirhams as gifts to these temples. Is it permissible for the landowners to take these offerings, knowing that the fire temples have caretakers who oversee them?" Abu al-Hasan عليه السلام said: "The landowners may take them, and there is no harm in it."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh