Chapter on Livelihoods, Earnings, Profits, and Professions

Al-Hasan bin Mahbub narrated from Ali bin al-Hasan bin Ribaat, from Abu Sarah, from Hind al-Sarraj, who said: I said to Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام: 'May Allah سبحانه وتعالى set you aright. I used to carry weapons to the people of Sham and sell them. But when Allah سبحانه وتعالى made me aware of this matter, I became distressed about that weaponry. I said, I will not carry it to the enemies of Allah سبحانه وتعالى.' Imam عليه السلام said: 'Carry it to them and sell it, for Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted, uses them to repel our enemies and your enemies, meaning the Romans.' Imam عليه السلام continued, 'But if there is a war between us and them, whoever carries weapons to our enemy that they use against us is a polytheist.'