Chapter on Merit of Volunteering in Good Deeds

And from him, from Jafar ibn Uthman, from al-Hasan ibn Mahbub, from Abu Ayyub, from Abu al-Ward, from Abu Ja’far عليه السلام, peace be upon him, who said: Imam عليه السلام said: “The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, delivered a sermon on the last Friday of Shaban. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم praised Allah سبحانه وتعالى and extolled Him سبحانه وتعالى, and spoke some words, then said: ‘The month of Ramadan has come upon you. Whoever gives a fasting person food with which to break his fast in it, by that he shall have with Allah سبحانه وتعالى, Mighty and Majestic, the freeing of a slave and forgiveness of his past sins.’ It was said to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم: “O Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, not all of us are able to give a fasting person food with which to break his fast.” Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: “Indeed, Allah سبحانه وتعالى is generous. He سبحانه وتعالى gives this reward to one who is not able except to provide a mixture of milk (madhqah) with which he gives a fasting person to break his fast, or a drink of fresh water, or some dates, and he is not able to provide more than that.”