Al-Kāfi

9ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ فَضَالَةَ بْنِ أَيُّوبَ عَنْ أَبِي الْمَغْرَاءِ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ كُنَّا عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) وَمَعَنَا بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِ الأمْوَالِ فَذَكَرُوا الزَّكَاةَ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) إِنَّ الزَّكَاةَ لَيْسَ يُحْمَدُ بِهَا صَاحِبُهَا وَإِنَّمَا هُوَ شَيْ‏ءٌ ظَاهِرٌ إِنَّمَا حَقَنَ بِهَا دَمَهُ وَسُمِّيَ بِهَا مُسْلِماً وَلَوْ لَمْ يُؤَدِّهَا لَمْ تُقْبَلْ لَهُ صَلاَةٌ وَإِنَّ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي أَمْوَالِكُمْ غَيْرَ الزَّكَاةِ فَقُلْتُ أَصْلَحَكَ الله وَمَا عَلَيْنَا فِي أَمْوَالِنَا غَيْرُ الزَّكَاةِ فَقَالَ سُبْحَانَ الله أَ مَا تَسْمَعُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَقُولُ فِي كِتَابِهِ وَالَّذِينَ فِي أَمْوالِهِمْ حَقٌّ مَعْلُومٌ. لِلسَّائِلِ وَالْمَحْرُومِ قَالَ قُلْتُ مَا ذَا الْحَقُّ الْمَعْلُومُ الَّذِي عَلَيْنَا قَالَ هُوَ الشَّيْ‏ءُ يَعْمَلُهُ الرَّجُلُ فِي مَالِهِ يُعْطِيهِ فِي الْيَوْمِ أَوْ فِي الْجُمْعَةِ أَوْ فِي الشَّهْرِ قَلَّ أَوْ كَثُرَ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ يَدُومُ عَلَيْهِ وَقَوْلَهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَيَمْنَعُونَ الْماعُونَ قَالَ هُوَ الْقَرْضُ يُقْرِضُهُ وَالْمَعْرُوفُ يَصْطَنِعُهُ وَمَتَاعُ الْبَيْتِ يُعِيرُهُ وَمِنْهُ الزَّكَاةُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ لَنَا جِيرَاناً إِذَا أَعَرْنَاهُمْ مَتَاعاً كَسَرُوهُ وَأَفْسَدُوهُ فَعَلَيْنَا جُنَاحٌ إِنْ نَمْنَعْهُمْ فَقَالَ لاَ لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ إِنْ تَمْنَعُوهُمْ إِذَا كَانُوا كَذَلِكَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ وَيُطْعِمُونَ الطَّعامَ عَلى‏ حُبِّهِ مِسْكِيناً وَيَتِيماً وَأَسِيراً قَالَ لَيْسَ مِنَ الزَّكَاةِ قُلْتُ قَوْلُهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ الَّذِينَ يُنْفِقُونَ أَمْوالَهُمْ بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهارِ سِرًّا وَعَلانِيَةً قَالَ لَيْسَ مِنَ الزَّكَاةِ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ قَوْلُهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِنْ تُبْدُوا الصَّدَقاتِ فَنِعِمَّا هِيَ وَإِنْ تُخْفُوها وَتُؤْتُوهَا الْفُقَراءَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ قَالَ لَيْسَ مِنَ الزَّكَاةِ وَصِلَتُكَ قَرَابَتَكَ لَيْسَ مِنَ الزَّكَاةِ.

9. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from af-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Fadalah ibn Ayyub from abu af-Maghra’ from abu Basir who has said the following: “Once we were in the presence of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.). With us, there were certain wealthier persons. People spoke about zakat. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said, ‘One does not become very much praiseworthy for paying zakat, although it is something purifying. Obviously, he has only protected his life and because of such payment is called a Muslim. Were he not to pay zakat his Salah (prayer) would not receive acceptance. However, on your properties, payments other than zakat are also due.’ I (the narrator) than asked, ‘I pray to Allah to keep you well, what other payments, besides zakat, are due on our properties?’ He replied, ‘Allah is free of all defects. Have you not heard the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, in His book, “They are those who assign a certain share of their property (70:24) for the needy and the deprived.” (70:25) I (the narrator) then asked, ‘What is the “certain share,” in our properties, due on us?’ He replied, ‘It is the amount that one pays from his property every day, or every Friday or every month in small amounts or large amounts and continues doing so. It also is mentioned in the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, “. . . and refuse to help the needy.” (107:7) This kind of help is what one considers necessary to pay as a loan, or a favor or household items borrowed and of this kind is zakat.’ I then said, ‘We have such neighbors that on lending things to them they may break or destroy them. Is it alright if we deny them such things?’ He replied, ‘In such case you are not blamed.’ I then asked about the words of Allah, ‘They feed the destitute, orphans, and captives for the love of Allah. . .’ (76:8) He said, ‘That is not of zakat.’ I then asked about the words of Allah, Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘. . . they spent their property during the night and day, publicly or privately’ (2:273) He said, ‘It is not of zakat.’ I then asked about the words of Allah, Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘It is alright if you pay charity publicly but if you pay to the needy privately it is better for you.’ (2:270) The Imam said, ‘It is not of zakat. Keeping good relations with your relatives is not of zakat.’”

10ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ جَابِرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) فِي قَوْلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَالَّذِينَ فِي أَمْوالِهِمْ حَقٌّ مَعْلُومٌ. لِلسَّائِلِ وَالْمَحْرُومِ أَ هُوَ سِوَى الزَّكَاةِ فَقَالَ هُوَ الرَّجُلُ يُؤْتِيهِ الله الثَّرْوَةَ مِنَ الْمَالِ فَيُخْرِجُ مِنْهُ الألْفَ وَالألْفَيْنِ وَالثَّلاَثَةَ الآلاَفِ وَالأقَلَّ وَالأكْثَرَ فَيَصِلُ بِهِ رَحِمَهُ وَيَحْمِلُ بِهِ الْكَلَّ عَنْ قَوْمِهِ.

10. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Khalid from ‘Uthman from ibn ‘Isa from Isma’il ibn Jabir who has said the following: “In the following words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, there is the expression, ‘certain share’: ‘They are those who assign a certain share of their property (70:24) for the needy and the deprived.’ (70:25) Whether ’certain share’ stands for zakat or something else, the Imam said, ‘It is the property that Allah gives to an affluent person who pays a thousand or two or three or less or more to keep good relations with relatives or relieve the burdens of his people.’”

11ـ عَنْهُ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ الْحَجَّاجِ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الأنْصَارِيِّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّ رَجُلاً جَاءَ إِلَى أَبِي عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيْهِما الْسَّلام) فَقَالَ لَهُ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ قَوْلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَالَّذِينَ فِي أَمْوالِهِمْ حَقٌّ مَعْلُومٌ. لِلسَّائِلِ وَالْمَحْرُومِ مَا هَذَا الْحَقُّ الْمَعْلُومُ فَقَالَ لَهُ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيْهِما الْسَّلام) الْحَقُّ الْمَعْلُومُ الشَّيْ‏ءُ يُخْرِجُهُ الرَّجُلُ مِنْ مَالِهِ لَيْسَ مِنَ الزَّكَاةِ وَلاَ مِنَ الصَّدَقَةِ الْمَفْرُوضَتَيْنِ قَالَ فَإِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ مِنَ الزَّكَاةِ وَلاَ مِنَ الصَّدَقَةِ فَمَا هُوَ فَقَالَ هُوَ الشَّيْ‏ءُ يُخْرِجُهُ الرَّجُلُ مِنْ مَالِهِ إِنْ شَاءَ أَكْثَرَ وَإِنْ شَاءَ أَقَلَّ عَلَى قَدْرِ مَا يَمْلِكُ فَقَالَ لَهُ الرَّجُلُ فَمَا يَصْنَعُ بِهِ قَالَ يَصِلُ بِهِ رَحِماً وَيَقْرِي بِهِ ضَيْفاً وَيَحْمِلُ بِهِ كَلاًّ أَوْ يَصِلُ بِهِ أَخاً لَهُ فِي الله أَوْ لِنَائِبَةٍ تَنُوبُهُ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ الله يَعْلَمُ حَيْثُ يَجْعَلُ رِسَالاَتِهِ.

11. It is a narration from him (narrator of previous Hadith) by Ahmad ibn Muhammad from af-Hassan ibn Mahbub from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Hajjaj from al-Qasim ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman af-Ansariy who has said the following: “I heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.), say, ‘Once a man came to my father, Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), and said, “Please tell me about the expression ‘certain share’. The words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, say, ‘They are those who assign a certain share of their property (70:24) for the needy and the deprived.’ (70:25) What is this ‘certain share’?”’ Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), said to him, ‘The ‘certain share’ is what a man pays from his property. It is not zakat or obligatory charity.’ He then asked, ‘If it is not of zakat or obligatory charity, then what is it?’ The Imam replied, ‘It is what a person pays from his property in small or larger amounts according to his ability.’ The man then asked, ‘What does he do with it?’ The Imam replied, ‘He thereby keeps good relation with relatives, entertains guest, relieves a burden, keeps good relations with a brother in faith, for the sake of Allah or fends off thereby a misfortune.’ The man then said, ‘Allah knows best where to keep (whom to entrust with) His message.’”

12ـ وَعَنْهُ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ الْجَمَّالِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) فِي قَوْلِهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لِلسَّائِلِ وَالْمَحْرُومِ قَالَ الْمَحْرُومُ الْمُحَارَفُ الَّذِي قَدْ حُرِمَ كَدَّ يَدِهِ فِي الشِّرَاءِ وَالْبَيْعِ. وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ وَأَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) أَنَّهُمَا قَالاَ الْمَحْرُومُ الرَّجُلُ الَّذِي لَيْسَ بِعَقْلِهِ بَأْسٌ وَلَمْ يُبْسَطْ لَهُ فِي الرِّزْقِ وَهُوَ مُحَارَفٌ.

12. It is a narration from him (narrator of previous Hadith) by ibn Faddal from Safwan al-Jammal who has said the following: “In the following words of Allah there is the expression ‘deprived’: ‘They are those who assign a certain share of their property (70:24) for the needy and the deprived.’ (70:25) Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘“Deprived” is a professional who no longer is able to benefit from the labor of his hands in business transactions.’” “In another Hadith it is narrated from abu Ja‘far and abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhim al-Salam, who have said, ‘Deprived is a person who has no problem in his understanding but is very tight in means of living.’”

13ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنِ الْمُفَضَّلِ قَالَ كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) فَسَأَلَهُ رَجُلٌ فِي كَمْ تَجِبُ الزَّكَاةُ مِنَ الْمَالِ فَقَالَ لَهُ الزَّكَاةُ الظَّاهِرَةُ أَمِ الْبَاطِنَةُ تُرِيدُ فَقَالَ أُرِيدُهُمَا جَمِيعاً فَقَالَ أَمَّا الظَّاهِرَةُ فَفِي كُلِّ أَلْفٍ خَمْسَةٌ وَعِشْرُونَ وَأَمَّا الْبَاطِنَةُ فَلاَ تَسْتَأْثِرْ عَلَى أَخِيكَ بِمَا هُوَ أَحْوَجُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْكَ.

13. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from those whom he has mentioned (in his book) from Muhammad ibn Khalid from Muhammad ibn Sinan from al-Mufaddal who has said the following: “Once I was in the presence of abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, when a man asked him, ‘For how much property is it compulsory to pay zakat?’ The Imam asked him, ‘Do you mean thereby the apparent or unapparent zakat?’ He replied, ‘I mean both kinds.’ The Imam said, ‘The apparent kind is twenty-five due upon every one thousand. The unapparent kind is what you should not spare from your brother what he needs more than you do.’”

14ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ عَطِيَّةَ عَنْ عَامِرِ بْنِ جُذَاعَةَ قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الله قَرْضٌ إِلَى مَيْسَرَةٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) إِلَى غَلَّةٍ تُدْرَكُ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ لاَ وَالله قَالَ فَإِلَى تِجَارَةٍ تُؤَبُّ قَالَ لاَ وَالله قَالَ فَإِلَى عُقْدَةٍ تُبَاعُ فَقَالَ لاَ وَالله فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) فَأَنْتَ مِمَّنْ جَعَلَ الله لَهُ فِي أَمْوَالِنَا حَقّاً ثُمَّ دَعَا بِكِيسٍ فِيهِ دَرَاهِمُ فَأَدْخَلَ يَدَهُ فِيهِ فَنَاوَلَهُ مِنْهُ قَبْضَةً ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ اتَّقِ الله وَلاَ تُسْرِفْ وَلاَ تَقْتُرْ وَلَكِنْ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ قَوَاماً إِنَّ التَّبْذِيرَ مِنَ الإِسْرَافِ قَالَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَلا تُبَذِّرْ تَبْذِيراً. الْحَسَنُ بْنُ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ سَعْدَانَ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ.

14. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Malik ibn ‘Atiyyah from ‘Amir ibn Juza‘ah who has said the following: “Once a man came in the presence of abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, and appealed, ‘O abu ‘Abd Allah, grant me a loan until I am able to pay back.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, asked, ‘Do you want to borrow until the time you harvest your plantation?’ The man answered, ‘No, by Allah, (I do not have any plantation).’ The Imam then asked, ‘Do you want until you make a business gain?’ He replied ‘No, by Allah, (I do not have any business).’ The Imam then asked, ‘Do you want to borrow until you receive profit from a contract you have made?’ He replied, ‘No, by Allah, (I do not have any such contract)’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), then said, ‘You then are of those for whom Allah has set a share in our properties.’ He then asked to bring for him a bag with dirhams in it. He then picked up a handful of money there-from and gave it to him saying, ‘Observe piety before Allah. Do not spend it extravagantly or miserly but spend it in a balanced manner. Spending in a wasteful manner is extravagance and Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, forbids it, “Do not squander your belongings wastefully. . . (17:27)’” Al-Hassan ibn Mahbub has narrated from Sa‘dan ibn Muslim from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), a similar Hadith.”

15ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله وَغَيْرُهُ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ عَنْ رَجُلٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ سَابَاطَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) لِعَمَّارٍ السَّابَاطِيِّ يَا عَمَّارُ أَنْتَ رَبُّ مَالٍ كَثِيرٍ قَالَ نَعَمْ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَالَ فَتُؤَدِّي مَا افْتَرَضَ الله عَلَيْكَ مِنَ الزَّكَاةِ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَتُخْرِجُ الْحَقَّ الْمَعْلُومَ مِنْ مَالِكَ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَتَصِلُ قَرَابَتَكَ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ وَتَصِلُ إِخْوَانَكَ قَالَ نَعَمْ فَقَالَ يَا عَمَّارُ إِنَّ الْمَالَ يَفْنَى وَالْبَدَنَ يَبْلَى وَالْعَمَلَ يَبْقَى وَالدَّيَّانَ حَيٌّ لاَ يَمُوتُ يَا عَمَّارُ إِنَّهُ مَا قَدَّمْتَ فَلَنْ يَسْبِقَكَ وَمَا أَخَّرْتَ فَلَنْ يَلْحَقَكَ.

15. Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Allah and others have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from his father from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Qasim from a man of the people of Sabat who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to ‘Ammar al-Sabatiy, ‘O ‘Ammar, do you own a great wealth?’ He replied, ‘Yes, I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause.’ The Imam then asked, ‘Do you pay what Allah has made compulsory in the form of zakat?’ He replied, ‘Yes, I pay.’ The Imam then asked, ‘Do you pay “certain share” out of your wealth?’ He replied, ‘Yes, I pay.’ The Imam then asked, ‘Do you maintain good relations with your relatives?’ He replied, ‘Yes, I do so.’ The Imam asked, ‘Do you keep good relations with your brothers in faith?’ He replied, ‘Yes, I do so.’ The Imam then said, ‘O ‘Ammar, wealth goes away, bodies become old but deeds remain. The One who rewards for good deeds lives forever and never dies. O ‘Ammar, what you save as good deeds do not leave you behind and what you postponed never come to join you.’”

16ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) قَوْلُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقاتُ لِلْفُقَراءِ وَالْمَساكِينِ قَالَ الْفَقِيرُ الَّذِي لاَ يَسْأَلُ النَّاسَ وَالْمِسْكِينُ أَجْهَدُ مِنْهُ وَالْبَائِسُ أَجْهَدُهُمْ فَكُلُّ مَا فَرَضَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَلَيْكَ فَإِعْلاَنُهُ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ إِسْرَارِهِ وَكُلُّ مَا كَانَ تَطَوُّعاً فَإِسْرَارُهُ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ إِعْلاَنِهِ وَلَوْ أَنَّ رَجُلاً يَحْمِلُ زَكَاةَ مَالِهِ عَلَى عَاتِقِهِ فَقَسَمَهَا عَلاَنِيَةً كَانَ ذَلِكَ حَسَناً جَمِيلاً.

16. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Khalid from ‘Abd Allah ibn Yahya from ‘Abd Allah ibn Muskan from abu Basir who has said the following: “I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ‘Charities are for the poor and the destitute. . .’ (9:60) The Imam said, ‘Poor is one who does not ask people for help, destitute is one of a worse condition, and hopeless is even of a worse condition. Paying, what Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has made compulsory upon you, publicly is better than paying privately. It is better to pay privately what is paid voluntarily. A person’s carrying zakat that he must pay, on his shoulders that he then distributes in public is just fine and beautiful.’”

17ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) فِي قَوْلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَإِنْ تُخْفُوها وَتُؤْتُوهَا الْفُقَراءَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ فَقَالَ هِيَ سِوَى الزَّكَاةِ إِنَّ الزَّكَاةَ عَلاَنِيَةٌ غَيْرُ سِرٍّ.

17. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ‘. . . If you pay it privately to the needy, it is better for you. . . .’ (2:273), has said, ‘This payment is a payment other than compulsory zakat which is paid publicly and not privately.’”

18ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ بْنِ رَزِينٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَحَدِهِمَا (عَلَيْهِما الْسَّلام) أَنَّهُ سَأَلَهُ عَنِ الْفَقِيرِ وَالْمِسْكِينِ فَقَالَ الْفَقِيرُ الَّذِي لاَ يَسْأَلُ وَالْمِسْكِينُ الَّذِي هُوَ أَجْهَدُ مِنْهُ الَّذِي يَسْأَلُ.

18. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan from Safwan ibn Yahya from al-‘Ala’ ibn Razin from Muhammad ibn Muslim from one of them (the two Imam): “Someone asked the Imam (a.s.), about poor and destitute. He replied, ‘Poor is one who does not ask for help. Destitute is of a worse condition and he asks for help.’”