Al-Kāfi

4ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) إِنَّ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى أَحَبَّ شَيْئاً لِنَفْسِهِ وَأَبْغَضَهُ لِخَلْقِهِ أَبْغَضَ لِخَلْقِهِ الْمَسْأَلَةَ وَأَحَبَّ لِنَفْسِهِ أَنْ يُسْأَلَ وَلَيْسَ شَيْ‏ءٌ أَحَبَّ إِلَى الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مِنْ أَنْ يُسْأَلَ فَلا يَسْتَحْيِي أَحَدُكُمْ أَنْ يَسْأَلَ الله مِنْ فَضْلِهِ وَلَوْ بِشِسْعِ نَعْلٍ.

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Dawud ibn al-Nu’man from Ibrahim ibn ‘Uthman who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘Allah, the Most Blessed the Most High, loves something to be for His own self and He hates something to be for His creatures. He hates His creatures begging for financial help from each other, but He loves their asking Him for help. There is nothing more beloved to Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, than being asked for help; therefore, you must not feel shy to ask Allah for favors from His generosity, even if it is as insignificant as a sandal’s strap that passes between the toes of a wearer.’”

5ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ جَاءَتْ فَخِذٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ إِلَى رَسُولِ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَسَلَّمُوا عَلَيْهِ فَرَدَّ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلامَ فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ الله لَنَا إِلَيْكَ حَاجَةٌ فَقَالَ هَاتُوا حَاجَتَكُمْ قَالُوا إِنَّهَا حَاجَةٌ عَظِيمَةٌ فَقَالَ هَاتُوهَا مَا هِيَ قَالُوا تَضْمَنُ لَنَا عَلَى رَبِّكَ الْجَنَّةَ قَالَ فَنَكَسَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) رَأْسَهُ ثُمَّ نَكَتَ فِي الأَرْضِ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ فَقَالَ أَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ بِكُمْ عَلَى أَنْ لا تَسْأَلُوا أَحَداً شَيْئاً قَالَ فَكَانَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْهُمْ يَكُونُ فِي السَّفَرِ فَيَسْقُطُ سَوْطُهُ فَيَكْرَهُ أَنْ يَقُولَ لإِنْسَانٍ نَاوِلْنِيهِ فِرَاراً مِنَ الْمَسْأَلَةِ فَيَنْزِلُ فَيَأْخُذُهُ وَيَكُونُ عَلَى الْمَائِدَةِ فَيَكُونُ بَعْضُ الْجُلَسَاءِ أَقْرَبَ إِلَى الْمَاءِ مِنْهُ فَلا يَقُولُ نَاوِلْنِي حَتَّى يَقُومُ فَيَشْرَبُ.

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn Salim from abu Basir who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once, members of a tribe of al-Ansar (people of al- Madinah) came to the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause. They offered greetings of peace and he responded likewise. They said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, we have a request from you.’ He asked, ‘What is your request?’ They replied, ‘It is a very great matter.’ He asked, ‘What is it?’ They replied, ‘Provide us a guarantee from your Lord to admit us into Paradise.’ He bent down his head and made a few marks on the ground, then raised his head and said, ‘I am ready to do it with one condition. The condition is that not one of you will ever ask anyone to give you something.’ The Imam has said that thereafter, because of that condition, a man of that tribe when on a journey; even if his whip fell off his hand while riding, he disliked to ask another person to fetch his whip. Instead, he would dismount to pick up his whip to keep his promise with the Messenger of Allah. While sitting at the table for food, they would not ask a person nearer the water to fetch them the water container. Rather they would stand up to get water.’”

6ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أَبِي الْعَلاءِ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) رَحِمَ الله عَبْداً عَفَّ وَتَعَفَّفَ وَكَفَّ عَنِ الْمَسْأَلَةِ فَإِنَّهُ يَتَعَجَّلُ الدَّنِيَّةَ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَلا يُغْنِي النَّاسُ عَنْهُ شَيْئاً قَالَ ثُمَّ تَمَثَّلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) بِبَيْتِ حَاتِمٍ إِذَا مَا عَرَفْتُ الْيَأْسَ أَلْفَيْتُهُ الْغِنَى إِذَا عَرَفَتْهُ النَّفْسُ وَالطَّمَعُ الْفَقْرُ.

6. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from his father from those whom he has mentioned (in his book) from al-Husayn ibn abu al-‘Ala’ who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah grants mercy to one of His servants who has maintained chastity, continues to do so, and abstains from asking (people) for a favor; doing so brings lowliness for one in this world quickly, and people cannot make him self-sufficient.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), then mentioned a line of the poems of Hatim (a famous generous person) as an example: ‘Once I understood “giving up all hope” properly, I found it to be self-sufficiency and wealth when the soul also understood it as well; (it ) found that greed is not anything other than poverty.’”

7ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنِ الْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ عَامِرٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الصَّيْرَفِيِّ عَنْ مُفَضَّلِ بْنِ قَيْسِ بْنِ رُمَّانَةَ قَالَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) فَذَكَرْتُ لَهُ بَعْضَ حَالِي فَقَالَ يَا جَارِيَةُ هَاتِ ذَلِكَ الْكِيسَ هَذِهِ أَرْبَعُمِائَةِ دِينَارٍ وَصَلَنِي بِهَا أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ فَخُذْهَا وَتَفَرَّجْ بِهَا قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لا وَالله جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مَا هَذَا دَهْرِي وَلَكِنْ أَحْبَبْتُ أَنْ تَدْعُوَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لِي قَالَ فَقَالَ إِنِّي سَأَفْعَلُ وَلَكِنْ إِيَّاكَ أَنْ تُخْبِرَ النَّاسَ بِكُلِّ حَالِكَ فَتَهُونَ عَلَيْهِمْ.

7. Ali ibn Muhammad and Ahmad ibn Muhammad have narrated from Ali ibn al-Hassan from al-‘Abbas ibn ‘Amir from Muhammad ibn Ibrahim al-Sayrafiy from Mufaddal ibn Qays ibn Rummanah who has said the following: “Once I visited abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and mentioned to him certain matters about my conditions. The Imam asked the housemaid to bring to him a certain bag, then he said, ‘This is the four hundred dinar that abu Ja’far (the Abbaside rule) has sent to me as a gift. Take it to ease your difficulties.’ I then said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, I do not want to take the money; it is not everything in my life. I love most that you pray for me before Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious.’ The Imam said, ‘I will certainly do so; however, you must never speak to people about your conditions; you will seem insignificant in their sight.’”

8ـ وَرُوِيَ عَنْ لُقْمَانَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ لابْنِهِ يَا بُنَيَّ ذُقْتُ الصَّبْرَ وَأَكَلْتُ لِحَاءَ الشَّجَرِ فَلَمْ أَجِدْ شَيْئاً هُوَ أَمَرُّ مِنَ الْفَقْرِ فَإِنْ بُلِيتَ بِهِ يَوْماً وَلا تُظْهِرِ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهِ فَيَسْتَهِينُوكَ وَلا يَنْفَعُوكَ بِشَيْ‏ءٍ ارْجِعْ إِلَى الَّذِي ابْتَلاكَ بِهِ فَهُوَ أَقْدَرُ عَلَى فَرَجِكَ وَسَلْهُ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي سَأَلَهُ فَلَمْ يُعْطِهِ أَوْ وَثِقَ بِهِ فَلَمْ يُنْجِهِ.

8. “It is narrated that Luqman said to his son, ‘Son, I have tested patience and have consumed tree barks for food. I have not found anything as bitter as poverty. If you ever face poverty, do not tell people about it; you will seem insignificant in their sight and they will be of no benefit to you. You must turn to the One who has placed it upon you as a trial. He has all the power to grant you relief, but you must ask Him for help. No one asking Him for help is ever turned away empty-handed, and no one who has placed his trust in Him is ever abandoned.’”

1ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مُوسَى عَنْ غِيَاثٍ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) إِنَّ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى كَرِهَ لِي سِتَّ خِصَالٍ وَكَرِهْتُهَا لِلأَوْصِيَاءِ مِنْ وُلْدِي وَأَتْبَاعِهِمْ مِنْ بَعْدِي مِنْهَا الْمَنُّ بَعْدَ الصَّدَقَةِ.

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Hassan ibn Musa from Ghiyath ibn Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has stated this Hadith. The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, “Allah, the most Blessed, the most High, dislikes to find six characteristics within me, and I dislike finding them with the executors of my wills from my descendents and their followers. Of such characteristics, one is embarrassing the recipient after giving charity.’””

2ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله رَفَعَهُ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) الْمَنُّ يَهْدِمُ الصَّنِيعَةَ.

2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah in a marfu‘ manner the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Embarrassing a recipient, after giving charity destroys the virtue of this benevolent deed.’”

1ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ هَارُونَ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ مَسْعَدَةَ بْنِ صَدَقَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) أَنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ الله عَلَيْهِ بَعَثَ إِلَى رَجُلٍ بِخَمْسَةِ أَوْسَاقٍ مِنْ تَمْرِ الْبُغَيْبِغَةِ وَكَانَ الرَّجُلُ مِمَّنْ يَرْجُو نَوَافِلَهُ وَيُؤَمِّلُ نَائِلَهُ وَرِفْدَهُ وَكَانَ لا يَسْأَلُ عَلِيّاً (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) وَلا غَيْرَهُ شَيْئاً فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ لأَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) وَالله مَا سَأَلَكَ فُلانٌ وَلَقَدْ كَانَ يُجْزِئُهُ مِنَ الْخَمْسَةِ الأَوْسَاقِ وَسْقٌ وَاحِدٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) لا كَثَّرَ الله فِي الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ضَرْبَكَ أُعْطِي أَنَا وَتَبْخَلُ أَنْتَ لله أَنْتَ إِذَا أَنَا لَمْ أُعْطِ الَّذِي يَرْجُونِي إِلاَّ مِنْ بَعْدِ الْمَسْأَلَةِ ثُمَّ أُعْطِيهِ بَعْدَ الْمَسْأَلَةِ فَلَمْ أُعْطِهِ ثَمَنَ مَا أَخَذْتُ مِنْهُ وَذَلِكَ لأَنِّي عَرَّضْتُهُ أَنْ يَبْذُلَ لِي وَجْهَهُ الَّذِي يُعَفِّرُهُ فِي التُّرَابِ لِرَبِّي وَرَبِّهِ عِنْدَ تَعَبُّدِهِ لَهُ وَطَلَبِ حَوَائِجِهِ إِلَيْهِ فَمَنْ فَعَلَ هَذَا بِأَخِيهِ الْمُسْلِمِ وَقَدْ عَرَفَ أَنَّهُ مَوْضِعٌ لِصِلَتِهِ وَمَعْرُوفِهِ فَلَمْ يُصَدِّقِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِي دُعَائِهِ لَهُ حَيْثُ يَتَمَنَّى لَهُ الْجَنَّةَ بِلِسَانِهِ وَيَبْخَلُ عَلَيْهِ بِالْحُطَامِ مِنْ مَالِهِ وَذَلِكَ أَنَّ الْعَبْدَ قَدْ يَقُولُ فِي دُعَائِهِ اللهمَّ اغْفِرْ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ فَإِذَا دَعَا لَهُمْ بِالْمَغْفِرَةِ فَقَدْ طَلَبَ لَهُمُ الْجَنَّةَ فَمَا أَنْصَفَ مَنْ فَعَلَ هَذَا بِالْقَوْلِ وَلَمْ يُحَقِّقْهُ بِالْفِعْلِ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Harun ibn Muslim from Mas’adah ibn Sadaqah who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once, ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), decided to give five Awsaq (a certain amount of) dates from al-Bughaybighah (a place in al-Madinah) to a man who had hoped to benefit from the generosity of the Imam and his gifts. However, he would not appeal before the Imam or other people for any help. A man said to ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), ‘This man has not appealed before you. One is enough for him instead of five Awsaq.’ ’Amir al-Mu’minin then said, ‘I wish Allah will not create more people like you among the believers. Why do you exercise stinginess about the charity that I have decided to give to a needy person? You must take notice, for the sake of Allah! If I give charity to a person who expects to receive charity from me only after his appeal, I, in fact, have not given him the cost of what I have already taken from him. Such cost is my causing him to risk the dignity of his face, which he places on the ground before my Lord and his Lord during his worship and his appeal before Him for his needs. With this kind of dealing with a Muslim whom one knows as deserving of one’s charity and gifts, one has not proved oneself as truthful before Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, in one’s prayer when one appeals verbally before Allah to admit one’s Muslim brother into Paradise. On the other hand, one exercises stinginess in matters of worthless worldly belongings. This happens when a servant of Allah says in his prayer, ‘O Allah, grant forgiveness to male and female believers.’ Appealing for forgiveness is asking Paradise for male and female believers. It is unjust not to support one’s words with one’s deeds.’”

2ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ وَغَيْرُهُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ نُوحِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله عَنِ الذُّهْلِيِّ رَفَعَهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) قَالَ الْمَعْرُوفُ ابْتِدَاءٌ وَأَمَّا مَنْ أَعْطَيْتَهُ بَعْدَ الْمَسْأَلَةِ فَإِنَّمَا كَافَيْتَهُ بِمَا بَذَلَ لَكَ مِنْ وَجْهِهِ يَبِيتُ لَيْلَتَهُ أَرِقاً مُتَمَلْمِلاً يَمْثُلُ بَيْنَ الرَّجَاءِ وَالْيَأْسِ لا يَدْرِي أَيْنَ يَتَوَجَّهُ لِحَاجَتِهِ ثُمَّ يَعْزِمُ بِالْقَصْدِ لَهَا فَيَأْتِيكَ وَقَلْبُهُ يَرْجُفُ وَفَرَائِصُهُ تَرْعُدُ قَدْ تَرَى دَمَهُ فِي وَجْهِهِ لا يَدْرِي أَ يَرْجِعُ بِكَأْبَةٍ أَمْ بِفَرَحٍ.

2. Ahmad ibn Idris and others have narrated from Muhammad ibn Ahmad from Ahmad ibn Nuh ibn ‘Abd Allah from al-Dhuhliy in a marfu‘ who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that charity is that which is given before an appeal by the recipient. Giving charity after an appeal by the recipient is compensation for using the dignity of his face when he appealed and his passing the night worried and anxious in hope and despair without knowing which direction to go for his needs. He then decides to come before you with his heart beating fast and his muscles shaking. You can see (the color of) his blood on his face. He does not know whether he will turn back sadly or with happiness.’”

3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ صَنْدَلٍ عَنْ يَاسِرٍ عَنِ الْيَسَعِ بْنِ حَمْزَةَ قَالَ كُنْتُ فِي مَجْلِسِ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) أُحَدِّثُهُ وَقَدِ اجْتَمَعَ إِلَيْهِ خَلْقٌ كَثِيرٌ يَسْأَلُونَهُ عَنِ الْحَلالِ وَالْحَرَامِ إِذْ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ طُوَالٌ آدَمُ فَقَالَ السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ الله رَجُلٌ مِنْ مُحِبِّيكَ وَمُحِبِّي آبَائِكَ وَأَجْدَادِكَ (عَلَيْهِم السَّلاَم) مَصْدَرِي مِنَ الْحَجِّ وَقَدِ افْتَقَدْتُ نَفَقَتِي وَمَا مَعِي مَا أَبْلُغُ مَرْحَلَةً فَإِنْ رَأَيْتَ أَنْ تُنْهِضَنِي إِلَى بَلَدِي وَلله عَلَيَّ نِعْمَةٌ فَإِذَا بَلَغْتُ بَلَدِي تَصَدَّقْتُ بِالَّذِي تُوَلِّينِي عَنْكَ فَلَسْتُ مَوْضِعَ صَدَقَةٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ اجْلِسْ رَحِمَكَ الله وَأَقْبَلَ عَلَى النَّاسِ يُحَدِّثُهُمْ حَتَّى تَفَرَّقُوا وَبَقِيَ هُوَ وَسُلَيْمَانُ الْجَعْفَرِيُّ وَخَيْثَمَةُ وَأَنَا فَقَالَ أَ تَأْذَنُونَ لِي فِي الدُّخُولِ فَقَالَ لَهُ سُلَيْمَانُ قَدَّمَ الله أَمْرَكَ فَقَامَ فَدَخَلَ الْحُجْرَةَ وَبَقِيَ سَاعَةً ثُمَّ خَرَجَ وَرَدَّ الْبَابَ وَأَخْرَجَ يَدَهُ مِنْ أَعْلَى الْبَابِ وَقَالَ أَيْنَ الْخُرَاسَانِيُّ فَقَالَ هَا أَنَا ذَا فَقَالَ خُذْ هَذِهِ الْمِائَتَيْ دِينَارٍ وَاسْتَعِنْ بِهَا فِي مَئُونَتِكَ وَنَفَقَتِكَ وَتَبَرَّكْ بِهَا وَلا تَصَدَّقْ بِهَا عَنِّي وَاخْرُجْ فَلا أَرَاكَ وَلا تَرَانِي ثُمَّ خَرَجَ فَقَالَ لَهُ سُلَيْمَانُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ لَقَدْ أَجْزَلْتَ وَرَحِمْتَ فَلِمَا ذَا سَتَرْتَ وَجْهَكَ عَنْهُ فَقَالَ مَخَافَةَ أَنْ أَرَى ذُلَّ السُّؤَالِ فِي وَجْهِهِ لِقَضَائِي حَاجَتَهُ أَ مَا سَمِعْتَ حَدِيثَ رَسُولِ الله (صلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) الْمُسْتَتِرُ بِالْحَسَنَةِ يَعْدِلُ سَبْعِينَ حَجَّةً وَالْمُذِيعُ بِالسَّيِّئَةِ مَخْذُولٌ وَالْمُسْتَتِرُ بِهَا مَغْفُورٌ لَهُ أَ مَا سَمِعْتَ قَوْلَ الأُوَلِ. مَتَى آتِهِ يَوْماً لأَطْلُبَ حَاجَةً رَجَعْتُ إِلَى أَهْلِي وَوَجْهِي بِمَائِهِ‏.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn Sandal from Yasir from al-Yasa’ ibn Hamzah who has said the following: “Once I was in the presence of abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.), and I was speaking to him before a large gathering that wanted to ask him about lawful and unlawful matters. At such time, a tall man of fair complexion came in and offered his greetings of peace, addressing the Imam as ‘O child of the Messenger of Allah, I am from those who love you and your ancestors. I am coming from Hajj. I have lost my supplies as well as whatever was with me. I cannot reach my destination. If you consider it proper, help me so I can go home. It will be a great favor to me. When I arrive home, I will give as charity whatever amount you ask me to give; I am an undeserving recipient of charity.’ The Imam said, ‘Sit down. May Allah grant you blessing.’ He then spoke to people until they left. Only he (the Imam), Sulayman al-Ja’fariy, Khaythamah and I remained. The Imam then asked, ‘Can I go inside?’ Sulayman said, ‘Allah has already given priority to your affairs.’ He went inside where he remained for a while before he came out and closed the door. He then stretched his hand from the top of the door and said, ‘Where is the man from Khuransan?’ The man replied, ‘Here I am.’ The Imam said, ‘Get this two hundred dinar, use it for expenses and enjoy its blessings. You must not give any charity on my behalf. You may leave before I see you or you see me.’ Then the Imam came out, and Sulayman said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, you have been generous and kind to him. Why did you hide your face from him?’ The Imam replied, ‘I was afraid to see the effect of humiliation on his face due to appealing for help. Consider the words of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, that say, “Giving charity out of public sight is equal in reward to seventy times performing Hajj. One who publicizes sins is disgraced, and those who do not do so are granted forgiveness.” Consider the words of the people who lived long before: “Whenever during a day I come to him to appeal for help, I return home without any damage to the dignity of my face.’””