Al-Kāfi

1- بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ ظَرِيفٍ الأكْفَانِيِّ قَالَ كَانَ أَذِنَ لِغُلامٍ لَهُ فِي الشِّرَاءِ وَالْبَيْعِ فَأَفْلَسَ وَلَزِمَهُ دَيْنٌ فَأُخِذَ بِذَلِكَ الدَّيْنِ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ وَلَيْسَ يُسَاوِي ثَمَنُهُ مَا عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الدَّيْنِ فَسَأَلَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقَالَ إِنْ بِعْتَهُ لَزِمَكَ الدَّيْنُ وَإِنْ أَعْتَقْتَهُ لَمْ يَلْزَمْكَ الدَّيْنُ فَأَعْتَقَهُ فَلَمْ يَلْزَمْهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ.

1. Certain persons of our people have narrated Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Zarif al-Akfaniy who has said the following: “This is about the case of a man who authorizes his slave to buy and sell and who becomes bankrupt and is taken by the creditor for the debt which is more than his price. I asked Abu‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about it. He (the Imam) said, If you sell him you are responsible for the debt, but if you set him free you are not responsible for the debt.’ He set him free and he was not held responsible for anything.”

2- حُمَيْدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنِ ابْنِ رِئَابٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ رَجُلٍ مَاتَ وَتَرَكَ عَلَيْهِ دَيْناً وَتَرَكَ عَبْداً لَهُ مَالٌ فِي التِّجَارَةِ وَوَلَداً وَفِي يَدِ الْعَبْدِ مَالٌ وَمَتَاعٌ وَعَلَيْهِ دَيْنٌ اسْتَدَانَهُ الْعَبْدُ فِي حَيَاةِ سَيِّدِهِ فِي تِجَارَتِهِ وَإِنَّ الْوَرَثَةَ وَغُرَمَاءَ الْمَيِّتِ اخْتَصَمُوا فِيمَا فِي يَدِ الْعَبْدِ مِنَ الْمَالِ وَالْمَتَاعِ وَفِي رَقَبَةِ الْعَبْدِ فَقَالَ أَرَى أَنْ لَيْسَ لِلْوَرَثَةِ سَبِيلٌ عَلَى رَقَبَةِ الْعَبْدِ وَلا عَلَى مَا فِي يَدِهِ مِنَ الْمَتَاعِ وَالْمَالِ إِلا أَنْ يُضَمَّنُوا دَيْنَ الْغُرَمَاءِ جَمِيعاً فَيَكُونُ الْعَبْدُ وَمَا فِي يَدِهِ مِنَ الْمَالِ لِلْوَرَثَةِ فَإِنْ أَبَوْا كَانَ الْعَبْدُ وَمَا فِي يَدِهِ لِلْغُرَمَاءِ يُقَوَّمُ الْعَبْدُ وَمَا فِي يَدِهِ مِنَ الْمَالِ ثُمَّ يُقْسَمُ ذَلِكَ بَيْنَهُمْ بِالْحِصَصِ فَإِنْ عَجَزَ قِيمَةُ الْعَبْدِ وَمَا فِي يَدِهِ عَنْ أَمْوَالِ الْغُرَمَاءِ رَجَعُوا عَلَى الْوَرَثَةِ فِيمَا بَقِيَ لَهُمْ إِنْ كَانَ الْمَيِّتُ تَرَكَ شَيْئاً قَالَ وَإِنْ فَضَلَ مِنْ قِيمَةِ الْعَبْدِ وَمَا كَانَ فِي يَدِهِ عَنْ دَيْنِ الْغُرَمَاءِ رُدَّ عَلَى الْوَرَثَةِ.

2. Humayd ibn Ziyad has narrated from al-Hassan ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from ibn Ri’ab from Zurarah who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who dies owing a certain amount of debts and leaves behind a slave who has his assets in business and a son. In the hand of the slave he leaves the assets, goods and debts owed by the slave which he had incurred during the lifetime of his master for business. The heir and creditors dispute about what is in the hand of the slave, the slave himself and the assets and goods. He (the Imam) said, ‘In my view the heirs have no say about the slave or about what is in his hand of assets and goods, except if they take responsibility for the debt for all the creditors. Thereafter the slave and what is in his hand of the assets and goods all go in the hands of the heirs; but if they refuse to take responsibility, the slave and all that is in his hand go to the creditors. The slave and whatever is in his hand of the assets are distributed among the creditors proportionate to their shares. If the slave and the asset could not pay the debts the creditors can ask the heirs for the remaining liabilities if the deceased has left anything. If the slave and assets exceed the debts the remaining goes to the heirs.’”

3- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ حُمَيْدٍ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ رَجُلٌ يَأْذَنُ لِمَمْلُوكِهِ فِي التِّجَارَةِ فَيَصِيرُ عَلَيْهِ دَيْنٌ قَالَ إِنْ كَانَ أَذِنَ لَهُ أَنْ يَسْتَدِينَ فَالدَّيْنُ عَلَى مَوْلاهُ وَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ أَذِنَ لَهُ أَنْ يَسْتَدِينَ فَلا شَيْ‏ءَ عَلَى الْمَوْلَى وَيُسْتَسْعَى الْعَبْدُ فِي الدَّيْنِ.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu Nasr from ‘Asem ibn Hamid from abu Basir who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the case of a man who authorizes his slave to do business but he becomes indebted. He (the Imam) said, if his master had authorized him to borrow; then he is responsible for the debts, but if he had not authorized him to borrow, he is not responsible for anything but the slave is made to work to pay the debts.’”

1- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ اخْتَصَمَ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) رَجُلانِ اشْتَرَى أَحَدُهُمَا مِنَ الآخَرِ بَعِيراً وَاسْتَثْنَى الْبَائِعُ الرَّأْسَ وَالْجِلْدَ ثُمَّ بَدَا لِلْمُشْتَرِي أَنْ يَبِيعَهُ فَقَالَ لِلْمُشْتَرِي هُوَ شَرِيكُكَ فِي الْبَعِيرِ عَلَى قَدْرِ الرَّأْسِ وَالْجِلْدِ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from af-Nawfafiy from af-Sakuniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once two people brought their dispute before ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.). One of them had purchased a camel from the other one, and the seller had excluded the head and the skin. The buyer then decided to sell it. He (the Imam) said to the buyer, ‘His share in the camel is proportionate to the head and skin.’”

2- عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ أَبِي حَمَّادٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ حَمَّادٍ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُرَازِمٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ أَوْ عَمِّهِ قَالَ شَهِدْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَهُوَ يُحَاسِبُ وَكِيلا لَهُ وَالْوَكِيلُ يُكْثِرُ أَنْ يَقُولَ وَاللهِ مَا خُنْتُ وَاللهِ مَا خُنْتُ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَا هَذَا خِيَانَتُكَ وَتَضْيِيعُكَ عَلَيَّ مَالِي سَوَاءٌ لأنَّ الْخِيَانَةَ شَرُّهَا عَلَيْكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) لَوْ أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ هَرَبَ مِنْ رِزْقِهِ لَتَبِعَهُ حَتَّى يُدْرِكَهُ كَمَا أَنَّهُ إِنْ هَرَبَ مِنْ أَجَلِهِ تَبِعَهُ حَتَّى يُدْرِكَهُ مَنْ خَانَ خِيَانَةً حُسِبَتْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ رِزْقِهِ وَكُتِبَ عَلَيْهِ وِزْرُهَا.

2. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Salih ibn abu Hammad from Ahmad ibn Hammad who has said that Murazim narrated to me from his father or his uncle who has said the following: “I once saw abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), examine an account with his agent who very often said, ‘By Allah, I have not committed treachery, by Allah I have not committed treachery.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), then said, ‘O you, wasting my assets and your committing treachery is the same; the wickedness of treachery is on you.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘The Messenger of Allah has said, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, “If one of you runs away from his share of sustenance, it follows him just as one who runs away from his death which follows him until it finds him. If one commits treachery it is counted (taken) against his sustenance and its sin is written on him.’””

3- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ أَبِي عُمَارَةَ الطَّيَّارِ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنَّهُ قَدْ ذَهَبَ مَالِي وَتَفَرَّقَ مَا فِي يَدِي وَعِيَالِي كَثِيرٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِذَا قَدِمْتَ الْكُوفَةَ فَافْتَحْ بَابَ حَانُوتِكَ وَابْسُطْ بِسَاطَكَ وَضَعْ مِيزَانَكَ وَتَعَرَّضْ لِرِزْقِ رَبِّكَ قَالَ فَلَمَّا أَنْ قَدِمَ فَتَحَ بَابَ حَانُوتِهِ وَبَسَطَ بِسَاطَهُ وَوَضَعَ مِيزَانَهُ قَالَ فَتَعَجَّبَ مَنْ حَوْلَهُ بِأَنْ لَيْسَ فِي بَيْتِهِ قَلِيلٌ وَلا كَثِيرٌ مِنَ الْمَتَاعِ وَلا عِنْدَهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ قَالَ فَجَاءَهُ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ اشْتَرِ لِي ثَوْباً قَالَ فَاشْتَرَى لَهُ وَأَخَذَ ثَمَنَهُ وَصَارَ الثَّمَنُ إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ آخَرُ فَقَالَ لَهُ اشْتَرِ لِي ثَوْباً قَالَ فَطَلَبَ لَهُ فِي السُّوقِ ثُمَّ اشْتَرَى لَهُ ثَوْباً فَأَخَذَ ثَمَنَهُ فَصَارَ فِي يَدِهِ وَكَذَلِكَ يَصْنَعُ التُّجَّارُ يَأْخُذُ بَعْضُهُمْ مِنْ بَعْضٍ ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ رَجُلٌ آخَرُ فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا أَبَا عُمَارَةَ إِنَّ عِنْدِي عِدْلا مِنْ كَتَّانٍ فَهَلْ تَشْتَرِيهِ وَأُؤَخِّرَكَ بِثَمَنِهِ سَنَةً فَقَالَ نَعَمْ احْمِلْهُ وَجِئْنِي بِهِ قَالَ فَحَمَلَهُ فَاشْتَرَاهُ مِنْهُ بِتَأْخِيرِ سَنَةٍ قَالَ فَقَامَ الرَّجُلُ فَذَهَبَ ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ آتٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ السُّوقِ فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا أَبَا عُمَارَةَ مَا هَذَا الْعِدْلُ قَالَ هَذَا عِدْلٌ اشْتَرَيْتُهُ قَالَ فَبِعْنِي نِصْفَهُ وَأُعَجِّلَ لَكَ ثَمَنَهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ فَاشْتَرَاهُ مِنْهُ وَأَعْطَاهُ نِصْفَ الْمَتَاعِ وَأَخَذَ نِصْفَ الثَّمَنِ قَالَ فَصَارَ فِي يَدِهِ الْبَاقِي إِلَى سَنَةٍ قَالَ فَجَعَلَ يَشْتَرِي بِثَمَنِهِ الثَّوْبَ وَالثَّوْبَيْنِ وَيَعْرِضُ وَيَشْتَرِي وَيَبِيعُ حَتَّى أَثْرَى وَعَرَضَ وَجْهُهُ وَأَصَابَ مَعْرُوفاً.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from abu ‘Umarah al-Tayyar who has said the following: “I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), that my assets are gone, my belongings have scattered and I have a large family. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), then said, ‘When you arrive in al-Kufah, open your shop, set up your display and balance and engage in (earning) sustenance from your Lord.’ Upon his arrival he opened his shop, set up his display and balance. People around found it strange knowing that there was nothing in his home of assets or with him. A man came to him and asked (and paid) him to buy for him cloths. He bought it (perhaps on credit) for him and received the payment for it which remained with him. Then another man came and said, ‘Buy for me a cloth.’ He searched in the market for him, and then bought it for him and the payment for it remained in his hand. This was how business people exchanged goods among themselves. Then another man came and said, ‘O abu ‘Ummarah, I have a bundle of Kattan. Do you want to buy it to pay me after one year?’ He replied, ‘Yes, load it and deliver to me.’ It was delivered to him and he bought it to pay after one year. The man then left and a man from the market came and asked, ‘O abu ‘Ummarah, what is this bundle?’ He replied, ‘I have purchased this bundle.’ He asked, ‘Can you sell to me one-half of it and keep the price with you?’ He then purchased it and he gave him one-half of the goods for a payment of one-half of the price which remained in his hand for one year. He then would buy cloths with that fund, put one or two cloths on display, buy and sell, until he became affluent, able to show his face and find fame.’”

4- عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ أَبِي حَمَّادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ الأحْوَلِ قَالَ قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَيُّ شَيْ‏ءٍ مَعَاشُكَ قَالَ قُلْتُ غُلامَانِ لِي وَجَمَلانِ قَالَ فَقَالَ اسْتَتِرْ بِذَلِكَ مِنْ إِخْوَانِكَ فَإِنَّهُمْ إِنْ لَمْ يَضُرُّوكَ لَمْ يَنْفَعُوكَ.

4. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Salih ibn abu Hammad from Muhammad ibn Sinan from abu Ja’far al-Ahwal who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once asked me, ‘How do you make a living?’ I replied, ‘I have two slaves and two camels.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘You must not speak about it to your brothers (in belief); if they do not harm, they do not benefit you either.’”

5- أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ عَنِ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ صَبِيحٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ رِزْقُهُ فِي التِّجَارَةِ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ رِزْقُهُ فِي السَّيْفِ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ رِزْقُهُ فِي لِسَانِهِ.

5. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from certain persons of our people from Ibrahim ibn ‘ Abd al-Hamid from al-Walid ibn Sabiyh who has said the following: “I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘The sustenance of certain people is in trading, others have it in their sword and certain ones in their tongue.”’

6- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ الْمُثَنَّى عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ مَنْ ضَاقَ عَلَيْهِ الْمَعَاشُ أَوْ قَالَ الرِّزْقُ فَلْيَشْتَرِ صِغَاراً وَلْيَبِعْ كِبَاراً. وَرُوِيَ عَنْهُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مَنْ أَعْيَتْهُ الْحِيلَةُ فَلْيُعَالِجِ الْكُرْسُفَ.

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn al-Muthanna’ who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘One who faces constraint in his living’ -or he (the Imam) said ‘in his sustenance- should buy small ones (of animal) and sell large ones.’” It is also narrated from him (the Imam) that if one’s plans do not work he should work in al-kursuf (a certain kind of fabric).

7- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ فُضَيْلٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ كُلُّ مَا افْتَتَحَ بِهِ الرَّجُلُ رِزْقَهُ فَهُوَ تِجَارَةٌ.

7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Khalid from Sa‘d ibn Sa‘d from Muhammad ibn al-Fudayl who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘With whatever (lawful) means one opens the door to his sustenance it is business and trade.’”