The Book of Oaths, Vows and Expiations
Forming a Commitment
16- وَبِهَذَا الإسْنَادِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ جُنْدَبٍ قَالَ سَأَلَ عَبَّادُ بْنُ مَيْمُونٍ وَأَنَا حَاضِرٌ عَنْ رَجُلٍ جَعَلَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ نَذْراً صَوْماً وَأَرَادَ الْخُرُوجَ إِلَى مَكَّةَ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ جُنْدَبٍ سَمِعْتُ مَنْ رَوَاهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنَّهُ سُئِلَ عَنْ رَجُلٍ جَعَلَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ نَذْراً صَوْماً فَحَضَرَتْهُ نِيَّتُهُ فِي زِيَارَةِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ يَخْرُجُ وَلا يَصُومُ فِي الطَّرِيقِ فَإِذَا رَجَعَ قَضَى ذَلِكَ.
16. Through the same chain of narrators as that of the previous Hadith, the following is narrated from ‘Abd Allah ibn Jundab who has narrated the following: “’Abbad ibn Maymun asked (abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.)) when I was present, about the case of a man who made a vow and commitment to fast and wanted to leave for Makkah. ‘Abd Allah ibn Jundab said, ‘I heard the one who narrated from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), who was asked about a man who made a vow and commitment to fast. He became aware of his intention during his visiting abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), who said, ‘He can leave without fasting on the way and on his return arrange for Qada’ (compensatory fasting).”’
17- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ جَمِيلِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنَّهُ قَالَ كُلُّ مَنْ عَجَزَ عَنْ نَذْرٍ نَذَرَهُ فَكَفَّارَتُهُ كَفَّارَةُ يَمِينٍ.
17. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn Mahbub from Jamil ibn Salih from abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.), who has narrated the following: “Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘Whoever makes a vow and commitment to fast and then fails to do so, the expiation on him is like the Kaffarah (expiation) for an oath.’”
18- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنِ السِّنْدِيِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ الْجَمَّالِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَأُمِّي إِنِّي جَعَلْتُ عَلَى نَفْسِي مَشْياً إِلَى بَيْتِ اللهِ قَالَ كَفِّرْ يَمِينَكَ فَإِنَّمَا جَعَلْتَ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ يَمِيناً وَمَا جَعَلْتَهُ للهِ فَفِ بِهِ.
18. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Sindiy ibn Muhammad from Safwan al-Jammal who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, I have made a vow and commitment to walk to the House of Allah. He (the Imam) said, ‘You must pay expiation for your oath, because you have made it on yourself and you have not made for Allah; you must then fulfill.’”
19- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ رِفَاعَةَ وَحَفْصٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ رَجُلٍ نَذَرَ أَنْ يَمْشِيَ إِلَى بَيْتِ اللهِ حَافِياً قَالَ فَلْيَمْشِ فَإِذَا تَعِبَ فَلْيَرْكَبْ.
19. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘ Umayr from Rif‘ah and Hafs who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who makes a vow and commitment to walk to the House of Allah barefoot. He (the Imam) said, ‘He must walk and if he becomes tired, he can ride.’”
20- أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنِ الْعَلاءِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ [عَنْ أَحَدِهِمَا ع] قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ جَعَلَ عَلَيْهِ مَشْياً إِلَى بَيْتِ اللهِ وَلَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ قَالَ يَحُجُّ رَاكِباً.
20. Abu Ali al-Ash‘ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan ibn Yahya from al-‘Ala’ from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has narrated the following: “I once asked one of the two Imam, (abu Ja‘far or abu ‘Abd Allah), ‘Alayhim al-Salam, about the case of a man who has made a vow and commitment to walk to the House of Allah but cannot do so. He (the Imam) said, ‘He can perform al-Hajj and ride.’”
21- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنْ حَرِيزٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ رَجُلٍ جَعَلَ عَلَيْهِ الْمَشْيَ إِلَى بَيْتِ اللهِ فَلَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ قَالَ فَلْيَحُجَّ رَاكِباً.
21. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad from Hariz from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the case of a man who makes a vow and commitment to walk to the House of Allah but cannot do so. He (the Imam) said, ‘He must perform al-Hajj riding.’”
22- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ هَارُونَ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ مَسْعَدَةَ بْنِ صَدَقَةَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَسُئِلَ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَحْلِفُ بِالنَّذْرِ وَنِيَّتُهُ فِي يَمِينِهِ الَّتِي حَلَفَ عَلَيْهَا دِرْهَمٌ أَوْ أَقَلُّ قَالَ إِذَا لَمْ يَجْعَلْ للهِ فَلَيْسَ بِشَيْءٍ.
22. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Harun ibn Muslim from Mas’adah ibn Sadaqah who has narrated the following: “I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, when he (the Imam) was asked about the case of a man who took an oath to make a vow and commitment and his intention in his oath is about one dirham or less. He (the Imam) said, ‘If he has not made it for Allah, then it does not have any valid effect.’”
23- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى الْخَثْعَمِيِّ قَالَ كُنَّا عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) جَمَاعَةً إِذْ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ مِنْ مَوَالِي أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ جَلَسَ وَبَكَى ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ أَعْطَيْتُ اللهَ عَهْداً إِنْ عَافَانِيَ اللهُ مِنْ شَيْءٍ كُنْتُ أَخَافُهُ عَلَى نَفْسِي أَنْ أَتَصَدَّقَ بِجَمِيعِ مَا أَمْلِكُ وَإِنَّ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَافَانِي مِنْهُ وَقَدْ حَوَّلْتُ عِيَالِي مِنْ مَنْزِلِي إِلَى قُبَّةٍ مِنْ خَرَابِ الأنْصَارِ وَقَدْ حَمَلْتُ كُلَّ مَا أَمْلِكُ فَأَنَا بَائِعٌ دَارِي وَجَمِيعَ مَا أَمْلِكُ فَأَتَصَدَّقُ بِهِ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) انْطَلِقْ وَقَوِّمْ مَنْزِلَكَ وَجَمِيعَ مَتَاعِكَ وَمَا تَمْلِكُ بِقِيمَةٍ عَادِلَةٍ وَاعْرِفْ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ اعْمِدْ إِلَى صَحِيفَةٍ بَيْضَاءَ فَاكْتُبْ فِيهَا جُمْلَةَ مَا قَوَّمْتَ ثُمَّ انْظُرْ إِلَى أَوْثَقِ النَّاسِ فِي نَفْسِكَ فَادْفَعْ إِلَيْهِ الصَّحِيفَةَ وَأَوْصِهِ وَمُرْهُ إِنْ حَدَثَ بِكَ حَدَثُ الْمَوْتِ أَنْ يَبِيعَ مَنْزِلَكَ وَجَمِيعَ مَا تَمْلِكُ فَيَتَصَدَّقَ بِهِ عَنْكَ ثُمَّ ارْجِعْ إِلَى مَنْزِلِكَ وَقُمْ فِي مَالِكَ عَلَى مَا كُنْتَ فِيهِ فَكُلْ أَنْتَ وَعِيَالُكَ مِثْلَ مَا كُنْتَ تَأْكُلُ ثُمَّ انْظُرْ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ تَصَدَّقُ بِهِ فِيمَا تَسْتَقْبِلُ مِنْ صَدَقَةٍ أَوْ صِلَةِ قَرَابَةٍ أَوْ فِي وُجُوهِ الْبِرِّ فَاكْتُبْ ذَلِكَ كُلَّهُ وَأَحْصِهِ فَإِذَا كَانَ رَأْسُ السَّنَةِ فَانْطَلِقْ إِلَى الرَّجُلِ الَّذِي أَوْصَيْتَ إِلَيْهِ فَمُرْهُ أَنْ يُخْرِجَ إِلَيْكَ الصَّحِيفَةَ ثُمَّ اكْتُبْ فِيهَا جُمْلَةَ مَا تَصَدَّقْتَ وَأَخْرَجْتَ مِنْ صِلَةِ قَرَابَةٍ أَوْ بِرٍّ فِي تِلْكَ السَّنَةِ ثُمَّ افْعَلْ ذَلِكَ فِي كُلِّ سَنَةٍ حَتَّى تَفِيَ للهِ بِجَمِيعِ مَا نَذَرْتَ فِيهِ وَيَبْقَى لَكَ مَنْزِلُكَ وَمَالُكَ إِنْ شَاءَ اللهُ قَالَ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ فَرَّجْتَ عَنِّي يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللهِ جَعَلَنِيَ اللهُ فِدَاكَ.
23. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn Mahbub from Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Khath‘amiy who has narrated the following: “Once we were with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), in a group when a man came who was of the Mawali of abu Ja‘far (a.s.). He offered Salam (the phrase of offering greeting of peace), sat down, wept and said, I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause. I made a covenant with Allah that if He gives me recovery from my illness because of which I was afraid for my life, to give in charity all of my belongings and Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, granted me recovery from the illness. I have moved my family from my house to a ruined dome of al-Ansar (people of al- Madinah). I have carried all of my belongings and I am selling my house and all that I own to give them in charity.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said, ‘Go and appraise your house, all of your assets and belongings for a fair price and make it certain. Thereafter find a white sheet and write on it all that you have appraised, then find the most trustworthy person known to you among people arround you, then give the sheet to him and make a will. Instruct him that if something happened to you (death), to sell your house and all that belongs to you and give in charity on your behalf. Thereafter move back to your house to live as before with your family and maintain your family as before, but make a list of what you spend and pay as charity, or gifts to relatives or for good causes, write them down all and calculate them. At the end of the year go to the executor of the will you have made and instruct him to deduct from the total on the list what you have spent as such for charity as mentioned in that year. Thereafter, every year you must do the same things until you fulfill all of what you had committed to do for Allah in the form of vow and commitment. In this way your house will remain for you as well as your other assets, if Allah so wills.’ The man then said, ‘You have released me from my entanglement, O child of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause.’”
24- عَلِيٌّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ رِئَابٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ إِنَّ أُمِّي كَانَتْ جَعَلَتْ عَلَيْهَا نَذْراً نَذَرَتْ للهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِي بَعْضِ وُلْدِهَا فِي شَيْءٍ كَانَتْ تَخَافُهُ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ تَصُومَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ الَّذِي تَقَدَّمَ فِيهِ عَلَيْهَا مَا بَقِيَتْ فَخَرَجَتْ مَعَنَا إِلَى مَكَّةَ فَأَشْكَلَ عَلَيْنَا صِيَامُهَا فِي السَّفَرِ فَلَمْ تَدْرِ تَصُومُ أَوْ تُفْطِرُ فَسَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ لا تَصُومُ فِي السَّفَرِ إِنَّ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قَدْ وَضَعَ عَنْهَا حَقَّهُ فِي السَّفَرِ وَتَصُومُ هِيَ مَا جَعَلَتْ عَلَى نَفْسِهَا فَقُلْتُ لَهُ فَمَا ذَا إِذَا قَدِمَتْ إِنْ تَرَكَتْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ لا إِنِّي أَخَافُ أَنْ تَرَى فِي وَلَدِهَا الَّذِي نَذَرَتْ فِيهِ بَعْضَ مَا تَكْرَهُ.
24. Ali has narrated from his father from ibn Mahbub from ibn Ri’ab from Zurarah who has narrated the following: “My mother had made a vow and commitment. She had made a commitment for Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, about one of her children because of fear of something for him. She said that from that day on, she will fast all the time as long as she lives. She came out with us to Makkah, her fasting on the journey made us face questions, and she did not know if she must fast or not. I asked abu Ja’far (a.s.), about it and he (the Imam) said, ‘She must not fast on a journey. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has exempted her from His right during a journey; but she must fast otherwise for what she has committed herself to.’ I then asked, ‘What happens if she ignores her commitment? He (the Imam) said, ‘No, I fear that she may experience in her child that which made her to form such commitment.’”
25- عَنْهُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ رِئَابٍ عَنْ مِسْمَعٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) كَانَتْ لِي جَارِيَةٌ حُبْلَى فَنَذَرْتُ للهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِنْ وَلَدَتْ غُلاماً أَنْ أُحِجَّهُ أَوْ أَحُجَّ عَنْهُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ رَجُلا نَذَرَ للهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِي ابْنٍ لَهُ إِنْ هُوَ أَدْرَكَ أَنْ يَحُجَّ عَنْهُ أَوْ يُحِجَّهُ فَمَاتَ الأبُ وَأَدْرَكَ الْغُلامُ بَعْدُ فَأَتَى رَسُولَ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) الْغُلامُ فَسَأَلَهُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَأَمَرَ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) أَنْ يُحَجَّ عَنْهُ مِمَّا تَرَكَ أَبُوهُ.
25. It is narrated from the narrator of the previous Hadith from ibn Mahbub from ibn Ri’ab from Misma‘ who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of my girl who was pregnant and I made a vow and commitment for Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, that if she gives birth to a boy, I will help him to perform al-Hajj or I will perform al-Hajj on his behalf. He (the Imam) said, ‘A man made a vow and commitment for Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, about his son that if he matures he will perform al-Hajj for him or help him to perform al-Hajj. The father died and the boy became mature thereafter and came to the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, who commanded him to perform al-Hajj by means of what his father has left behind.’”
