Chapter 28(a) - The Case of Gift to a Creditor

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once a man came to Ali (a.s.), and said, ‘Someone who owes to me a certain amount of debts has sent me a gift.’ He (the Imam) Alayhi al- Salam, said, ‘Count it as part of payment for what he owes you.’”

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, ‘I have given a certain amount of assets to my brother Ja’far and he gives me what I pay for my expenses, for performing al-Hajj and giving charity. I asked certain people for both of us and they mentioned that it is invalid and unlawful. I like to take your words as the final ones.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘Did he give you such things before you gave him the assets you just mentioned?’ I replied, ‘Yes, he did so.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘You can take what he gives you, use it for food, drink, al-Hajj and charity, and when you go back to Iraq tell him that Ja’far ibn Muhammad has given me this fatwa.’”

“I once asked abu al-Hassan, Alayhi al-Salam, about the case of a man who is a debtor and pays a certain amount out of his profit to his creditor for fear of the creditor’s demand for payment, but there is no such condition between them. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful as long as it is not a condition.’”