The Case of Items Donated to al-Ka‘bah

“I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.), say, ‘A people were coming from Egypt, and on the way one of them died, who had said in his will to donate one thousand dirham to al-Ka‘bah. The executor of the will, on his arrival in Makkah, asked and he was directed to banu Shaybah. He went and informed them about the donation. They said, ‘You have freed yourself of the responsibility: you can give it to us.’ The man (executor of will) stayed and asked people who directed him to abu Ja‘far, Muhammad ibn Ali (a.s.). Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘He came to me and asked about the donation. I said, ‘Al-Ka‘bah does not need it. Look for the visitors of this House who may have lost their supplies, their animals for transportation, or are not able to return home, and give it to such people whom I mentioned to you.’ The man then went to banu Shaybah and informed them of the words of abu Ja’far (a.s.). They said, ‘He is lost, a heretic and knowledge (religious) is not acquired from him. He does not have any knowledge. We ask you through this House and through so and so to convey our words to him.’ He (the man) has said I then went to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), and said, ‘I went to banu Shaybah and informed them, but they think that you are such and such person and that you do not have any religious knowledge. They then asked me on oath by the great One to inform you of their words.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘I ask you to do when you go back to them what they had asked you to do. Say to them from me, ‘Of my knowledge, were I the person in charge of the affairs of the Muslim, is that I would cut off their hands. I then would hang them by the curtains of al- Ka‘bah, make them stand on stools and command the announcer to announce, ‘These are thieves who steal from Allah, so you must take notice of this fact.’”

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about a man who has made his slave-girl a gift to al- Ka‘bah. What should he do? He (the Imam) said, ‘Once a man who had made his slave-girl a gift to al- Ka‘bah, came to my father (a.s.). He (the Imam) said, ‘Evaluate the slave-girl or sell her; then ask the announcer to stand near the Black Stone and announce, “O those who are short in their expenses, looted on the way or their supplies depleted, come to so and so.” He must distribute it among them on the basis of first come first served until the amount is distributed.’”

“Once, a man came to abu Ja’far (a.s.), saying, ‘I have given a slave-girl as a gift to al- Ka‘bah and I had paid for her five hundred. What is your instruction? He (the Imam) said, ‘Sell the slave-girl, and with whatever amount you will receive from the sale go to the wall near the Black Stone, make an announcement and give to those looted on the way and to every needy of the people performing Hajj.’”

“My brother in his will made a beautiful singer slave-girl a gift to the Bayt of Allah al-Haram (the Sacred House of Allah). I then went to Makkah and asked about it. I was told to give her to banu Shaybah. In addition, other things were said to me. It became confusing to me. One man from the Masjid asked me, ‘Can I show someone who can instruct you in this matter of rights?’ I replied, ‘Yes, please do so.’ He showed me a shaykh who was sitting in the Masjid and said, ‘This is Ja’far ibn Muhammad (a.s.). Ask him your question.’ I then went to him (the Imam), asked my question and explained to him the story. He (the Imam) said, ‘Al-Ka‘bah does not eat and drink, so whatever is given as gift to al-Ka‘bah is for those who visit al-Ka‘bah. Sell the slave-girl, stand up near the Black Stone and announce, “Those looted on the way and any needy of the visitors of al- Ka‘bah (can come to me).” Distribute the amount among them.’ I then said, ‘Certain people have told me to give it to banu Shaybah.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘When it is the rise of our al-Qa’im with divine authority, he will arrest them, cutoff their hands and make them walk (among people); they are thieves who steal from Allah.’”

“Once, a woman gave to me a certain amount of yarn as gift to al-Ka‘bah to be used in stitching its covering. I disliked giving it to the caretakers because I knew them. When I arrived in al-Madinah I went to visit abu Ja‘far (a.s.). I said to him, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, a woman gave to me a certain amount of yarn as gift to al-Ka‘bah to be used in stitching its covering and I disliked giving it to the caretakers.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Buy with it saffron and honey, then take a little of the soil from the grave of abu ‘Abd Allah, al-Husayn (a.s.). Mix it with water from the sky, a certain amount of honey and saffron; then distribute it among the Shi`a so they can use it as curing medicine for their patients.’”