The Rare Ahadith

“Ja’far ibn Muhammad, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, has said, ‘The valleys of al-Haram (the sacred area) flow into non-sacred valleys but non-sacred valleys do not flow into al-Haram (the sacred area).’”

“Once I was in the presence of abu Ja‘far (a.s.), in a place in Masjid al-Haram (the Sacred Masjid) and a certain people were saying Talbiyah (here I am, O Lord, to obey Your command) while going around al-Ka‘bah. He (the Imam) said, ‘Do you see them saying Talbiyah (here I am, O Lord, to obey Your command). By Allah, their voice is more disappointing to Allah than the voice of donkeys.”’

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, about a man who says Talbiyah for al-Hajj or al-‘Umrah but does not want to perform al-Hajj. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not valid and it is not proper for him to do so.’”

“About those who are for Mufrad al-Hajj, abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘When they arrive in Makkah and perform Tawaf around the House, they come out of the state of Ihram. When they say Talbiyah they assume the state of Ihram, they continue coming out of the state of Ihram and say Talbiyah to assume the state of Ihram until they go out to Mina’ without al-Hajj or al-‘Umrah.’” (Fatwa explains Hadith 3-4 )

“Isma‘il ibn Ali (appointed leader for pilgrim) performed al-Hajj in the year 140 Hijriy. Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, fell off his transporting mule and Isma‘il ibn Ali stopped to care for him. Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, said, ‘Move along with people; the (Imam) leader must not stop.’”

“I once asked him (the Imam), Alayhi al-Salam, about a man who stays in Mina’ after people depart. He (the Imam) said, ‘When he completes his acts (of al-Hajj) he can stay as long as he likes and leave as he likes.’

“A man in Masjid al-Haram (the Sacred Masjid) asked abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, about the greatest sin. He (the Imam) replied, ‘If one attends these two places, ‘Arafah and al-Muzdalifah, performs Sa‘y between these two hills, performs Tawaf around this House, performs salat (prayer) behind Maqam of Ibrahim (a.s.) then says to himself or thinks that Allah does not forgive his sins, he has, of all people, sinned the most.’”

“We once were in the presence of abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), and people mentioned water on the way to Makkah and that it is heavy. He (the Imam) said, ‘Water is not heavy unless there is just the camel and there is nothing on it except water.’”

“One of the two Imam, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, has said, ‘If one performs al-Hajj during three consecutive years, he is considered as often performing al-Hajj. It is narrated that often performing al-Hajj is one who on finding the opportunity to perform al-Hajj performs it just as an alcoholic person drinks it whenever he finds.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that if one rides a means of transportation for al-Hajj, he should make his will.”

“Quraysh would stain the idols around the Ka‘bah with musk and al-‘Anbar. Yaghuth was in front of the door. Ya‘uq was on the right side of the Ka‘bah. Nasr was on its left side. When entering, they would bow down in prostration before Yaghuth and would not go away, but turn around nearby to Ya‘uq, then turn around nearby to Nasr, then say, ‘Here I am, O Lord, to obey Your command, you have no partner except a partner who is Your partner whom You own and whatever he owns.’ He (the Imam) said that Allah then sent a green fly with four wings. It finished all the musk and al- ‘Amber. Allah, the most Blessed, the most High, revealed this, ‘O people, He has given an example. Listen to it. Those whom you worship besides Allah cannot create a fly even if they all come together for this task. If a fly takes away something from them, they are not able to take it back from the fly. Both the seeker and the ones sought are so weak.’” (22: 37)

“This is a Hadith of Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.). He (the Imam) said, ‘Residents of Makkah must not be appointed as waliy (the person in charge of the affairs of the pilgrims) of the people performing al-Hajj.’”

“Ja‘far (a.s.), has narrated from his ancestors who have said that Ali (a.s.), disliked performing al-Hajj or al-‘Umrah on a camel that ate feces.’” (Fatwa best explains Hadith 12-13 of this Chapter)

“I once wrote to him (in a muzmar manner) (a.s.), and asked about a person who dies in ‘Arafat. Should he be buried in ‘Arafat or moved to al-Haram (the sacred area) and which one is more proper?’ He wrote back, ‘Moving to al-Haram (the sacred area) is more proper.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said the following about the words of Allah, glorious is whose praise, ‘They should spruce up.’ He (the Imam) said that this is about what one may have had in the state of Ihram. When he enters Makkah, he should speak proper words and this will be considered as expiation for what he has had in the state of Ihram.’”

“When al-Qa’im will rise with Divine Authority, he will return the House to its foundation, the Masjid of the messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, to its foundation and the Masjid of al-Kufa to its foundation.” Abu Basir has said, ‘Up to the place of the sellers of dates is of the area of the Masjid.’”

“I once heard him (the Imam) (a.s.), say, ‘One who leaves one of the two al-Haram (the Sacred places) when the day is high before performing Salat (prayer) of al-Zuhr and al-‘Asr a caller will call from behind him, ‘May Allah not accompany you.’”

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about a man who donates his slave-girl to al-Ka‘bah and about how should he deal with it. He (the Imam) said, ‘Once a man came to my father who had donated his slave-girl to al-Ka‘bah. He (the Imam) told him to find the value of the slave or sell her; then announce near the Black Stone and say, “Those who are short in their expenses, being looted on the way or who have depleted their supplies, can come to so and so.” Instruct him to distribute it on the basis of first come first served until the entire fund is distributed.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a woman who gives birth on the day of ‘Arafah, if she is required to perform Tawaf for the child and what she should do. He (the Imam) said, ‘He (the newborn) is not obligated for anything in this matter.’”

“I once said to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, I had a healthy sheep for offering as a sacrifice. When I placed it on the ground to slaughter, it looked at me and it moved me emotionally but I slaughtered it.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘I would not have liked for you to do that. Do not bring up something like that to slaughter afterwards.’”

“I once went to see abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.). A man owed me a certain amount of money and I was afraid of losing it. I complained before him about it. He said, ‘When you go to Makkah you should perform Tawaf on behalf of ‘Abd al-Muttalib, then you should perform two Rak‘at salat (prayer), and then perform Tawaf on behalf of abu Talib and two Rak‘at salat (prayer). You then should perform Tawaf on behalf of ‘Abd Allah, then two Rak‘at salat (prayer), perform Tawaf on behalf of Aminah, then two Rak‘at salat (prayer), perform Tawaf on behalf of Fatimah bint Asad, then two Rak‘at salat (prayer). Then pray for the return of your money.’ He (the narrator) has said, ‘I followed the instruction. Then I was leaving through the door of al-Safa’ and I saw my borrower standing, who said, ‘O Dawud, you kept me here for so long. Come and get your money.’”

“Once we were in Makkah and animal for offering became very expensive. We bought for one dinar then, two dinar and then we could not find anything for less or more. Hisham al-Mukariy then wrote a note to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), and informed him (the Imam) of what we had bought and then could not find anything for less or more. He (the Imam) then wrote, ‘Consider the first, second and third prices, then give in charity one-third of the average of such prices.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who performs al-Hajj for another person and he commits during performing al-Hajj something which obliges him to perform al-Hajj again in future or owes expiation. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is complete for the first one but he owes for whatever he has committed.’”

“Abu al-Hassan, has narrated from abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, who has said that once a man came to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), and said, ‘I have donated a slave-girl to al-Ka‘bah and I have received five hundred dinar; how do you consider it? He (the Imam) said, ‘Sell her and take the funds from her sale. Stand up near the Black Stone and call those of Hajj who are looted on the way or are needy and distribute it among them.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ‘One who enters it is safe.’ (3:97) He (the Imam) said, ‘You have asked me about something about which no one has asked except those whom Allah wanted to ask. Whoever decides to visit this House and knows that this is the House, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has commanded to visit and knows and acknowledges the rights of Ahl al-Bayt properly, he is safe in this life and in the next life.’”

“I once said to abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘When we arrived in Makkah, our people went for Tawaf and left me to look after their belongings . 5 He (the Imam) said, ‘Your reward is the greatest among them.’”

“I accompanied Muhammad ibn Musadif and when we arrived in al-Madinah, I became ill. He would go to the Masjid and leave me alone. I complained about it before Musadif and he informed abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about it. He (the Imam) sent him the answer, ‘Your sitting with him is better than your performing salat (prayer) in the Masjid. ‘“

I entered the Ka'ba with my father, and so he prayed on the red marble between the two pillars and said: It was in this place that the people agreed that if the Messenger of Allah (s) were to die or be killed, then the matter (i.e. rulership) would never be given to someone from his Ahl al-Bayt. He (al-Harith) said: I said: And who were they [that agreed upon this]? He said: They were the first, the second, Abu Ubaydah b. al-Jarrah and Salim b. al-Habibah. [Translation not by Muhammad Sarwar]

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu 5 minin was asked about ‘Isaf and Na’ilah, which Quraysh worshipped. He (the Imam) said, ‘They were two fair looking young persons and one of them had feminine signs. They were performing Tawaf around the House. It happened that there was no one in the House. One of them acted indecently toward the other and they both changed in a metamorphosis process. Quraysh then said, ‘Had it not been for Allah’s happiness that people worship them along with Him, He would not cause metamorphosis process to change them as such . ‘“

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, in response to abu Hanifah who said to the Imam, ‘Your bargaining so stringently to buy a badanah yesterday in ‘Arafat had astonished people about you . 5 Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said, ‘It is because Allah does not become happy if I suffer loss in my belongings . 5 Abu Hanifah then said, ‘It is true, by Allah, He is not happy with such a thing, be it a small or large amount. However, we never bring before you anything but that you come up with something which leaves no channel of escape for us . ‘“

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that it is not advisable to sit in front of al-Ka‘bah in an Ihtibah positions (holding one’s knees against one’s belly by forming a ring around them with one’s arms or a piece of cloth).”

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Al-Ka‘bah complained before Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, against the bad breath of the pagans. Allah sent a revelation that said, ‘Calm down. I will replace them with a people who will use twigs for cleaning up their mouths. 5 Allah then raised Muhammad (SAW), and Jibril brought him revelation that instructed him to brush and clean up his mouth.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘We may happen to be in Makkah or al-Madinah or al-Hirah, or in such places where there is hope that there is a degree of excellence for being there. If one goes out for Wudu’, can, in such case, another person come and occupy his place?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If one finds a place he is more deserving of it for a day and night than others.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ‘If one removes something causing hardships to people on the way to Makkah, Allah writes down for him one good deed and one for whom a good deed is written, he is not subjected to punishment.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that a servant of Allah is considered as performing Tawaf as long as his head seems just shaven.”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that during al-Hajj season Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, sends angels in the form of people to buy the goods of the pilgrims and merchants.” I then asked, ‘What do they do with them?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘They throw them in the sea.’”

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘The day of al-Adha’ can coincide with a day for fasting, and al-‘Ashura’ with a day which is not for fasting.’” (Please consult Fatwa about Hadith 37 of this Chapter)