Chapter 12 - On Exchanging Gifts

Imam Reza (a.s) said: “The disciples of Jesus asked him to instruct them about the hardest thing. He said: The hardest thing of all is God's wrath.” They asked how one could be saved from God's wrath.” He said: “Do not get angry.” They asked: “What is the roof of anger?” He said: “Haughtiness, selfishness and belittling the people.”

“It is part of a man's nobility to accept his Muslim brother's gifts, and give him a gift from what he has, and not cause himself any difficulty for this matter.”

God's Prophet (a.s) said: “I do not like those who put themselves in difficulty.”

Imam Baqir (a.s) said: “The Prophet of God (a.s) accepted gifts, but did not accept charity, and said: Give gifts to each other since this will eliminate hard feelings and remove any bad feelings and left over animosities.”

“The Prophet of God (a.s) liked gifts and considered them to be good and allowed. He took gifts and gave equal gifts in return.”

Ibrahim al-Karkhi talked to Imam Sadiq (a.s) about a man who owned a large farm and said: “People bring him gifts on the first day of fall and spring, and try to get close to him. He accepts their gifts even though he does not know them.” The Imam asked: “Are there any who pray among those who bring him gifts?” Ibrahim said: “Yes there are.” The Imam (a.s) said: “Then he should accept their gifts and be kind to them. God's Prophet (a.s) said he will even accept a leg of lamb as a gift since accepting gifts is a part of religion. But if a hypocrite or an infidel gives me a date I will not accept it since this is also one of the principles of our religion, and God has not allowed me to accept the gifts or the food of the hypocrites and the infidels.”

“A man's companions share the gifts that he receives.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “There are three kinds of gifts: gifts in return for gifts, gifts for making up and gifts for God.”

“Whenever you like one of your Muslim brothers, you should ask his name, his father's name, his family name, and his tribe and nation. This is necessary and true brotherhood demands these questions to be asked, otherwise this kind of knowing each other is foolish.”

Imam Kazim (a.s) said: “Do not let the existing decency between you and your religious brother be removed since it will result in the loss of your honor.”

Imam Reza (a.s) said: “Call men by their family names in their presence, and their names in their absence.”