محمد بن علي الباقر عليه السلام

'Whoever hires himself out has restricted his sustenance. And how could he not restrict his sustenance when whatever he earns belongs to the master who hired him?'

"There is no harm in the payment for a wailing woman who mourns the deceased, and the payment for a singer who escorts brides; there is no harm in it, as long as she is not someone whom men enter upon."

"Whoever receives sustenance from Allah (swt), the Almighty and Glorious, without having walked towards it with his feet, nor extended his hand for it, nor spoken about it with his tongue, nor prepared himself for it by tightening his garments, nor exposed himself to acquire it-he is among those whom Allah (swt), the Almighty and Glorious, mentioned in His Book: 'And whoever fears Allah (swt), He will make a way out for him, and will provide for him from where he does not expect.'" (Surah At-Talaq 65:2-3)

"He (as) used to forbid eating the walnuts that children bring from gambling, and He (as) said it is unlawful (suht)."

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said that Salman, may Allah be pleased with him, has said, ‘The soul disturbs its owner when he does not have dependable sustenance; but upon reserving sustenance his soul becomes comfortable and settled.”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, once placed a piece of stone on the waterway to prevent it from flowing into his land. By Allah, until this day no human being or camel has moved it away.”

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘The worldly help in one’s quest for success in the hereafter is the best help.’”

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said that a man once visited Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), and found him sitting on a camel-load of date stones. He asked, ‘What is it on which you are sitting, O abu al-Hassan?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘It is a hundred thousand palm trees, by the will of Allah.’ He planted them and not one date stone failed sprouting.’”

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘There is not a single soul whose sustenance Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has not assigned of the lawful kind and in good health. He has disclosed the unlawful kind also but in another aspect. If the soul achieves a certain amount of the unlawful kind it is reduced from its lawful sustenance which He has assigned for him. Besides these two kinds of sustenance, there is a great deal of extra with Allah as is mentioned in the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘You must ask Allah to grant you (sustenance) from the extra with Him. . . .’ ( 3 : 37 )”

“I once asked Abu Ja’far (a.s.), about the legal status of earning by means of cupping. He (the Imam) replied, There is no offense in the earning by such means, if it is not with an established pre-condition.’”

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘Worship has seventy parts. The most excellent part in it is working to make lawful living.’”

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said that one who works to earn his sustenance in this world so he would not need to spread his hands before people for help, to better the living conditions of his family and to show kindness to his neighbors will, on the Judgment Day, go before Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, with his face as bright as the full moon.’”

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘The Messenger of Allah during his farewell Hajj said, ‘The trustworthy spirit has inspired my understanding that no soul dies before its sustenance is complete (depleted). You must maintain piety before Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, be meticulous in your work to make a living. You must not allow procrastination to make you fall behind in the work for living. You must not work in disobedience to Allah; Allah, most Blessed, most High, has divided sustenance among His creatures in a lawful way. He has not divided it in unlawful ways. One who maintains piety before Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, He provides him sustenance from the lawful kind. One who tears the covering curtain in hastiness and takes it by unlawful ways, it is reduced from his lawful sustenance and he is held accountable for it on the Day of Judgment.’”

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘A woman who is divorced three times does not deserve maintenance from her husband; it is for the one whose husband has the right to go back to her.’”

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said that Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, ‘Your hope for help from an unexpected source should be greater than an expected source. Musa (Moses) ‘Alayhi al-Salam went to find fire for his family, Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, spoke to him and he came back as a messenger prophet. Queen of Sheba’ (Saba’) went out and became a Muslim with Sulayman (Solomon). The magician went out to defend Pharaoh’s majesty then returned as believing people.’”

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Waiting period of a pregnant divorcee expires at childbirth and he must pay for her maintenance in fairness until childbirth.’”

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘A woman divorced three times does not have the right to ask for her maintenance from her husband. Such right becomes due on a husband who has the right to go back to her.’”

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘I have not left anything that can take you closer to paradise or keep you away from hellfire but that I have informed you of all such matters. You must take notice that the Holy Spirit has inspired my understanding and has told me that a soul does not die until it completes (depleting) its sustenance. You must maintain piety before Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, and work for your living meticulously. Certain delays in reaching of sustenance must not take you to find sustenance by means of disobedience to Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious; what is with Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, can be achieved only by means of obedience to Him.”

"The Messenger of Allah (swt), peace and blessings be upon him and his family, underwent cupping. A servant from the tribe of Banu Bayadah performed the cupping, and the Prophet (sw) gave him payment. If it were prohibited, he would not have given him payment. When the procedure was completed, the Messenger of Allah (swt), peace and blessings be upon him and his family, asked him: 'Where is the blood?' The servant replied: 'I drank it, O Messenger of Allah (swt).' The Prophet said: 'You should not have done that, but Allah (swt) has made it a barrier for you against the Fire.'"

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, did use cupping services. A Mawla’ (slave) of banu Bayada performed cupping service for the Messenger of Allah and paid for such services. Had it been unlawful he would not pay for it. When cupping was complete the Messenger of Allah asked, ‘Where is the blood?’ He (the slave) replied, ‘I drank it, O Messenger of Allah.’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘You should not have done so. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has made it a curtain between you and the fire but do not do it again.’”