حماد بن عيسى

“The angel does not write down except that which he hears. Allah, to Whom belong might and majesty, said: Remember your Lord inwardly, in humility and awe… (Q7:205). Indeed, no one knows the reward of that remembrance within the heart of a servant other than Allah, the Exalted.”

“Once, when the Messenger of Allah (ṣ) was with [his wife] ʿĀʾishah, a man sought permission to see him. So the Messenger of Allah (ṣ) said, ‘What a bad brother of the tribe [he is]!’ ʿĀʾishah stood up and entered the inner chamber, and the Prophet (ṣ) allowed the man to enter. As he came in, the Prophet (ṣ) went to meet him and he spoke to him until he had said what he came to say and left. So ʿĀʾishah said to him, ‘O Messenger of Allah, you mentioned him in that way, yet you still welcomed him with a smile on your face?’ So he said to her, ‘Verily among the worst servants of Allah is one whose company is disliked because of his foul-mouthedness.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that if it becomes difficult for one of you, you should inform your brother (in belief) while you are unable to help yourself.”

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Islam is founded on five isssues. It is founded on Salat (prayer), zakat, al-Hajj, Fasting and al-Wilayat (belief in Divine Authority of ’A’immah). The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Fasting is a shield against the fire of hell.”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If they can see the crescent before Zawal (declining of the sun toward the west at noontime), then it is of the last night but if they see it after Zawal, then it is of the coming night.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If the crescent disappears before al-Shafaq (redness) it is of the first night, but if disappears after al-Shafaq it is of the second night.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) was asked about fasting while one is at home. He answered, ‘It is three days every month. They are a Thursday of one week, Wednesday of one week and Thursday of another week.’ And he said: Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) has said, “Fasting for a month is patience. Three days of fasting of every month removes temptation. Fasting of three days of every month is (like) fasting all the time. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, says, ‘One who does a good deed receives tenfold reward.’ (6:160)’”

“Someone asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about fasting on Wednesday. The Imam said, ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said, “Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, created hellfire on Wednesday; for this reason there is fasting to seek refuge thereby from the fire.’””

“I asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about breakfast before dawn, in the case of one who likes to fast whether it is obligatory or not. The Imam replied, ‘It is fine if one likes not to have breakfast before dawn. However, in the month of Ramadan, it is better. We love not to ignore it in the month of Ramadan.”’

He is required to complete that fast then make Qada’ (compensatory fast) for it; however if such breakfast is in a time other than the month of Ramadan and after dawn one must not fast.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Once during the night my father was performing Salat (prayer) and I was eating Suhur (breakfast in the morning before dawn). He ended and said, ‘Ja’far has eaten and drunk after dawn.’ So he commanded me and I did not fast that day which was not of the month of Ramadan.”’

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about breaking fast if it is before or after Salat (prayer). He (the Imam) said, ‘If he (the Imam) is afraid of keeping them from their dinner, first it is breaking fast with them; otherwise, first is Salat (prayer), then it is breaking the fast.’”

“I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who touches a woman if it destroys his fast or reduces. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is undesirable for a young man for fear from semen discharge.”’

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A man fasting can stay in water but cannot immerse his head in it.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘One fasting or while in the state of Ihram must not immerse his head in water.’”

If his wudu’ (ablution) is for an obligatory Salat (prayer) there is not anything on him, but if it is for an optional Salat (prayer); he is required to make its Qada’ (compensatory fast).”’

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who rinses his mouth and nostril when he is fasting. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, he can do so but he must not swallow it.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘Can a fasting man apply oil to his ears?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about a fasting man who brushes his teeth with water. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.‘ He added: ‘One must not brush with a wet twig.’”

“I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who chews chewing gum when fasting. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, he cannot do so.’”

It is not harmful.’” He (the narrator) has said that he asked him (the Imam) about a fasting woman who has a child and she chews the bread to feed him. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful. So also is the case of a bird that belongs to her.’”