Al-Kafi · Hadith 13

The Book of Prayer · Performing Optional Salah (Prayer) before or after, Compensatory prayer for them and Salah (prayer) of al-Duha’ · Volume 3, book 4, chapter 85, Hadith 13

Original Arabic text

13ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ سِنَانٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) رَجُلٌ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ صَلاَةِ النَّوَافِلِ مَا لاَ يَدْرِي مَا هُوَ مِنْ كَثْرَتِهِ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ قَالَ فَلْيُصَلِّ حَتَّى لاَ يَدْرِيَ كَمْ صَلَّى مِنْ كَثْرَتِهِ فَيَكُونَ قَدْ قَضَى بِقَدْرِ عِلْمِهِ قُلْتُ فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَقْدِرُ عَلَى الْقَضَاءِ مِنْ كَثْرَةِ شُغُلِهِ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ شُغُلُهُ فِي طَلَبِ مَعِيشَةٍ لاَ بُدَّ مِنْهَا أَوْ حَاجَةٍ لأَخٍ مُؤْمِنٍ فَلاَ شَيْ‏ءَ عَلَيْهِ وَإِنْ كَانَ شُغُلُهُ لِدُنْيَا تَشَاغَلَ بِهَا عَنِ الصَّلاَةِ فَعَلَيْهِ الْقَضَاءُ وَإِلاَّ لَقِيَ الله مُسْتَخِفّاً مُتَهَاوِناً مُضَيِّعاً لِسُنَّةِ رَسُولِ الله (صلّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) قُلْتُ فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَقْدِرُ عَلَى الْقَضَاءِ فَهَلْ يَصْلُحُ لَهُ أَنْ يَتَصَدَّقَ فَسَكَتَ مَلِيّاً ثُمَّ قَالَ نَعَمْ فَلْيَتَصَدَّقْ بِصَدَقَةٍ قُلْتُ وَمَا يَتَصَدَّقُ فَقَالَ بِقَدْرِ طَوْلِهِ وَأَدْنَى ذَلِكَ مُدٌّ لِكُلِّ مِسْكِينٍ مَكَانَ كُلِّ صَلاَةٍ قُلْتُ وَكَمِ الصَّلاَةُ الَّتِي تَجِبُ عَلَيْهِ فِيهَا مُدٌّ لِكُلِّ مِسْكِينٍ فَقَالَ لِكُلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ مِنْ صَلاَةِ اللَّيْلِ وَكُلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ مِنْ صَلاَةِ النَّهَارِ فَقُلْتُ لاَ يَقْدِرُ فَقَالَ مُدٌّ لِكُلِّ أَرْبَعِ رَكَعَاتٍ فَقُلْتُ لاَ يَقْدِرُ فَقَالَ مُدٌّ لِكُلِّ صَلاَةِ اللَّيْلِ وَمُدٌّ لِصَلاَةِ النَّهَارِ وَالصَّلاَةُ أَفْضَلُ وَالصَّلاَةُ أَفْضَلُ.

Published English translation

13. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthman from Ali ibn ’Abd Allah from ’Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man on whom there is Qada’ (compensatory prayer for) optional Salah (prayer), so much that he does not know how many because of its great number. What is he required to do?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘He performs so many that cannot say how many is performed. In this way he has performed Qada’ (compensatory prayer for) what is missed according to his knowledge.’ I then said, ‘He is not able to perform all the Qada’ (compensatory prayer for) what is missed because of his business.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If his business is for his living which is necessary or it is for the needs of his brother in belief, then he is not obligated for anything in this matter. If his business is for the worldly matters which keeps him away from his Salah (prayer), then it is necessary for him to perform the Qada’ (compensatory prayer), otherwise, he will meet Allah as one considered neglectful, humiliated and destroying the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah.’ I then said, ‘He is not able to perform the Qada’ (compensatory prayer). Can he pay charity?’ He (the Imam) remained quiet for a while then said, ‘Yes, he can give charity.’ I then asked, ‘How much charity he must pay?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘As much as he can afford. The minimum is one handful of food to a destitute for every Salah (prayer).’ I then asked, ‘For how many Salah (prayer) one handful of food to a destitute is sufficient?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is for every two Rak‘at of nightly Salah (prayer) and every two Rak‘at of Salah (prayer) during the day.’ I then said, ‘He is not able to do so.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is one handful for four Rak‘at.’ I said, ‘He cannot give that much.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is one handful for Salah (prayer) of every night and one handful for Salah (prayer) of every day but Salah (prayer) is better, Salah (prayer) is better.’”

Narrator and transmission

See the transmission information preserved in the original source text.

Attributed scholarly assessments

Allamah Baqir al-Majlisi: مجهول

Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (5/420)

Assessment transcribed from the source's named scholar and reference. No new grading or consensus is asserted; differing entries remain separate.

Shaykh Baqir al-Behbudi: Catalogue non-inclusion note (not an authenticity grade)

Ṣaḥīḥ al-Kāfī

Source records non-inclusion in this scholar's selection; this is not itself a weak or authentic grade.

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