One has to strike a balance between what is modest and where one would violate the religious laws. Some Ahadith are presented here showing there is no harm in embracing the fashion and trends of the society as long as religious values are respected and preserved.

عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ بُنْدَارَ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ مَرَّ سُفْيَانُ الثَّوْرِيُّ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ فَرَأَى أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) وَ عَلَيْهِ ثِيَابٌ كَثِيرَةُ الْقِيمَةِ حِسَانٌ فَقَالَ وَ اللَّهِ لآَتِيَنَّهُ وَ لَأُوَبِّخَنَّهُ فَدَنَا مِنْهُ فَقَالَ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ مَا لَبِسَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) مِثْلَ هَذَا اللِّبَاسِ وَ لَا عَلِيٌّ ( عليه السلام ) وَ لَا أَحَدٌ مِنْ آبَائِكَ

Ali Bin Muhammad Bin Bundar, from Ahmad Bin Abu Abdullah, from Muhammad Bin Ali, raising it, said,

‘Sufyan Al-Sowry passed by in the Sacred Masjid, so he saw Abu Abdullah^-asws and upon him^‑asws were a lot of clothes of goodly price. He said, ‘By Allah^-azwj! I will go to him^-asws and rebuke him^-asws’. Upon approaching him^-asws, he said, ‘O son^-asws of Rasool-Allah^-saww! Rasool-Allah^-saww did not wear the likes of these clothes, nor did Ali^-asws, nor did anyone (else) from your^-asws forefathers’.

فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) فِي زَمَانِ قَتْرٍ مُقْتِرٍ وَ كَانَ يَأْخُذُ لِقَتْرِهِ وَ اقْتِدَارِهِ وَ إِنَّ الدُّنْيَا بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ أَرْخَتْ عَزَالِيَهَا فَأَحَقُّ أَهْلِهَا بِهَا أَبْرَارُهَا ثُمَّ تَلَا قُلْ مَنْ حَرَّمَ زِينَةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي أَخْرَجَ لِعِبادِهِ وَ الطَّيِّباتِ مِنَ الرِّزْقِ وَ نَحْنُ أَحَقُّ مَنْ أَخَذَ مِنْهَا مَا أَعْطَاهُ اللَّهُ غَيْرَ أَنِّي يَا ثَوْرِيُّ مَا تَرَى عَلَيَّ مِنْ ثَوْبٍ إِنَّمَا أَلْبَسُهُ لِلنَّاسِ

Abu Abdullah^-asws said to him: ‘Rasool-Allah^-saww was in an era of scarcity and financial straitness, and he^-saww used to take in accordance with his^-saww straitness and his^-saww ability, and the world after that has long gone past it, thus the most deserving of its people with it are its righteous ones’. Then he^-asws recited [7:32] Say: Who has prohibited the adornments of Allah which He has Brought forth for His servants and the good provisions? And we^-asws are the most rightful of taking from it what Allah^-azwj has Granted it, besides I^-asws, O Sowry, what you see upon me^-asws from the clothes, rather I^-asws wear it for the people’.

ثُمَّ اجْتَذَبَ يَدَ سُفْيَانَ فَجَرَّهَا إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ الثَّوْبَ الْأَعْلَى وَ أَخْرَجَ ثَوْباً تَحْتَ ذَلِكَ عَلَى جِلْدِهِ غَلِيظاً فَقَالَ هَذَا أَلْبَسُهُ لِنَفْسِي وَ مَا رَأَيْتَهُ لِلنَّاسِ ثُمَّ جَذَبَ ثَوْباً عَلَى سُفْيَانَ أَعْلَاهُ غَلِيظٌ خَشِنٌ وَ دَاخِلُ ذَلِكَ ثَوْبٌ لَيِّنٌ فَقَالَ لَبِسْتَ هَذَا الْأَعْلَى لِلنَّاسِ وَ لَبِسْتَ هَذَا لِنَفْسِكَ تَسُرُّهَا.

Then he^-asws drew the hand of Sufyan, so he^-asws brought it towards himself^-asws. Then he^-asws raised his upper garment, and there was a cloth beneath that, upon his^-asws skin, which was rough. So he^-asws said: ‘This, I^-asws wear it for myself^-asws, and what you see is for the people’. Then he^-asws drew the upper clothing of Sufyan which was rough, coarse, and inside that was a smooth cloth. So, he^-asws said: ‘You wear this outer garment for the people, and you wear this for yourself, delighting in it’.^[1]

Ali Bin Muhammad Bin Bundar, from Ahmad Bin Abu Abdullah, from Muhammad Bin Ali, raising it, said,

‘Sufyan Al-Sowry passed by in the Sacred Masjid, so he saw Abu Abdullah^-asws and upon him^‑asws were a lot of clothes of goodly price. He said, ‘By Allah^-azwj! I will go to him^-asws and rebuke him^-asws’. So he approached him^-asws. He said, ‘O son^-asws of Rasool-Allah^-saww! Rasool-Allah^-saww did not wear the likes of these clothes, nor did Ali^-asws, nor did anyone (else) from your^-asws forefathers’.

Then he^-asws drew the hand of Sufyan, so he^-asws brought it towards himself^-asws. Then he^-asws raised his upper garment, and there was a cloth beneath that, upon his^-asws skin, which was rough. So he^-asws said: ‘This, I^-asws wear it for myself^-asws, and what you see is for the people’. Then he^-asws drew the upper clothing of Sufyan which was rough, coarse, and inside that was a smooth cloth. So he^-asws said: ‘You wear this outer garment for the people, and you wear this for yourself, delighting in it’.^[2]

الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْعَلَوِيُّ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ جُمْهُورٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْعَظِيمِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْعَلَوِيِّ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ الْعُرَنِيِّ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ جُمَيْعٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) عَنِ الصَّلَاةِ فِي الْمَسَاجِدِ الْمُصَوَّرَةِ فَقَالَ أَكْرَهُ ذَلِكَ وَ لَكِنْ لَا يَضُرُّكُمْ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ وَ لَوْ قَدْ قَامَ الْعَدْلُ رَأَيْتُمْ كَيْفَ يُصْنَعُ فِي ذَلِكَ .

Al Hassan Bin Ali Al Alawy, from Sahl Bin Jamhour, from Abdul Azeem Bin Abdullah Al Alawy, from Al Hassan Bin Al Husayn Al Uranny, from Amro Bin Jumi’e who said,

‘I asked Abu Ja’far^-asws about the Salāt in the Masjid with pictures. He^-asws said: ‘That is abhorred, but that would not harm you today, and if the justice had been established (Al-Qaim^-asws), you would see what would be done regarding that’.^[3]

الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْوَشَّاءِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ عَائِذٍ عَنْ أَبِي خَدِيجَةَ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ خُنَيْسٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ إِنَّ عَلِيّاً ( عليه السلام ) كَانَ عِنْدَكُمْ فَأَتَى بَنِي دِيوَانٍ وَ اشْتَرَى ثَلَاثَةَ أَثْوَابٍ بِدِينَارٍ الْقَمِيصَ إِلَى فَوْقِ الْكَعْبِ وَ الْإِزَارَ إِلَى نِصْفِ السَّاقِ وَ الرِّدَاءَ مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ إِلَى ثَدْيَيْهِ وَ مِنْ خَلْفِهِ إِلَى أَلْيَتَيْهِ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ يَدَهُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ يَحْمَدُ اللَّهَ عَلَى مَا كَسَاهُ حَتَّى دَخَلَ مَنْزِلَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ هَذَا اللِّبَاسُ الَّذِي يَنْبَغِي لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ أَنْ يَلْبَسُوهُ

Al-Husayn Bin Muhammad, from Moala Bin Muhammad, from Al Hassan Bin Ali Al Washa, from Ahmad Bin Aiz, from Abu Khadeeja, from Moala Bin Khunays,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘Ali^-asws was among you all, so he^-asws went over to the Clan of Deywan and bought three garments with one Dinar – the shirt which was up to above the heel, and the trouser up to the half of the leg, and the cloak from his^-asws front was up to his chest, and from behind him^-asws was up to his^-asws lower back. Then he^-asws raised his^-asws hands towards the sky, and he^-asws did not cease to Praise Allah^-azwj what He^-azwj has Clothed him^-asws with until he^-asws entered his^-asws house. Then he^-asws said: ‘This is the dress which is befitting for the Muslims that they should be wearing it’.

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) وَ لَكِنْ لَا يَقْدِرُونَ أَنْ يَلْبَسُوا هَذَا الْيَوْمَ وَ لَوْ فَعَلْنَاهُ لَقَالُوا مَجْنُونٌ وَ لَقَالُوا مُرَاءٍ وَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ وَ ثِيابَكَ فَطَهِّرْ قَالَ وَ ثِيَابَكَ ارْفَعْهَا وَ لَا تَجُرَّهَا وَ إِذَا قَامَ قَائِمُنَا كَانَ هَذَا اللِّبَاسَ .

Abu Abdullah^-asws said: ‘But we^-asws are not able to wear it today, and were we^-asws to do it, they would say, ‘Insane’, and they would say, ‘Show-off’, and Allah^-azwj the High is Saying And your garments do purify’ [74:4]. He^-asws said: ‘And your clothes, raise these and do not let it flow (upon the ground), and when our^-asws Qaim^-ajfj rises, this would be the clothing’.^[4]

عَلِيٌّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ رَأَيْتُ ابْناً لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) فِي حَيَاةِ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) يُقَالُ لَهُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ فَطِيمٌ قَدْ دَرَجَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَا غُلَامُ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي إِلَى جَنْبِكَ لِمَوْلًى لَهُمْ فَقَالَ هَذَا مَوْلَايَ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْمَوْلَى يُمَازِحُهُ لَسْتُ لَكَ بِمَوْلًى فَقَالَ ذَلِكَ شَرٌّ لَكَ

Ali, from his father, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Umar Bin Azina, from Zurara who said,

‘I saw a son of Abu Abdullah^-asws during the lifetime of Abu Ja’far^-asws called Abdullah Fateym having had approached, I said to him, ‘O boy! Who is that one by your side’, to a slave of theirs. He replied, ‘This is my slave’, the slave said to him, jesting with him, ‘I am not a slave of yours’. He said, ‘That is worse for you’.

فَطَعَنَ فِي جِنَازَةِ الْغُلَامِ فَمَاتَ فَأُخْرِجَ فِي سَفَطٍ إِلَى الْبَقِيعِ فَخَرَجَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) وَ عَلَيْهِ جُبَّةُ خَزٍّ صَفْرَاءُ وَ عِمَامَةُ خَزٍّ صَفْرَاءُ وَ مِطْرَفُ خَزٍّ أَصْفَرُ فَانْطَلَقَ يَمْشِي إِلَى الْبَقِيعِ وَ هُوَ مُعْتَمِدٌ عَلَيَّ وَ النَّاسُ يُعَزُّونَهُ عَلَى ابْنِ ابْنِهِ

(As a result) the boy was stabbed in a funeral and he died. They brought him out in a basket, to Al-Baqi’e (a cemetery). Abu Ja’far^-asws came out and upon him^-asws was a coat of yellow Khazz (a material), and a turban of yellow Khazz, and a shawl of yellow Khazz. He^-asws went walking to Al-Baqi’e and he^-asws was leaning upon me and the people were consoling him^-asws upon a son of his^-asws son^-asws.

فَلَمَّا انْتَهَى إِلَى الْبَقِيعِ تَقَدَّمَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) فَصَلَّى عَلَيْهِ وَ كَبَّرَ عَلَيْهِ أَرْبَعاً ثُمَّ أَمَرَ بِهِ فَدُفِنَ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِيَدِي فَتَنَحَّى بِي ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ يُصَلَّى عَلَى الْأَطْفَالِ إِنَّمَا كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( صلوات الله عليه ) يَأْمُرُ بِهِمْ فَيُدْفَنُونَ مِنْ وَرَاءُ وَ لَا يُصَلِّي عَلَيْهِمْ وَ إِنَّمَا صَلَّيْتُ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْلِ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ كَرَاهِيَةَ أَنْ يَقُولُوا لَا يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى أَطْفَالِهِمْ .

When he ended up to Al-Baqi’e, Abu Ja’far^-asws went forward to pray Salaat upon him, and he^‑asws exclaimed four Takbeers upon him, then ordered for him, and he was buried. Then he^‑asws grabbed my hand and isolated with me, then said: ‘The Salaat did not happen to be upon the children, and rather, Amir Al-Momineen^-asws used to order with them, and they were buried afterwards, and Salaat was not prayed upon them. But rather, I^-asws prayed Salaat upon him due to the people of Al Medina, disliking that they should be saying, ‘They are not praying Salaat upon their children’’.[5]

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ وَ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ النَّضْرِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ عِمْرَانَ عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ مَاتَ ابْنٌ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) فَأُخْبِرَ بِمَوْتِهِ فَأَمَرَ بِهِ فَغُسِّلَ وَ كُفِّنَ وَ مَشَى مَعَهُ وَ صَلَّى عَلَيْهِ وَ طُرِحَتْ خُمْرَةٌ فَقَامَ عَلَيْهَا ثُمَّ قَامَ عَلَى قَبْرِهِ حَتَّى فَرَغَ مِنْهُ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ وَ انْصَرَفْتُ مَعَهُ حَتَّى إِنِّي لَأَمْشِي مَعَهُ

Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Isa, from Muhammad Bin Khalid, and Al Husayn Bin Saeed, from Al Nazar Bin Suweyd, from Yahya Bin Imran, from Ibn Muskan, from Zurara who said,

‘A son of Abu Ja’far^-asws died and he^-asws was informed of his death. So, he^-asws ordered with him to be washed and shrouded, and he^-asws walked with him, and prayed Salaat upon him, and a prayer mat was placed for him. So, he^-asws stood upon it then stood at his grave, then was free from him. The he^-asws left and I left with him^-asws until I walked along with him^-asws.

فَقَالَ أَمَا إِنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ يُصَلَّى عَلَى مِثْلِ هَذَا وَ كَانَ ابْنَ ثَلَاثِ سِنِينَ كَانَ عَلِيٌّ ( عليه السلام ) يَأْمُرُ بِهِ فَيُدْفَنُ وَ لَا يُصَلَّى عَلَيْهِ وَ لَكِنَّ النَّاسَ صَنَعُوا شَيْئاً فَنَحْنُ نَصْنَعُ مِثْلَهُ

So, he^-asws said: ‘But, the Salaat is not performed upon the likes of this one, and he was a boy of three years old. Ali^-asws used to order with it, so he would be buried, and there would be no Salaat upon him, but the people are doing something, so we^-asws are doing similar to it’.

قَالَ قُلْتُ فَمَتَى تَجِبُ الصَّلَاةُ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ إِذَا عَقَلَ الصَّلَاةَ وَ كَانَ ابْنَ سِتِّ سِنِينَ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَمَا تَقُولُ فِي الْوِلْدَانِ فَقَالَ سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) عَنْهُمْ فَقَالَ اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا كَانُوا عَامِلِينَ.

He (the narrator) said, ‘I said, ‘when is the Salaat Obligated upon him?’ He (Imam^-asws) said: ‘When he has intellect for the Salaat, and was a boy six years of age’. I said, ‘So what are you^‑asws saying regarding the children?’. Then, he^-asws said: ‘Rasool-Allah^-saww was asked about them, so he^-saww said: ‘Allah^-azwj is more Knowing with what they were doing (during their lifetime)’.^[6]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ( عليه السلام ) يَقُولُ إِنَّهُ لَمَّا قُبِضَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) جَرَتْ فِيهِ ثَلَاثُ سُنَنٍ أَمَّا وَاحِدَةٌ فَإِنَّهُ لَمَّا مَاتَ انْكَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَقَالَ النَّاسُ انْكَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ لِفَقْدِ ابْنِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ فَصَعِدَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) الْمِنْبَرَ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَ أَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ الشَّمْسَ وَ الْقَمَرَ آيَتَانِ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ يَجْرِيَانِ بِأَمْرِهِ مُطِيعَانِ لَهُ لَا يَنْكَسِفَانِ لِمَوْتِ أَحَدٍ وَ لَا لِحَيَاتِهِ فَإِنِ انْكَسَفَتَا أَوْ وَاحِدَةٌ مِنْهُمَا فَصَلُّوا

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Amro Bin Saeed, from Ali Bin Abdullah who said,

‘I heard Abu Al-Hassan Musa^-asws saying that when Ibrahim^-as son^-as of Rasool-Allah^-saww passed away, three Sunnahs flowed with regards to it. As for one – so when he^-as passed away the sun was eclipsed, and the people said, ‘The sun is eclipsed due to Rasool-Allah^-saww losing a son’. So Rasool-Allah^-saww ascended the Pulpit, and he^-saww Praised Allah^-azwj Lauded Him^-azwj, then said: ‘O you people! The sun and the mon are two Signs of Allah^-azwj from the Signs of Allah^-azwj, both flowing by His^-azwj Command, obedient to Him^-azwj. They do not get eclipsed for the death of anyone nor for his life. Thus, if both of them were to be eclipsed, or one of the two, so pray Salaat’.

ثُمَّ نَزَلَ عَنِ الْمِنْبَرِ فَصَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ صَلَاةَ الْكُسُوفِ فَلَمَّا سَلَّمَ قَالَ يَا عَلِيُّ قُمْ فَجَهِّزِ ابْنِي فَقَامَ عَلِيٌّ ( عليه السلام ) فَغَسَّلَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَ حَنَّطَهُ وَ كَفَّنَهُ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ بِهِ وَ مَضَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) حَتَّى انْتَهَى بِهِ إِلَى قَبْرِهِ

Then he^-saww descended from the Pulpit and he^-saww prayed Salaat with the people, Salaat of the eclipse. So, when he^-saww greeted, said: ‘O Ali^-asws! Arise and prepare my^-saww son^-as!’ So Ali^‑asws arose and washed Ibrahim^-as, and embalmed him^-as, and enshrouded him^-as, then came out with him^-as, and Rasool-Allah^-saww went until he^-saww ended up with him^-as to his^-as grave.

فَقَالَ النَّاسُ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) نَسِيَ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ لِمَا دَخَلَهُ مِنَ الْجَزَعِ عَلَيْهِ فَانْتَصَبَ قَائِماً ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَتَانِي جَبْرَئِيلُ ( عليه السلام ) بِمَا قُلْتُمْ زَعَمْتُمْ أَنِّي نَسِيتُ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ عَلَى ابْنِي لِمَا دَخَلَنِي مِنَ الْجَزَعِ أَلَا وَ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ كَمَا ظَنَنْتُمْ وَ لَكِنَّ اللَّطِيفَ الْخَبِيرَ فَرَضَ عَلَيْكُمْ خَمْسَ صَلَوَاتٍ وَ جَعَلَ لِمَوْتَاكُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ تَكْبِيرَةً وَ أَمَرَنِي أَنْ لَا أُصَلِّيَ إِلَّا عَلَى مَنْ صَلَّى

At that, the people said, ‘Rasool-Allah^-saww forgot to pray Salaat upon Ibrahim^-as when the panic entered upon him^-saww. So, he^-saww stood up straight, then said: ‘O you people! Jibraeel^‑as came to me^-saww with what you all said. You are alleging that I^-saww forgot to pray Salaat upon my^-saww son^-as due to what entered into me^-saww from the panic. Indeed! And it is not as you are thinking it to be, but the Kind, the Informed Necessitated five Salaats upon you, and Made to be upon your deceased, one Takbeer from each Salaat, and Commanded me^-saww that I^-saww should not pray Salaat except upon the one who did pray Salaat’.

ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا عَلِيُّ انْزِلْ فَأَلْحِدِ ابْنِي فَنَزَلَ فَأَلْحَدَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ فِي لَحْدِهِ فَقَالَ النَّاسُ إِنَّهُ لَا يَنْبَغِي لِأَحَدٍ أَنْ يَنْزِلَ فِي قَبْرِ وَلَدِهِ إِذْ لَمْ يَفْعَلْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) فَقَالَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ بِحَرَامٍ أَنْ تَنْزِلُوا فِي قُبُورِ أَوْلَادِكُمْ وَ لَكِنِّي لَسْتُ آمَنُ إِذَا حَلَّ أَحَدُكُمُ الْكَفَنَ عَنْ وَلَدِهِ أَنْ يَلْعَبَ بِهِ الشَّيْطَانُ فَيَدْخُلَهُ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ مِنَ الْجَزَعِ مَا يُحْبِطُ أَجْرَهُ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) .

Then he^-saww said: ‘O Ali^-asws! Descend and (dig the) chasm (Lahad) for my^-saww son^-as’. So he^-as laid Ibrahim^-as in his^-as chasm (Lahad). So, the people said, ‘It is not befitting for anyone that he should descend in a grave of his son, when Rasool-Allah^-saww did not do so’. So Rasool-Allah^-saww said to them: ‘O you people! It is not Prohibited upon you that you should be descending into the graves of your children, but there is no security if one of you were to loosen the shroud from his son if the Satan^-la were to play with him, so the panic would enter upon him what would cause his Recompense to be confiscated’. Then he^-saww left’.^[7]

عَلِيٌّ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ شِيرَةَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ عَنْ حُسَيْنٍ الْحَرْشُوشِ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) إِنَّ النَّاسَ يُكَلِّمُونَا وَ يَرُدُّونَ عَلَيْنَا قَوْلَنَا إِنَّهُ لَا يُصَلَّى عَلَى الطِّفْلِ لِأَنَّهُ لَمْ يُصَلِّ فَيَقُولُونَ لَا يُصَلَّى إِلَّا عَلَى مَنْ صَلَّى فَنَقُولُ نَعَمْ فَيَقُولُونَ أَ رَأَيْتُمْ لَوْ أَنَّ رَجُلًا نَصْرَانِيّاً أَوْ يَهُودِيّاً أَسْلَمَ ثُمَّ مَاتَ مِنْ سَاعَتِهِ فَمَا الْجَوَابُ فِيهِ

Ali, from Ali Bin Saheyra, from Muhammad Bin Suleyman, from Husayn Al Harshous, from Hisham Bin Salim who said,

‘I said to Abu Abdullah^-asws, ‘The people are speaking against us and are refuting our words that Salaat is not to be prayed upon the children because they did no pray Salaat, except upon the ones who did pray Salaat. We are saying, Yes’. So, they are saying, ‘What is your view if a Christian or a Jewish man were to become a Muslim, then dies at that time, what would be the answer with regards to it?’

فَقَالَ قُولُوا لَهُمْ أَ رَأَيْتَ لَوْ أَنَّ هَذَا الَّذِي أَسْلَمَ السَّاعَةَ ثُمَّ افْتَرَى عَلَى إِنْسَانٍ مَا كَانَ يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِ فِي فِرْيَتِهِ فَإِنَّهُمْ سَيَقُولُونَ يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِ الْحَدُّ فَإِذَا قَالُوا هَذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ فَلَوْ أَنَّ هَذَا الصَّبِيَّ الَّذِي لَمْ يُصَلِّ افْتَرَى عَلَى إِنْسَانٍ هَلْ كَانَ يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِ الْحَدُّ فَإِنَّهُمْ سَيَقُولُونَ لَا فَيُقَالُ لَهُمْ صَدَقْتُمْ إِنَّمَا يَجِبُ أَنْ يُصَلَّى عَلَى مَنْ وَجَبَ عَلَيْهِ الصَّلَاةُ وَ الْحُدُودُ وَ لَا يُصَلَّى عَلَى مَنْ لَمْ تَجِبْ عَلَيْهِ الصَّلَاةُ وَ لَا الْحُدُودُ.

So, he^-asws said: ‘Say to them, ‘What is your view if this one who did become a Muslim, then at that time were to forge a lie against a person, what (Punishment) would be Obligated upon him regarding his forgery?’ So, if they would be saying, ‘The legal Punishment (Hadd) would be Obligated upon him’. So, if they do say this, say to them, ‘So if this child who did not pray Salaat were to forge a lie against a person, would the legal Punishment (Hadd) be Obligation upon him?’ So, if they are saying, ‘No’, then it would be said to them, ‘You are speaking the truth. But rather, it is Obligated for him to be prayed Salaat upon the one whom the Salaat and the legal Punishments were Obligated upon, and he would not be prayed Salaat upon, the one whom neither the Salaat nor the legal Punishments (Hadds) were Obligated upon’.^[8]

[1] Al Kafi – V 6 – The Book of Outfits and the Beautification and the Magnanimity Ch 2 H 8

[2] Al Kafi – V 6 – The Book of Outfits and the Beautification and the Magnanimity Ch 2 H 8

[3] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book of Salāt CH 48 H 6

[4] Al Kafi – V 6 – The Book of Outfits and the Beautification and the Magnanimity Ch 12 H 2

[5] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book Of Funerals CH 72 H 3

[6] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book Of Funerals CH 72 H 4

[7] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book Of Funerals CH 72 H 7

[8] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book Of Funerals CH 72 H 8