Hadith 30-20

حَدَّثَنا أَبي وَمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الحَسَن بْنِ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ الوَلِيد رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ ما قالا: حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى العَطّار، عَن أَحْمَدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى، عَن أَحْمَدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبي نَصْرِ البِزَنْطِيِّ قالَ: قَرَأْتُ كِتَابَ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يَا أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ الْمَوَالِيَ إِذَا رَكِبْتَ أَخْرَجُوكَ مِنَ الْبَابِ الصَّغِيرِ وَإِنَّمَا ذَلِكَ مِنْ بُخْلٍ لَهُمْ لِئَلا يَنَالَ مِنْكَ أَحَدٌ خَيْراً فَأَسْأَلُكَ بِحَقِّي عَلَيْكَ لا يَكُنْ مَدْخَلُكَ وَمَخْرَجُكَ إِلا مِنَ الْبَابِ الْكَبِيرِ وَإِذَا رَكِبْتَ فَلْيَكُنْ مَعَكَ ذَهَبٌ وَفِضَّةٌ ثُمَّ لا يَسْأَلُكَ أَحَدٌ إِلا أَعْطَيْتَهُ مَنْ سَأَلَكَ مِنْ عُمُومَتِكَ أَنْ تَبَرَّهُ فَلا تُعْطِهِ أَقَلَّ مِنْ خَمْسِينَ دِينَاراً وَالْكَثِيرُ إِلَيْكَ وَمَنْ سَأَلَكَ مِنْ عَمَّاتِكَ فَلا تُعْطِهَا أَقَلَّ مِنْ خَمْسَةٍ وَعِشْرِينَ دِينَاراً وَالْكَثِيرُ إِلَيْكَ إِنِّي إِنَّمَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ يَرْفَعَكَ اللَّهُ فَأَنْفِقْ وَلا تَخْشَ مِنْ ذِي الْعَرْشِ إِقْتَاراً.

My father and Muhammad ibn Al-Hassan ibn Ahmad ibn al-Waleed - may God be pleased with them - narrated that Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Attar quoted on the authority of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa, on the authority of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Nasr al-Bezanti, “I saw the following in a letter by Abil Hassan Al-Ridha’ (a.s.) written to his son Abi Ja’far, ‘O Aba Ja’far! I have heard that when you mount your horse and want to go out, the servants take you out of the small door so that no one can benefit from your presence. I want you to use only the large door, and carry bags of coins so that you can give some to anyone who asks you for anything. If any of your relatives asks you for help, give them no less than fifty Dinars. You can decide for yourself if you want to give more. If any of your aunt's daughters ask you for help, give them no less than twenty-five Dinars. You can decide for yourself if you want to give more. I want you to be raised in rank by God. Give in charity and do not fear about getting poor.’”