Wasa'il al-Shia, Vol. 17

"Wasa'il al-Shia" stands as one of the most monumental collections of Shi'i jurisprudential hadith, rigorously documenting every dimension of religious law. Compiled by the illustrious Shaykh Hurr Amili (d. 1693), this encyclopedic masterpiece comprises approximately 36,000 traditions across 30 volumes.

Driven by the necessity of engaging directly with the explicit words of the Ahl al-Bayt, Shaykh Hurr Amili designed this collection as a complete, self-sufficient constitution for both knowledge and practice. Systematically organized by topic, the work aggregates traditions from reliable and mass-transmitted textual sources, expanding beyond the Four Canonical Books to gather the preserved notebooks of the early faithful.

Above all, it serves as an unaltered conduit to the Infallibles, offering the greatest gift possible: the ability to base one's religion firmly upon the pristine teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt.

Volume 17 of "Wasa'il al-Shia" initiates the comprehensive Kitab al-Tijarah (Book of Commerce), establishing the jurisprudential foundation for economic life. The volume opens with the Muqaddimat (Preliminaries), strongly encouraging the pursuit of lawful sustenance, condemning idleness, and outlining the spiritual ethics of wealth acquisition. It proceeds to Ma Yuktasabu Bih, detailing permissible and prohibited means of earning, strictly forbidding income from usury, gambling, magic, and the sale of unlawful items like wine and pork, while addressing the nuances of trading with oppressive authorities. The third section, 'Aqd al-Bay' wa Shurutuh, defines the core mechanics and conditions of the sales contract, requiring ownership, specified prices, and known quantities while addressing specialized sales like endowments and runaways. Finally, Adab al-Tijarah focuses on the moral etiquettes of the marketplace, including the obligation of fair measuring, the prohibition of hoarding during shortages, and the recommended supplications for merchants.

Translated by the Shia Heritage Foundation, this edition provides researchers, university students, and seminarians with a precise, authoritative text. It stands as an indispensable resource for the rigorous study of classical law and the practical implementation of early jurisprudential doctrine.