٥ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ قَالَ قَرَأْتُ فِي كِتَابِ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم) يَا أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ الْمَوَالِيَ إِذَا رَكِبْتَ أَخْرَجُوكَ مِنَ الْبَابِ الصَّغِيرِ فَإِنَّمَا ذَلِكَ مِنْ بُخْلٍ مِنْهُمْ لِئَلاَّ يَنَالَ مِنْكَ أَحَدٌ خَيْراً وَأَسْأَلُكَ بِحَقِّي عَلَيْكَ لا يَكُنْ مَدْخَلُكَ وَمَخْرَجُكَ إِلاَّ مِنَ الْبَابِ الْكَبِيرِ فَإِذَا رَكِبْتَ فَلْيَكُنْ مَعَكَ ذَهَبٌ وَفِضَّةٌ ثُمَّ لا يَسْأَلُكَ أَحَدٌ شَيْئاً إِلاَّ أَعْطَيْتَهُ وَمَنْ 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 بِذَلِكَ أَنْ يَرْفَعَكَ الله فَأَنْفِقْ وَلا تَخْشَ مِنْ ذِي الْعَرْشِ إِقْتَاراً.
5. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid and Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa all from ibn abu Nasr who has said the following: “I have read in a letter of abu al-Hassan, al-Rida, to abu Ja‘far . It is said, ‘O abu Ja’far, I am told that the servants lead you out of the house through the small door so that no one receives any assistance from you and it is due to their stinginess. I ask you through my rights upon you; you must not use any other door for your exit or entrance besides the main door. When you want to ride, you must have gold or silver with you. Whoever asks you for help, you must not turn him away empty-handed. If any of your uncles asks you for help, you must not give him less than fifty dinars; but it is up to you if you want to give more. If any of your aunts asks you for help, you must not give her less than twenty-five dinars, but it is up to you if you want to give more. I want Allah to grant you higher position. Spend on deserving causes, and do not be afraid of the owner of the Throne’s making you poor.’” 