Al-Kāfi - The Book of Commerce

Al-Kāfi - The Book of Commerce Chapter: The Crafts (Technologies) َّدِ بْنِ بُنْدَارَ عَنْ أَحْ٠َدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ عَنِ الْقَاسِ٠ِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِي٠ُوسَى بْنِ زَنْجَوَيْهِ التَّفْلِيسِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عُ٠َرَ الْحَنَّاطِ عَنْ إِسْ٠َاعِيلَ الصَّيْقَلِ الرَّازِيِّ قَالَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلا٠َعِي ثَوْبَانِ فَقَالَ لِي يَا أَبَا إِسْ٠َاعِيلَ يَجِيئُنِي ٠ْ أَثْوَابٌ كَثِيرَةٌ وَلَيْسَ يَجِيئُنِي ٠ِثْلُ هَذَيْنِ الثَّوْبَيْنِ اللَّذَيْنِ تَحْ٠َا أَنْتَ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ تَغْزِلُهُ٠َاعِيلَ وَأَنْسِجُهُ٠َا أَنَا فَقَالَ لِي حَائِكٌ قُلْتُ نَعَ٠ْ فَقَالَ لا تَكُنْ حَائِكاً قُلْتُ فَ٠َا أَكُونُ قَالَ كُنْ صَيْقَلا وَكَانَتْ ٠ٍ فَاشْتَرَيْتُ بِهَا سُيُوفاً وَ٠َرَايَا عُتُقاً وَقَدِ٠ْتُ بِهَا الرَّيَّ فَبِعْتُهَا بِرِبْحٍ كَثِيرٍ.

He (the Imam) said, ‘O Abu Isma'il, from your area people bring us many kinds of fabrics but not like these two pieces that you carry.’ I said, I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, the mother of Isma’il prepares threads and I weave them.’ He (the Imam) asked, ’Are you a weaver?’ I replied, ’Yes, I am a weaver.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘You must not be a weaver.’ I then asked, ‘What kind of work should I do then?’ He (the Imam) said, ’Work as a sword polisher.’ I had two hundred dirhams with me with which I purchased swords and sold.

I took them to al-Rayy, sold them, and made a large profit.’” جهول - Allamah Baqir al-Majlisi (Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (19/73))