Chapter Two
Heredity
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Blood is Effective
51. The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: “Look into what womb you are going to put your child in, as indeed blood1 is effective.”2
52. The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: “People are [like] mines; and blood is effective and having bad manners is like a bad origin.”3
53. The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: “Marry from a righteous family because indeed blood is effective.”4
54. The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: “Choose [the righteous womb] for your sperm, for indeed women bear children that are similar to their brothers and sisters.”5
55. Imām ‘Ali (a.s.) said: “Beware of marrying a fool, for her companionship is trial and her children are a loss.”6
1.. The Arabic word ‘irq literally means a blood-vein, but in these traditions it refers to the genetical influence. In the modern context it could be known as genes. [Ed.].
2.. Musnad al-Shihāb, vol. ۱, p. ۳۷۱, h. ۶۳۸. Kanz al-‘Ummāl, vol. ۱۵, p. ۸۵۵, h. ۴۳۴۰۰, narrating from al-Dailami. Both narrating from Ibn ‘Umar.
3.. Shu‘ab al-Imān, vol. ۷, p. ۴۵۵, h. ۱۰۹۷۴. al-Firdaws, vol. ۴, p. ۲۹۹, h. ۶۸۷۸. Both narrating from Ibn ‘Abbās. Kanz al-‘Ummāl, vol. ۳, p. ۴۴۲, h. ۷۳۶۰.
4.. al-Firdaws, vol. ۲, p. ۵۱, ۲۲۹۱ Kanz al-‘Ummāl, vol. ۱۶, p. ۲۹۶, h. ۴۴۵۵۹. Makārim al-Akhlāq, vol. ۱, p. ۴۳۲, h. ۱۴۷۴, narrating from Imām al-Sādiq (a.s.).
5.. Tārikh Dimashq, vol. ۵۲, p. ۳۶۲, h. ۱۱۰۶۸, narrating from ‘A'ishah. Kashf al-Khafā', vol. ۲, p. ۳۳۹, h. ۲۹۱۷.
6.. al-Kāfi, vol. ۵, p. ۳۵۳, h. ۱. Tahdhib al-Ahkām, vol. ۷, p. ۴۰۶, h. ۳۱. Both narrating from al-Sakuni from Imām al-Sādiq (a.s.).
