Putting Family First

In this post, I will present an important Reliable tradition, which is mostly directed towards whoever that is responsible to provide provision for his family.  This tradition highlights the important fact that securing one's family's provision should precede self-indulgence.

 

            Many individuals may choose to put themselves before their families and when it comes to shopping they may be tempted to follow their own impulses instead of assessing the needs of their families.  This tradition gives us clear reasons why that should not be the case.  We should always keep our role models and their actions in our minds and follow their traditions.

 

            Furthermore, it may be the case that many of us put ourselves first before our families in order to alleviate our stress through self-indulgence.  However, this tradition very clearly guides us to realize us that it is by not putting ourselves first and by putting our family first that we could ease our stress and feel rested and relax.  It is a matter of long-term thinking versus short-term gratification. 

            Let us try to be among those who choose discipline and control over short-term impulses and urges in order to achieve tranquility.

            Now without any further ado, here's the tradition.

Arabic Text:

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ الْجَهْمِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ الرِّضَا ع يَقُولُ إِنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ إِذَا أَدْخَلَ طَعَامَ سَنَتِهِ خَفَّ ظَهْرُهُ وَ اسْتَرَاحَ وَ كَانَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ وَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لَا يَشْتَرِيَانِ عُقْدَةً حَتَّى يُحْرَزَ إِطْعَامُ سَنَتِهِمَا

English Translation:

Narrated by Mohamed Ibn Yehya from Ahmed Ibn Mohamed from Ibn Faddal from Al-Hassan Ibn Al-Jahm who said: I heard Al-Redha (pbuh) say: “If a man provides food for his household, his back eases and he feels rested. Abu Ja’afar and Abu Abdullah would not buy a knot of rope until they had secured provision for their household.”

Source:

Al-Kafi, Volume 5, Page 89, Tradition #1