292. al-Kāfi, narrating from Abu Basir: “I asked Abu ‘Abdullah [al-Sādiq] (a.s.) about the saying of Allah: “Save yourselves and your families from a fire…”1 “How can we save our families.” He (a.s.) said: “By enjoining them [to do good] and forbidding them [from evil deeds].”2
293. Imām al-Sādiq (a.s.) said: “When the verse: “O you who believe! Save yourselves and your families from a fire…”3 was revealed, one of the Muslims began weeping and said: “I was not able to manage my own affairs and yet I became obliged to my family.” The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: “It is enough for you to enjoin them to what you would enjoin yourself, and forbid them from what you forbid yourself.”4
294. al-Kāfi, narrating from Abu Basir: “[I asked Imām al-Sādiq (a.s.)] “Concerning the saying of Allah: “…Save yourselves and your families from a Fire…”5 I asked: “How can I save them?”
He replied: “Enjoin them to what Allah orders and forbid them from what Allah forbids. If they obey you, you have saved them, and if they disobey you, you have fulfilled your obligation.”6
C- Disciplining through being Practical:
295. Imām ‘Ali (a.s.) said: “He who appoints himself as the leader of people should begin by teaching himself before teaching others and he should discipline them through his actions before he disciplines them by speaking to them. He who educates and
disciplines his own self deserves more appraisal than the teacher and discipliner of others”7
296. Imām al-Sādiq (a.s.) said: “Be inviters to people by means other than your tongue, so that people see piety, diligence, prayer and goodness from you, for this is the correct way to invite.”8
1.. Qurān, ۶۶:۶.
2.. al-Kāfi, vol. ۵, p. ۶۲, h. ۳.
3.. Qurān, ۶۶:۶.
4.. al-Kāfi, vol. ۵, p. ۶۲, h. ۱. Tahdhib al-Ahkām, vol. ۶, p. ۱۷۹, h. ۳۶۴. Both narrating from ‘Abd al-A‘lā Mawlā Al Sām. Makārim al-Akhlāq, vol. ۱, p. ۴۶۸, h. ۱۶۰۰.
5.. Qurān, ۶۶:۶.
6.. al-Kāfi, vol. ۵, p. ۶۲, h. ۲. Tahdhib al-Ahkām, vol. ۶, p. ۱۷۹, h. ۳۶۵. Mishkāt al-Anwār, p. ۴۵۵, h. ۱۵۲۶.
7.. Nahj al-Balāghah, Wise Saying ۷۳. Bihār al-Anwār, vol. ۲, p. ۵۶, h. ۳۳.
8.. al-Kāfi, vol. ۲, p. ۷۸, h. ۱۴ and p. ۱۰۵, h. ۱۰. al-Usul al-Sittah ‘Ashar, p. ۱۵۱. All narrating from Ibn Ya‘fur. Bihār al-Anwār, vol. ۷۰, p. ۳۰۳, h. ۱۳.