Hadith #3337

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. May peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), his pure Ahl al-Bayt, and his noble companions.

The Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states,

Fear your Lord with a fearing that distracts you from hope of His mercy, and have hope of His mercy with the hoping of one who does not feel safe from His fear.

This enlightening saying emphasizes the importance of striking a balance between fear and hope in our relationship with Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ).

Let us delve into the key words and their meanings in this Hadith. The word (khaf) "خَفْ" means to fear or be afraid. (Rabbaka) "رَبَّكَ" refers to your Lord, the One who is your Creator, Sustainer, and Master. (khawfan) "خَوْفًا" signifies fear, while (yashghaluka) "يَشْغَلُكَ" means to distract or preoccupy. (raja'ihi) "رَجَاءِهِ" refers to the hope of His mercy. (warjuhu) "وَارْجُهُ" means to have hope, and (raja'a) "رَجَاءَ" signifies hope. (man la ya'manu) "مَنْ لَا يَأْمَنُ" refers to the one who does not feel safe, and (khawfahu) "خَوْفَهُ" means fear.

To understand the deeper meaning of this Hadith, let us turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says in Surah Al-Hadid (57:16),

Has the time not come for those who have believed that their hearts should become humbly submissive at the remembrance of Allah and what has come down of the truth?

This verse highlights the importance of having a humble and submissive heart in the face of Allah's remembrance and His revealed truth. It is through this humility that we can develop a healthy fear of Allah and avoid becoming distracted by worldly desires.

Furthermore, in Surah Al-Anfal (8:53), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

That is because Allah would not change a favor which He had bestowed upon a people until they change what is within themselves. And indeed, Allah is Hearing and Knowing.

This verse reminds us that Allah's mercy is always available to us, but it is contingent upon our own actions and intentions. We should fear losing His favor and strive to maintain a constant awareness of His presence in our lives.

Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) Hadith encourages us to fear Allah in a way that distracts us from relying solely on His mercy. This means that while we should have hope in His mercy, we should not become complacent or take it for granted. We must constantly strive to improve ourselves and seek forgiveness for our shortcomings. This fear should serve as a motivation to continuously work towards righteousness and avoid falling into sinful behavior.

On the other hand, the Hadith also reminds us to have hope in Allah's mercy, just like someone who does not feel safe from His fear. This means that even in times of difficulty and despair, we should never lose hope in Allah's forgiveness and mercy. We should have complete trust in His ability to forgive and guide us, no matter how grave our sins may be.

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) teaches us the importance of striking a balance between fear and hope in our relationship with Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). We should fear Allah in a way that motivates us to constantly strive for righteousness and avoid sinful behavior. At the same time, we should have unwavering hope in His mercy, knowing that He is the Most Forgiving and the Most Merciful. May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the ability to embody this balance in our lives and attain His pleasure.