Hadith #1835

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. May peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), his pure progeny, and his noble companions.

In this profound hadith, Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) expresses his deep concern and dissatisfaction with the state of affairs during his time. He compares the situation to that of the people who came before him, who also complained about the injustice of their rulers. The Imam (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states that he feels as if he is being led, while his people are the ones who should be leading. He also feels restrained, while they are the ones who should be restraining themselves.

Let us delve deeper into the words of this hadith to gain a better understanding of its meaning and significance. The word (hayf) "حَيْفَ" in Arabic refers to the feeling of being wronged or oppressed. The word (ru'at) "رُعاتِها" means the injustice or oppression inflicted upon the people. Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) acknowledges that the people who came before him also experienced this sense of injustice and complained about it.

To shed light on the Imam's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) statement, we can turn to the Quran for guidance. In Surah Al-Baqarah, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says, (Quran 23:44)

And We have certainly sent messengers before you, [O Muhammad], among the factions of the former peoples. But no messenger would come to them except that they ridiculed him.

This verse highlights the fact that previous messengers faced opposition and ridicule from their own people when they tried to rectify the injustices prevalent in their societies.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) draws a parallel between his situation and that of the previous messengers. He feels that, despite his position of leadership, he is being led by his people who should be following his guidance. This sentiment echoes the challenges faced by the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) during his lifetime. The Prophet (ﷺ) faced resistance and opposition from some of his companions, who should have been supporting and following him unconditionally.

Furthermore, the Imam (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) expresses his feeling of being restrained, while his people should be restraining themselves. This can be understood as a critique of the moral and ethical conduct of the society during his time. The people should have been self-restrained and adhering to the principles of justice and righteousness, but instead, they were engaging in unjust actions and behaviors.

In the Quran, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says, (Quran 5:45)

And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed - then it is those who are the wrongdoers.

This verse emphasizes the importance of adhering to the divine guidance in matters of judgment and decision-making. Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) highlights the failure of his people to uphold these principles, which leads to the sense of restraint he experiences.

The Imam's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) impactful words in this hadith serve as a reminder for us as Muslims. It is a call to reflect upon our own actions and behaviors, and to ensure that we are not contributing to the injustices and moral decay in society. We should strive to be leaders in our communities, upholding the principles of justice, compassion, and righteousness. We should also exercise self-restraint and adhere to the teachings of Islam in all aspects of our lives.

In conclusion, this hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of justice, leadership, and self-restraint in our lives as Muslims. It highlights the challenges faced by the Imam (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) during his time and calls upon us to reflect upon our own actions and strive for positive change. May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) guide us all on the path of righteousness and grant us the ability to be true leaders in our communities.