Hadith #3806

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, the Ahl al-Bayt, and his noble companions.

In this profound Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), he highlights the four pillars that uphold the fabric of this world. These pillars are represented by four groups of people: the knowledgeable who act upon their knowledge, the ignorant who are humble enough to seek knowledge, the wealthy who are generous with their wealth, and the poor who do not compromise their Hereafter for worldly gains.

Let us delve into the deeper meaning of each pillar and its significance in the light of the Quran.

The first pillar mentioned is the scholar who acts upon his knowledge. This refers to a person who not only possesses knowledge but also implements it in their actions and behavior. The Quran emphasizes the importance of acting upon knowledge in numerous verses. For example, in Surah Al-Imran (3:79), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

It is not for a human [prophet] that Allah should give him the Scripture and authority and prophethood and then he would say to the people, 'Be servants to me rather than Allah.' But [instead, he would say], 'Be pious scholars of the Lord because of what you have taught of the Scripture and because of what you have studied.'

The second pillar mentioned is the ignorant person who is humble enough to seek knowledge. This highlights the importance of humility and the willingness to learn. In Surah Al-Zumar (39:9), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

Are those who know equal to those who do not know?

The Quran encourages seeking knowledge and acknowledges the superiority of those who possess knowledge over those who do not. The ignorant person mentioned in the Hadith is not someone who remains ignorant out of arrogance or pride, but rather someone who recognizes their lack of knowledge and actively seeks to rectify it.

The third pillar mentioned is the wealthy person who is generous with their wealth. This pillar emphasizes the importance of generosity and giving to those in need. The Quran repeatedly emphasizes the virtue of charity and the obligation to help the less fortunate. In Surah Al-Baqarah (2:177), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves.

The fourth and final pillar mentioned is the poor person who does not sell their Hereafter for worldly gains. This pillar highlights the importance of prioritizing the eternal life over the temporary pleasures of this world. The Quran repeatedly warns against the dangers of worldly attachments and the consequences of neglecting the Hereafter. In Surah Al-Kahf (18:46), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope.

Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) Hadith serves as a reminder for Muslims to embody these four pillars in their lives. It emphasizes the importance of knowledge, humility, generosity, and prioritizing the Hereafter. When any of these pillars are weakened or neglected, it has a ripple effect on society. If the scholars do not act upon their knowledge, ignorance and apathy prevail. If the ignorant refuse to seek knowledge, stagnation and backwardness ensue. If the wealthy become miserly with their wealth, poverty and inequality persist. And if the poor compromise their Hereafter for worldly gains, moral decay and spiritual bankruptcy prevail.

Therefore, Muslims must strive to be knowledgeable individuals who act upon their knowledge, humble seekers of knowledge, generous with their wealth, and steadfast in prioritizing the Hereafter. By embodying these pillars, we can contribute to the betterment of society and fulfill our responsibilities as Muslims.

May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the wisdom to act upon knowledge, the humility to seek knowledge, the generosity to help those in need, and the strength to prioritize the Hereafter over worldly gains. May He guide us all on the straight path and enable us to uphold these pillars in our lives.