Hadith #1159

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

The Arabic Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states,

مَنْ قَصُرَ أمَلُهُ حَسُنَ عَمَلُهُ۔

This can be translated as,

Whoever shortens his hopes, beautifies his actions.

This wise utterance of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) holds deep wisdom and guidance for Muslims.

Let us first examine the key words in this Hadith. The word (qasura) "قَصُرَ" means to shorten or limit, while (amaluhu) "أمَلُهُ" refers to one's hopes or aspirations. The word (husna) "حَسُنَ" means to beautify or make something good, and (amaluhu) "عَمَلُهُ" refers to one's actions or deeds.

To understand the meaning of this Hadith, we can turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says in Surah Al-Kahf (18:46),

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.

This verse emphasizes the importance of focusing on good deeds that will bring lasting rewards, rather than being preoccupied with worldly possessions and desires.

Similarly, in Surah Al-Qasas (28:77), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

But seek, through that which Allah has given you, the home of the Hereafter; and [yet], do not forget your share of the world. And do good as Allah has done good to you. And desire not corruption in the land. Indeed, Allah does not like corrupters.

From these verses, we can understand that Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) is advising us to limit our worldly desires and aspirations, and instead focus on performing good deeds. By shortening our hopes, we are reminded to prioritize the eternal rewards of the Hereafter over the temporary pleasures of this world.

When we beautify our actions, we are not only performing good deeds but also doing them with sincerity, excellence, and the intention to please Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). This aligns with the Quranic teachings that emphasize the importance of sincerity in worship and the intention behind our actions.

For example, in Surah Al-Mumtahanah (60:4), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

There has already been for you an excellent pattern in Abraham and those with him, when they said to their people, 'Indeed, we are disassociated from you and from whatever you worship other than Allah. We have denied you, and there has appeared between us and you animosity and hatred forever until you believe in Allah alone.'

This verse highlights the sincerity and excellence of the actions of Prophet Ibrahim (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) and his companions, as they disassociated themselves from the false gods and worshipped Allah alone. Their actions were not only good, but they were also done with utmost sincerity and devotion to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ).

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) teaches us the importance of limiting our worldly desires and aspirations, and instead focusing on performing good deeds with sincerity and excellence. By shortening our hopes, we prioritize the eternal rewards of the Hereafter over the temporary pleasures of this world. May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the ability to beautify our actions and seek His pleasure in all that we do.