Hadith #967

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.

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

Allah, the Glorified, does not misguide anyone and Allah is not unjust to the servants.

This Hadith emphasizes two important aspects of Allah's attributes: His guidance and His justice.

Firstly, let us delve into the meaning of the key words in this Hadith. The word (yuḍilla) "يُضِلَّ" means to misguide or lead astray. It refers to diverting someone from the right path or causing them to deviate from the truth. The word (ẓulm) "ظلاّّم" means injustice or oppression. It signifies treating someone unfairly or denying them their rights.

To understand the significance of this Hadith, we can turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah, in His infinite wisdom, has revealed numerous verses that shed light on His guidance and justice. One such verse is found in Surah Al-An'am, where Allah says, (Quran 6:92)

And this is a Book We have revealed, blessed, confirming what was before it, that you may warn the mother of cities and those around it. Those who believe in the Hereafter believe in it, and they are maintaining their prayers

This verse highlights the divine guidance bestowed upon humanity through the revelation of the Quran.

Furthermore, in Surah An-Nisa, Allah states, (Quran 4:40)

Indeed, Allah does not do injustice, [even] as much as an atom's weight; while if there is a good deed, He multiplies it and gives from Himself a great reward

This verse emphasizes Allah's absolute justice and His refusal to commit any form of injustice, no matter how small.

Now, let us reflect on the wise message conveyed by Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) in this Hadith. Firstly, it assures us that Allah, in His infinite mercy and wisdom, does not misguide anyone. This means that if we sincerely seek His guidance and strive to follow His commands, He will not abandon us. He will provide us with the necessary guidance to navigate through the challenges of life and attain salvation.

This assurance of divine guidance is further reinforced by the Quranic verse in Surah Al-Baqarah, where Allah says, (Quran 2:186)

And when My servants ask you concerning Me, indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided

This verse reminds us that Allah is always close to His servants and responds to their prayers. It encourages us to turn to Him in times of need and seek His guidance through sincere supplication.

Secondly, this Hadith highlights the absolute justice of Allah. It assures us that Allah is not unjust to His servants and does not oppress them in any way. This means that every action, every decision, and every decree of Allah is based on perfect justice and wisdom. Even if we face difficulties or hardships in life, we can take solace in the fact that Allah's justice will prevail.

The Quranic verse in Surah An-Nahl beautifully captures this aspect of Allah's justice, where Allah says, (Quran 16:90)

Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded

This verse reminds us that Allah commands justice and prohibits oppression. It encourages us to uphold justice in our dealings with others and to strive for righteousness in all aspects of our lives.

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) serves as a powerful reminder of Allah's guidance and justice. It reassures us that Allah does not misguide anyone and is not unjust to His servants. As Muslims, we should seek Allah's guidance through sincere supplication and strive to uphold justice in all our actions. We should trust in Allah's wisdom and have faith that His justice will prevail in all matters. May Allah, the Glorified, guide us all on the straight path and grant us the ability to uphold justice in our lives.