Hadith #11490

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

The provided Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) emphasizes the importance of certitude and provides three key elements to achieve it: shortening of hopes, sincerity in action, and indifference towards the pleasures of this world.

Let us delve into the meanings of the important words in this Hadith. "Yaqeen" refers to certitude or absolute conviction in the truth. "Qasr al-Amal" means shortening of hopes, which implies not relying excessively on worldly desires and ambitions. "Ikhlas al-Amal" signifies sincerity in action, doing deeds solely for the sake of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) without any ulterior motives. "Zuhd fi al-Dunya" refers to indifference towards the pleasures and attractions of this world, detaching oneself from materialistic pursuits.

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

Wealth and children are the adornment of the life of this world. But the good righteous deeds that last, are better with your Lord for rewards and better in respect of hope.

This verse highlights the transitory nature of worldly possessions and emphasizes the superiority of righteous deeds in the sight of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ).

Furthermore, in Surah Al-Hadid (57:20), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says:

Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children.

This verse reminds us that the pleasures and attractions of this world are merely temporary distractions that divert us from the ultimate purpose of our existence.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) advises us to shorten our hopes, meaning that we should not excessively rely on worldly aspirations and desires. This does not imply that we should abandon all ambitions, but rather we should prioritize our eternal goals over temporary gains. By doing so, we align our hopes with the teachings of the Quran, which emphasize the importance of seeking Allah's pleasure and the rewards of the Hereafter.

Sincerity in action is another crucial aspect highlighted by Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ). Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says in Surah Al-Zumar (39:3):

Is it not to Allah that sincere religion is due?

This verse emphasizes the significance of sincerity in worship and obedience to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). When we perform our actions solely for the sake of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ), seeking His pleasure and not the praise or recognition of others, we attain a higher level of certitude and strengthen our connection with Him.

Lastly, Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) advises us to be indifferent towards the pleasures of this world. This does not mean that we should completely abandon worldly responsibilities or live in seclusion. Rather, it implies that we should not be attached to material possessions and worldly desires. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) reminds us in Surah Al-Tawbah (9:38):

O you who have believed, what is [the matter] with you that, when you are told to go forth in the cause of Allah, you adhere heavily to the earth? Are you satisfied with the life of this world rather than the Hereafter?

This verse serves as a reminder that our focus should be on the eternal life of the Hereafter, rather than being consumed by the temporary pleasures of this world.

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) provides us with valuable guidance on achieving certitude. By shortening our hopes, being sincere in our actions, and being indifferent towards the pleasures of this world, we align ourselves with the teachings of the Quran and strengthen our connection with Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). This path of certitude leads to a deeper understanding of our purpose in life and ultimately brings us closer to attaining Allah's pleasure and the rewards of the Hereafter. May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the ability to implement these teachings in our lives.