Hadith #1160

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 Arabic Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states,

مَنْ أطالَ أمَلَهُ أفْسَدَ عَمَلَهُ۔

This Hadith warns us about the danger of having excessive and unrealistic hopes, as it leads to the corruption of one's actions.

Let us delve into the meanings of the important words in this Hadith. The word (at'ala) "أطالَ" means to lengthen or extend, while (amalahu) "أمَلَهُ" refers to one's hopes or aspirations. The word (afsada) "أفْسَدَ" means to corrupt or spoil, and (amalahu) "عَمَلَهُ" refers to one's actions or deeds.

To understand the impactful message of this Hadith, we can turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) reminds us in Surah Yunus, verse 23:

But when He gives them a taste of His mercy, immediately they commit injustice upon the earth without right.

This verse highlights the tendency of some individuals to become complacent and arrogant when they are blessed with Allah's mercy. They become heedless of their actions and engage in wrongdoing. Similarly, when one lengthens their hopes without taking action, they become negligent and corrupt their deeds.

Another verse that supports the message of this Hadith is found in Surah Al-Kahf, verse 103:

Say, 'Shall We inform you of the greatest losers as to [their] deeds? Those whose efforts have been wasted in worldly life while they thought that they were acquiring good by their deeds.'

This verse emphasizes the importance of sincere and righteous actions. It warns us against wasting our efforts in worldly pursuits, thinking that we are doing good while neglecting the true purpose of our actions. By prolonging our hopes without taking action, we risk falling into this category of losers.

Now, let us reflect on the connotation of this Hadith. Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), known for his immense knowledge and wisdom, advises us to be cautious of having unrealistic and prolonged hopes. When we excessively prolong our hopes, we become complacent and fail to take action. We may delay our repentance, neglect our responsibilities, and become negligent in fulfilling our obligations towards Allah and our fellow human beings.

For example, imagine a person who desires to seek knowledge but continuously delays their efforts, hoping that someday they will magically become knowledgeable without putting in the necessary effort. By prolonging their hopes without taking action, they corrupt their opportunity to acquire knowledge and benefit themselves and others.

Similarly, someone who wishes to improve their character but constantly postpones their self-reflection and self-improvement, hoping that they will miraculously become a better person, will find their actions corrupted. By prolonging their hopes without taking action, they miss out on the opportunity to grow spiritually and develop noble qualities.

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) serves as a powerful reminder for Muslims to be mindful of their hopes and aspirations. While it is important to have dreams and goals, we must not allow them to become a hindrance to taking action. We should strive to align our hopes with sincere and righteous actions, seeking Allah's pleasure and the betterment of ourselves and society. By doing so, we can avoid corrupting our deeds and ensure that our hopes are a means of motivation and inspiration on the path of righteousness. May Allah guide us all to be people of action and sincerity.