Hadith #5132

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 and noble family, and his righteous companions.

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

أُحْصُدِ الشَّرَّ مِنْ صَدْرِ غَيْرِكَ بِقَلْعِهِ مِنْ صَدْرِكَ۔

This impactful saying can be translated as:

Scythe the evil from the breasts of others be uprooting it from your [own] breast.

Let us delve into the exegesis of this Hadith in light of the Quran. The word (Uhsudi) "أُحْصُدِ" means to scythe or cut off, while (ash-sharr) "الشَّرَّ" refers to evil or harm. (min sadri ghayrik) "مِنْ صَدْرِ غَيْرِكَ" means from the breasts of others, and (biqal'iihi) "بِقَلْعِهِ" means by uprooting it. Finally, (min sadrik) "مِنْ صَدْرِكَ" means from your own breast.

This Hadith emphasizes the importance of eradicating evil from the hearts and minds of others by first removing it from our own hearts. It teaches us that in order to combat evil, we must begin with self-reflection and self-improvement. By purifying our own hearts from negative traits and vices, we can then help others in their journey towards righteousness.

The Quran provides us with several verses that support the message of this Hadith. In Surah Al-Hujurat (49:11), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

O you who have believed, let not a people ridicule [another] people; perhaps they may be better than them; nor let women ridicule [other] women; perhaps they may be better than them. And do not insult one another and do not call each other by [offensive] nicknames. Wretched is the name of disobedience after [one's] faith. And whoever does not repent - then it is those who are the wrongdoers.

This verse highlights the importance of not ridiculing or insulting others, as it is a form of evil that stems from the heart. It reminds us to be cautious of our own actions and words, and to strive for kindness and respect towards others. By uprooting such negative behavior from our own hearts, we can contribute to a more harmonious and compassionate society.

Another verse that aligns with the message of this Hadith is found in Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:8), where Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah, witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do.

This verse emphasizes the importance of justice and fairness, even towards those whom we may dislike or have disagreements with. It reminds us to overcome personal biases and to act with integrity and righteousness. By uprooting any feelings of hatred or prejudice from our own hearts, we can ensure that our judgments and actions are guided by justice and truth.

Reflecting on the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), we understand that it calls upon us to be agents of positive change by first purifying ourselves. It teaches us that true transformation begins from within, and that our own actions and intentions have a profound impact on the world around us. By striving to remove evil from our own hearts, we can inspire others to do the same and contribute to a more virtuous and compassionate society.

May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the wisdom and strength to scythe the evil from our own hearts and to be a source of goodness and guidance for others. May He purify our intentions and actions, and enable us to embody the teachings of the Quran and the noble example of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ). Ameen.