Hadith #11409

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 Ahl al-Bayt, and his noble companions.

The Arabic Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states, "الهيبة مقرونة بالخيبة" which translates to

Dread is accompanied by failure.

This concise statement holds deep wisdom and can be understood in light of the teachings of the Quran.

The word (al-haybah) "الهيبة" refers to a feeling of awe, respect, or fear that one experiences in the presence of someone or something powerful. It is a state of being overwhelmed by the greatness or authority of a person or situation. On the other hand, (al-khaybah) "الخيبة" means failure, disappointment, or defeat.

To understand the connotation of this Hadith, we can turn to the Quran for guidance. In Surah Al-Hashr (59:23), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

He is Allah, other than whom there is no deity, the Sovereign, the Pure, the Perfection, the Bestower of Faith, the Overseer, the Exalted in Might, the Compeller, the Superior. Exalted is Allah above whatever they associate with Him.

This verse highlights the absolute greatness and authority of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). When we truly comprehend His magnificence and power, we are filled with a sense of awe and reverence. This feeling of (al-haybah) "الهيبة" towards Allah is a natural response to recognizing His infinite attributes and the fact that He is the ultimate source of all power and authority.

However, when we direct this feeling of dread or awe towards anything other than Allah, it leads to (al-khaybah) "الخيبة", which is failure and disappointment. This is because everything in this world, other than Allah, is limited and imperfect. When we place our hopes, fears, and reliance on anything other than Allah, we are bound to be let down and experience failure.

In Surah Al-Imran (3:175), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

It is only Satan that suggests to you the fear of his allies. So, fear them not, but fear Me, if you are [indeed] believers.

This verse reminds us that our fear and awe should be reserved for Allah alone. Satan tries to deceive us by instilling fear of his allies, making us believe that they hold power and authority. However, true believers understand that the only one deserving of our fear and reverence is Allah.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), being the gate of knowledge, understood the consequences of directing our dread towards anything other than Allah. When we fear and revere worldly powers or individuals more than we fear Allah, we become enslaved to them. Our actions and decisions are then driven by the desire to please and gain approval from these temporary sources of authority. This ultimately leads to failure and disappointment because these worldly powers are limited and transient.

Therefore, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) serves as a reminder for us as Muslims to place our ultimate fear and awe in Allah alone. By recognizing His infinite power, wisdom, and authority, we free ourselves from the shackles of worldly fears and attachments. Our success lies in directing our actions, intentions, and reliance towards pleasing Allah and seeking His pleasure alone. This is the path to true success and fulfillment in this world and the Hereafter.

May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the understanding and ability to prioritize our fear and awe towards Him, and protect us from the failure and disappointment that comes from directing it towards anything other than Him.