Hadith #10050

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 righteous companions.

In this profound hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), he imparts a valuable lesson about the transient nature of worldly possessions and the importance of using them in obedience to Allah. Let us delve into the deeper meaning of this hadith and explore its implications in light of the Quran.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) begins by stating,

Verily that which is in your possession has had an owner before you and will go to someone after you.

This highlights the fact that wealth and material possessions are not permanent. They have been owned by others in the past and will be inherited by others in the future. This serves as a reminder to Muslims that the accumulation of wealth should not be the ultimate goal in life, as it is merely a temporary possession.

To support this notion, we find numerous verses in the Quran that emphasize the fleeting nature of worldly possessions. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says in Surah Al-Hadid (57:20),

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 - like the example of a rain whose [resulting] plant growth pleases the tillers; then it dries and you see it turned yellow; then it becomes [scattered] debris.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) further explains,

You are only amassing [wealth] for one of two kinds of people: either the one who will use what you amassed in obedience to Allah, thereby becoming felicitous by that which made you wretched, or the one who will use what you amassed in disobedience to Allah, thereby becoming wretched by what you amassed.

This highlights the significance of how we utilize our wealth. It can either lead to our happiness and success in the hereafter or bring about our misery and downfall.

The Quran supports this concept by emphasizing the importance of using wealth in obedience to Allah. In Surah Al-Baqarah (2:267), Allah says,

O you who have believed, spend from the good things which you have earned and from that which We have produced for you from the earth. And do not aim toward the defective therefrom, spending [from that] while you would not take it [yourself] except with closed eyes. And know that Allah is Free of need and Praiseworthy.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) concludes by stating,

Neither of these two deserve to be preferred by you over yourself or of being carried by you on your back.

This emphasizes the importance of prioritizing our own spiritual well-being over the accumulation of worldly possessions. Our focus should be on using our wealth in a manner that pleases Allah and benefits ourselves and others in the long run.

In Surah Al-Hashr (59:9), Allah says,

And [also for] those who were settled in the Home [i.e., Al-Madinah] and [adopted] the faith before them. They love those who emigrated to them and find not any want in their breasts of what the emigrants were given but give [them] preference over themselves, even though they are in privation. And whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul - it is those who will be the successful.

This verse highlights the virtue of selflessness and the importance of prioritizing the needs of others over our own desires. It serves as a reminder that true success lies in using our wealth and resources to benefit others, rather than hoarding them for personal gain.

In conclusion, this hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) serves as a profound reminder for Muslims to reflect upon the transient nature of worldly possessions and the importance of using them in obedience to Allah. It encourages us to prioritize our spiritual well-being over material wealth and to strive for selflessness and generosity in our actions. May Allah guide us to utilize our wealth in a manner that pleases Him and brings us eternal felicity.