Hadith #7912

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 progeny, and his noble companions.

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

لَنْ تَأْخُذُوا بِمِيثَاقِ الْكِتَابِ حَتَّىٰ تَعْرِفُوا الَّذِي نَبَذَهُ

which translates to,

You will never abide by the covenant of the book until you know the one who has cast it away.

Let us delve into the meaning of the important words in this Hadith. The word (meethaq) "مِيثَاقِ" refers to a covenant or agreement, specifically referring to the covenant of the book, which signifies the divine scriptures. The word (al-kitab) "الْكِتَابِ" refers to the book, which in this context refers to the Quran, the ultimate source of guidance for Muslims.

The phrase (ta'rifoo) "تَعْرِفُوا" means to know or recognize, and it is crucial to understand the depth of this word. It implies a deep and comprehensive understanding, not merely superficial knowledge. It requires a profound comprehension of the teachings and principles of the Quran.

The phrase (alladhee nabathahu) "الَّذِي نَبَذَهُ" refers to the one who has cast away the covenant of the book. This indicates that there are individuals who have abandoned or disregarded the teachings of the Quran, failing to uphold its principles and guidance.

To comprehend the essence of this Hadith, we must turn to the Quran itself for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says in Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayah 85,

Do you believe in part of the Scripture and disbelieve in part? Then what is the recompense for those who do that among you except disgrace in worldly life; and on the Day of Resurrection they will be sent back to the severest of punishment. And Allah is not unaware of what you do.

This ayah emphasizes the importance of wholeheartedly accepting and following the entire scripture, without cherry-picking or selectively adhering to certain parts while neglecting others. It warns against the consequences of disregarding any part of the divine guidance.

Furthermore, in Surah Al-Ma'idah, Ayah 13, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) states,

So for their breaking of the covenant We cursed them and made their hearts hard. They distort words from their [proper] usages and have forgotten a portion of that of which they were reminded. And you will still observe deceit among them, except a few of them. But pardon them and overlook [their misdeeds]. Indeed, Allah loves the doers of good.

This ayah highlights the consequences of breaking the covenant and abandoning parts of the divine scripture. It leads to a hardening of hearts, distortion of words, and forgetfulness of the teachings. This results in deceit and deviation from the righteous path.

Reflecting on the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) in light of these Quranic verses, we understand that merely claiming to follow the Quran is not enough. It is essential to have a deep understanding of its teachings and principles, and to apply them in our lives comprehensively.

The Hadith reminds us that we cannot truly abide by the covenant of the book until we recognize and distance ourselves from those who have cast it away. This requires us to be vigilant in identifying individuals or ideologies that deviate from the true teachings of Islam. By doing so, we protect ourselves from falling into the trap of selective adherence and ensure that we are following the complete guidance of the Quran.

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) serves as a profound reminder for Muslims to deeply understand and follow the teachings of the Quran in their entirety. It urges us to be cautious of those who have abandoned or distorted the divine scripture, and to distance ourselves from such deviations. By doing so, we can truly uphold the covenant of the book and attain the guidance and blessings promised by Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the wisdom and steadfastness to follow His guidance completely.