Hadith #9892

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds. 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: "اَلْمَنُّ يُفْسِدُ الصَّنيعَةَ۔" This can be translated as

Obligation corrupts the good act.

Let us delve into the meaning of the key words in this Hadith. The word "man" refers to an individual or a person. "Yufsidd" means to corrupt or spoil, and "sani'ah" refers to a good or righteous act. Therefore, the Hadith can be understood as warning against the corruption of a good deed due to the obligation attached to it.

To gain a deeper understanding of this Hadith, we can turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 177:

It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards the east or the west, but righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves; [and who] establishes prayer and gives zakah; [those who] fulfill their promise when they promise; and [those who] are patient in poverty and hardship and during battle. Those are the ones who have been true, and it is those who are the righteous.

This verse emphasizes that righteousness is not merely performing outward acts of worship, but it is a comprehensive state of being that encompasses belief, moral conduct, and acts of charity. It highlights the importance of sincerity and intention in our actions. Obligation, when divorced from sincere intention, can lead to the corruption of a good deed.

For example, if a person performs a good act solely because they feel obligated to do so, without true sincerity and devotion to Allah, their action may lack the spiritual essence and purity that is required for it to be accepted by Allah. The act may become a mere formality, devoid of the inner connection and intention that elevates it to a righteous deed.

Furthermore, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) reminds us in Surah Al-Ma'idah, verse 27:

And recite to them the story of Adam's two sons, in truth, when they both offered a sacrifice [to Allah], and it was accepted from one of them but was not accepted from the other. Said [the latter], 'I will surely kill you.' Said [the former], 'Indeed, Allah only accepts from the righteous [who fear Him].'

This verse illustrates the importance of sincerity and righteousness in our actions. Both sons of Adam (peace be upon him) offered a sacrifice, but only one of them had their sacrifice accepted by Allah. The difference lay in the sincerity and righteousness of their intentions. The one whose sacrifice was accepted had a pure heart and a genuine desire to please Allah, while the other's intentions were corrupted by envy and ill will.

In light of these Quranic verses, we can understand the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) as a reminder to Muslims that the mere performance of obligatory acts is not sufficient for attaining righteousness. It is essential to accompany these acts with sincere intentions and a genuine desire to please Allah. Obligation alone should not be the driving force behind our good deeds, as it can lead to the corruption of their spiritual essence.

Therefore, Muslims should strive to cultivate a deep sense of devotion and sincerity in their worship, ensuring that their actions are rooted in a genuine love for Allah and a desire to seek His pleasure. By doing so, they can safeguard their good deeds from being corrupted by the mere sense of obligation, and instead, elevate them to acts of true righteousness that are accepted by Allah. May Allah guide us all on the path of righteousness and grant us the ability to perform good deeds with sincerity and devotion.