Hadith #8919

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 noble companions.

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

قَلِّلِ المَقالَ، وقَصِّرِ الآمالَ۔

This can be translated as,

Reduce your speech and shorten your hopes.

Let us delve into the profound wisdom behind this statement and explore its significance in light of the Quran.

The word (qallil) "قَلِّلِ" means to reduce or decrease, while (al-maqal) "المَقالَ" refers to speech or words. Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) is advising us to limit our speech, to speak less and with purpose. This teaches us the importance of choosing our words wisely and avoiding unnecessary chatter. The Quran supports this guidance in Surah Al-Isra, verse 36, where Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight, and the heart - about all those [one] will be questioned.

By reducing our speech, we can avoid engaging in idle talk and spreading rumors or falsehoods. The Quran emphasizes the importance of speaking the truth and avoiding false speech in Surah Al-Hujurat, verse 6, where Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

O you who have believed, if there comes to you a disobedient one with information, investigate, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and become, over what you have done, regretful.

Furthermore, Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) advises us to (qassir al-amal) "قَصِّرِ الآمالَ", which means to shorten our hopes. This implies that we should not have unrealistic or excessive expectations in life. Instead, we should focus on the present moment and strive for attainable goals. The Quran supports this notion in Surah Al-Kahf, verse 46, where Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope.

By shortening our hopes, we can avoid disappointment and despair when things do not go as planned. This does not mean that we should not have aspirations or ambitions, but rather that we should align our hopes with the guidance of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) and the teachings of Islam. We should strive for success in this world and the hereafter, seeking the pleasure of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) above all else.

Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) advice to reduce our speech and shorten our hopes serves as a reminder to Muslims of the importance of moderation and balance in our lives. By speaking less and with purpose, we can avoid unnecessary conflicts and misunderstandings. By shortening our hopes, we can remain focused on the ultimate goal of attaining the pleasure of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) and strive for success in both this world and the hereafter.

May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the wisdom to implement the teachings of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) in our lives and guide us on the path of righteousness. Ameen.