Hadith #1374

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.

In this profound Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), he describes the characteristics of a person whom he censures. Let us delve into the meanings of the important words in this Hadith and explore its exegesis in light of the Quran.

The first word to focus on is (raziyyah) "رَزِيَّةً", which can be translated as "misfortune" or "calamity." Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) is highlighting that the individual he is criticizing does not anticipate or prepare for any misfortune that may befall them. This person lacks foresight and fails to take precautions to protect themselves from harm.

The second word of significance is (taqiyyah) "تَقِيَّةً", which can be translated as "piety" or "god-consciousness." Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) is criticizing the person for not humbling themselves in piety. This individual does not have a sense of awe and reverence towards Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ), nor do they strive to fulfill their religious obligations with sincerity and devotion.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) further explains that this person lacks knowledge of the "door of guidance" and the "door of perdition." The "door of guidance" refers to the path of righteousness and the teachings of Islam, which lead to success and salvation. The "door of perdition" refers to the path of sin and disobedience, which leads to destruction and ruin. This individual is unaware of these two paths and is unable to distinguish between them.

To understand the deeper meaning of this Hadith, let us turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says in Surah Al-A'raf (7:56),

And cause not corruption upon the earth after its reformation. And invoke Him in fear and aspiration. Indeed, the mercy of Allah is near to the doers of good.

This verse emphasizes the importance of piety and fear of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) in order to avoid causing corruption on earth. The person described in the Hadith lacks this fear and piety, which makes them susceptible to causing harm and corruption.

Additionally, in Surah Al-Anfal (8:29), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

O you who have believed, if you fear Allah, He will grant you a criterion and will remove from you your misdeeds and forgive you. And Allah is the possessor of great bounty.

This verse highlights the importance of fearing Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) as a means of attaining His guidance and forgiveness. The person criticized in the Hadith lacks this fear and is therefore unable to benefit from Allah's guidance and mercy.

The consequences of the characteristics described in the Hadith are dire. Without anticipating misfortune, this person is ill-prepared to face the challenges and trials of life. Without humbling themselves in piety, they are prone to arrogance and heedlessness. Without knowledge of the doors of guidance and perdition, they are easily swayed by falsehood and unable to distinguish between right and wrong.

Reflecting on this Hadith, we are reminded of the importance of foresight, piety, and seeking knowledge. As Muslims, we should strive to anticipate and prepare for the challenges that may come our way. We should humble ourselves before Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) and strive to fulfill our religious obligations with sincerity and devotion. And most importantly, we should seek knowledge and understanding of the teachings of Islam, so that we may distinguish between the path of guidance and the path of perdition.

May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the wisdom and guidance to embody the qualities described in this Hadith and protect us from the characteristics that Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) censured. Ameen.