Hadith #1490

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 hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) emphasizes the importance of hastening in performing good deeds and competing with death. Let us delve into the deeper meaning of this enlightening saying in light of the Quran.

The first important word in this hadith is (bādirū) "بادِرُوا", which means "hasten" or "be quick." It implies that Muslims should not delay in performing their good deeds. This is supported by the Quranic verse in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:148), where Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

So hasten to good deeds.

This verse encourages believers to be proactive and swift in their actions, without any procrastination.

The second significant word is (ājālakum) "آجالَكُمْ", which means "your deaths" or

the appointed time of your deaths.

It reminds us that death is inevitable and that our time in this world is limited. This concept is beautifully expressed in the Quran in Surah Al-Ankabut (29:57), where Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

Every soul will taste death.

This verse serves as a reminder that we should not be complacent and take our time for granted, but rather, we should constantly strive to do good before our time comes to an end.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) further explains that we will be (madīnūna bimā aslaf tum) "مَدينُونَ بِما أسْلَفْتُمْ", which means

compensated for what you sent forward.

This implies that our good deeds will be rewarded and compensated by Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) in the hereafter. This is in accordance with the Quranic verse in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:286), where Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity. It will have the consequences of what good it has gained and it will bear the consequences of what evil it has earned.

This verse assures us that our efforts will not go in vain and that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) will reward us accordingly.

Similarly, Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states that we will be (mujāzawn bi mā qaddamtum) "مُجازَوْنَ بِما قَدَّمْتُمْ", which means

rewarded for what you did beforehand.

This emphasizes the importance of our past actions and the impact they have on our present and future. The Quranic verse in Surah Al-Kahf (18:30) supports this notion, where Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds - indeed, We will not allow to be lost the reward of any who did well in deeds.

This verse assures us that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) will not overlook any good deed that we have done and will reward us accordingly.

Lastly, Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) mentions that we will be (muṭālabūna bi mā khalaf tum) "مُطالَبُونَ بِما خَلَّفْتُمْ", which means

held accountable for what you left behind.

This highlights the importance of our legacy and the impact it has on future generations. The Quranic verse in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:134) supports this idea, where Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

And they say, 'Our Lord, grant us what You promised us through Your messengers and do not disgrace us on the Day of Resurrection.' Indeed, Allah does not fail in His promise.

This verse reminds us that we will be held accountable for the actions and influence we leave behind, and that we should strive to leave a positive and lasting impact on the world.

In conclusion, the hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) urges Muslims to be proactive in performing good deeds and to constantly strive to excel before the appointed time of death. It emphasizes the importance of being rewarded for our past actions, while also reminding us of our accountability for what we leave behind. May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the ability to hasten in performing good deeds and to compete with our deaths, so that we may be among those who are rewarded and held accountable in the best possible way.