Hadith #5881

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:

مَنْ أصْبَحَ يَشْكُو مُصيبَةً نَزَلَتْ بِهِ فَإنَّمَا يَشْكُو رَبَّهُ

This Hadith carries a beautiful message about the attitude of a believer towards the trials and tribulations that they face in life.

Let us first explore the key words in this Hadith. The word (asbaha) "أصْبَحَ" means "to wake up" or

to start the day.

The word (yashku) "يَشْكُو" means "to complain" or "to express dissatisfaction." The word (musibatan) "مُصيبَةً" refers to a calamity, hardship, or affliction. And finally, the word (nazalat) "نَزَلَتْ" means "to descend" or "to befall."

To understand the deeper meaning of this Hadith, we can turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:155-156):

And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, who, when disaster strikes them, say, 'Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.'

These verses remind us that trials and tribulations are a part of life. They are a means of testing our faith and strengthening our character. The true believer understands that these hardships are not random occurrences, but rather they are a test from Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). Therefore, instead of complaining and questioning the wisdom of Allah, the believer submits to His will and seeks solace in Him.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) emphasizes this point in the Hadith. When a person wakes up and starts complaining about the hardships that have befallen them, they are essentially complaining against their Lord. This complaint reflects a lack of trust in Allah's wisdom and a failure to recognize the greater purpose behind these trials.

To further illustrate this concept, let us turn to another verse from the Quran. In Surah Al-Hadid (57:22), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says:

No disaster strikes upon the earth or among yourselves except that it is in a register before We bring it into being - indeed that, for Allah, is easy.

This verse reminds us that every hardship we face has been decreed by Allah and is within His control. Nothing happens without His knowledge and permission. Therefore, instead of complaining, the believer should turn to Allah in supplication and seek His guidance and assistance.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) teaches us that complaining about our hardships not only reflects a lack of faith, but it also fails to recognize the potential benefits and blessings that can arise from these trials. Through patience and perseverance, we can develop resilience, strengthen our character, and draw closer to Allah.

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) reminds us of the importance of having a positive attitude towards the trials and tribulations that we face in life. Instead of complaining and questioning the wisdom of Allah, we should submit to His will and seek solace in Him. By doing so, we can transform our hardships into opportunities for growth and spiritual development. May Allah grant us the strength and patience to face our challenges with grace and gratitude.