Hadith #2915

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 provided Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) highlights three important aspects of the Prophet Muhammad's (ﷺ) mission. Firstly, it emphasizes that the Prophet (ﷺ) conveyed the message from his Lord completely, leaving no room for anyone to claim ignorance or lack of knowledge. Secondly, it mentions that he counseled his people as a warner, cautioning them about the consequences of their actions. And thirdly, it states that he called them towards Paradise, giving them glad tidings of the rewards and blessings that await those who follow the right path.

Let us delve deeper into the meanings of the key words in this Hadith. The word (balagha) "بَلَّغَ" means to convey or deliver a message in its entirety. It signifies that the Prophet (ﷺ) fulfilled his duty of delivering the message of Islam to the people, ensuring that no one could claim ignorance or lack of guidance. This is supported by the Quranic verse in Surah Al-Maida (5:67) where Allah says,

O Messenger, announce that which has been revealed to you from your Lord, and if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message.

The word (mu'dhiran) "مُعْذِراً" refers to someone who is without any excuse or justification. It implies that the Prophet (ﷺ) fulfilled his responsibility of conveying the message in such a comprehensive manner that no one could claim ignorance or use any excuse for not accepting Islam. This is further emphasized in Surah Al-An'am (6:164) where Allah says,

Say, 'Shall I seek a lord other than Allah while He is the Lord of all things?' And every soul earns not [blame] except against itself, and no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another.

The word (nasaha) "نَصَحَ" means to counsel or advise sincerely and honestly. It signifies that the Prophet (ﷺ) fulfilled his role as a warner, cautioning his people about the consequences of their actions and guiding them towards the right path. This is supported by the Quranic verse in Surah Al-A'raf (7:164) where Allah says,

And when a community among them said, 'Why do you advise [or warn] a people whom Allah is [about] to destroy or to punish with a severe punishment?' they [the advisors] said, 'To be absolved before your Lord and perhaps they may fear Him.'

The word (mundhiran) "مُنْذِراً" refers to someone who warns or alerts others. It implies that the Prophet (ﷺ) fulfilled his duty of warning his people about the consequences of their actions, reminding them of the Day of Judgment, and urging them to repent and seek forgiveness. This is further emphasized in Surah Al-A'raf (7:63) where Allah says,

Do you wonder that there has come to you a reminder from your Lord through a man from among you, that he may warn you and that you may fear Allah so you might receive mercy?

Lastly, the phrase (da'a ila al-jannati mubashshiran)

دَعا إلَى الجَنَّةِ مُبَشِّراً

means that the Prophet (ﷺ) called his people towards Paradise, giving them glad tidings of the rewards and blessings that await those who follow the right path. This is in line with the Quranic verse in Surah Al-Hajj (22:56) where Allah says,

And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a bringer of good tidings and a warner.

In conclusion, this Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) sheds light on the comprehensive and complete nature of the Prophet Muhammad's (ﷺ) mission. He conveyed the message from his Lord completely, leaving no room for excuses. He counseled his people as a warner, cautioning them about the consequences of their actions. And he called them towards Paradise, giving them glad tidings of the rewards and blessings that await those who follow the right path. As Muslims, we should strive to understand and implement the teachings of the Prophet (ﷺ) in our lives, seeking guidance from the Quran and the noble example of the Prophet (ﷺ) and his Ahl al-Bayt. May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the ability to follow the path of righteousness and attain Paradise.