Hadith #6856

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, the Ahl al-Bayt, and his noble companions.

The provided Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) highlights the importance of true respect and honor. Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states,

One who respects you because of your opulence, belittles you in your [time of] poverty.

This beautiful saying emphasizes that true respect should not be based on material wealth or worldly possessions, but rather on the inherent qualities and character of an individual.

Let us delve into the words of this Hadith to gain a deeper understanding. The word (a'zamaka) "أعْظَمَكَ" means to magnify or exalt someone, while (iktharika) "إكْثَارِكَ" refers to abundance or opulence. On the other hand, (istaqallaka) "اِسْتَقَلَّكَ" means to consider someone insignificant or belittle them, and (iqalalika) "إقْلَالِكَ" refers to poverty or a state of need.

To further comprehend the meaning of this Hadith, we can turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) reminds us in Surah Al-Hujurat (49:13),

O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.

This verse emphasizes that true nobility and honor lie in righteousness and piety, not in material wealth or social status. It is the character, actions, and devotion to Allah that truly elevate a person's status. Therefore, those who respect others solely based on their opulence are misguided, as they fail to recognize the true essence of honor and respect.

Another verse that supports the message of this Hadith is found in Surah Al-Hadid (57:20), where Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children - like the example of a rain whose [resulting] plant growth pleases the tillers; then it dries and you see it turned yellow; then it becomes [scattered] debris.

This verse reminds us that worldly possessions and wealth are temporary and fleeting. They do not define a person's worth or true honor. Instead, they are mere adornments and distractions in the grand scheme of life. Therefore, basing one's respect solely on material wealth is futile and misguided.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) highlights the consequences of such misguided respect. When a person respects another solely because of their opulence, they are likely to belittle and disregard them during times of poverty or need. This behavior reflects a shallow understanding of true respect and honor, as it is conditional and based on external factors.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) teaches us the importance of recognizing the inherent worth and dignity of every individual, regardless of their material possessions. True respect should be based on the qualities of a person's character, their devotion to Allah, and their actions that reflect righteousness and piety.

As Muslims, we should strive to emulate the teachings of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) and understand that true respect and honor lie in recognizing the intrinsic value of every human being. We should not be swayed by worldly possessions or material wealth, but rather focus on the qualities that truly elevate a person's status in the sight of Allah.

May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the wisdom to understand the true essence of respect and honor, and may we strive to embody these qualities in our interactions with others.