Hadith #1268

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 aligning our emotions and actions with the pleasure of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states that for one's faith to be perfected, it is necessary to have love, hate, pleasure, and displeasure solely for the sake of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ).

Let us delve into the deeper meaning of this profound Hadith by examining the key words and their implications. The word (his love) "حُبُّه" refers to the attachment and affection one has towards something or someone. In this context, Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) urges us to direct our love towards Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) alone. This means that our love for Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) should surpass any other love, whether it be for material possessions, worldly desires, or even other individuals.

To support this notion, the Quran reminds us in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:165),

And [yet], among the people are those who take other than Allah as equals [to Him]. They love them as they [should] love Allah. But those who believe are stronger in love for Allah.

This verse highlights the importance of prioritizing our love for Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) above all else.

Furthermore, the word (his hate) "بُغْضُه" signifies the aversion and dislike one feels towards something or someone. Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) advises us to direct our hate towards anything that displeases Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). This means that we should detest actions, behaviors, and ideologies that go against the teachings of Islam. Our hate should be solely for the sake of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ), and not driven by personal biases or prejudices.

The Quran echoes this sentiment in Surah Al-Mujadila (58:22),

You will not find a people who believe in Allah and the Last Day having affection for those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even if they were their fathers or their sons or their brothers or their kindred.

This verse emphasizes the importance of hating what Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) hates, even if it means distancing ourselves from our loved ones, if they oppose the teachings of Islam.

Moving on, the word (his pleasure) "رِضَاهُ" refers to the satisfaction and contentment one experiences. Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) urges us to seek the pleasure of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) above all else. This means that our actions, decisions, and intentions should be driven by the desire to please Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) rather than seeking validation or approval from others.

The Quran beautifully captures this concept in Surah Al-Tawbah (9:72),

Allah has promised the believing men and believing women gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally, and pleasant dwellings in gardens of perpetual residence; but approval from Allah is greater.

This verse highlights the superiority of seeking the pleasure of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) over any worldly pleasure or reward.

Lastly, the word (his displeasure) "سَخَطُهُ" refers to the anger and disapproval one feels towards something or someone. Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) advises us to direct our displeasure towards anything that angers Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). This means that we should be vigilant in avoiding actions and behaviors that are displeasing to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ), and strive to rectify ourselves when we fall short.

The Quran emphasizes the importance of avoiding the displeasure of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) in Surah Al-Imran (3:112),

They are not all the same; among the People of the Scripture is a community standing [in obedience], reciting the verses of Allah during periods of the night and prostrating [in prayer]. They believe in Allah and the Last Day, and they enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and hasten to good deeds. And those are among the righteous.

This verse highlights the significance of actively avoiding what displeases Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) and striving to do what is right.

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) serves as a profound reminder for Muslims to align their emotions and actions with the pleasure of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). By directing our love, hate, pleasure, and displeasure solely for the sake of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ), we can strive towards perfecting our faith. This entails prioritizing our love for Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) above all else, detesting anything that goes against His teachings, seeking His pleasure in all our endeavors, and avoiding actions that displease Him. May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the ability to implement these teachings in our lives and attain the perfection of faith.