Hadith #10314

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. Peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), his pure progeny, the Ahl al-Bayt, and his noble companions.

The Arabic Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states,

مَنْ عَدَّدَ نِعَمَهُ مَحَقَ كَرَمَهُ۔

This can be translated as,

Whoever enumerates his favours [on others] effaces his munificence.

Let us delve into the meaning of the important words in this Hadith. The word (ni'amahu) "نِعَمَهُ" refers to the blessings and favors that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) has bestowed upon an individual. The term (mahqa) "مَحَقَ" means to erase or diminish, while (karamahu) "كَرَمَهُ" refers to the generosity and munificence of the person.

To understand the wise message of this Hadith, we can turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says in Surah Ibrahim (14:34),

And He gave you of all that you asked for, and if you count the blessings of Allah, never will you be able to enumerate them. Indeed, mankind is most unjust and ungrateful.

This verse reminds us that Allah's blessings upon us are countless and immeasurable. No matter how much we try to enumerate them, we will always fall short. Therefore, when we attempt to count and list our blessings, we inadvertently diminish the true extent of Allah's generosity and munificence towards us.

Furthermore, in Surah An-Nahl (16:18), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

And if you should count the favors of Allah, you could not enumerate them. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.

This verse emphasizes that Allah's favors are beyond our comprehension and enumeration. It is a reminder that we should not focus on counting and boasting about our blessings, but rather be grateful and acknowledge them with humility and gratitude.

Now, let us reflect on the implications of this Hadith. When a person starts to enumerate and boast about their blessings, they are essentially diminishing the true magnitude of Allah's generosity. This act of self-praise and self-glorification goes against the teachings of Islam, which emphasize humility and gratitude towards Allah.

By enumerating our blessings, we may inadvertently develop a sense of entitlement and arrogance. We may start to believe that we deserve these blessings solely based on our own merits, forgetting that it is ultimately Allah's grace and mercy that bestows them upon us. This can lead to ingratitude and a lack of appreciation for the countless blessings we have been granted.

Moreover, when we focus on counting our blessings, we may become oblivious to the needs and struggles of others. Instead of using our blessings to benefit those around us, we become self-centered and fail to fulfill our responsibilities towards our fellow Muslims and humanity as a whole.

In contrast, a true believer recognizes that every blessing is a gift from Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) and acknowledges it with gratitude and humility. They understand that their blessings are not a result of their own efforts alone, but a manifestation of Allah's mercy and favor upon them.

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) serves as a reminder for all Muslims to be humble and grateful for the countless blessings bestowed upon us by Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). It teaches us that boasting and enumerating our blessings diminishes the true extent of Allah's generosity and goes against the spirit of gratitude and humility that Islam promotes. May we always strive to be grateful and humble servants of Allah, recognizing His blessings with sincerity and using them to benefit others.