Hadith #9635

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 provided Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) highlights the humility and self-awareness of a pious believer when praised for their virtues. Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states that when someone extols the virtues of a righteous person, that person becomes fearful of the praise and its potential consequences. They recognize that they have a deeper understanding of themselves than others, but they also acknowledge that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) knows them even better than they know themselves.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) then supplicates to Allah, seeking His protection from being held accountable for what others say about them. This supplication reflects the believer's desire to be judged solely by Allah's knowledge and not by the opinions and assumptions of others. The believer also asks Allah to make them better than what others think of them, indicating their aspiration to exceed the expectations and perceptions of people.

This Hadith emphasizes the importance of humility and self-awareness in the face of praise. It teaches us that even when others recognize our virtues and commend us, we should remain humble and acknowledge that Allah's knowledge of us surpasses anyone else's understanding. It reminds us that our true worth lies in the sight of Allah, and we should strive to please Him above all else.

The concept of self-awareness and seeking Allah's judgment is beautifully illustrated in the Quran. Allah says 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 reminds us that our worth is not determined by our lineage, race, or social status, but by our righteousness and piety. It is Allah who truly knows us and judges us based on our actions and intentions. Therefore, it is essential for us to remain humble and constantly strive to improve ourselves in the sight of Allah.

Another verse that supports the message of this Hadith is found in Surah Al-Anbiya (21:47):

And We shall set up balances of justice on the Day of Resurrection, then none will be dealt with unjustly in anything. And if there be the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it. And sufficient are We as Reckoners.

This verse assures us that on the Day of Resurrection, Allah will establish perfect justice. No one will be treated unjustly, and every action, no matter how small, will be accounted for. This serves as a reminder that we should not be overly concerned with the opinions and judgments of others, as it is Allah who will ultimately judge us based on our true intentions and deeds.

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) teaches us the importance of humility and self-awareness when praised for our virtues. It reminds us to seek Allah's judgment above all else and to strive to exceed the expectations and perceptions of people. We should remember that our true worth lies in the sight of Allah, and it is He who knows us better than we know ourselves. May Allah protect us from the negative consequences of others' opinions and make us better than what others think of us.