Hadith #1464

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.

In this profound Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), he draws our attention to a powerful lesson by using a vivid analogy. The Imam (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) describes passing by a cesspit filled with filth and waste, and he remarks,

This is what you were competing for yesterday.

In another narration, he adds,

This is what the misers were stingy with.

To understand the depth of this Hadith, we must first examine the key words and their meanings. The term (qadhir) "قَذِر" refers to filth or impurity, while (mazbala) "مَزْبَلَة" refers to a cesspit or garbage dump. The Imam (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) uses these words to symbolize the materialistic pursuits and worldly desires that people often compete for and are stingy with.

To further understand the message of this Hadith, we can turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) warns us in Surah Al-Hadid (57:20),

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.

This verse highlights the fleeting nature of worldly pursuits and the futility of competing for material possessions.

Similarly, in Surah Al-Takathur (102:1-2), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

The mutual rivalry for piling up of worldly things diverts you, until you visit the graves.

This verse emphasizes how the pursuit of worldly gains can distract us from our ultimate purpose and lead us away from the remembrance of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ).

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) draws our attention to the fact that the filth and waste in the cesspit were once objects of desire and competition. People were willing to go to great lengths to acquire them, just as individuals today strive for wealth, power, and material possessions. However, the Imam (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) reminds us that these pursuits are ultimately futile and meaningless.

The Imam's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) words serve as a powerful reminder to Muslims of all backgrounds. We are urged to reflect on our own lives and consider the things we compete for and are stingy with. Are we striving for the temporary pleasures of this world, or are we focused on the eternal rewards of the hereafter?

Moreover, this Hadith serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of attachment to material possessions. It reminds us of the importance of detachment and contentment, as taught by the Quran and exemplified by the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and his noble family.

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) serves as a profound reminder for Muslims to prioritize the pursuit of spiritual growth and the accumulation of good deeds over the transient desires of this world. It urges us to reflect on our own actions and intentions, and to strive for the pleasure of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) rather than the temporary pleasures of this life. May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) guide us all to the straight path and grant us success in this life and the hereafter.