Hadith #443

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.

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

وَيْحَ ابْنِ آدَمَ ما أغْفَلَهُ، وَعَنْ رُشدِهِ ما أذْهَلَهُ

This powerful statement can be translated as:

Woe to the son of Adam! How heedless and negligent of his salvation he is!

Let us delve into the meaning of the key words in this Hadith. The word (woe) "وَيْحَ" is an expression of sorrow and regret, indicating a state of extreme distress and misfortune. (son of Adam) "ابْنِ آدَمَ" refers to all human beings, as we are all descendants of Prophet Adam (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ). (heedless and negligent) "أغْفَلَهُ" signifies being unaware, neglectful, and oblivious to something of great importance. (salvation) "رُشدِهِ" refers to the path of righteousness, guidance, and ultimate success in the Hereafter. (bewildered) "أذْهَلَهُ" denotes being astonished, confused, and perplexed due to one's own lack of awareness and understanding.

To understand the wise message of this Hadith, we can turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) reminds us in Surah Al-A'raf, verse 179:

And certainly, We have created many of the jinn and mankind for Hell. They have hearts with which they do not understand, they have eyes with which they do not see, and they have ears with which they do not hear. They are like cattle; rather, they are more astray. It is they who are the heedless.

This verse emphasizes the heedlessness and negligence of many human beings towards their own salvation. Despite having the faculties of hearing, seeing, and understanding, they fail to utilize them in seeking guidance and recognizing the truth. They remain engrossed in worldly pursuits, oblivious to the purpose of their existence and the consequences of their actions.

In another verse, Surah Al-Hadid, verse 16, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) states:

Has the time not come for those who have believed that their hearts should become humbly submissive at the remembrance of Allah and what has come down of the truth? And let them not be like those who were given the Scripture before, and a long period passed over them, so their hearts hardened; and many of them are defiantly disobedient.

This verse highlights the importance of being attentive and conscious of Allah's remembrance and the truth revealed in the Quran. It warns against the hardening of hearts, which occurs when individuals persistently ignore the signs and guidance from Allah, leading to a state of heedlessness and negligence.

Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) beautiful Hadith serves as a wake-up call for all Muslims. It reminds us of the dangers of being oblivious to our own salvation and the consequences of our actions. It urges us to reflect upon our choices, behaviors, and priorities in life. Are we truly striving for righteousness and seeking Allah's pleasure, or are we caught up in the distractions and temptations of this world?

By neglecting our spiritual growth and failing to prioritize our relationship with Allah, we risk losing sight of our ultimate purpose and falling into the trap of heedlessness. This heedlessness can lead to regret and bewilderment on the Day of Judgment when we realize the opportunities we missed and the consequences of our negligence.

Let us take heed of this powerful reminder from Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) and strive to be more mindful and conscious of our actions. May we constantly seek guidance from the Quran and the teachings of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and the Ahl al-Bayt (عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلسَّلَامُ). May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) protect us from heedlessness and grant us the ability to lead a life of righteousness and salvation.