Hadith #11170

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 advises the Muslims to fear Allah and be conscious of Him. He describes Allah as (الَّذي أعْذَرَ بِما أنْذَرَ)

the One who is justified by the warning He has issued

highlighting the fact that Allah has warned us of the consequences of disobedience and is therefore justified in punishing us if we choose to disregard His commands.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) further emphasizes the strength of Allah's argument by stating that He has made the right path clear (واحْتَجَّ بِما نَهَجَ). This means that Allah has provided us with clear guidance and instructions through the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). He has made it easy for us to distinguish between right and wrong, and has given us the tools to navigate through life in accordance with His will.

To support this exegesis, we find numerous verses in the Quran that emphasize the clarity of the path of righteousness. For example, Allah says in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:256):

There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong.

This verse affirms that Allah has made the distinction between truth and falsehood clear, and it is up to us to choose the right path.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) then warns the Muslims about the enemy who enters into the hearts stealthily and whispers secrets in the ears (وحَذَّرََّكُمْ عَدُوّاً نَفَذَ فِي الصُّدُورِ خَفِيّاً، ونَفَثَ فِي الآذانِ نَجِيّاً). This enemy refers to Satan, who constantly tries to misguide and deceive us. He takes advantage of our vulnerabilities and whispers doubts and temptations in our hearts and minds.

To understand the significance of this warning, we can refer to the Quranic verse in Surah Al-A'raf (7:200):

And if an evil suggestion comes to you from Satan, then seek refuge in Allah. Indeed, He is Hearing and Knowing.

This verse reminds us to seek refuge in Allah when we are faced with the whispers of Satan. It is a reminder that we should be vigilant and aware of the enemy's tactics, and seek Allah's protection and guidance to overcome them.

Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) advice in this Hadith serves as a reminder for all Muslims to fear Allah, follow the clear path of righteousness, and be cautious of the whispers of Satan. By being conscious of Allah and seeking His guidance, we can protect ourselves from falling into the traps of the enemy and ensure that our hearts and minds remain steadfast in faith.

This Hadith also highlights the wisdom and knowledge of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ). He was not only a brave warrior and a just ruler, but also a scholar who possessed deep insights into the teachings of Islam. His words serve as a timeless reminder for all Muslims to remain steadfast in their faith and seek Allah's protection from the whispers of the enemy.

May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the strength to fear Him, follow the right path, and protect ourselves from the whispers of Satan. May He bless us with the knowledge and wisdom to understand and implement the teachings of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) in our lives.