Hadith #9910

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, and his noble companions.

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

ما هَنَّأَ بِمَعْرُوفِهِ مَنْ كَثُرَ اِمْتِنانُهُ۔

This can be translated as:

He who puts [others under] a lot of obligation has not made his good turn felicitous.

Let us delve into the key words of this Hadith to better understand its significance. The word (hanna'a) "هَنَّأَ" is derived from the root word (hana'a) "هَنَأَ", which means to make something felicitous, to bring joy or happiness. (ma'rufihi) "مَعْرُوفِهِ" refers to acts of goodness, kindness, and benevolence. (kathura) "كَثُرَ" means to increase or multiply, and (imtinanuhu) "اِمْتِنانُهُ" refers to the gratitude or appreciation that one feels towards the person who has done a good turn.

To understand the deeper meaning of this Hadith, we can turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says in Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayah 267:

O you who have believed, spend from the good things which you have earned and from that which We have produced for you from the earth. And do not aim toward the defective therefrom, spending [from that] while you would not take it [yourself] except with closed eyes. And know that Allah is Free of need and Praiseworthy.

This ayah emphasizes the importance of giving in charity from the good and pure things that we have earned. It reminds us not to give away things that we ourselves would not accept, as this would not be a true act of kindness or generosity. Similarly, in Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayah 195, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says:

And spend in the way of Allah and do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction [by refraining]. And do good; indeed, Allah loves the doers of good.

These verses highlight the importance of performing acts of goodness and charity, but they also emphasize the need for sincerity and purity in our actions. Merely putting others under a lot of obligation does not make our good turn felicitous. True felicity lies in performing acts of goodness with sincerity, purity of intention, and without expecting anything in return.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), known for his profound knowledge and wisdom, reminds us through this Hadith that our acts of kindness and benevolence should be done for the sake of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) alone. We should not seek to burden others with excessive obligations, as this may lead to feelings of indebtedness or discomfort. Instead, we should strive to perform acts of goodness that bring joy and happiness to others, without expecting anything in return except the pleasure of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ).

By following the teachings of the Quran and the guidance of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), we can cultivate a spirit of selflessness, sincerity, and true felicity in our acts of kindness. We should aim to bring joy and happiness to others through our actions, without burdening them with excessive obligations. May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) guide us all to be sincere and selfless in our acts of goodness, and may He grant us the ability to bring true felicity to those around us.