Hadith #396

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 highlights the mercy and justice of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) by emphasizing that He does not close the doors of His blessings upon His servants. Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) mentions three specific doors: the door of gratitude, the door of prayer, and the door of repentance.

Firstly, Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) does not close the door of gratitude upon His servant while opening the door of plenty. This means that when a person expresses gratitude and appreciation for the blessings bestowed upon them by Allah, He does not withhold His bounties from them. On the contrary, Allah increases His blessings upon those who are grateful. This concept is beautifully expressed in the Quran in Surah Ibrahim, verse 7:

And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.'

This verse emphasizes the importance of gratitude and highlights that expressing gratitude leads to an increase in blessings from Allah. Therefore, Muslims should always be grateful for the countless blessings bestowed upon them by Allah and express their gratitude through words and actions.

Secondly, Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) mentions that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) does not close the door of acceptance upon His servant who engages in prayer. This means that when a person sincerely supplicates to Allah, seeking His help and guidance, Allah does not reject their prayers. He listens to the prayers of His servants and answers them in the best way possible. The Quran beautifully illustrates this concept in Surah Ghafir, verse 60:

And your Lord says, 'Call upon Me; I will respond to you.' Indeed, those who disdain My worship will enter Hell [rendered] contemptible.

This verse reassures Muslims that Allah is always ready to respond to their prayers and that they should never hesitate to turn to Him in times of need. It is important to note that the acceptance of prayers is not limited to the fulfillment of our specific requests, but rather Allah answers our prayers in the way that is best for us, whether it is through granting our request or providing us with something better.

Lastly, Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) mentions that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) does not close the door of forgiveness upon His servant who seeks repentance. This means that when a person sincerely repents for their sins and seeks forgiveness from Allah, He does not deny them His mercy. Allah is the Most Merciful, and He accepts the repentance of His servants. The Quran beautifully emphasizes this in Surah Az-Zumar, verse 53:

Say, 'O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.'

This verse serves as a reminder to Muslims that no matter how grave their sins may be, they should never lose hope in the mercy of Allah. He is always ready to forgive and accept the repentance of His sincere servants. It is important for Muslims to constantly seek forgiveness and strive to improve themselves, knowing that Allah's mercy is vast and all-encompassing.

In conclusion, this Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) beautifully highlights the mercy and justice of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). It reminds us that Allah does not close the doors of His blessings upon His servants, but rather He opens the doors of gratitude, acceptance of prayers, and forgiveness for those who sincerely seek them. As Muslims, we should strive to express gratitude, engage in sincere prayers, and seek repentance, knowing that Allah's mercy and blessings are always available to us. May Allah guide us all on the path of righteousness and grant us His infinite mercy and forgiveness.