Hadith #8338

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all the 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:

رُبَّ ساع سَريع نَجا، وطالِب بَطيء رَجا۔

This Hadith can be translated as:

It may be that he who strives and acts quickly is saved [and succeeds] while the slow seeker [only] hopes [to attain it in the future].

In this Hadith, there are a few important words that require our attention. The word (saa) "ساع" refers to a person who strives and exerts effort towards a goal. The word (sari') "سَرِيع" means someone who acts quickly and decisively. On the other hand, the word (taalib) "طالِب" refers to a seeker or someone who desires something. The word (batee') "بَطِيء" denotes slowness or delay. Lastly, the word (raja) "رَجَا" means hope or aspiration.

To understand the meaning of this Hadith, we can turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says in Surah Al-Imran, verse 200:

O you who have believed, persevere and endure and remain stationed and fear Allah that you may be successful.

This verse emphasizes the importance of striving and enduring in the path of Allah. It reminds us that success comes to those who persevere and remain steadfast in their efforts.

Furthermore, in Surah Al-Hadid, verse 21, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says:

Race toward forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden whose width is like the width of the heavens and earth, prepared for those who believed in Allah and His messengers.

This verse encourages us to hasten and compete in doing good deeds and seeking forgiveness from Allah. It highlights the importance of acting quickly and decisively in order to attain the ultimate reward of Paradise.

Now, let us reflect on the enlightening message of Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) Hadith. The Hadith teaches us that those who strive and act quickly in their pursuit of righteousness and success are more likely to be saved and achieve their goals. They are proactive in their actions and do not delay in seeking the pleasure of Allah. They seize every opportunity to do good and make the most of their time.

On the other hand, the slow seeker, who merely hopes for success without taking immediate action, may find themselves falling behind. They procrastinate and delay their efforts, relying solely on hope without putting in the necessary work. This Hadith serves as a reminder that success is not guaranteed to those who are passive and complacent. It is those who actively strive and act quickly who are more likely to attain salvation and achieve their desired outcomes.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) possessed immense knowledge and wisdom. His words in this Hadith highlight the importance of urgency and diligence in our pursuit of righteousness. It is not enough to simply hope for success; we must actively strive and act swiftly to attain it.

As Muslims, we should take this Hadith to heart and apply its teachings in our lives. We should strive to be proactive in our worship, seeking knowledge, and doing good deeds. We should not delay in fulfilling our obligations and should seize every opportunity to please Allah. By doing so, we increase our chances of success in this life and the hereafter.

May Allah (تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the ability to strive and act quickly in our pursuit of righteousness. May He bless us with success in this world and the hereafter. And may He shower His mercy and blessings upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), his pure progeny, and his noble companions.