Hadith #11058

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, "التوفيق قائد الصلاح" which translates to

God-given success is the leader towards righteousness.

This beautiful Hadith of Imam Ali highlights the importance of divine guidance and assistance in leading a righteous life. Let us delve deeper into the words of this Hadith and explore its meaning in light of the Quran.

The term (tawfiq) "توفيق" refers to the divine guidance and assistance granted by Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) to individuals, enabling them to make the right choices and succeed in their endeavors. It is a spiritual guidance that leads one towards righteousness and goodness. This guidance is not something that can be achieved solely through human efforts, but rather it is a gift from Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) to those who seek His pleasure.

The word (qa'id) "قائد" means a leader or a guide. In the context of this Hadith, it refers to the role of divine guidance as the leader towards righteousness. It is through the tawfiq granted by Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) that individuals are able to navigate the path of righteousness and make choices that align with the teachings of Islam.

To understand the significance of this Hadith, let us turn to the Quran for further guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says in Surah Al-Anfal (8:29),

O you who have believed, if you fear Allah, He will grant you a criterion and will remove from you your misdeeds and forgive you. And Allah is the possessor of great bounty.

This verse emphasizes that when a person fears Allah and seeks His pleasure, Allah grants them a criterion, which is the tawfiq mentioned in the Hadith of Imam Ali. This divine guidance helps individuals distinguish between right and wrong, enabling them to make choices that lead to righteousness. It is through this tawfiq that one's misdeeds are removed and forgiveness is granted.

Another verse that supports the concept of tawfiq as the leader towards righteousness is found in Surah Al-Qasas (28:56), where Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

Indeed, [O Muhammad], you do not guide whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided.

This verse reminds us that true guidance comes from Allah alone. It is not within the power of any human being, including the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), to guide others without the permission and assistance of Allah. Therefore, it is through the tawfiq granted by Allah that individuals are guided towards righteousness.

Reflecting on the Hadith of Imam Ali, we can understand that success in leading a righteous life is not solely dependent on our own efforts or intelligence. It is the divine tawfiq that acts as the guiding force, leading us towards righteousness. This tawfiq is a manifestation of Allah's mercy and grace, bestowed upon those who sincerely seek His pleasure.

When we recognize the importance of seeking divine guidance and assistance, we become aware of our own limitations and rely on Allah's wisdom to navigate through the challenges of life. This reliance on Allah's tawfiq strengthens our faith and helps us make choices that are pleasing to Him.

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) teaches us that God-given success is the leader towards righteousness. It emphasizes the significance of seeking divine guidance and assistance in leading a righteous life. Through the tawfiq granted by Allah, individuals are able to make choices that align with the teachings of Islam and seek His pleasure. May Allah grant us all His tawfiq and guide us towards righteousness.