Hadith #396

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 provided Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) highlights the justice and mercy of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) in His dealings with His servants. Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states that it is not in the nature of Allah to open the door of gratitude for a person and close the door of plenty upon him. Similarly, Allah does not open the door of prayer to a person and close the door of acceptance upon him. Nor does He open the door of repentance for a person and close the door of forgiveness upon him.

Let us delve deeper into the meanings of the important words in this Hadith. The word (shukr) "شُكْرِ" refers to gratitude or thankfulness. It is the act of acknowledging and appreciating the blessings bestowed upon us by Allah. The word (ziyadah) "زِيَادَةِ" means plenty or increase. It signifies the abundance of blessings and favors that Allah bestows upon His servants. The word (du'a) "دُّعَاءِ" refers to supplication or prayer. It is the act of humbly asking Allah for His help, guidance, and forgiveness. The word (ijabah) "اْجَابَةِ" means acceptance. It signifies that Allah responds to the prayers of His servants and grants their requests. The word (tawbah) "تَّوْبَةِ" refers to repentance. It is the act of sincerely turning back to Allah, seeking His forgiveness, and resolving to abandon sinful behavior. The word (maghfirah) "مَغْفِرَةِ" means forgiveness. It signifies Allah's mercy and pardon, whereby He wipes away the sins and grants His servants a fresh start.

To understand the beautiful message of this Hadith, we can turn to the Quran for further guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says in Surah Ibrahim (14:7):

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 its correlation with an increase in blessings from Allah. When we express gratitude for the blessings we have been given, Allah, out of His infinite mercy, grants us even more.

Furthermore, in Surah Ghafir (40:60), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says:

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 highlights the assurance that Allah gives to His servants regarding the acceptance of their prayers. He encourages us to turn to Him in supplication, promising that He will respond to our calls. Therefore, it is inconceivable that Allah would open the door of prayer to a person and then close the door of acceptance upon him.

Moreover, in Surah Az-Zumar (39:53), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) states:

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 highlights the immense mercy and forgiveness of Allah. He opens the door of repentance to His servants, urging them not to despair, as He is ever ready to forgive their sins. Therefore, it is inconceivable that Allah would open the door of repentance for a person and then close the door of forgiveness upon him.

Reflecting upon this Hadith, we can see the profound wisdom and justice of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). He is the Most Generous, the Most Merciful, and the Most Just. He does not withhold His blessings from those who express gratitude, nor does He reject the prayers of those who sincerely seek His help. He also does not turn away from those who repent and seek His forgiveness. Allah's doors are always open to His servants, and His mercy encompasses all aspects of their lives.

As Muslims, we should strive to cultivate a sense of gratitude towards Allah for the countless blessings He has bestowed upon us. We should never underestimate the power of prayer and should turn to Allah in all circumstances, knowing that He will respond to our calls. We should also seek His forgiveness through sincere repentance, knowing that His mercy knows no bounds. By embodying these qualities, we can strengthen our relationship with Allah and experience the abundance of His blessings and mercy in our lives.

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) reminds us of the justice and mercy of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) in His dealings with His servants. It emphasizes that Allah does not close the doors of gratitude, plenty, acceptance of prayers, or forgiveness upon His servants. Rather, He encourages us to express gratitude, supplicate to Him, and seek His forgiveness, assuring us that He will respond and bestow His blessings upon us. May we always strive to be grateful, prayerful, and repentant, and may Allah, in His infinite mercy, continue to shower His blessings upon us.