Hadith #7215

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise is due 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.

In this profound Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), he highlights the stark difference between the intelligent and the ignorant. The words used in this Hadith are of great significance and provide us with a deeper understanding of its meaning.

The word (aql) "عاقل" refers to the intelligent one, the person who possesses wisdom and understanding. This individual relies on his own efforts and hard work to achieve success and attain his goals. He understands the importance of taking action and putting in the necessary effort to bring about positive outcomes in his life.

On the other hand, the word (jahil) "جاهل" refers to the ignorant one, the person who lacks knowledge and understanding. This individual relies solely on his aspirations and desires, without considering the need for hard work and effort. He lives in a state of wishful thinking, hoping for success without taking any practical steps to achieve it.

To further understand the wisdom behind this Hadith, let us turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) emphasizes the importance of hard work and effort in numerous verses. For example, in Surah Al-Isra (17:80), Allah says,

And say: My Lord! Cause me to come in with a firm incoming and to go out with a firm outgoing. And give me from Thy presence a sustaining Power.

This verse highlights the importance of relying on one's own efforts and seeking Allah's assistance in achieving success.

Similarly, in Surah Al-Qasas (28:77), Allah says,

But seek, with that (wealth) which Allah has bestowed on you, the home of the Hereafter, and forget not your portion of lawful enjoyment in this world; and do good as Allah has been good to you, and seek not mischief in the land. Verily, Allah likes not the Mufsidun (those who commit great crimes and sins, oppressors, tyrants, mischief-makers, corrupters).

From these verses, we can understand that relying solely on aspirations and wishes, without putting in the necessary effort, is not the path to success. Allah encourages us to work hard, seek lawful enjoyment in this world, and strive for the Hereafter. The intelligent one understands this and takes action accordingly, while the ignorant one remains stagnant, hoping for success to come to him without any effort on his part.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) teaches us a valuable lesson through this Hadith. He reminds us that success and achievement require diligent effort and hard work. We cannot simply rely on our aspirations and desires, expecting them to magically manifest without any action on our part. The intelligent one understands this and takes responsibility for his own destiny, working tirelessly to achieve his goals.

Conversely, the ignorant one remains trapped in a cycle of wishful thinking, hoping for success to come to him without any effort. This mindset leads to stagnation and disappointment, as aspirations alone cannot bring about tangible results.

As Muslims, we should strive to embody the qualities of the intelligent one, relying on our hard work and efforts to achieve success in this world and the Hereafter. We should seek knowledge, take action, and trust in Allah's guidance and support. May Allah grant us the wisdom to understand the importance of hard work and the strength to act upon it.