Hadith #4469

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 consequences of being pleased with the actions of a group, particularly when those actions are based on falsehood. Let us delve into the exegesis of this Hadith and explore its implications in light of the Quran.

The key words in this Hadith are (raadi) "رَاضِي", which means "pleased," (fi'l) "فِعْل", which means "action," (qawm) "قَوْم", which means "group," (daakhil) "دَاخِل", which means "participates," (baatil) "بَاطِل", which means "falsehood," (ithmaan) "إِثْمَانِ", which means "two sins," (ithmu ar-ridaa) "إِثْمُ الرِّضَا", which means

the sin of being pleased,

and (ithmu al-'amal) "إِثْمُ الْعَمَلِ", which means

the sin of acting upon.

To understand the gravity of this Hadith, we must turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) warns us in Surah Al-Ma'idah, verse 2:

And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression.

This verse emphasizes the importance of aligning ourselves with righteousness and avoiding participation in sin.

Furthermore, in Surah Al-Kahf, verse 28, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) states:

And keep yourself patient [by being] with those who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening, seeking His countenance.

This verse encourages us to surround ourselves with righteous individuals and to be patient in their company, as they strive to please Allah.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) warns us that being pleased with the actions of a group, especially when those actions are based on falsehood, carries grave consequences. Firstly, there is the sin of being pleased with falsehood. When we witness or are aware of actions that go against the teachings of Islam, we should not find contentment or satisfaction in them. Instead, we should feel a sense of unease and strive to rectify the situation.

Secondly, there is the sin of acting upon falsehood. This refers to actively participating in actions that are contrary to the principles of Islam. It is not enough to simply be displeased with falsehood; we must also refrain from engaging in it ourselves. This highlights the importance of individual responsibility and the need to uphold the truth, even if it means going against the actions of a group.

For example, if a group engages in backbiting or spreading rumors, the one who is pleased with their actions and does not speak out against it incurs the sin of being pleased with falsehood. However, if one actively participates in backbiting or spreading rumors, they not only incur the sin of being pleased with falsehood but also the sin of acting upon it.

This Hadith serves as a reminder for Muslims to be vigilant in their actions and associations. We should strive to surround ourselves with individuals who uphold the principles of Islam and actively work towards righteousness. It is our duty to speak out against falsehood and to distance ourselves from actions that go against the teachings of the Quran and the Sunnah.

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) emphasizes the importance of being cautious and discerning when it comes to our associations and actions. We should not be complacent or pleased with falsehood, but rather strive to align ourselves with righteousness and the teachings of Islam. May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) guide us all on the straight path and protect us from the sins of being pleased with falsehood and acting upon it.