Hadith #2388

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.

The Arabic Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states,

ذُو الإفْضالِ مَشْكُورُ السِّيادَةِ۔

This can be translated as,

Whoever bestows favours on others, they are thankful for his authority.

Let us delve into the meaning of some important words in this Hadith. "ذُو الإفْضالِ" refers to the one who possesses or bestows favors. "مَشْكُورُ" means that the recipients of these favors are grateful or thankful. "السِّيادَةِ" refers to authority or leadership.

To understand the impactful message of this Hadith, we can turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says in Surah Al-Insan (76:9),

And they give food in spite of love for it to the needy, the orphan, and the captive.

This verse emphasizes the importance of giving and bestowing favors upon others, even if it means sacrificing something that one loves. It highlights the selflessness and generosity that should be inherent in a believer's character.

Furthermore, in Surah Al-Balad (90:11-16), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) describes the qualities of the righteous individuals who will be rewarded in the Hereafter. Among these qualities is their commitment to providing sustenance to the poor, the orphan, and the prisoner, and their belief in the Day of Judgment. This highlights the significance of bestowing favors upon others and the rewards that await those who do so.

Now, let us reflect on the beautiful message of Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) Hadith. The Hadith teaches us that when someone consistently and selflessly bestows favors upon others, they earn the gratitude and respect of those they have helped. This gratitude and respect, in turn, leads to the recognition of their authority and leadership.

For example, imagine a leader who consistently provides for the needs of their community, supports the less fortunate, and uplifts the oppressed. The people in the community will naturally be grateful for the leader's generosity and will recognize their authority. They will willingly follow their guidance and respect their decisions because they have experienced firsthand the leader's compassion and care.

Conversely, a leader who neglects the needs of their community and fails to bestow favors upon others will not earn the gratitude and respect of the people. Their authority will be questioned, and their leadership may be undermined. This highlights the importance of selflessness and generosity in leadership and the profound impact it can have on the relationship between a leader and their followers.

In conclusion, Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) Hadith teaches us the importance of bestowing favors upon others. When we selflessly give and support those in need, we earn their gratitude and respect. This gratitude and respect, in turn, lead to the recognition of our authority and leadership. As Muslims, we should strive to embody these qualities and follow the example set by Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) in order to strengthen our relationships and foster a sense of unity and compassion within our communities. May Allah (تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَىٰ) guide us in embodying these noble qualities and bless us with the ability to bestow favors upon others.