Hadith #11160

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.

In this profound hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), he advises us to fear Allah and be cautious of our duty towards Him, in accordance with the purpose for which He has created us. The Imam (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) urges us to recognize the significance of our existence and the responsibilities that come with it.

The word (fattaqullah) "فَاتَّقُوا" in the hadith means to fear Allah, to be conscious of His presence, and to guard against His displeasure. It is a comprehensive term that encompasses both fear and awe, as well as obedience and piety. This fear of Allah is not a fear of punishment, but rather a fear of disappointing Him and falling short of His expectations.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) then emphasizes the importance of being cautious of Allah, just as He has warned us about Himself. This caution implies being mindful of Allah's commands and prohibitions, and being aware of the consequences of our actions. It is a reminder that Allah is fully aware of our intentions and actions, and that we will be held accountable for them.

To support the exegesis of this hadith, let us turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah says in Surah Al-Hashr (59:18):

O you who have believed, fear Allah. And let every soul look to what it has put forth for tomorrow - and fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do.

This verse emphasizes the importance of fearing Allah and being mindful of our actions. It reminds us that Allah is fully aware of what we do, and that we will be held accountable for our deeds on the Day of Resurrection. Therefore, it is crucial for us to be cautious and mindful of our duty towards Allah.

Furthermore, in Surah Al-Imran (3:102), Allah says:

O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims [in submission to Him].

This verse highlights the significance of fearing Allah as He deserves to be feared. It encourages us to live our lives in submission to Him and to strive to fulfill our duties as Muslims. It is a reminder that our ultimate goal should be to die in a state of submission to Allah, having fulfilled our purpose in this world.

In the second part of the hadith, Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) advises us to make ourselves deserving of what Allah has promised us by having confidence in the truth of His promise and being afraid of the terror of the Day of Resurrection. This means that we should have faith in the promises of Allah and strive to fulfill the conditions required to attain those promises.

Allah says in Surah Al-Anfal (8:52):

This is so that Allah may distinguish the wicked from the good and place the wicked some of them upon others and heap them all together and put them into Hell. It is those who are the losers.

This verse reminds us of the consequences of our actions and the importance of being deserving of Allah's promises. It emphasizes that those who are wicked and fail to fulfill their duties will be gathered together and placed in Hell. Therefore, it is essential for us to strive to be among the righteous and fulfill our obligations in order to be deserving of Allah's promises.

In conclusion, this hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) serves as a profound reminder for us to fear Allah and be cautious of our duty towards Him. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing the purpose for which we have been created and striving to fulfill it. By having confidence in the truth of Allah's promises and being afraid of the consequences of our actions, we can make ourselves deserving of what Allah has promised us. May Allah guide us all to follow the teachings of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) and grant us the ability to fulfill our duties towards Him.