Hadith #9906

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.

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

مَنْ مَنَّ بِمَعْرُوفِهِ أفْسَدَ هُ۔

This Hadith can be translated into English as,

One who puts obligation with his good action corrupts it.

Let us first examine the key words in this Hadith. The word (man) "مَنَّ" means "one who" or "whoever." (ma'rufihi) "مَعْرُوفِهِ" refers to a good action or a virtuous deed. And (afsada) "أفْسَدَ" means to corrupt or spoil something.

To understand the deeper meaning of this Hadith, we can turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:195),

And do not make your hand [as] chained to your neck or extend it completely and [thereby] become blamed and insolvent.

This verse emphasizes the importance of moderation in our actions. It warns against going to extremes, whether it is being miserly or excessively generous. Both extremes can lead to negative consequences and corruption.

Similarly, in Surah Al-Isra (17:29), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

And do not make your hand [as] chained to your neck or extend it completely and [thereby] become blamed and insolvent.

This verse highlights the importance of balance and moderation in our actions. It cautions against excessive spending or withholding one's wealth to the point of miserliness. Both extremes can lead to corruption and harm.

Now, let us apply these Quranic teachings to the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ). Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) is reminding us that when we perform a good action, it should be done sincerely and without any ulterior motives. If we attach obligations or expectations to our good deeds, such as seeking praise or recognition from others, it corrupts the purity and sincerity of our actions.

For example, if someone donates to charity with the intention of gaining social status or seeking validation from others, their act of charity becomes corrupted. The intention behind the good action should solely be to please Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) and seek His reward. This aligns with the Quranic teachings that emphasize sincerity and purity of intention in our actions.

Furthermore, attaching obligations to our good deeds can also lead to arrogance and self-righteousness. If we believe that our good actions make us superior to others or exempt us from other responsibilities, it corrupts the humility and modesty that should accompany our virtuous deeds.

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) serves as a reminder for Muslims to perform good actions sincerely and without any ulterior motives. We should strive for balance and moderation in our deeds, avoiding extremes that can lead to corruption. By purifying our intentions and avoiding the attachment of obligations to our good actions, we can ensure that our deeds are accepted by Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) and bring about positive consequences in our lives. May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) guide us all to sincerity and righteousness in our actions.