Hadith #6529

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds, and blessings be upon Muhammad (peace be upon him), his pure progeny, and his noble companions.

The Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) highlights the concept of inability and failure. The key words in this Hadith are (inability/failure) "العَجْزُ", (occupying yourself) "اِشْتِغَالُكَ", (that which has been guaranteed) "المَضْمُونِ", (that which has been made obligatory) "المَفْرُوضِ", and (contentment) "القَنَاعَةِ".

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states that inability or failure occurs when one occupies themselves with that which has already been guaranteed for them, instead of fulfilling their obligations and neglecting contentment with what they have been given.

To understand the beautiful message of this Hadith, we can turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) reminds us in Surah Al-Isra (17:80):

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 emphasizes the importance of seeking Allah's guidance and relying on His sustenance. It reminds us that our success and ability to fulfill our obligations come from Allah alone. When we occupy ourselves with that which has already been guaranteed, we lose sight of our true purpose and neglect our responsibilities.

Furthermore, in Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:6), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says:

O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles.

This verse highlights the obligation of performing ablution before prayer. It is a clear command from Allah, and neglecting this obligation would be considered a failure or inability to fulfill what has been made obligatory upon us.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) also emphasizes the importance of contentment with what we have been given. In Surah Al-Baqarah (2:152), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says:

So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me.

This verse reminds us to be grateful for the blessings bestowed upon us by Allah. When we are content with what we have, we acknowledge the generosity of Allah and avoid the trap of constantly seeking more and neglecting our obligations.

Reflecting on the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), we realize that our inability and failure arise when we prioritize that which has already been guaranteed over our obligations. This can manifest in various ways, such as neglecting our prayers, disregarding our responsibilities towards our families and communities, or being consumed by worldly pursuits.

By focusing on fulfilling our obligations and being content with what we have, we can overcome our inability and failure. We must strive to prioritize our duties towards Allah and His creation, seeking His guidance and relying on His sustenance. This will lead to a life of purpose, fulfillment, and success in both this world and the hereafter.

May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the ability to fulfill our obligations and be content with what we have been given. May He guide us on the straight path and protect us from the trap of failure and inability. Ameen.