Hadith #5206

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 highlights a fundamental aspect of human nature and our relationship with Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) and Satan. The Hadith states,

Your Lord, the Glorified, called you but you turned away and fled, and Satan called you so you responded and drew closer [to him].

Let us delve into the key words of this Hadith to gain a deeper understanding. The word (da'akum) "دَعاكُمْ" refers to the call or invitation extended by Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) to His creation. It signifies the divine guidance and mercy that Allah continuously bestows upon us. On the other hand, the word (wada'akum) "وَدَعاكُمُ" refers to the call or invitation extended by Satan. This call represents the temptations and distractions that Satan uses to mislead and divert us from the path of righteousness.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) highlights the unfortunate response of human beings to these calls. He states that when Allah's call reaches us, we turn away and flee, neglecting the divine guidance and mercy that is being offered to us. However, when Satan calls us, we respond and draw closer to him, falling into his traps and succumbing to his temptations.

To understand the significance of this Hadith, we must turn to the Quran, the ultimate source of guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) repeatedly calls upon humanity to turn towards Him, to seek His forgiveness, and to follow His guidance. In Surah Al-Baqarah, Allah says, (Quran 2:186)

And when My servants ask you concerning Me, indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me

This verse emphasizes the closeness of Allah and His readiness to respond to our calls.

Furthermore, the Quran warns us about the deceitful tactics of Satan. In Surah Al-A'raf, Allah describes Satan's call, saying, (Quran 4:119)

Indeed, I will surely mislead them and arouse in them [sinful] desires, and I will command them so they will slit the ears of cattle, and I will command them so they will change the creation of Allah

This verse highlights Satan's intention to lead humanity astray and to corrupt their actions and beliefs.

Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) Hadith serves as a powerful reminder of the choices we make in response to the calls of Allah and Satan. It highlights the unfortunate reality that many of us turn away from the divine guidance and mercy offered by Allah, while readily responding to the temptations and distractions presented by Satan.

The consequences of such choices are profound. When we turn away from Allah's call, we distance ourselves from His guidance, mercy, and blessings. We become vulnerable to the deceitful tactics of Satan, who seeks to lead us astray and corrupt our hearts and actions. Our spiritual well-being and ultimate salvation are at stake when we heed the call of Satan instead of responding to the call of Allah.

Reflecting on this Hadith, we must strive to be conscious of our choices and actions. We should actively seek to respond to the call of Allah by turning towards Him, seeking His forgiveness, and following His guidance. We must be vigilant against the temptations and distractions presented by Satan, recognizing his deceptive nature and striving to resist his call.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) possessed immense knowledge and wisdom, and his words in this Hadith serve as a timeless reminder for all Muslims. May we all strive to respond to the call of Allah and distance ourselves from the call of Satan, seeking His guidance and mercy in all aspects of our lives.