Hadith #9475

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 purified progeny, and his noble companions.

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

قَدْ أوْجَبَ الدَّهْرُ شُكْرَهُ عَلى مَنْ بَلَغَ سُؤْلَهُ۔

This can be translated as,

Time has indeed made its gratitude incumbent on the one who attains what he seeks.

In this Hadith, there are a few key words that require attention. The first word is (dahr) "دَهْرُ", which refers to time or the passing of time. The second word is (shukrah) "شُكْرَهُ", which means gratitude or thanks. And the third word is (su'lahu) "سُؤْلَهُ", which can be translated as what one seeks or desires.

To understand the essence of this Hadith, we can turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says in Surah Al-Rahman (55:29),

Whosoever desires, let him seek a place with his Lord.

This verse highlights the importance of seeking and desiring a place with Allah, which can be understood as seeking His pleasure and nearness.

Furthermore, in Surah Al-Fatiha (1:4), we recite in every unit of our prayers,

You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.

This verse emphasizes the act of seeking and asking for help from Allah alone. It reminds us that our desires and needs should be directed towards Allah, seeking His guidance and assistance.

Now, when we reflect on the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), we understand that time has made it obligatory for us to express gratitude when we attain what we seek from Allah. This gratitude is not only for the fulfillment of our desires but also for the opportunity to seek and ask from Allah in the first place.

For example, if a person seeks knowledge and is granted it by Allah, they should express gratitude for the knowledge they have acquired. They should acknowledge that it is Allah who facilitated their journey of seeking knowledge and bestowed it upon them. This gratitude should manifest in their actions, by utilizing the knowledge for the betterment of themselves and others.

Similarly, if someone seeks forgiveness from Allah and is granted it, they should be grateful for the mercy and forgiveness bestowed upon them. They should recognize that it is Allah's grace that allowed them to seek forgiveness and attain it. This gratitude should be reflected in their behavior, by striving to avoid sins and sincerely repenting when they err.

In essence, this Hadith teaches us that time is a gift from Allah, and it is through the passage of time that we have the opportunity to seek and attain what we desire. It reminds us that our desires should align with seeking Allah's pleasure, and when we are granted what we seek, we should express gratitude to Him.

As Muslims, we should reflect on our desires and intentions, ensuring that they are in line with seeking Allah's pleasure. We should constantly seek His guidance and assistance, recognizing that it is through His mercy that we can attain what we desire. And when we are blessed with the fulfillment of our desires, we should express sincere gratitude to Allah, acknowledging His infinite blessings and favors upon us.

May Allah (تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the ability to seek what is pleasing to Him and bless us with the gratitude to acknowledge His blessings. May we always strive to align our desires with seeking His pleasure and may He accept our sincere efforts.