Hadith #9245

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. 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:

رَضِيَ بِالذُّلِّ مَنْ كَشَفَ ضُرَّهُ لِغَيْرِهِ۔

This Hadith emphasizes the act of revealing one's distress or problems to others as a form of accepting humiliation. Let us delve into the deeper meaning of this Hadith in light of the Quran.

The key words in this Hadith are (raḍiya) "رَضِيَ", which means "to accept" or

to be pleased with,

(adh-dhulli) "الذُّلِّ", which means "humiliation" or "humbleness," (kashafa) "كَشَفَ", which means "to reveal" or "to disclose," and (ḍurrahu) "ضُرَّهُ", which means "his distress" or "his problems."

To understand the wisdom behind this Hadith, we can turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) teaches us in Surah Al-Hujurat (49:11):

O you who have believed, let not a people ridicule [another] people; perhaps they may be better than them; nor let women ridicule [other] women; perhaps they may be better than them. And do not insult one another and do not call each other by [offensive] nicknames. Wretched is the name of disobedience after [one's] faith. And whoever does not repent - then it is those who are the wrongdoers.

This verse highlights the importance of not ridiculing or humiliating others. It reminds us that we should not judge others based on their external appearances or circumstances, as they may be better in the sight of Allah. Therefore, when someone reveals their distress or problems to others, they are essentially exposing their vulnerabilities and seeking help or support. By doing so, they are willingly accepting a form of humiliation, as they are opening themselves up to potential judgment or ridicule.

Another verse that sheds light on the wisdom behind this Hadith is found in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:286):

Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear...

This verse reassures us that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) does not burden us with more than we can handle. It reminds us that we should turn to Allah in times of distress and seek His guidance and support. By revealing our distress to others instead of turning to Allah, we are essentially disregarding His infinite wisdom and mercy. We are accepting humiliation by seeking help from fallible human beings instead of relying on the All-Powerful and All-Knowing Creator.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), known for his profound knowledge and wisdom, is teaching us through this Hadith that it is important to maintain our dignity and self-respect by turning to Allah in times of distress. Instead of revealing our problems to others and accepting humiliation, we should seek solace in prayer, supplication, and seeking guidance from the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).

By doing so, we not only strengthen our relationship with Allah but also develop resilience and patience. We learn to trust in His divine plan and have faith that He will guide us through our difficulties. This approach allows us to maintain our self-esteem and dignity, as we rely on the ultimate source of strength and support.

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) reminds us of the importance of maintaining our dignity and self-respect by turning to Allah in times of distress. By seeking help from Allah and relying on His guidance, we can overcome our problems with patience and resilience. Revealing our distress to others and accepting humiliation goes against the teachings of the Quran, which emphasize the importance of not ridiculing or humiliating others. May Allah guide us to follow the teachings of the Quran and the Ahl al-Bayt (عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلسَّلَامُ) and grant us the strength to face our difficulties with patience and reliance on Him.