Hadith #8140

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise is due 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.

The Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) warns us to be cautious of negligence, as it is a source of corruption in our perception. The word (ghaflah) "غَفْلَةَ" refers to heedlessness or negligence, while (fasad al-hiss) "فَسادِ الحِسِّ" refers to the corruption of one's sensory perception.

To understand the depth of this Hadith, let us turn to the Quran for guidance. In Surah Al-A'raf (7:179), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

And We have certainly created for Hell many of the jinn and mankind. They have hearts with which they do not understand, they have eyes with which they do not see, and they have ears with which they do not hear. Those are like livestock; rather, they are more astray. It is they who are the heedless.

This verse highlights the consequences of negligence. When one becomes negligent, their hearts become veiled from understanding, their eyes become blind to the truth, and their ears become deaf to wisdom. They become like livestock, driven by their desires and instincts, without the ability to perceive the reality of their actions. Such individuals are truly heedless and are more astray than animals.

Negligence can manifest in various forms in our lives. It can be in the form of neglecting our religious obligations, failing to reflect upon the signs of Allah in the universe, or being oblivious to the consequences of our actions. When we become negligent, we lose touch with our spiritual essence and become disconnected from the guidance of Allah.

In Surah Al-An'am (6:70), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) warns us,

And leave those who take their religion as amusement and diversion and whom the worldly life has deluded. But remind with the Qur'an, lest a soul be given up to destruction for what it earned; it will have other than Allah no protector and no intercessor. And if it should offer every compensation, it would not be taken from it. Those are the ones who are given to destruction for what they have earned. For them will be a drink of scalding water and a painful punishment because they used to disbelieve.

This verse emphasizes the danger of being deluded by the worldly distractions and taking religion lightly. When we allow ourselves to be consumed by worldly pursuits and neglect our spiritual obligations, we risk the destruction of our souls. Negligence in matters of faith can lead to disbelief and ultimately result in severe punishment.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), known for his profound knowledge and wisdom, warns us about the corruption of our sensory perception due to negligence. When we become negligent, our ability to perceive the truth becomes distorted. We may fail to recognize the signs of Allah in our surroundings, overlook the consequences of our actions, and lose sight of our purpose in this world.

To avoid falling into the trap of negligence, we must strive to be mindful and conscious of our actions. We should constantly reflect upon the teachings of the Quran and the guidance of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). By doing so, we can protect ourselves from the corruption of our perception and maintain a clear understanding of our purpose in this world.

Let us take heed of Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) advice and be vigilant against negligence. May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the ability to recognize the dangers of heedlessness and guide us on the path of righteousness. May we strive to be mindful and conscious Muslims, always seeking the pleasure of Allah in our thoughts, words, and actions.