Hadith #8667

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 pure Ahl al-Bayt, and his righteous companions.

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

مِنْ أعْظَمِ الشَّقاوَةِ القَساوَةُ۔

This can be translated as,

Hard-heartedness is from the greatest wretchedness.

In order to understand the essence behind this statement, let us delve into the important words used in this Hadith.

The word (shaqawa) "شَّقاوَةِ" refers to wretchedness or misery. It signifies a state of being unhappy, distressed, and deprived of goodness. It is a condition that is far from the mercy and blessings of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). On the other hand, the word (qasawa) "قَساوَةُ" means hard-heartedness or harshness. It implies a lack of compassion, empathy, and kindness towards others.

To shed light on the significance of this Hadith, let us turn to the Quran for guidance. In Surah Al-Hadid, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says, (Quran 21:25)

And We sent not before you any messenger except that We revealed to him that, 'There is no deity except Me, so worship Me.'

This verse emphasizes the fundamental message of all the Prophets, which is the worship of Allah alone. Hard-heartedness, however, distances a person from this divine commandment and leads them towards wretchedness.

Furthermore, in Surah Al-Anfal, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) states, (Quran 49:7)

And know that among you is the Messenger of Allah. If he were to obey you in much of the matter, you would be in difficulty, but Allah has endeared to you the faith and has made it pleasing in your hearts and has made hateful to you disbelief, defiance and disobedience. Those are the [rightly] guided.

This verse highlights the importance of having a soft and tender heart towards the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and his teachings. Hard-heartedness, on the other hand, distances a person from the guidance of the Prophet (ﷺ) and leads them towards wretchedness.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), being the gate to the city of knowledge, understood the detrimental consequences of hard-heartedness. He recognized that a heart devoid of compassion and kindness is a heart that is disconnected from the mercy and blessings of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). Such a heart is unable to experience the true essence of faith and is prone to causing harm and suffering to others.

When a person is hard-hearted, they become indifferent to the pain and suffering of those around them. They lack empathy and fail to extend a helping hand to those in need. This leads to a breakdown in relationships, communities, and societies. Hard-heartedness creates a toxic environment where love, mercy, and compassion are replaced by animosity, cruelty, and indifference.

Conversely, a heart that is soft and tender is receptive to the guidance of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) and the teachings of the Prophet (ﷺ). It is a heart that is filled with love, mercy, and compassion towards all of Allah's creation. Such a heart seeks to alleviate the suffering of others, to spread goodness, and to establish justice and harmony in society.

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) reminds us of the importance of cultivating a soft and tender heart. Hard-heartedness is a state of wretchedness that distances us from the mercy and blessings of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). It is a quality that leads to harm and suffering for ourselves and others. On the other hand, a heart filled with compassion and kindness is a heart that is connected to the divine and seeks to spread love and goodness in the world. May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the ability to soften our hearts and to be a source of mercy and compassion for all of humanity.