Hadith #1571

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 Arabic Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states,

البطر يسلب النعمة، ويجلب النقمة

which translates to

Wantonness takes away blessings and brings chastisement.

In this beautiful Hadith, Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) highlights the consequences of indulging in excessive and reckless behavior, which leads to the loss of blessings and invites divine punishment.

To understand the deeper meaning of this Hadith, let us first explore the key words used. "البطر" refers to wantonness or excessiveness, which implies going beyond the limits set by Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) and indulging in forbidden actions. This includes overindulgence in worldly desires, such as gluttony, extravagance, and immorality. "يسلب" means to take away or deprive, indicating that wantonness leads to the loss of blessings and favors bestowed upon an individual by Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). "النعمة" refers to the blessings and favors that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) bestows upon His servants.

The second part of the Hadith states, "ويجلب النقمة" which means "and brings chastisement." Here, "ويجلب" signifies the consequence of wantonness, which is the invitation of divine punishment or chastisement. "النقمة" refers to the wrath and punishment of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) that befalls those who persist in sinful behavior.

To further comprehend the significance of this Hadith, let us turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) repeatedly warns us against indulging in excessiveness and transgressing the limits set by Him. In Surah Al-A'raf (7:31), Allah says,

O children of Adam, take your adornment at every masjid, and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess.

Excessive behavior not only leads to the loss of blessings but also invites divine punishment. In Surah Al-Isra (17:16), Allah warns,

And when We intend to destroy a city, We command its affluent but they defiantly disobey therein; so the word comes into effect upon it, and We destroy it with [complete] destruction.

The consequences of wantonness and excessiveness are evident in the stories of the past nations mentioned in the Quran. The people of Prophet Nuh (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) were destroyed due to their indulgence in sinful behavior and transgressing the limits set by Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). Similarly, the people of Prophet Lut (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) were punished for their immoral acts and transgression.

Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) Hadith serves as a reminder for Muslims to be mindful of their actions and to avoid excessive behavior. It emphasizes the importance of moderation in all aspects of life, whether it be in our desires, consumption, or interactions with others. By maintaining balance and adhering to the limits set by Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ), we can preserve the blessings bestowed upon us and protect ourselves from the chastisement of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ).

Let us reflect upon this Hadith and strive to lead a life of moderation, seeking the pleasure of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) in all our actions. May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) guide us to the straight path and protect us from the consequences of wantonness.