Hadith #326

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Praise be 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.

In this profound hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), he addresses the people and implores them to have the consciousness of Allah (تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَىٰ) in both times of happiness and distress. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining a state of fear and awe of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) regardless of our circumstances.

Let us delve deeper into the words of this hadith to gain a better understanding. The Arabic word (ni'mah) "نِعْمَةِ" refers to blessings or favors bestowed upon us by Allah (تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَىٰ). It encompasses all the good things we enjoy in life, such as health, wealth, family, and success. On the other hand, the word (niqmah) "نِّقْمَةِ" refers to calamities, trials, and tribulations that we may face.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) draws our attention to the fact that just as we fear Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) and seek His help during times of distress, we should also fear Him during times of happiness. It is easy for us to become complacent and forgetful of our Creator when we are surrounded by blessings and comfort. We may start to take these blessings for granted and become heedless of our duties towards Allah (تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَىٰ).

To support this exegesis, we find numerous verses in the Quran that emphasize the importance of maintaining the fear of Allah (تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَىٰ) at all times. Allah (تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says in Surah Al-Hashr (59:18):

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَلْتَنظُرْ نَفْسٌ مَّا قَدَّمَتْ لِغَدٍ ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ

O you who have believed, fear Allah. And let every soul look to what it has put forth for tomorrow - and fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do.

This verse reminds us to fear Allah (تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَىٰ) and be conscious of our actions, knowing that we will be held accountable for them in the Hereafter. It serves as a reminder that our blessings should not lead us astray, but rather, they should increase our gratitude and devotion to Allah (تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَىٰ).

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) further explains that those who are given ease in life but fail to recognize it as a means of approaching tribulation are deluded into a false sense of security. They believe that they are safe from the trials and tests that others face. However, this perception is flawed because life is full of uncertainties and challenges. No one is immune to the tests of this world, regardless of their wealth or status.

To illustrate this point, we can turn to the story of Prophet Job (Ayub) in the Quran. Despite being blessed with wealth, health, and a loving family, he was suddenly afflicted with severe trials and tribulations. His wealth was taken away, his health deteriorated, and he faced immense suffering. Yet, throughout his ordeal, Prophet Job (Ayub) remained patient and steadfast in his faith, never losing hope in Allah's mercy.

This hadith serves as a reminder for us to be grateful for our blessings and to recognize that they are a test from Allah (تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَىٰ). We should not become complacent or arrogant, thinking that we are exempt from the trials and tribulations that others face. Rather, we should always be prepared and seek Allah's guidance and protection, knowing that He is the ultimate source of all our blessings.

In conclusion, this profound hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) calls upon us to maintain the fear of Allah (تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَىٰ) in all circumstances. We should not let our blessings lead us astray or make us forgetful of our Creator. Instead, we should be grateful for the blessings we have and recognize them as a means of approaching tribulations. By doing so, we can remain steadfast in our faith and seek Allah's guidance and protection in all aspects of our lives. May Allah (تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the wisdom to understand and implement the teachings of this hadith in our lives.