Hadith #142

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.

The Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states,

He who agrees with the action of a group of persons is as though he joins them in that action. And every one who joins in wrong commits two sins; one sin for committing the wrong and the other for agreeing with it.

Let us delve into the meaning of this profound Hadith and explore its implications in the light of the Quran. The key words in this Hadith are (raadi) "رَاضِي" which means "agreeing" or "satisfied," (fi'il) "فِعْلِ" which means "action," (dakhil) "دَاخِلِ" which means "joining" or "participating," (batil) "بَاطِلٍ" which means "wrong" or "falsehood," (ithmaan) "إِثْمَانِ" which means "two sins," (amal) "عَمَلِ" which means "committing," and (rida) "رِضَا" which means "agreeing" or "satisfaction."

To understand the significance of this Hadith, we can turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says in Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:2),

And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression.

This verse emphasizes the importance of aligning ourselves with righteousness and avoiding participation in sinful actions. By agreeing with the actions of a group, one becomes complicit in their wrongdoing, thus incurring the burden of their sins as well.

Furthermore, in Surah Al-An'am (6:164), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) warns,

And when they forgot that by which they had been reminded, We saved those who had forbidden evil and seized those who wronged, with a wretched punishment, because they were defiantly disobeying.

This verse highlights the consequences of joining in wrong and emphasizes the importance of forbidding evil. By agreeing with and participating in wrongful actions, one not only incurs the sin of committing the wrong themselves but also bears the responsibility of encouraging and enabling others to engage in wrongdoing.

This Hadith serves as a reminder for Muslims to be cautious of the company they keep and the actions they endorse. It urges us to be discerning and not blindly follow the crowd, especially when it comes to matters of right and wrong. Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) is teaching us the importance of individual responsibility and accountability. We are responsible for our own actions and should not be swayed by the actions of others if they are contrary to the teachings of Islam.

Reflecting on this Hadith, we can see its relevance in various aspects of our lives. For example, in matters of social justice, if a group engages in oppression or injustice, it is incumbent upon us to stand up against it, even if it means going against the majority. Similarly, in personal relationships, if a group engages in gossip or backbiting, we should refrain from participating and instead strive to promote unity and kindness.

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) serves as a powerful reminder for Muslims to be mindful of the actions they agree with and participate in. By aligning ourselves with righteousness and avoiding participation in wrongdoing, we uphold the principles of Islam and fulfill our individual responsibility to promote goodness and forbid evil. May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the wisdom and strength to always choose the path of righteousness and protect us from the consequences of joining in wrong.