Hadith #1084

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds. 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,

الأماني تخدعك، وعند الحقائق تدعك

which translates to

Aspirations beguile you, and in the presence of reality, they abandon you.

This impactful Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) highlights the deceptive nature of desires and the importance of aligning oneself with the truth.

Let us delve into the deeper meaning of this Hadith by analyzing its key words. The word (aspirations) "أماني" refers to the hopes, dreams, and desires that we hold in our hearts. These aspirations can be both material and spiritual in nature, encompassing our worldly ambitions as well as our pursuit of spiritual growth and closeness to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ).

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) warns us that these aspirations have the ability to deceive us. They can cloud our judgment, leading us astray from the path of truth and righteousness. We may become so consumed by our desires that we lose sight of what truly matters in the sight of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). This deception can manifest in various ways, such as pursuing wealth at the expense of our moral values or prioritizing personal ambitions over fulfilling our religious obligations.

To emphasize the fleeting nature of aspirations, Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states that in the presence of reality, these aspirations abandon us. When faced with the harsh realities of life, our lofty dreams and desires often prove to be illusory and transient. They cannot withstand the tests and trials that we encounter along our journey. Only the truth, grounded in the teachings of Islam, remains steadfast and provides us with guidance and solace.

The Quran provides us with numerous verses that support the wisdom behind Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) statement. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) reminds us in Surah Al-Hadid (57:20),

Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children - like the example of a rain whose [resulting] plant growth pleases the tillers; then it dries and you see it turned yellow; then it becomes [scattered] debris.

This verse highlights the transient nature of worldly desires and the ultimate futility of chasing after them.

Furthermore, in Surah Al-Qasas (28:60), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) states,

And whatever thing you [people] have been given - it is [only for] the enjoyment of worldly life and its adornment. And what is with Allah is better and more lasting; so will you not use reason?

This verse reminds us that the true and lasting fulfillment lies in seeking the pleasure of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) rather than being captivated by the temporary allure of worldly aspirations.

Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) Hadith serves as a profound reminder for Muslims to be cautious of the deceptive nature of desires and to prioritize the pursuit of truth and righteousness. It urges us to align our aspirations with the teachings of Islam and to seek contentment in the pleasure of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) rather than being swayed by the transient and illusory nature of worldly ambitions.

May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the wisdom to discern between true aspirations and deceptive desires, and may He guide us to prioritize the pursuit of truth and righteousness in all aspects of our lives.