Hadith #6518

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 provided Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) serves as a profound reminder for all Muslims to be cautious of two important aspects of their spiritual journey: arrogance and judgment towards others, and the perception of one's own worship in comparison to others.

Let us first delve into the key words of this Hadith. The word (istakbar) "اِسْتَكْبَار" is derived from the root (kabira) "كَبِرَ", which means to be arrogant or to consider oneself superior. The word (ma'siyati) "مَعْصِيَةِ" refers to sin or disobedience. (tastaghiruhu) "تَسْتَصْغِرُهُ" means to consider something small or insignificant, while (tastakthira) "تَسْتَكْثِرَ" means to consider something abundant or plentiful.

To support the exegesis of this Hadith, we can turn to the Quran for guidance. In Surah Al-Hujurat (49:11), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

O you who have believed, let not a people ridicule [another] people; perhaps they may be better than them; nor let women ridicule [other] women; perhaps they may be better than them. And do not insult one another and do not call each other by [offensive] nicknames. Wretched is the name of disobedience after [one's] faith. And whoever does not repent - then it is those who are the wrongdoers.

This ayah emphasizes the importance of not ridiculing or belittling others, as it is possible that they may be better than us in the sight of Allah. It reminds us to refrain from arrogance and judgment towards others, especially when it comes to their sins or shortcomings. We should be cautious not to magnify the faults of others while downplaying our own.

Furthermore, in Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:105), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) states,

O you who have believed, upon you is [responsibility for] yourselves. Those who have gone astray will not harm you when you have been guided. To Allah is your return all together; then He will inform you of what you used to do.

This verse reminds us that each individual is responsible for their own actions and that we should focus on our own journey towards guidance rather than being preoccupied with the faults of others. It serves as a reminder to avoid arrogance and self-righteousness, as it is only Allah who has the ultimate knowledge and judgment of our deeds.

Reflecting on the impactful message of this Hadith, we can see that it highlights the importance of humility and self-awareness in our spiritual journey. Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), known for his immense knowledge and piety, advises us to be cautious of arrogance when it comes to judging the sins of others. We should not consider the sins of others as great while considering our own sins as insignificant. This teaches us to be humble and understanding towards the struggles and weaknesses of our fellow Muslims.

Similarly, Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) advises us to be mindful of our perception of worship. We should not consider our own acts of worship as abundant or superior while deeming the same acts performed by others as less significant. This encourages us to avoid self-righteousness and to recognize that the value of our worship lies in our sincerity and devotion, rather than in comparison to others.

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) serves as a profound reminder for Muslims to be cautious of arrogance and judgment towards others, as well as the perception of one's own worship in comparison to others. It calls for humility, self-awareness, and a focus on our own spiritual journey rather than being preoccupied with the faults of others. May Allah guide us all to follow the teachings of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) and grant us the wisdom to apply these lessons in our lives.