Hadith #4209

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 Arabic Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states:

هَيْهاتَ ما تَناكَرْتُمْ إلاّ لِما قَبْلَكُمْ مِنَ الخَطايا والذُّنُوبِ۔

This Hadith can be translated as:

Far be it! You have not feigned ignorance except because of what has passed before you of mistakes and sins.

In this Hadith, there are a few important words that require further explanation. The word (tanakartum) "تَنَاكَرْتُمْ" is derived from the root word (nakara) "نَكَرَ", which means to pretend or feign. The word (khataya) "خَطَايَا" refers to mistakes or errors, while (dunub) "ذُنُوب" refers to sins or transgressions.

To understand the meaning of this Hadith, let us turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says in Surah Al-Hujurat (49:6):

O you who have believed, if there comes to you a disobedient one with information, investigate, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and become, over what you have done, regretful.

This verse emphasizes the importance of verifying information before accepting it and acting upon it. It warns against harming others based on false or incomplete knowledge. Similarly, Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) in his Hadith is cautioning the Muslims against pretending ignorance, which can lead to repeating the mistakes and sins of the past.

The phrase (Far be it! You have not feigned ignorance) "هَيْهاتَ ما تَناكَرْتُمْ" expresses the disbelief and rejection of the notion that one can feign ignorance. Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) is highlighting the fact that pretending ignorance does not absolve one from the consequences of their actions. It is a reminder that we cannot escape the consequences of our past mistakes and sins by simply pretending ignorance.

To further understand the significance of this Hadith, we can refer to Surah Al-Baqarah (2:286), where Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says:

Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear.

This verse reminds us that we are responsible for our actions and will be held accountable for them. Pretending ignorance does not alleviate this responsibility.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), being the gate of knowledge and wisdom, is urging Muslims to reflect on their past mistakes and sins. By acknowledging and learning from these errors, we can strive to avoid repeating them in the future. This Hadith serves as a reminder that true growth and progress come from self-reflection and taking responsibility for our actions.

By understanding the consequences of our past mistakes and sins, we can strive to become better individuals and contribute positively to society. It is through self-awareness and self-improvement that we can seek forgiveness from Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) and strive for a better future.

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) reminds us that pretending ignorance does not absolve us from the consequences of our past mistakes and sins. It urges us to reflect on our actions, learn from our past errors, and strive for self-improvement. By doing so, we can seek forgiveness from Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) and work towards a better future. May Allah guide us all on the path of righteousness and grant us the wisdom to learn from our past.