Hadith #1935

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

Verily the ignorant is one whose ignorance leads astray and whose vain desires entice [towards evil]; so his speech is unhealthy and his action is blameworthy.

This beautiful Hadith highlights the detrimental consequences of ignorance and the allure of base desires. Let us delve into the exegesis of this Hadith in light of the Quran.

The word (jahluhu) "جَهْلُهُ" in the Hadith refers to the ignorance that leads one astray. It is important to note that this ignorance is not merely a lack of knowledge, but rather a willful neglect of seeking knowledge and understanding. This type of ignorance blinds individuals to the truth and causes them to make misguided decisions. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) warns us in the Quran about the consequences of such ignorance 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.

Furthermore, the phrase (hawahu) "هَوَاهُ" in the Hadith refers to vain desires that entice individuals towards evil. These desires are rooted in the ego and lead one away from the path of righteousness. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) warns us about the dangers of following our base desires in Surah Al-Qasas (28:50),

But if they do not respond to you - then know that they only follow their [own] desires. And who is more astray than one who follows his desire without guidance from Allah?

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) describes the speech of the ignorant as (saqeem) "سَقِيمٌ", which means unhealthy or corrupt. This emphasizes the harmful nature of their words, which are often devoid of wisdom and guidance. In the Quran, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) warns us about the consequences of heedless speech in Surah Al-A'raf (7:33),

Say, 'My Lord has only forbidden immoralities - what is apparent of them and what is concealed - and sin, and oppression without right, and that you associate with Allah that for which He has not sent down authority, and that you say about Allah that which you do not know.'

Likewise, the actions of the ignorant are described as (dameem) "ذَمِيمٌ", meaning blameworthy or reprehensible. Their actions are driven by ignorance and base desires, leading them to engage in sinful behavior. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) warns us about the consequences of such actions in Surah Al-Qasas (28:84),

Whoever comes [on the Day of Judgement] with a good deed will have better than it, and they, from the terror of that Day, will be safe.

Reflecting on this Hadith, we understand the importance of seeking knowledge and guarding ourselves against the allure of our base desires. Ignorance and heedlessness can lead us astray, causing harm to ourselves and others. It is incumbent upon us as Muslims to strive for knowledge, to seek guidance from the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and his Ahl al-Bayt (عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلسَّلَامُ). By doing so, we can ensure that our speech is guided by wisdom and our actions are righteous, earning the pleasure of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) and the salvation in the Hereafter.

May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the ability to seek knowledge, purify our intentions, and protect us from the pitfalls of ignorance and base desires. Ameen.