Hadith #6409

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) highlights the displeasure of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) towards those individuals who have been left to their own devices and have deviated from the right path, proceeding without any guidance. Let us delve deeper into the words of this Hadith and explore its meaning in light of the Quran.

The word (abghad) "أبْغَضِ" in the Hadith refers to something or someone that is intensely disliked or hated. Here, Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) is emphasizing that among all of Allah's creation, there is a specific category of people who are despised by Him. These individuals are those who have been

left on their own

or abandoned by Allah's guidance, and as a result, they have strayed from the right path.

The phrase (ila nafsihi jairan) "إلى نَفْسِهِ جائِراً" in the Hadith means that these individuals are wandering aimlessly, without any sense of direction or purpose. They have become lost, both spiritually and morally, and are moving forward without any guidance or evidence to support their actions. They are essentially walking on a path that is devoid of any divine guidance.

To understand the significance of this Hadith, let us turn to the Quran for further insight. In Surah Al-An'am (6:125), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

So whoever Allah wants to guide - He expands his breast to [contain] Islam; and whoever He wants to misguide - He makes his breast tight and constricted as though he were climbing into the sky. Thus does Allah place defilement upon those who do not believe.

This verse highlights the role of Allah's guidance in a person's life. When Allah desires to guide someone, He opens their heart to accept Islam and grants them the ability to discern right from wrong. On the other hand, when Allah wishes to lead someone astray, He restricts their heart and deprives them of the ability to recognize the truth. Such individuals are left to their own devices, wandering aimlessly without any guidance.

Another verse that sheds light on the consequences of straying from the right path is found in Surah Al-Kahf (18:57), where Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

And who is more unjust than one who is reminded of the verses of his Lord but turns away from them and forgets what his hands have put forth? Indeed, We have placed over their hearts coverings, lest they understand it, and in their ears deafness. If you invite them to guidance - they will never be guided, then - ever.

This verse highlights the injustice of those who knowingly turn away from the signs of Allah and forget their own actions. As a consequence of their willful ignorance, Allah places veils over their hearts and makes them deaf to the truth. No matter how much they are called towards guidance, they will never be able to find it, as they have chosen to stray from the right path.

Reflecting on the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) and the supporting Quranic verses, we understand that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) despises those individuals who have been left to their own devices and have strayed from the right path. These individuals are like lost wanderers, moving forward without any guidance or evidence to support their actions. They have chosen to abandon the divine path and have thus become distant from the mercy and guidance of Allah.

As Muslims, it is crucial for us to seek and adhere to the guidance of Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ) in every aspect of our lives. We must strive to stay on the right path, as outlined in the Quran and exemplified by the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and his Ahl al-Bayt (عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلسَّلَامُ). By doing so, we can avoid being among those who are despised by Allah and ensure that we are always guided towards righteousness and success in this life and the Hereafter. May Allah grant us the ability to stay steadfast on the straight path and protect us from straying away.