Hadith #10393

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds, and blessings and peace be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), his pure progeny, and his noble companions.

In this profound Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), he advises us on the path to achieving the uprightness of our souls. He emphasizes three important qualities that we should adopt: moderation, contentment, and the reduction of our wants.

Firstly, let us delve into the meaning of the word (iqtisad) "اِقْتِصادِ" which is translated as "moderation" in this Hadith. Iqtisad refers to the act of avoiding extremes and finding a balanced approach in all aspects of life. It encourages us to avoid excessiveness and extravagance, as well as deprivation and negligence. This concept of moderation is beautifully emphasized in the Quran in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 143, where Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

And thus We have made you a just community that you will be witnesses over the people and the Messenger will be a witness over you.

This verse highlights the importance of being a just and balanced community, which can only be achieved through adopting the principle of moderation.

The second quality mentioned in the Hadith is (al-qunoo') "القُنُوعِ". Al-qunoo' can be translated as contentment, which means being satisfied with what Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) has provided for us and not constantly desiring more. It is the opposite of greed and covetousness. The Quran beautifully captures the essence of contentment in Surah At-Tawbah, verse 59, where Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

And among them are those who made a covenant with Allah, [saying], 'If He should give us from His bounty, we will surely spend in charity, and we will surely be among the righteous.'

This verse highlights the importance of being content with what Allah has given us and using His blessings to benefit others.

Lastly, Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) advises us to practice (at-taqallul) "التَّقَلُّلِ", which can be translated as the reduction of our wants. This refers to the act of minimizing our desires and needs, focusing on the essentials rather than indulging in unnecessary wants and luxuries. The Quran beautifully emphasizes the importance of reducing our wants in Surah Al-Isra, verse 29, where Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

And do not make your hand [as] chained to your neck or extend it completely and [thereby] become blamed and insolvent.

This verse reminds us not to be enslaved by our desires and to exercise self-restraint in our pursuit of worldly possessions.

Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) advice in this Hadith holds great significance for us as Muslims. By adopting moderation, contentment, and the reduction of our wants, we can attain the uprightness of our souls. Practicing moderation allows us to strike a balance in all aspects of our lives, avoiding extremes and finding harmony. Contentment enables us to appreciate and be grateful for the blessings bestowed upon us by Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ), fostering a sense of inner peace and tranquility. The reduction of our wants helps us detach ourselves from the materialistic world and focus on the spiritual aspects of our lives.

By embodying these qualities, we can lead a life that is pleasing to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) and find true fulfillment and happiness. It is through the practice of moderation, contentment, and the reduction of our wants that we can achieve the uprightness of our souls and strive towards attaining the ultimate goal of pleasing our Creator.

May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the ability to adopt these qualities and guide us on the path of righteousness. May He bless us with the wisdom to understand and implement the teachings of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) in our lives. Ameen.