Hadith #3845

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.

In this profound Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), he highlights the true nature of this world and the relationship that the friends of Allah have with it. The Hadith begins by stating,

If this world was praiseworthy in front of Allah, He would have reserved it for His friends.

Here, Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) is emphasizing that the world, with all its material possessions and attractions, is not something that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) has deemed praiseworthy or deserving of being exclusively reserved for His close friends.

To understand the depth of this statement, let us delve into the key words of this Hadith. The word "mahmooda" is derived from the Arabic root "hamd," which means praise or commendation. It signifies that if this world had any inherent value or worthiness in the sight of Allah, He would have designated it exclusively for His friends. However, the reality is quite the opposite. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) has turned the hearts of His friends away from the allure of this world and has cleansed them from its desires.

This concept is beautifully echoed in the Quran, where Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) repeatedly reminds us of the fleeting nature of this world and the importance of focusing on the eternal life of the hereafter. In Surah Al-Kahf, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says, (Quran 57:20)

Know that the life of this world is only play and amusement, pomp and mutual boasting among you, and rivalry in respect of wealth and children. It is like a rain whose vegetation pleases the tillers; then it withers away, and you see it turning yellow; then it becomes straw. But in the hereafter, there is severe punishment and forgiveness from Allah and His pleasure. And the life of this world is nothing but a deceiving enjoyment.

This verse emphasizes the transient nature of worldly possessions and the deceptive allure they hold. It serves as a reminder that the true purpose of life is to seek the pleasure of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) and to prepare for the eternal life of the hereafter. The friends of Allah, as mentioned in the Hadith, have recognized this reality and have turned their hearts away from the temporary pleasures of this world.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) further states that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) has

expunged its desires from them.

This implies that the desires and attachments to worldly possessions have been removed from the hearts of the friends of Allah. They are not swayed by the materialistic pursuits and temptations that the world offers. Instead, their focus lies solely on seeking the pleasure of Allah and striving for spiritual growth and righteousness.

This concept is beautifully illustrated in the Quranic story of Prophet Ibrahim (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ). When Ibrahim (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) was tested by Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) with the command to sacrifice his beloved son Ismail (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), he demonstrated his unwavering devotion to Allah by submitting to His command without hesitation. This exemplifies the detachment from worldly desires and the willingness to sacrifice everything for the sake of Allah.

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) serves as a profound reminder for Muslims of the true nature of this world and the importance of prioritizing the eternal life of the hereafter over temporary worldly pleasures. It highlights the unique relationship that the friends of Allah have with this world, as they have turned their hearts away from its allure and have been cleansed from its desires. May we all strive to follow in the footsteps of the friends of Allah and seek His pleasure above all else.