Hadith #8949

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 Ahl al-Bayt, and his noble companions.

The provided Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) emphasizes the importance of aligning our words with our actions. Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) advises us not to say things that we do not actually do, as this leads to weakness and invites blame upon ourselves.

Let us delve deeper into the words of this Hadith to understand its connotation. The key words in this Hadith are (Never say) "لا تقولن", (that which you do not do) "ما لا تفعله", (failure) "عجز", and (blame) "ذم".

The phrase "لا تقولن" is a command from Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), advising us to refrain from uttering words that do not align with our actions. It highlights the importance of sincerity and integrity in our speech.

The phrase "ما لا تفعله" refers to saying or promising something that we do not actually do. It warns us against making false claims or empty promises, as this leads to a lack of credibility and trustworthiness.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) then explains the consequences of such behavior, stating (for indeed you will never become free of the failure that attaches itself to you)

فَإنَّكَ لَنْ تَخْلُوَ في ذلِكَ مِنْ عَجْز يَلْزَمُكَ

This implies that when we consistently say things that we do not do, we become trapped in a cycle of failure. Our inability to fulfill our words weakens our character and diminishes our credibility.

Furthermore, Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) warns us that this behavior also invites blame upon ourselves. He states, (and the blame that you earn) "وذَمّ تَكْسِبُهُ". When we repeatedly fail to live up to our words, we not only lose the trust of others but also earn their criticism and disapproval. Our actions are a reflection of our character, and inconsistency between our words and deeds damages our reputation.

To understand the significance of Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) advice, we can turn to the Quran for further guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) repeatedly emphasizes the importance of sincerity and integrity in our words and actions.

In Surah Al-Asr, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) states, (Quran 103:1-3)

By time, indeed, mankind is in loss, except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience

This verse highlights the importance of not only believing but also acting upon our beliefs. It emphasizes the need for consistency between our words and deeds.

Similarly, in Surah Al-Hujurat, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says, (Quran 61:2-3)

O you who have believed, why do you say what you do not do? Great is hatred in the sight of Allah that you say what you do not do

This verse reiterates the message of Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) Hadith, warning against the hypocrisy of saying things that we do not actually do.

Reflecting upon the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) and the Quranic verses, we understand that our words hold weight and have consequences. It is not enough to merely speak about righteousness; we must actively strive to embody it in our actions. By aligning our words with our deeds, we strengthen our character, earn the trust of others, and ultimately seek the pleasure of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ).

May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the wisdom and strength to live by the teachings of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) and the guidance of the Quran. May we always strive to be people of integrity, whose words and actions are in harmony.