Hadith #11392

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, the Ahl al-Bayt, and his noble companions.

The Arabic Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states:

لاتَلَفَ أعْظَمُ مِنَ الهَوى۔

This can be translated as:

There is no damage [and loss] greater than [what is brought about by] vain desire.

Let us first examine the key words in this Hadith. The word (la talafa) "لاتَلَفَ" means

there is no damage

or

there is no loss.

The word (a'zamu) "أعْظَمُ" means "greater" or "more severe." And the word (al-hawa) "الهَوى" refers to "vain desire" or "baseless inclination."

To understand the connotation of this Hadith, we can turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) warns us about the dangers of following our vain desires in several verses.

In Surah Al-Qasas, Allah says:

And We made them leaders guiding by Our command. And We inspired to them the doing of good deeds, establishment of prayer, and giving of zakah; and they were worshippers of Us. And to Lot We gave judgement and knowledge, and We saved him from the city that was committing wicked deeds. Indeed, they were a people of evil, defiantly disobedient. And We admitted him into Our mercy. Indeed, he was of the righteous. And [mention] Noah, when he called [to Allah] before [that time], so We responded to him and saved him and his family from the great flood. Indeed, We saved him from the people who denied Our signs. Indeed, they were a people of evil, so We drowned them, all together. And [mention] David and Solomon, when they judged concerning the field - when the sheep of a people overran it [at night], and We were witness to their judgement. And We gave understanding of the case to Solomon, and to each [of them] We gave judgement and knowledge. And We subjected the mountains to exalt [Us], along with David and [also] the birds. And We were doing [that]. And We taught him the fashioning of coats of armor to protect you from your [enemy in] battle. So will you then be grateful? And to Solomon [We subjected] the wind, blowing forcefully, proceeding by his command toward the land which We had blessed. And We are ever, of all things, Knowing. And of the devils were those who dived for him and did work other than that. And We were of them a guardian. And [mention] Job, when He called to his Lord,

Indeed, adversity has touched me, and you are the Most Merciful of the merciful.(Quran 21:73-85)

So We responded to him and removed what afflicted him of adversity. And We gave him [back] his family and the like thereof with them as mercy from Us and a reminder for the worshippers [of Allah]. And [mention] Ishmael, and Idris, and Dhul-Kifl; all were of the patient. And We admitted them into Our mercy. Indeed, they were of the righteous.

These verses highlight the stories of various prophets who were guided by Allah and given knowledge and wisdom. They were saved from harm and destruction because they followed the commandments of Allah and did not succumb to their vain desires. On the other hand, those who followed their baseless inclinations were destroyed.

Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) Hadith emphasizes the importance of controlling our desires and not allowing them to lead us astray. Vain desires can cloud our judgment, lead us to make wrong decisions, and ultimately cause us harm and loss. This can be seen in various aspects of our lives, such as relationships, finances, and even our spiritual journey.

For example, in the realm of relationships, following our vain desires can lead to infidelity, broken families, and emotional turmoil. In Surah Yusuf, we learn about the story of Prophet Yusuf (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) who was tempted by the wife of the Aziz. Despite her advances, Yusuf (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) remained steadfast in his faith and rejected her advances, saying: (Quran 12:23)

Indeed, he [your husband] is my master who has made good my residence. Indeed, wrongdoers will not succeed.

Yusuf's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) refusal to give in to his vain desires protected him from harm and preserved his honor.

In the realm of finances, following our vain desires can lead to excessive spending, debt, and financial instability. Allah warns us in Surah Al-Isra: (Quran 6:152-153)

And do not approach the orphan's property except in a way that is best until he reaches maturity. And give full measure and weight in justice. We do not charge any soul except [with that within] its capacity. And when you testify, be just, even if [it concerns] a near relative. And the covenant of Allah fulfill. This has He instructed you that you may remember. And, [moreover], this is My path, which is straight, so follow it; and do not follow [other] ways, for you will be separated from His way. This has He instructed you that you may become righteous.

By adhering to the principles of justice and moderation in our financial dealings, we protect ourselves from the harm that can arise from greed and excessive desire for wealth.

Spiritually, following our vain desires can lead us away from the path of righteousness and towards sin and disobedience. In Surah Al-Qasas, Allah says: (Quran 21:73)

And We made them leaders guiding by Our command. And We inspired to them the doing of good deeds, establishment of prayer, and giving of zakah; and they were worshippers of Us.

The prophets mentioned in this verse were guided by Allah and followed His commandments. They resisted their vain desires and focused on their worship and good deeds. By doing so, they achieved nearness to Allah and became role models for all Muslims.

In conclusion, Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) Hadith serves as a reminder for all Muslims to be cautious of their vain desires. By controlling our desires and aligning them with the teachings of the Quran and the guidance of the Ahl al-Bayt, we can protect ourselves from harm and loss. Let us strive to follow the path of righteousness, seeking Allah's pleasure and avoiding the pitfalls of vain desire. May Allah grant us the strength and wisdom to overcome our baseless inclinations and lead a life that is pleasing to Him.