Hadith #8757

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. May peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), his purified progeny, and his noble companions.

In this profound Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), he highlights three essential qualities that are necessary for a believer's heart, eyes, and knowledge to be considered good and beneficial.

Firstly, Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) mentions the importance of a heart that surrenders, or "does not surrender" in the negative sense. This refers to a heart that lacks humility and does not submit to the will of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). Such a heart is devoid of the fear and awe of Allah, which is the foundation of true faith. The Quran emphasizes the significance of a humble heart in Surah Al-Hajj, verse 32:

Indeed, it is Allah who is the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful.

A heart that does not surrender to Allah's commandments and does not seek His forgiveness cannot attain true goodness.

Secondly, Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) mentions the importance of eyes that shed tears, or

do not shed tears

in the negative sense. This refers to eyes that are devoid of compassion, empathy, and the ability to shed tears in response to the suffering of others or in repentance to Allah. Shedding tears out of fear and love for Allah is a sign of a soft and tender heart. The Quran beautifully describes the believers in Surah Al-Hajj, verse 41:

Those who, if We give them authority in the land, establish prayer and give zakah and enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong. And to Allah belongs the outcome of [all] matters.

Tears of remorse and compassion are a manifestation of a heart that is alive and connected to the divine.

Lastly, Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) mentions the importance of knowledge that benefits, or "does not benefit" in the negative sense. This refers to knowledge that is not put into practice or used for the betterment of oneself and others. Knowledge is a precious gift from Allah, but it is only valuable when it is implemented and shared for the sake of Allah. The Quran emphasizes the importance of beneficial knowledge in Surah Al-Zumar, verse 9:

Are those who know equal to those who do not know? Only they will remember [who are] people of understanding.

Knowledge that is not utilized for the benefit of humanity and the advancement of society is of no value.

Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) profound Hadith serves as a reminder for Muslims to cultivate these three qualities in their hearts, eyes, and knowledge. A heart that surrenders to Allah's will, eyes that shed tears of compassion, and knowledge that is implemented for the betterment of oneself and others are the key ingredients for a truly good and beneficial life.

Reflecting on this Hadith, we can understand that a heart that does not surrender to Allah is prone to arrogance, pride, and disobedience. It is a heart that is disconnected from the divine and lacks the spiritual nourishment necessary for growth and righteousness. Similarly, eyes that do not shed tears indicate a lack of empathy and compassion. Such eyes are blind to the suffering of others and fail to recognize the blessings and mercy of Allah. Lastly, knowledge that does not benefit is wasted potential. It is like a treasure buried in the ground, never to be utilized for the betterment of oneself or society.

Therefore, as Muslims, we should strive to develop hearts that are humble and submissive to Allah's commandments, eyes that are compassionate and shed tears for the sake of Allah and others, and knowledge that is utilized for the betterment of ourselves and humanity. By embodying these qualities, we can truly live a life that is pleasing to Allah and beneficial to others.

May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the ability to cultivate these qualities within ourselves and may He guide us on the path of righteousness.