Hadith #6363

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 pure progeny, and his noble companions.

The provided Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) emphasizes the concept of sincere worship. Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), known for his deep knowledge and understanding of Islam, beautifully describes the essence of true worship in this concise statement.

Let us delve into the important words of this Hadith to gain a deeper understanding. The word (al-'ibadah) "العِبادَةُ" refers to worship, devotion, and obedience to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). It encompasses all acts of worship, both physical and spiritual, that are performed with sincerity and devotion.

The word (al-khalisah) "الخالِصَةُ" means pure or sincere. It signifies that true worship should be free from any ulterior motives or desires for worldly gains. It should be solely dedicated to seeking the pleasure of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) and attaining His nearness.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) then highlights two essential aspects of sincere worship. Firstly, he states, (la yarju al-rajulu illa rabbahu)

لا يَرْجُوَ الرَّجُلُ إلاّ رَبَّهُ

which means that a person should place their hopes and aspirations solely in Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). This means that Muslims should not rely on anyone or anything other than Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) for their needs and desires. They should have complete trust in Allah's mercy, provision, and guidance.

This concept is beautifully echoed in the Quran in Surah Al-Ankabut, verse 65, where Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

And those who rely upon Allah, then He is sufficient for them.

This verse emphasizes the importance of placing our trust in Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) alone, as He is the ultimate source of all provisions and blessings.

The second aspect mentioned by Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) is, (wala yakhafu illa dhanbah)

ولا يَخافُ إلاّ ذَنْبَهُ

This means that a person should fear nothing but their own wrongdoing. Muslims should be conscious of their actions and constantly strive to avoid sins and transgressions. They should be more concerned about displeasing Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) than fearing any worldly consequences.

The Quran beautifully emphasizes this concept in Surah Al-Imran, verse 175, where Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

It is only Satan that suggests to you the fear of his allies. So, fear them not, but fear Me, if you are [indeed] believers.

This verse reminds us that our ultimate fear should be of displeasing Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) and falling into sin, rather than fearing the disapproval or harm from others.

Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) amazing Hadith serves as a powerful reminder for Muslims to purify their intentions and dedicate their worship solely to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). It encourages us to rely on Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) alone for our needs and to fear nothing but our own sins. By doing so, we can attain true sincerity in our worship and strive to become better servants of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ).

May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the ability to worship Him sincerely and to always seek His pleasure. May He guide us to purify our intentions and protect us from the temptations of this world. Ameen.