Hadith #3186

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

The Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) emphasizes the virtues and qualities that lead to true success and happiness in this world and the Hereafter. Let us delve into the exegesis of this profound Hadith, exploring its key words and their meanings in light of the Quran.

The first important word in this Hadith is (khāliṣan) "خالِصاً", which means sincerity or purity. Sincerity is the act of performing deeds solely for the sake of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ), without any ulterior motives or seeking praise from others. The Quran emphasizes the importance of sincerity in various verses, such as in Surah Al-Bayyinah (98:5), where Allah says,

And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion.

The second word is (ṣāliḥan) "صالِحاً", which means righteousness or good deeds. Righteousness encompasses all acts of obedience to Allah and His commands, such as prayer, charity, kindness to others, and upholding justice. The Quran repeatedly emphasizes the significance of righteous deeds, as in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:277), where Allah says,

Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds and establish prayer and give zakah will have their reward with their Lord, and there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.

The third word is (maḏkhūran) "مَذْخُوراً", which refers to reserves or treasures for the Hereafter. It signifies the accumulation of good deeds and acts of worship that will serve as provisions for the eternal life to come. The Quran encourages believers to strive for such reserves, as mentioned in Surah Al-Hadid (57:18), where Allah says,

Indeed, the men who practice charity and the women who practice charity and [they who] have loaned Allah a goodly loan - it will be multiplied for them, and they will have a noble reward.

The fourth word is (maḥḏūran) "مَحذُوراً", which means to eschew or avoid what is forbidden by Allah. It refers to staying away from sinful actions and behaviors that displease Allah. The Quran repeatedly warns against engaging in prohibited acts, such as in Surah Al-Isra (17:32), where Allah says,

And do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and is evil as a way.

Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) Hadith highlights the importance of these qualities and actions for attaining true success and happiness. Proceeding with sincerity means that every action should be solely for the sake of Allah, without seeking worldly gains or recognition. Acting with righteousness means performing good deeds and fulfilling our obligations towards Allah and His creation. Acquiring reserves for the Hereafter means accumulating good deeds that will serve as provisions for the eternal life. Eschewing what is forbidden means staying away from sinful acts and behaviors that distance us from Allah's mercy and guidance.

By embodying these qualities, Muslims can attain a state of true success and happiness in this world and the Hereafter. Sincerity and righteousness lead to a sense of contentment and inner peace, while accumulating reserves for the Hereafter ensures a secure and prosperous eternal life. Avoiding what is forbidden protects us from the negative consequences and spiritual harm that sinful actions bring.

Reflecting on this Hadith, we are reminded of the importance of aligning our intentions and actions with the teachings of Islam. It encourages us to constantly evaluate our sincerity, righteousness, and adherence to what is permissible and forbidden. By striving to embody these qualities, we can attain the blessings and rewards promised by Allah in this life and the Hereafter.

May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the ability to proceed with sincerity, act with righteousness, acquire reserves for the Hereafter, and eschew what is forbidden. May He bless us with true success and happiness in this world and the eternal life to come.