Hadith #11033

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 Arabic Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states:

رُبَّ واعِظ غَيْرُ مُرْتَدِع۔

This can be translated to mean:

Many an admonisher does not [follow his admonishment and] deter himself [from sin].

In this Hadith, there are two important words that require our attention. The first word is (wa'izh) "واعِظ", which means an admonisher or a preacher. This refers to someone who advises and counsels others, reminding them of their duties and responsibilities. The second word is (murtadi'a) "مُرْتَدِع", which can be translated as deterring oneself or refraining from sin. It signifies the act of practicing what one preaches and abstaining from sinful actions.

To understand the deeper meaning of this Hadith, we can turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says in Surah Al-Hujurat (49:11):

O you who have believed, let not a people ridicule [another] people; perhaps they may be better than them; nor let women ridicule [other] women; perhaps they may be better than them. And do not insult one another and do not call each other by [offensive] nicknames. Wretched is the name of disobedience after [one's] faith. And whoever does not repent - then it is those who are the wrongdoers.

This verse highlights the importance of practicing what one preaches. It warns against ridiculing or insulting others, as it goes against the principles of faith. Similarly, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) reminds us that there are many individuals who offer advice and admonishment to others, but fail to apply those teachings in their own lives. They may speak eloquently and passionately about righteousness, but their actions do not align with their words.

Another verse that supports the message of this Hadith is found in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:44):

Do you order righteousness of the people and forget yourselves while you recite the Scripture? Then will you not reason?

This verse admonishes those who command others to do good deeds but neglect their own obligations. It emphasizes the importance of self-reflection and self-improvement before advising others.

The Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) serves as a reminder for Muslims to be sincere in their actions and to practice what they preach. It urges us to be cautious of becoming hypocritical by offering advice to others while neglecting our own spiritual development. It teaches us that true guidance comes from those who not only speak words of wisdom but also embody those teachings in their own lives.

Reflecting on this Hadith, we can see the importance of aligning our actions with our beliefs. It encourages us to be mindful of our own shortcomings and to constantly strive for self-improvement. By doing so, we become more effective in guiding others and setting a positive example for the community.

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) reminds us of the need to practice what we preach. It warns against the hypocrisy of offering advice to others while neglecting our own spiritual growth. By aligning our actions with our beliefs, we become true role models and sources of guidance for others. May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the ability to live by the principles we advocate and to be sincere in our words and actions.