Hadith #968

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, and his righteous companions.

In this profound hadith, Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) highlights the immense clemency and forgiveness of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) towards those who persist in disobedience and those who exceed the limits set by Him. The Imam draws our attention to two important attributes of Allah: His clemency and His forgiveness.

The word (hilm) "حِلْمَ" in the hadith refers to the forbearance and patience of Allah. It signifies His ability to restrain His anger and punishment, even in the face of repeated disobedience and defiance. Allah's clemency is boundless, and He gives ample opportunities for His servants to repent and seek His forgiveness. This attribute of Allah is beautifully described in the Quran in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 286:

(Quran 2:286)

Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear...

This verse emphasizes Allah's patience and His consideration for the capabilities and limitations of His servants. It shows that Allah's clemency is not limited by our shortcomings, but rather, He gives us the chance to rectify our mistakes and seek His forgiveness.

The word (afwah) "عَفْوَهُ" in the hadith refers to Allah's forgiveness. It denotes His ability to pardon and overlook the sins and transgressions of His servants. Allah's forgiveness is vast and all-encompassing, and it is not restricted to any particular group or category of people. In the Quran, Allah says in Surah An-Nisa, verse 110:

(Quran 4:110)

And whoever does a wrong or wrongs himself but then seeks forgiveness of Allah will find Allah Forgiving and Merciful.

This verse assures us that regardless of the magnitude of our sins, if we sincerely seek Allah's forgiveness, He will indeed forgive us. It is a testament to the boundless mercy and forgiveness of Allah.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) highlights these attributes of Allah to remind us of His infinite mercy and compassion. He wants us to understand that no matter how far we may have strayed or how many mistakes we may have made, Allah's clemency and forgiveness are always within our reach. This realization should motivate us to turn back to Allah, seek His forgiveness, and strive to rectify our actions.

The consequences of recognizing and embracing Allah's clemency and forgiveness are profound. It instills hope in the hearts of believers, knowing that no matter how grave their sins may be, Allah is always ready to forgive and accept their repentance. This hope encourages Muslims to continuously seek forgiveness and strive to improve themselves, knowing that Allah's mercy is greater than any sin.

Furthermore, understanding Allah's clemency and forgiveness should also inspire Muslims to extend the same qualities to others. Just as Allah forgives us, we should forgive those who have wronged us and show patience and forbearance towards those who persist in disobedience. This is a reflection of the teachings of the Quran, where Allah encourages believers to forgive and be merciful. In Surah An-Nur, verse 22, Allah says:

(Quran 24:22)

Let them pardon and overlook. Would you not love for Allah to forgive you? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.

In conclusion, the hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) reminds us of the immense clemency and forgiveness of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). It serves as a powerful reminder that no matter how far we may have strayed or how many mistakes we may have made, Allah's mercy is always available to us. It motivates us to seek His forgiveness, rectify our actions, and extend the same qualities to others. May Allah, the Most Merciful, guide us on the path of forgiveness and grant us His infinite mercy.