Hadith #9838

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, the Ahl al-Bayt, and his noble companions.

The Arabic Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states,

مُنازَعَةُ المُلُوكِ تَسْلُبُ النِّعَمَ۔

This Hadith can be translated as,

Disputing with kings takes away blessings.

Let us delve into the meaning of this Hadith in light of the Quran.

The word (munazahat) "مُنازَعَةُ" refers to engaging in disputes or arguments, while (al-muluk) "المُلُوكِ" refers to kings or rulers. The word (taslubu) "تَسْلُبُ" means to snatch or take away forcefully, and (an-niʿama) "النِّعَمَ" refers to blessings or favors from Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ).

In the Quran, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) emphasizes the importance of avoiding disputes and arguments. In Surah Al-Anfal (8:46), Allah says,

And obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not dispute and [thus] lose courage and [then] your strength would depart; and be patient. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.

Furthermore, in Surah Al-Hujurat (49:9), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) advises,

And if two factions among the believers should fight, then make settlement between the two. But if one of them oppresses the other, then fight against the one that oppresses until it returns to the ordinance of Allah. And if it returns, then make settlement between them in justice and act justly. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly.

From these verses, we can understand that disputes and arguments not only lead to the loss of blessings but also weaken the unity and strength of the Muslim community. Engaging in conflicts with rulers or those in positions of authority can have severe consequences, both on an individual and societal level.

When individuals or groups engage in disputes with kings or rulers, they often become consumed by their grievances and lose sight of the greater good. This can lead to a loss of blessings from Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ), as their focus shifts from seeking His pleasure to pursuing personal interests and power struggles.

Moreover, disputing with kings can have dire consequences for the community as a whole. It can lead to divisions, unrest, and instability, which are detrimental to the progress and well-being of society. Instead of engaging in disputes, Muslims are encouraged to seek peaceful resolutions, promote justice, and work towards unity.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), known for his wisdom and knowledge, understood the importance of avoiding disputes with rulers. He recognized that such conflicts not only jeopardize individual blessings but also have far-reaching consequences for the entire community.

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) teaches us the importance of avoiding disputes with kings and rulers. It reminds us that engaging in such conflicts can lead to the loss of blessings from Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) and disrupt the unity and strength of the Muslim community. Instead, we should strive for peaceful resolutions, promote justice, and work towards the betterment of society. May Allah guide us to follow the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt and grant us the wisdom to avoid disputes that may diminish our blessings.