Hadith #5790

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 noble companions.

In this profound Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), he advises us on the importance of self-reformation before seeking to reform others. Let us delve into the words of this Hadith and explore its deep meaning in light of the Quran.

The key words in this Hadith are (your zeal) "هِمَّتُكَ", (reforming) "إصْلاحِ", (yourself) "نَفْسِكَ", (your pursuit) "تَعاطيكَ", (righteousness) "صَلاحَ", and (corrupt) "فاسِدٌ".

The word "هِمَّتُكَ" refers to one's strong desire or ambition. It signifies the intensity of one's motivation to bring about positive change. Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) highlights the importance of directing this zeal towards self-reformation.

The term "إصْلاحِ" means reforming or rectifying. It encompasses the idea of improving oneself and others, both morally and spiritually. It implies the restoration of harmony and righteousness in society.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) emphasizes the significance of starting this process of reform with (yourself) "نَفْسِكَ". This indicates that self-improvement should be the foundation upon which all other efforts for reform are built. It reminds us that true change begins from within.

The phrase (your pursuit for the righteousness of others) "تَعاطيكَ صَلاحَ غَيْرِكَ" highlights the danger of focusing solely on the faults and shortcomings of others while neglecting our own flaws. It warns against the hypocrisy of seeking to guide others towards righteousness while remaining corrupt ourselves.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) concludes by stating that pursuing the righteousness of others while being corrupt is (the greatest flaw) "أكْبَرُ العَيْبِ". This highlights the severity of such hypocrisy and the detrimental impact it can have on our own spiritual growth and the effectiveness of our efforts to reform others.

To further understand the wisdom behind this Hadith, let us turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says in Surah Al-Hujurat (49:13):

O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.

This verse emphasizes the importance of personal righteousness as the criterion for nobility in the sight of Allah. It reminds us that true reform starts with ourselves and that our actions should be guided by righteousness.

In Surah Al-Baqarah (2:44), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) states:

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

This verse serves as a powerful reminder of the need to prioritize self-reformation. It cautions against neglecting our own spiritual growth while being preoccupied with guiding others towards righteousness.

Reflecting on the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) and the supporting Quranic verses, we understand that true reform begins with self-reflection and self-improvement. It is only by rectifying our own flaws and striving for personal righteousness that we can effectively contribute to the betterment of society.

As Muslims, we should heed the advice of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) and constantly evaluate our own actions and intentions. We should strive to purify our hearts, rectify our behavior, and seek forgiveness for our shortcomings. By doing so, we can become beacons of guidance and inspiration for others, leading them towards righteousness and ultimately attaining the pleasure of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ).

May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the strength and wisdom to embark on the journey of self-reformation and enable us to be a source of positive change in the world.