Hadith #1846

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

The provided Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) emphasizes the importance of self-struggle and self-discipline in restraining oneself from committing sins and protecting oneself from destruction. Let us delve into the deeper meanings of the words used in this Hadith and explore its profound implications in light of the Quran.

The first word of significance in this Hadith is (mujahadah) "مُجاهَدَةَ", which refers to the act of struggling or striving against one's own self. It implies exerting effort and self-discipline to resist the temptations of the ego and to overcome its desires. This concept of self-struggle is rooted in the Quran, where Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) encourages believers to strive in His cause and against their own selves:

(Quran 29:69)

And those who strive for Us - We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good.

The next word of significance is (nafs) "النَّفْسِ", which refers to the self or the soul. The nafs is the inner self that is susceptible to both good and evil inclinations. It is the battleground where the struggle between righteousness and sin takes place. The Quran acknowledges the inner struggles of the nafs and provides guidance on how to purify it:

(Quran 12:53)

Indeed, the soul is a persistent enjoiner of evil, except those upon which my Lord has mercy. Indeed, my Lord is Forgiving and Merciful.

The Hadith further states that the purpose of this self-struggle is to (tazimmuha 'ani al-ma'asi) "تَزِمُّها عَنِ المَعاصِي", which means to restrain the self from committing sins. This implies that through self-discipline and conscious effort, one can prevent oneself from engaging in sinful actions. The Quran emphasizes the importance of restraining oneself from sins and the consequences of indulging in them:

(Quran 79:40)

And whoever restrains his soul from his desires, then indeed, Paradise will be his refuge.

Moreover, the Hadith highlights that self-struggle also serves to (ta'simuha 'ani al-radd) "تَعْصِمُها عَنِ الرَّدى", which means to protect the self from destruction. By engaging in self-discipline and striving against the ego, one safeguards oneself from the detrimental consequences of sinful behavior. The Quran warns about the destructive nature of sins and the need to protect oneself from their harmful effects:

(Quran 2:168)

And do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.

Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) impactful Hadith in this Hadith highlights the importance of self-struggle and self-discipline in the journey towards spiritual growth and righteousness. It reminds us that by exerting effort to restrain ourselves from sins and protect ourselves from destruction, we can attain a higher level of spirituality and draw closer to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ).

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) serves as a reminder for Muslims to engage in self-struggle and self-discipline in order to restrain themselves from sins and protect themselves from destruction. It echoes the teachings of the Quran, which emphasizes the importance of striving against one's own self and the need to protect oneself from the harmful consequences of sinful behavior. By actively engaging in self-struggle, Muslims can purify their souls, strengthen their faith, and ultimately attain the pleasure of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the strength and guidance to engage in this noble endeavor.