Hadith #7817

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.

The Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) advises us with profound wisdom and guidance. Let us delve into the meanings of the important words in this Hadith and explore its exegesis in light of the Quran.

The first important word in the Hadith is (la tashtaghil) "لا تشتغل", which means

do not busy yourself.

This implies that we should not engage in matters that do not concern us or bring benefit to our lives. The Quran supports this notion in Surah Al-Hujurat, verse 12, where Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Accepting of repentance and Merciful.

The second important word is (la tatakallaf) "لا تتكلف", which means

do not take upon yourself more than what is enough.

This advises us to avoid burdening ourselves with unnecessary responsibilities or tasks that exceed our capabilities. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) reminds us of this in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 286, where He says,

Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity.

This verse emphasizes the importance of not overwhelming ourselves and recognizing our limitations.

The third important word is (waj'al kullu hamik) "واجعل كل همك", which means

exert all your efforts.

This encourages us to focus our energy and attention on matters that will bring us salvation and success in this life and the hereafter. The Quran reinforces this concept in Surah Al-Mumtahanah, verse 8, where Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes - from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly.

Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) Hadith encourages us to prioritize our concerns and focus on what truly matters. By not involving ourselves in matters that do not concern us, we can avoid unnecessary conflicts and negativity in our lives. By not burdening ourselves with more than what we can handle, we can maintain balance and avoid burnout. And by exerting all our efforts towards that which will save us, we can strive for righteousness and justice in our actions.

This Hadith serves as a reminder for us to be mindful of our choices and actions. It teaches us to prioritize our time and energy on matters that align with our values and goals. By doing so, we can lead a purposeful and meaningful life, seeking the pleasure of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) and striving for our own salvation.

May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the wisdom to discern what truly matters, the strength to focus on what is beneficial, and the ability to exert our efforts in the pursuit of righteousness. Ameen.