Hadith #5943

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Praise be to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ), the Lord of all worlds, and blessings and peace be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), his pure and noble Ahl al-Bayt (عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلسَّلَامُ), and his righteous companions.

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

كُنْ مِمَّنْ لايَفْرُطُ بِهِ عُنْفٌ، ولايَقْعُدُ بِهِ ضَعْفٌ۔

This Hadith can be translated as,

Be from among those who are neither overcome by violence nor affected by weakness.

Let us delve into the meanings of the important words in this Hadith. The word (furut) "فَرُطُ" means to be overcome or overwhelmed, while (unf) "عُنْفٌ" refers to violence or aggression. Similarly, (qa'd) "قَعْدُ" means to be affected or influenced, and (da'f) "ضَعْفٌ" signifies weakness or feebleness.

To understand the enlightening message of this Hadith, we can turn to the Quran for guidance. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says in Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:87),

O you who have believed, do not prohibit the good things which Allah has made lawful to you and do not transgress. Indeed, Allah does not like transgressors.

This verse emphasizes the importance of not being overcome by violence, as transgressing the limits set by Allah leads to harm and injustice.

Furthermore, in Surah Al-Hujurat (49:11), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says,

O you who have believed, let not a people ridicule [another] people; perhaps they may be better than them; nor let women ridicule [other] women; perhaps they may be better than them. And do not insult one another and do not call each other by [offensive] nicknames. Wretched is the name of disobedience after [one's] faith. And whoever does not repent - then it is those who are the wrongdoers.

This verse highlights the importance of not being affected by weakness, as it encourages us to avoid ridiculing or insulting others, which is a sign of weakness in character.

From this Hadith, we can understand that Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) is advising us to be firm in our principles and not be swayed by violence or aggression. We should not allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by the negative forces around us, but rather remain steadfast in upholding justice and righteousness. Similarly, we should not be influenced by weakness or feebleness, but rather stand firm in our beliefs and values.

Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) is reminding us of the importance of maintaining balance and moderation in our actions and reactions. We should not respond to violence with violence, but rather seek peaceful and just solutions. Likewise, we should not let our weaknesses or insecurities dictate our behavior, but rather strive to overcome them with strength and resilience.

By embodying the teachings of this Hadith, we can contribute to the betterment of society and promote harmony and justice. We should strive to be individuals who are not easily swayed by the negative influences of violence or weakness, but rather remain steadfast in our commitment to truth and righteousness.

May Allah (تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the strength and wisdom to embody the teachings of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) and to be among those who are not overcome by violence nor affected by weakness. May He guide us to follow the path of moderation and balance in all aspects of our lives. And may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), his pure and noble Ahl al-Bayt (عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلسَّلَامُ), and his righteous companions.

And Allah knows best.